The Lord spoke these words:
"You are not running on a losing battle! You may be alone at times, and you may be coming against all odds, but like Elijah, you are not running on a losing battle! Arise therefore, and receive a new strength from Me! Eat of My Bread, and drink of My Drink, for great is your journey ahead!"
The expression 'fighting a losing battle' basically means 'trying to do something that will eventually fail'. And if you think (or made to think) you are in such a situation right now (even though you have done what's right before God), do not be discouraged, because the battle is not yours, but the Lord's. Like Elijah, this is your time to receive a new strength from the Lord!
The chapters to read at the moment would be 1 Kings chapters 17, 18, and 19. As you can see here, Israel was under evil rulers (Jezebel and Ahab) at that time, and Elijah was one of the very few who stood for righteousness in the midst of these wicked rulers and the false prophets of Baal.
Note: 'Baal' speaks of 'the gods/masters of this world, or the ways of this world'.
Not only that, Elijah was falsely accused by Jezebel and Ahab for bringing curse (in the form of drought) to Israel, when he was actually just saying what God said - that the Lord God of Israel would turn away from Israel if they turn to the false gods of Baal. In other words, Elijah was the target of a smear campaign against him for not bowing down to Baal!
In spite of such evil campaign against him, and being grossly misunderstood by many in Israel who listened to the lies of Jezebel and Ahab, Elijah continued to stand firm on God's words, and continued to do according to what God had said. The Lord was with him therefore, and there was always providence coming his way during the drought, even from the ravens (1 Kings 17:5-6) and then, the widow (1 Kings 17:8-16).
Three years into the drought, the Lord then spoke to him to present himself before Ahab (who had wanted to destroy him all those years). 1 Kings 18:17-18 says, 'Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals."' Elijah then threw Ahab a challenge to test who is the true God of Israel (1 Kings 18:19-24).
After a great victory at Mount Carmel, where the fire of the Lord consumed the burnt sacrifice that Elijah had prepared (1 Kings 18:38-39), and after the prophets of Baal were executed (1 Kings 18:40), the drought finally ended (1 Kings 18:41-46). But even after that, Jezebel and Ahab did not turn to the Lord God of Israel. Jezebel then sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them (the prophets of Baal) by tomorrow about this time." (1 Kings 19:1-2) Elijah, drained and worn out after a great victory, ran for his life, and prayed that he might die (1 Kings 19:3-4). In his discouragement and exhaustion, he felt all that he had done for the Lord was in vain.
People of God, have you also been falsely accused, misunderstood, and discouraged recently, even though you were just doing what God has spoken for you to do? And you felt so alone, or felt like you are fighting a losing battle?
Take heart, because He is saying these words to you right now, "Arise, and receive a new strength from Me! Do not lose heart! Eat of My Bread, and drink of My Drink, for great is your journey ahead!"
Indeed, the Lord God in Elijah's days is the same Lord God of Israel in your life today. Notice He isn't just the Giver of Strength to you, but the Scripture says HE IS the Strength that lives in you! (see Psalm 73:26) Elijah then arose, ate of the bread and drank of the drink brought by the angel, and he went in this new strength of the Lord - for forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God (1 Kings 19:8).
And there standing on the mountain of God, Elijah received further words about his God-given destiny in life, i.e. to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and Elisha as a prophet in his place. You see, the Lord's not done with Elijah yet, even though Elijah initially thought so! The Lord also assured him that he's not alone in these, and He had in fact 'reserved seven thousand in Israel, all those whose knees have not bowed down to Baal, and mouths that have not kissed Baal'! (1 Kings 19:11-18)
People of God, like Elijah, continue to stand firm on His righteousness (and His ways), and stay true to what He has called you to be, no matter what others may think of you, or how they misunderstand you. Hang on there! Know that you aren't alone in these, because the Lord your God is with you, and He has 'reserved' the right people who would go with you! In due time, He will make all things beautiful, and like Elijah, you too will eventually see God's greater glory manifested right before your eyes! The best is certainly yet to come. Believe and receive. In Jesus' name. Amen!
