Elijah
(My God is YAH)
Reading: 1 Kings 18
Introduction
The Bible contains stories of many of the greatest men and women the
world has ever known. They do not fall into any one category: but come from
every strata of human society: kings, governors, scholars, scribes, builders,
farmers, shepherds, fishermen, publicans and tent-makers. What was the
secret of their greatness? What common factor did these individuals
possess that set them apart from ordinary mortals? How is it that they
accomplished so much to qualify for a mention in the greatest book of all
time - The Bible? In short, what was it that made the Bible
greats - great?
Was it their intellect, their education, their wealth, possessions,
appearance, social status or talent? Or was it a definable something
that is freely available to all mankind? I trust that this morning we
will discover part of their secret. It is, of course, impossible in
one sermon to analyse the lives of several people; so I have chosen
just one man for close scrutiny - Elijah the Tishbite. Why have
I chosen Elijah? The answer is because Elijah is like a
spiritual icon who calls to mind everything a last-day servant of God
should be. To me Elijah is one of the greatest believers that ever
lived: and though he never wrote a single book in the Bible, Elijah's
message is what the scriptures are all about. The Elijah message
concerns every soul on earth, especially believers living in the
closing days of this age. In this sermon I will briefly mention
well-known facts concerning Elijah and then attempt to look behind the
man at the special possession that made him great - the Elijah
Message!
1. Appearances
We live in a world where people judge by appearances. I must
confess that I am no exception to this trait: for I have often made
the mistake of judging people by their appearance. And yet how wrong I
have been. The Almighty commented to the prophet Samuel, "Man
looketh on the outward appearance." How true. What did Elijah
look like? How tall was he? What was the colour of his hair, his eyes,
his skin? Was he handsome, rich, educated? These are the things that
mostly concern the people of this world. But they are unimportant
considerations. In the day of Judgement they will count for nothing.
When asked about Elijah's appearance, some observers answered as
follows:
| 2 Kings 1:7-8
| "... He was an hairy man, and girt with a girdle of leather
about his loins."
|
This tells us very little about the man or his message, so I will move on to
discuss the important qualities Elijah possessed over and above the norm.
2. Courage
The first quality I notice about Elijah is that he had courage. Courage
to openly practice the truth at a time when most feared to do so: courage to
stand up to the hundreds of false prophets of his day: courage to rebuke an
angry monarch to his face. Elijah had that kind of courage.
| 2 Kings 1:15
| "And the angel of the Lord said to Elijah, Go down with
him: Be not afraid of him."
|
Elijah overcame his fear and courageously went to meet king Ahaziah, to
deliver a message concerning the king's sins and subsequent punishment -
death! Yes, courage is a mandatory requirement for every servant of the
Lord in these last days. Every prophet, priest and disciple must have
courage: courage to face and overcome sin which is becoming
increasingly fashionable all over the world.
3. Faith
Elijah possessed a good measure of faith in God. Bear in mind that his
name 'Elijah' means 'my God is Yah.' Yah is the short form for
Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We see Elijah's faith
expressing itself in his experience at Zarephath during Israel's three and a
half year drought and famine.
| 1 Kings 17:9-14
| "Get thee to Zarephath ... behold I have commanded a widow
woman there to sustain thee ... So he arose and went to Zarephath ...
And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said; but
make me thereof a little cake first and bring it to me, and after make
for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the Lord God of Israel. The
barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruise of oil fail,
until the day that the Lord sendeth rain upon the earth."
|
To take the last morsel of bread from a starving widow was an act of
faith in Yahweh's ability to provide thereafter. Elijah was not
displaying selfishness in this act. Instead he was demonstrating
strong faith in his God YAH. Elijah firmly believed that her
barrel of flour and bottle of oil would not run out till the rains
came. That is why he made that unusual request. Elijah believed, but
did she? The widow's faith proved as strong as his. This widow
prefigures the obedient people of God in the end-time when for three
and a half years the church will be miraculously sustained in the
'wilderness of the nations.' The widow of Zeraphath rose to the
occasion, just as the church will, and shared her last morsel with
Elijah.
| 1 Kings 17:15-16
| "And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah, and she,
and he, and her house, did eat many days. And the barrel of meal wasted
not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord,
which He spake by Elijah."
|
Of Elijah's faith the Apostle James writes:
| James 5:17-18
| "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he
prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by
the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the
heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
|
4. The Elijah Message
Now we come to what I believe is Elijah's most important holding - his
message. The Elijah message calls people to obey the commandments
of Yahweh the Almighty God of Israel: particularly those
commandments which relate to sexual conduct and pagan festivals.
- The Physical Plane
On the physical plane they are Yahweh's commandments relating to
adultery, fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, incest and rape.
- The Spiritual Plane
On the spiritual plane they are Yahweh's commandments relating to His
weekly and annual Sabbath days.
