Courtesy of elijahlist.com
Day 22 of "40 Days for 40 Years" 18 Days to Go
Elijah was a mighty man of God. He was a prophet that God used to speak forth a time of famine in the land. Elijah had been through a time of testing and had been living by faith at the brook Cherith (see 1 Kings 17:1-24). God had been providing for his needs through the ravens and the brook. It was a miraculous provision.
The provision came to an end as the brook dried up. The source of provision that Elijah relied upon was no longer available. It was only then that God directed him to move. The direction to move didn't come before the source dried up and wasn't until after the source dried up. I wonder if Elijah would have listened to God about moving before the source of his provision dried up? Often it seems that we have to reach a place of desperation before we will really listen to the direction of the Lord.
Elijah responded and went to Zarephath to see the widow that God had told to provide for Elijah. The widow was at the gates of the city, which represented the place of decision making, the place of government, and the place where the religious leaders would gather. God had the plan of provision in place for Elijah, but he had to respond in obedience. Maybe he didn't really want to move. Maybe he liked the Brook of Cherith. He had to set aside his own wants to follow the instruction of the Lord to receive his provision.
As Elijah went into Zarephath he saw a widow collecting sticks. He didn't have to search her out--she was right there! He asked her for a drink and then for a bit of bread as well. She told Elijah the truth of her desperate circumstance. She was preparing the last meal for herself and her son. She had no other source of food. She was desperate and had given up hope. She was preparing to die. So we have 2 desperate people--Elijah and the widow. Both of them needed to have their needs met, and their destinies were connected to one another. God's provision would come as both responded in obedience.
Interestingly, Zarephath means "ambush of the mouth." Often as our testing comes, the words that we speak indicate the condition of our hearts. The widow had no faith to believe for a miracle. She spoke only of what she knew to be true...she looked at her circumstances as she saw them. She didn't realize that standing before her was a prophet of God. She didn't realize that God had brought provision to her at the time she needed it most. She was preparing to die, she had given up all hope, she saw no other provision in sight, and yet Elijah, the man of God, showed up...in the nick of time.
She had to respond to Elijah's request. She had to trust and respond in obedience even if it meant that her provision would dry up sooner than later. We know that as a result of her obedience the oil and the flour continued to multiply. What if she hadn't obeyed? What if she hadn't put others before herself? Her selfless act of obedience released a continuous flow of provision not only for her and her son, but also for Elijah. Their destinies were related to one another's obedience! Her obedience affected the present and the future generation! God used an ordinary widow as a conduit for a miracle.
A widow was a woman of no social standing, no significant importance, no financial resources, and yet God chose to use her. She was willing to serve the prophet Elijah. She wasn't a woman of great faith. She was barely scraping by and had given up hope; she was at the bottom of her own barrel, but she was willing to respond to the voice of the Lord. Her heart had remained tender towards the voice of God even in her desperate situation. God used her to bring the provision for Elijah. Then God used Elijah to bring the miracle of continuous provision to her. Each act of obedience opened the door to the continuous miracle supply of the Lord for one another!Ordinary people responding to the voice of God are used to bring about extraordinary miracles
Lou Engle, James Goll, Chuck Pierce, and many other leaders in the body of Christ, are calling for a season of fasting and prayer from now until 07/07/07 for TheCall. Could it be that as the "Elijahs" of our day are asking that we participate in this fast and season of prayer that we are on the verge of a miraculous provision of God?
The Church is in a desperate place. Many of you are in a desperate place. You're in need of a miracle of provision, of healing, of life being called back into dead situations. The old way of doing things isn't working anymore. The brook of Cherith has dried up. It's time to move to the next place! Many of us are starving for fresh bread and in need of being brought back to life!
Could it be that we, the average, the widows, the moms and dads, the singles, or the seemingly insignificant and ordinary people of the world, hold the keys to the next miraculous outpourings of fresh oil and flour that will result in a miraculous provision from God for years to come? Could it be that if we humble ourselves in obedient sacrifice that God will not only bring forth provision for the Elijahs, but also for every man or woman who labors daily for the Kingdom and for the NEXT GENERATION (this and EVERY GENERATION)? Could we be at the threshold of a mighty outpouring of Holy Spirit (oil) and fresh provision (flour) from Heaven? I believe that the answer is YES!
We are at the threshold of decision at the gates; we are being asked to give what we have to give. The prophets of God are telling us that provision is on the way. The next move of God is almost here. Will we participate in humble, obedient sacrifice and give our all to see the mighty outpouring? We must respond out of obedient sacrifice. We must give all that we are being asked to give. We must not look for the provision in the natural, it isn't coming in a natural way. The provision, that which we need for continuous flow of oil (Holy Spirit) and flour (fresh revelation of bread of Life), is being promised to us. We won't see it coming until we have responded in the place of obedience.
Join us as we fast and pray. Join us as we sacrifice that which God is calling us to sacrifice. Take part in the fasting of food, media, entertainment, sleep, or whatever God calls you to do. Be a part of the next miracle outpouring of the Holy Spirit and fresh revelation that is right around the corner.
The miracle of provision that will bring forth life and revival of the next generation (in this and every generation) is in our hands!
Will we engage, or will we let this move of God pass us by? Thousands from other states have already registered for TheCall. There are VERY FEW from within Tennessee that have registered. Let your pastor know the need to register! Let your people know. It's all free!
I pray that you will seek His face about how you are to participate! Not IF, but HOW! Let us join together, link arms, be obedient together, and experience a mighty outpouring of a fresh move of the Holy Spirit and fresh revelation of the Bread of Life, Jesus! How can we not be engaged? Be blessed today! We serve a mighty God! He deserves our praise!
Cindi Whitman
A Heart Set Free Ministries
Email: aheartsetfree@bellsouth.net
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