2015]
Memorise: Ask ye of the LORD rain in the time of the latter
rain; so the LORD shall make bright clouds, and give them
showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. - Zechariah
10:1
Read: (1 Kings 18:41-45 KJV )
41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink;
for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up
to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the
earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the
sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is
nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said,
Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a
man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare
thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven
was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great
rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
Bible in One Year: Jeremiah 43-44 and Acts 24:1-21
MESSAGE:
There is a point in the life of every child of God when the
appointed time for the fulfilment of a divine promise
arrives. We know as a matter of fact that the word of God is
yea and amen. We believe that His word is settled in
heaven. We are also certain that heaven and earth may
pass away but a dot in His word will not pass away
unfulfilled. Nevertheless, as the time of fulfilment of a major
prophecy approaches, we may become overwhelmed with
suspense and anxiety.
This seems to the case of Elijah in today's reading. Three
years before,the prophet had authoritatively declared to
king Ahab that there will be no dew nor rain in the land of
Israel, except by his word (1 Kings 17:1 ). Within the three
years following that event, God had answered his various
requests, and the victory over the prophets of Baal was still
fresh in his mind. Yet he knew that if God should send rain
at his word, It would be a great accomplishment and the
crowning point of his life. It was with this feeling that Elijah
approached Mount Carmel for the manifestation of the
power of God on the back of God's promise.
There are important lessons to be learnt from the way the
prophet handled the situation. First, he exhibited his faith
in the Word of God by confidently giving Ahab the
assurance to go and start celebrating the coming of the
rain. Next is the prophet's attitude to prayer. He decided to
put his faith into action through fervent prayers. He was
not tempted to leave God to fulfil His own promise.
Thirdly, the sound of abundant rain must have been a sign
from God to the prophet, because others could not hear it.
He received it with joy as a token that his prayer would be
answered, and he announced it to the world by faith. The
fourth lesson is that, even though his servant told him
"there is nothing" six times, he did not allow
discouragement to set in. He knew what God told him, and
he held onto it tenaciously. Finally, Prophet Elijah
persevered in the place of prayer. He said to his servant
"go again", seven times. He continued to watch and pray
and finally, there was a great rain. As you tarry in the place
of prayer this year, the Lord will answer all your request by
fire in Jesus' Name. Always remember this:
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the
end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for
it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
Habakkuk 2:3
Prayer Point: Father, please let every prophecy and divine
promise for my life begin to find fulfilment now in the Name
of Jesus.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional written by Pastor E.A.
Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian
Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the
world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's
Ministries.
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