1 Kings 18:30-40
This is how Elijah was recognized as a servant and prophet of God. Elijah had also prophesied about the drought for 3.5 years. During this time, God took care of him by sending him to Zarephath, to be cared for by a widow. Why did God take the trouble to care for Elijah?
Elijah was a man who was firm about the things of God. There were many prophets who all prophesied the same thing. But Elijah was alone. It was Jezebel who was in control of everything that was going on, the prophets were corrupted. This woman sought to destroy Elijah. The people were against him under the influence of this woman.
The men had forgotten that this land did not belong to them. This land belongs to the Lord. "He has brought us to this place and given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. (Deuteronomy 26:9) God had given this because of Abraham's faith. God is just. It took the iniquity of the Amorites to reach its peak for God to drive them out. We must respect the Lord. God's grace is an undeserved favor.
Despite the corruption in this world, God came down to Abraham. "The Lord does not delay in fulfilling the promise, as some think, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but wanting all to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) God is a God of compassion. He came down to Abraham to teach us a lesson. Abraham received the Lord with great gladness and eagerness. Abraham gave the best. What is important is not the thing you do, but it is the motivation behind it, the thought behind the act you do. "And though I should distribute all my goods for the food of the poor, though I should even give up my body to be burned, if I have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." (1 Corinthians 13:3) Charity is the love of God in your heart. Our problem is our interior. "Moreover, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is worthy of approval, whatever is virtuous and praiseworthy, let this be the object of your thoughts." (Philippians 4:8) Our thoughts are defiled, we are hypocrites.
Abraham had an upright and sincere heart, he gave the best. Then after the two angels went to Sodom, the Lord stayed with Abraham. Does God have to account to you? NO, God does not owe you anything. We give ourselves too many values, we think we are greater than others. When this thought of pride is in you, you are already dismissed. With God, there is no need for explanations or justifications. God looks at the heart. "Shall I hide from Abraham what I will do? (Genesis 18:17) See the value of a chosen one of God!
Isaiah 60:1-2
We are talking about your light, that is specific. It is addressed to you and not to everyone. The people of God, the Bride of Christ, will be known by all because it is a glorious moment.
Elijah, a human, was different because God had chosen him. God had appointed him as a prophet. Elijah was in the Word. This man could stand and speak and it would come to pass. See what position God puts a man in! This was in the Old Testament. God made Moses a god before men. So imagine what it will be like when the perfect one comes? You don't realize...
This year the knees are back in service. What you are about to experience cannot rise in the mind of man. "And as we have borne the image of the earthly, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:49) The heavenly is the Lord of Glory! We need discipline. We have been disrespecting God. We need the fear of God. When the Lord gave the promise to Abraham, Sarah laughed. Look at God's compassion.
God had asked Abraham to leave his homeland, and from that day on, God watched over Abraham. When God has chosen you, God will always be with you through thick and thin, because God has made His choice. When you understand this, there is no more murmuring and complaining. It is not in comfort that one will go to heaven, but it is through tribulation and trials. Sarah had natural eyes and thinking. In fact, we believe to a certain extent.
When Sarah laughed, God could have killed her on the spot. But because of Abraham, Sarah was spared. The child was to come through Sarah, not from someone else. "So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall do my pleasure, and accomplish my purpose. (Isaiah 55:11) We must know this God we serve in order to honor him. Let's not seek comfort but the life of God.
When God promises you, it is because He is able to fulfill. The Lord told Abraham that he would destroy Sodom. God cannot hide from you what He is going to do. You have to be good, loved God because it will affect the lives of those around you. Lot was Abraham's nephew, he was in Sodom. Abraham cared for him. When you love the Lord with all your heart, God takes care of yours. "We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
A chosen one needs no explanation. When the Lord spoke to him, Abraham understood right away. Abraham began to negotiate.
Genesis 18:20-33
The Lord had not said that He would destroy, but Abraham understood. This is revelation. You must be included in God's plan. God was waiting for Abraham to intercede for the people. God doesn't do anything for nothing. Depth calls for depth.
You have a worldly mind clothed with a religious mind. When you enjoy the things of the world, you don't want God to destroy that. The people of that city did not want to have anything to do with Abraham, but he interceded for them. This is the degree of love you can have for someone. Intercede for the Lord to spare those who hate you. Moses had the same thing. When God wanted to destroy the people, Moses interceded. These men knew how to talk to God. "It is a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10:31) You can touch God's heart by being sincere. God is good and wonderful, but He is firm.
When you have pride, you can't talk to God. Pride is in a son of the evil one.
There is only one shepherd: Jesus Christ! "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches" (Revelation 3:6) The Spirit is the Lord Jesus Christ. When you love the Lord, anything that is contrary to the Word, you cannot stand.
Let us love God so that we can love each other. Abraham had much love, he suffered for them. When there is a chosen one somewhere, glorify God because he will be there to intercede. It is not God's will to destroy. Is it not my desire that the wicked should die," says the Lord, the LORD? You cannot imagine the value of an elect in the eyes of God. "And will not God do justice to his chosen ones, who cry to him day and night, and delay over them?" (Luke 18:7) All that Abraham asked for, he got from God. See how God gives. God listens to his chosen ones.
Joshua prayed and the sun stopped. A man crying out "Sun, stop!" God heard one man's voice. The whole solar system stopped because a chosen man of God had the desire for that to accomplish his task.
"At the time of the presentation of the offering, Elijah the prophet came forward and said, 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel! Let it be known today that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things by your word. Answer me, LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, LORD, are God, and that you are the one who brings back their hearts" (1 Kings 18:36-37).
Always call upon the living One. Let those who are at rest rest. It is always God who does the work. If God does not bring your heart back to Him, you will always remain an idolater.