The Lord says:
"In a time like this, stand strong on what I've spoken for you to be and to do. Walk according to what I've spoken for you to be and to do. You may be alone at times, and you may be surrounded by the spiritual forces of darkness all around you, but I am saying that you are not fighting a losing battle. In fact, the battle isn't yours. The battle is Mine. This is the time to receive a new strength from Me. As I've spoken to Elijah, I am saying that your journey ahead is great. I will be with you. I will make a way for you. I will give you the victory."
If you read 1 Kings chapters 17, 18, and 19, you can see that God's people at that time were under the stranglehold of evil forces through King Ahab and his wife Jezebel.
As a prelude, let's read 1 Kings 16:29-33 (NKJV) first. 'In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for Ahab to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.'
'Baal' here speaks of 'the gods (or masters) of this world, or the ways of this world (this fallen world)'.
But God! It was also during this time that Elijah came into the picture. Elijah was one of those few who stood for God and who stood for God's righteousness, even in the midst of the prevailing forces of darkness at that time. Elijah was a man who's obedient to whatever the Lord had spoken. As the Lord said so, he said so. As the Lord said no, he said no.
1 Kings 17:1 (NKJV) says, 'And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word."'
With this declaration that Elijah made, Elijah was then falsely accused by Jezebel and Ahab for bringing curse (in the form of drought) to Israel. But you know what? Elijah was actually just saying what God said, that the Lord God of Israel would turn away from Israel if they turn to the false god of Baal. To put it in modern terms, Elijah was the target of a 'smear campaign' against him. Why? Because Elijah didn't bow down to Baal, the false god at that time. In other words, he was against the norm and the status quo at that time.
So beloved, if you know that you know the Lord has spoken to you, whether through dreams, or visions, or the Word of God, or through any other way, stand strong in the Lord. Stand strong in what the Lord has spoken. Fear not. The Lord will be with you, as you can see in Elijah's life. In spite of such evil campaign against him, and even being misunderstood by some people in Israel who listened to the lies of Ahab and Jezebel, Elijah continued to stand firm on God's words and continued to do according to what God had said. The Scripture shows us that the Lord was with him. In fact, there was always provision coming his way, even during the drought. Yes, provision even in miraculous ways. Even from the ravens (1 Kings 17:5-6), and then, through the widow (1 Kings 17:8-16).
In life, you can't please everybody. There will be people who are unhappy with you, who don't agree with you, who don't understand you, or who are against you. Don't be bothered. Fear not. As long as you know the Lord is with you, and the Lord is the One who has spoken to you, keep your focus on what He has spoken. Be who He wants you to be, and do what He wants you to do. And that's how you are going to see your victory. And that's how you know that the Lord is with you and will lead you.
Fast forward, about three years into the drought, the Lord then spoke to Elijah to present himself before Ahab. Now, this same Ahab wanted to destroy Elijah all these years. But when the Lord said to Elijah, "Go and present yourself to Ahab", Elijah obeyed.
1 Kings 18:17-18 (NKJV) 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."'
During that encounter with Ahab, Elijah then threw a challenge to Ahab to test who is the true God. 1 Kings 18:19-21 (NKJV) says, '"Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and Elijah said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him."'
In short, Elijah was throwing this challenge to the people: "Who are you going to follow? The Lord God? Or Baal?"
To cut the story short, the fire of the Lord then consumed the offering that Elijah had prepared, but nothing happened to the offering of the prophets of Baal. These prophets of Baal were then executed, and the drought eventually ended.
But even after that, Ahab and Jezebel did not turn to the Lord God of Israel. 1 Kings 19:1-2 (NKJV) says, '...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 (i.e. the life of the prophets of Baal) by tomorrow about this time."'
It means Jezebel gave Elijah a "death threat". When Elijah heard this, he ran for his life, and he prayed that he might die, and said, "It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!"
In his discouragement and exhaustion, Elijah felt all that he had done for the Lord was in vain. He was drained and worn out after that great victory. He ran for his life, and he prayed that he might die.
Beloved, have you been falsely accused, misunderstood, and discouraged recently? Take heart. Because the Lord is saying this 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 of Elijah is the same Lord God of your life today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Now, I want you to notice this. He is not just the Giver of strength to you. But the Scripture says He is the strength that lives in you! Where is the Bible proof? Psalm 73:26 (NKJV) says, 'My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.'
Notice here: "God is the strength..." You see, God isn't just the Giver of strength to you. But He is the strength who lives in you! This is what the Scripture says here.
By the way, the word 'strength' here is 'tsur' in Hebrew. It can simply be translated, literally, as 'strong rock'. In other words, God is the Strong Rock! Yes, He is the Strong Rock in your life!
What does the word 'portion' mean here? It is 'cheleq' in Hebrew. It means 'inheritance'. It means He is your inheritance. In other words, you can inherit all the goodness of God, all the victory that He has won, and you can receive His power, His strength, and His glory. Hallelujah!
Back to Elijah now. 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. And there standing on the mountain of God, Elijah received further instructions and further words about his God-given destiny. The Lord spoke to him to anoint Hazael as king over Syria, Jehu as king over Israel, and Elijah as a prophet.
You see, the Lord's not done with Elijah yet, even though Elijah initially thought so. The same it is with you, beloved. The Lord is not done with you yet. The Lord has greater things ahead for you. Like Elijah, continue to stand firm on God's Word and God's ways. 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 are not alone in this. Because the Lord your God is with you, and He will know how to lead you, going forward. Amen!