When accused by king Ahab of being a trouble-maker, Elijah's answered as
follows:
| 1 Kings 18:17-18
| "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab
said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?
And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy
father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the
LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim."
|
Baalim is Hebrew plural for Baal the god of nature and
fertility. I quote from the Westminster Dictionary of the Bible,
article 'Baal.' (emphasis mine)
-
-
"... Baal worship apparently had its origin in the belief that every
tract of ground owed its productivity to a supernatural being, or
baal, that dwelt there. The farmers probably thought that from
the Baalim, or fertility gods, of various regions came
the increase of crops, fruit and cattle...The worship of Baal was
accompanied with lascivious rites (1 Kings 14:24), the sacrifice of
children in the fire by parents (Jer.19:5), and kissing the image (1
Kings 19:18; Hos 13:2). Baal was often associated with the goddess
Astoreth (Judg.2:13), and in the vicinity of his altar there
was often an Asherah (Judg.6:30; 1 Kings 16:32-33,R.V.)"
Of the goddess Astoreth the same dictionary says:
-
- "... She was the goddess of sexual love, maternity and fertility.
Prostitution as a religious rite in the service of this goddess under
various names is widely attested. The identification of 'Ashtart
with Aphrodite is evidence of her sexual character."
Elijah's spoke out against the worship of Baal and Ashtoreth. He fearlessly
condemned sexual sin and the worship of nature and pointed to Yahweh
the CREATOR of the mighty universe: the one and only God who, in
the final analysis, controls the fertility of the earth and the womb. Over and
over again Elijah taught that obedience to Yahweh's commandments was
the only acceptable route to fertility and that man's sexual conduct must be
governed by divine law, not by human desire. Why, even the widow burst
out:
| 1 Kings 17:18
| "And she said unto Elijah, What have I to do with thee, O
thou man of God? art thou come unto me to call my sin to remembrance,
and to slay my son?"
|
When Elijah called for a three and a half year drought, he was, in fact,
demonstrating to Israel that his God YAH was the only true God: and
that it was on Yah's authority that all productivity depended. He alone can
give meaningful increase in basket and womb, and this blessing comes in
direct response to faith and obedience. This is the message of
the Bible. This is the Elijah Message.
The world is fast approaching a state that existed in the days of Elijah.
Sexual perversion is now the norm. Fornication, adultery, prostitution
and homosexuality are openly advocated by the many modern priests and
priestesses. Sin has become fashionable! But don't be deluded: these sins
are simply a sophisticated 20th century version of Baal and Ashtoreth
worship! What is even more tragic is that the collapse of sexual standards
is reflected in the church's rejection of Yahweh's weekly and annual
Sabbath days which are the divinely appointed memorials of
creation and holiness.
The keeping of Easter (Ashtaroth's fertility festival) and Christmas (The
birthday of the Sun god) are high level examples of Astaroth and Baal
worship! These are stunning facts, which you must know and take heed to.
(If you have not already done so, be sure to read our booklet,
The Festivals of the God of Israel,
which is available online.)
The Prophet Balaam
The Elijah message calls people back to the commandments of the Most
High. On both the physical and the spiritual planes it
challenges the teachings of Balaam the mercenary prophet who advocated
sexual license as a tool to overthrow Yahweh's people. Balaam was unable to
curse Israel, even though he was offered large sums of money by king Balak.
Balaam knew that the only way Israel could be overthrown was by getting
the nation to sin. So he instructed king Balak to invite the men of Israel to
Moab's heathen festivals at which sexual sin was at its height. Balak
followed Balaam's advice and the invitations went out. The men of Israel
walked straight into the trap and grievously sinned. The curses written in
the law of the Most High began to take effect. The story of Balak and
Balaam is found in Numbers chapters 22 to 25. The record goes on to tell of
a holy war between Israel and Midian: a war which, itself, was a
dramatised prophecy of the end-time attack against the powers of evil. In
that war the prophet Balaam was put to death.
| Numbers 31:8
| "And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that
were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five
kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword."
|
To preach the Elijah message in these days requires faith and
courage; because it will upset millions: especially the
religious authorities who disregard the Almighty's Sabbath
days. Like the ancient priests and priestesses of Baal and
Ashtaroth, they detest the Elijah message. It troubles them. It angers
them. They would rather hear smooth words which keep clear of sexual
sin and Sabbath-breaking: those low and high level sins which are
currently sweeping the earth. But the Most High is not mocked. His
judgements will - yea already have - begun to take effect.
| 2 Peter 2:4-15
| "For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast
them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be
reserved unto judgement; And spared not the old world, but saved
Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the
flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of
Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow,
making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and
hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful
deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of
temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be
punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of
uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed,
they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Whereas
angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing
accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural
brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things
that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own
corruption; And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as
they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and
blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they
feast with you; Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease
from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with
covetous practices; cursed children: Which have forsaken the right
way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of
Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness ..."
|
Those who proclaim the Elijah message do not fight human beings. Oh no!
our enemy is not men, but error!
| Ephesians 6:12
| "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this
world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."
|
Our battle is against sin, not people. Like Elijah we must speak out against
sin:
- The low level sins of the flesh: fornication, adultery,
prostitution, homosexuality, incest and rape.
