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A Word In Season
1
Kings 18: 45 "And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven
was black with cloud and wind, and there was a great rain..."
Romans 8: 24 "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not
hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?"
1 Peter 1:16 says
"Because it is written, 'Be ye holy; for I am holy".... I will come
back to this scripture soon, as well as the first two quoted above.
Try and stay with me, this message (as will your life) will ultimately make sense!
2 Peter 1: 12 is one I
have often referred to over the years. It connotes that at every
season and point in time, there is a "present Truth" in the heavens:
a revelation that is fresh out of the oven! Piping hot with depth and
desperate to be understood.
Sometimes we stumble on it and do not juice it for all its worth.
Most times we make light of it, never realising just how important
it is for us to grasp that it is not just 'what God is saying now'
but a sum total of what He has been saying (from before time) and is
on the brink of manifestation.
Usually, the present
truth is a word: that singular revelation you hear from the
pulpit on Sunday...or that recurrent theme that haunts you and
echoes in every trial, test and waking moment! However, the present
truth right now is not just a single word...its two (maybe more)
major things happening at the same time. As such we need to be
acutely aware that there is so much more happening than what is
right before us.
Our main text is 1
Kings 18. For three years, Elijah had prophesied the drought.
Its a season we are all familiar with but never seem to believe is
of God. Its that blessing or deliverance or change you know is
coming but is far from reflecting in your life...or that prayer you
prayed that seems hopelessly forgotten...or that delayed reward for
giving and serving that is beginning to form bitterness deep in your
heart.
You have just been
getting by. With no rainfall, that's extremely tough
to do. Its hard to keep your dignity when you have to beg for water.
It does something to you. You promise yourself a few things that are
more emotional than Biblical. You don't care. Survival is now
everything because it seems God has forgotten you. Most end up
trading the hope of tomorrow for a meal today.
I received a word in
1999. God told me that during the season prior to rain (as I now
choose to see it), He will never let my cruse of oil run dry (or
fail), if I serve Him. I gave Him my all....like the widow in the
chapter previous. He promised I will always have just enough to get
by UNTIL it rains. Then, I would not need the cruse because I will be blessed
beyond!
I was worried how that
would work. With a wife and two children, complete and utter
dependence on God's provision takes courage and faith in the Lord
and His word.
So I believed. I gave up my job and followed Him into Spirit of David
fully. 13 and a half years later, The truth is His promise has not failed, neither has the
cruse... not once! He has sustained me and my family in the most miraculous of
ways...and now...I hear the sound of the abundance of
rain.
You see, there were two
stories going on in 1 Kings 18. First, Ahab and the prophets of
Baal needed to be taught a lesson by fire and second the rain.
Likewise two elements fell from heaven in that same day: fire and
water. Fire: to consume the 'sacrifice' you have offered him that has
brought much shame and doubt and even turned people away from God
and his purpose. Fire: to lick up all doubts, deal decisively with
all outstanding issues (no matter how soaked they may be). Fire:
to restore the faith of men again (1 Kings 18. 37-39). Amen!!!
And then rain.
Psalm 23 tells me that as I was walking through the Valley of the
Shadow of Death....our God was busy on the other side of town in the
kitchen. He was preparing a table...not just a meal....a table! He
had a guest list to witness what the Lord will do (a guest list you
have gathered over the years without realising all those horrid
people were just signing up for the big finale); He has the cutlery
all laid out; the candles lit.
That's why it seems
sometimes He's not there! That's cos He's in the kitchen! Through continued and
unwavering prayer, you will see He's on the other side of town
gathering clouds and wind - changing bosses and owners, policies and
systems, designs and patterns, raising one and abasing the other for
your sake. He's on the other side of town...He left you with a rod
and a staff to comfort you as you go through but (and trust me on
this) you would rather have him on the other side of town PREPARING
the answer to all your prayers, than sobbing with you in the valley.
For we are saved by
hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why
doth he yet hope for?
Keep that hope that
saved you alive. If you could see it, then its not hope. But you can
pray it! Seven times a day if need be (verse 43) until you see the
clouds. One day of fervent and effectual prayer can reverse three
years of lack.
'Be ye holy; for I am
holy'...the Lord says, meaning: remember you are mine, separated to
serve me and worship me. If you remember that and overcome your
human fears for 'Ahabs', I will work powerfully through you in this
season - says the Lord.
All things have been
working together, advancing aggressively towards the fulfilment of
God's purpose in your life. From Dealing with our Souls to Giving
up, not just Giving. The projects...Dancing in the Son...Setting
Affections...My Life!
Its all making sense and it would be so short sighted to judge the
totality of our lives with only what we see or know.
Pray dually. Not just
for what you see but what you do not see but He has said! Gird up
your loins and get ready to run supernaturally with what the Lord
has given you to do.
...let it RAIN. |
