He Rose Up!

https://youtu.be/AyvCdJYGVjg

He Rose Up!

She was on the brink of death. Famine was ravaging the land of Zarephath. The cold hands of death had taken her husband and now a widow with an only son, they were next in line to die. Her house was empty. All she had was some flour and oil. And gathering sticks to make her last supper with her son and face the music, the death knell, prophet  Elijah strides in. The Lord had seen her desperate situation, her predicament and despondency. She was in dire straits. Only He could save her. But He had a method in mind- a seed that would trigger the meeting of her need. That method was even double-edged. He put His prophet to the test of reliance and obedience.

He who enjoyed the miraculous provision of the water in the brook where he hid from Jezebel suddenly found that it had dried up. And what more? the ravens that brought him his daily bread ceased in their divine charity mission. God now instructs him:

9 “Arise , go to Zarephath , which belongs to Sidon , and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 1Ki17:9

Notice, God did not say, “I am sending you to a millionaire…” The prophet was tested sore “Go to a widow?”…He was also specific about the location.  Elijah had the option to obey  or die from starvation and thirst. The brook had dried up. The ravens had finished their business. He was wise to obey God and go the widow as commanded. May be she is a rich widow who had been bequeathed millions by her late husband. No! On arrival he was greeted by the sorry sight of a widow facing death. Perhaps he was tempted to backtrack. God sent him to a poor widow? His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are higher than our ways. It is foolishness in the eyes of the world. But He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise

²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

²⁶        For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are,²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence.1Cor1:25-29

This is the God who when the  children of Israel sinned and were dying of snake bites told Moses make a brazen serpent and raise it up and whoever look at it shall live. And when he obeyed those who look lived and did not die of the plague.  It was  He who told Moses to lift up his rod over the Red Sea to part it. It looked ridiculous at the time. But Moses obeyed and the sea was parted for the children of Israel to walk on dry ground. It was this same God who told Moses to strike the rock and that water will come out to quench their thirst. He did and water came out. Later when they had a similar trial, God told him, ‘This time, speak to the rock.’ Moses, in anger smote the rock and that landed him in hot water. He missed entering the Promised Land.

Our minds can play tricks on us at such times. And when we begin to ponder deeply the devil can butt in, “Yea, had God said, go to a widow? Do you really know your God? Is He not compassionate? How can He send you to such a poor widow to feed you? You have got it wrong. “

The prophet refused to budge. He refused to look at the outward appearance. He knew he heard from God who had sustained him miraculously at the brook with water and the cake from the birds of the air. He knows best. He brings water out of a rock. He does not delight in the legs of a man or the strength of a horse. His supplies our needs-not according to the richness of the channel He uses, but according to His riches in glory. Channels change but He-the Source-remains undiminished, unequalled, unparalleled. He had given His word. And if you will leave the “how” to Him, He would prove Himself to be Jehovah Jireh! He did as the prophet trusted Him and instructed the widow to defy her circumstance and first make him a cake. He then gave her a prophetic word of abundant supply which he knew God will honour. And He did. As she obeyed God, her flour and oil did not run dry. She was fed very well and so was the prophet. Glory to God.

After both of them passed the test with flying colours, then came another test.  Right before the presence of the prophet, her only son, who had experienced the divine intervention of miraculous supply fell ill and died. The widow was devastated and so was the prophet.

He realised it was the trial of his and her faith. She was desperate. It was as if her testimony was a white-wash, a mockery, a taunt and a mirage. She went to the prophet and he called on God.

21 And He stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said , “O Lord my God , I pray , let this child’s soul come back to him.” 22 Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him , and He revived. 1Kings17:21-22

He rose up!

She had been prostrated, laid low in the jaws of famine God raised her and her son up but the enemy came again to kill her son. But as she and the prophet  persevered, God gave a mammoth victory. 

That is the victory that awaits you. You will rise and shine as you obey God and sow that seed He has put in your heart. He will open the windows of heaven and pour you out blessings, so much that there will not be room enough to contain it. And if the enemy comes like a flood on a counter attack, like he came to the widow, be adamant, be undaunted, be not moved, be strong and courageous. Be not afraid, neither be you dismayed. The Spirit of the Lord will raise a standard against the enemy. Those who are with you are more than those against you. If God be for you who can be against you. The bigger the battle, the bigger the blessing. The bigger the test the bigger the testimony and triumph. That widow now, not only had a testimony of supper natural supply but also resurrection of her son from the dead.

When the enemy starts messing God’s starts His superabundant  blessing.

As you are obedient, God will change your playing field. He will open doors that cannot be shut. He will give you hidden riches in secret places  and treasures of darkness. He will begin to do exceeding abundantly, far beyond what you can ask or think; far beyond your wildest dreams. ( Isa45:1-3, Eph3:20)

He rose up! You will rise up too-in your finances, in your family, in your career, in your calling, in your marriage, in your ministry, in your mortgage,  in your house, in your health, in your business, in all you lay your hands to do in Jesus’ name. ( 1Ki17:17-24)

Rise up!