- The high level sins of the spirit: unbelief, paganism,
commercialism in the churches and Sabbath breaking.
The Power of Truth
Elijah taught the Truth: and he backed it up with breath-taking power.
He even raised the dead!
| 1 Kings 17:21-24
| "And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and
cried unto the LORD, and said, O LORD my God, I pray thee, let this
child's soul come into him again.
And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child
came into him again, and he revived.
And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber
into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See,
thy son liveth.
And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man
of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth."
|
The Two Witnesses and the 144,000
The Elijah message will be preached by the Two Witnesses and the
144000 servants of God with great power. This power will
become apparent shortly after the 6th Seal of Revelation bursts open.
Its effect on mankind will be spectacular:
| Malachi 4:4-6
| "Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I
commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and
judgements.
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the LORD:
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart
of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a
curse."
|
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was not a reincarnation of Elijah. But like all the true
prophets of God, John preached the Elijah message: Turn away from
sexual sin and keep the commandments of God. John was a message, a
voice, calling people back to the commandments of God.
| John 1:19-23
| "... Who art thou ... Art thou Elijah? He said, I am a voice
of one crying in the wilderness. Make the way of the Lord, as said the
prophet Esaias."
|
| Matthew 3:1-12
| "... A voice ... Prepare ye ... Repent and be baptised ...
Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance ... Every tree that not forth good
fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire."
|
5. Elijah's Victory at Carmel
The story of Elijah's victory at Carmel is well known. The prophets of Baal
miserably failed to bring down fire from heaven, whereas Elijah succeeded.
There is, however, coming a time when the
'false prophet' will be able to bring down fire on the earth in the sight
of men. Be prepared for such miracles. They will come.
| Revelation 13:11-14
| "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and
he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he
exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the
earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose
deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he
maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. And
deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles
which he had power to do in the sight of the beast ..."
|
Miracles on their own, however, are no proof of truth. Satan, the Antichrist, the False Prophet and
hundreds of false prophets are also able to do breath-taking miracles!
But miracles, of themselves, are no proof of truth. Truth is found in
Yahweh's Word - the Holy Bible. If a miracle-backed doctrine is not
in agreement with the Bible, then it is false: however appealing it
may otherwise happen to be. Remember this vital fact.
During the 7th Seal the Two Witnesses will also be preaching on earth:
and, like Elijah, they will have the power to call off the rain for a period
of three and a half years. The Two Witnesses are discussed in
another Sermon.
6. Elijah at Mount Sinai
Elijah was totally exhausted after his Carmel experience and marathon run
to the entrance of Jezreel. But there were still several lessons for him to
learn: lessons about himself, his fellow believers and about his God Yah.
These lessons are described in 1 Kings 19.
- Lessons about himself
- Exhaustion / Depression
| v4
| "... and he requested for himself that he might die; and said 'It is
enough, now O Lord, take away my life ..."
|
Humility
| v4
| "... for I am not better than my fathers"
|
The need for supernatural nourishment
| v6-8
| "... And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals,
and a cruise of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid
down again. And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and
touched him, and said, arise and eat; because the journey is too great for
thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that
meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God."
|
- Lessons about Yahweh
-
| v9-17
| "... And, behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind
rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the
Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind and earthquake; but the
Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire; but the
Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. And
it was so, when Elijah heard it that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and
went out, and stood in the entering of the cave. And behold, there came a
voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here Elijah?"
|
- Duties to perform
| v15-17
| Anoint kings and a successor (Elishah).
|
- There were true believers he knew nothing of
| v18
| "Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees
which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which has not kissed him."
|
7. Elijah's Ascension
Elijah was unable to pass on his spirit to Elisha. That was - and still is - a
matter for only Yahweh to decide. He does so, after weighing the
evidence of holiness, zeal and ability which He alone can detect in
individuals.
| 2 Kings 2:9-15
| "... Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away
from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit
be upon me. And he said: Thou hast asked a hard thing:"
|
Did Elijah actually go to heaven at that time? Not according to Jesus:
| John 3:13
| "And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came
down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven."
|
Elijah is asleep in his grave, awaiting the resurrection. But his message: 'Fear
Yahweh and keep His commandments' is alive today: being proclaimed around
the world. Pray that the Holy Spirit that moved Elijah will be with us (Stewarton
Bible School) as we, with many others, seek to learn, live and preach the
Elijah Message.
July 1999
Matanyah Learning Centre, Duiwelskloof, South Africa
matanyah.cjb.net/snotes/note1111.html