“And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel” (1 Kings 18:46).
TEXT — 1 Kings 18:41-46
Message
We surprise ourselves sometimes by the magnitude of the feat we accomplish when we least expect it. It might be in times of danger or when great responsibilities are suddenly thrust on us. Either way, our actions at such times soon become defining moments whose impacts extend far beyond the immediate. In spiritual terms, these are usually a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
After the victory over the prophets of Baal, Prophet Elijah prayed for rain as the nation was suffering from drought. Despite declaring a heavy downpour, there was initially no sign of rain. Elijah persisted in prayer, sending his servant seven times to check for any sign of clouds. Finally, the servant reported seeing a small cloud like the size of a man’s hand. This was the signal Elijah had been waiting for. Immediately, he sent his servant to King Ahab to announce the impending rain and instruct him to depart. The story highlights Elijah’s faith and perseverance in prayer, as well as God’s faithfulness in answering his prayers. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of trusting in God’s timing and continuing to seek Him diligently in times of need.
Soon enough, the sky became dark and heavy with clouds. Strong winds followed and then came a heavy downpour. Empowered by the Lord, Elijah dressed up quickly and ran so fast that he got to Jezreel ahead of Ahab, who was riding a chariot. Many historians say the distance from Mount Carmel to Jezreel was at least sixteen miles. Elijah covered that distance in a flash to press on Ahab the need to repent and turn from his sins before returning to his home, where the diabolical influence of his wife, Jezebel, was flourishing.
How we ought to become fleet-footed in the course of the gospel, to run faster than the speed at which the wheel of modern culture is rolling, to outpace the spread of false doctrine, and the evolution of modern-day godless practices. The command of the Lord Jesus Christ to all believers is “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” It leaves no room for lethargy, lukewarmness, coldness, or indifference. There is only one rule: rise and go.
Thought for the day
When a task is urgent, the response must be prompt.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
