The Prophetic Word- Day 83 thru 88: God will Show Up

The Prophetic Word

Day 83: There may be a “showdown” before there’s a “show up.”

In preparation for our discussion over the next five days, please carefully read and meditate on the following scriptures:

“When they went from one nation to another, From one kingdom to another people, He permitted no one to do them wrong; Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm.” Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread. He sent a man before them— Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him. The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free. He made him Lord of his house, And ruler of all his possessions, To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.”

Psalms 105:13-22 NKJV

“And it came to pass after many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth.” Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is that you, my Lord Elijah?” And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’ ” Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals. Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.” So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention. Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.”

I Kings 18:1, 7-8, 17-19, 21, 24, 28-31, 36-40 NKJV

The word of God is true and He will fulfill every promise He has made. However, before we see that breakthrough, or before His word comes to pass, we may have to fight the good fight of faith in the face of the enemy.

Tomorrow we will begin our investigation into the showdown before the show up.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 84: God’s word will come to pass.

“For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you." And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise. For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.”

Hebrews 6:10-18 ESV

Let’s face the facts, the word of many people can’t be trusted. But, it is a huge mistake to paint God’s word with the same brush as the word of people.

Not only is God faithful to His word, faith REQUIRES that we believe in His faithfulness.

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

Hebrews 11:6 NLT

Now, what kind of faith would we have if we didn’t believe that God is faithful to His promises?

Yes, God is faithful to His promises and backs them with His holy name!

“I bow before your holy Temple as I worship. I praise your name for your unfailing love and faithfulness; for your promises are backed by all the honor of your name.”

Psalms 138:2 NLT

When Balak tried to get Balaam to curse God’s people, Balaam gave this answer:

“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!”

Numbers 23:19-20 NLT

Given, we do not always understand how the process God puts our lives through is fulfilling His promises.

Several years ago I asked the Lord why I couldn’t know more about what He had planned for me. Basically, I wanted details.

The Lord spoke very clearly back to me explaining that He, knowing that I tend toward being analytical, knew it was best that I not be given details too far in advance. He said that I would immediately begin trying to fit together all the pieces in my mind as to how what He shared with me would be possible. He basically told me that I would get in my own way.

In our opening scripture we see the writer of Hebrews encouraging the people to remain faithful in their obedience to God by reminding them of God’s faithfulness to His promises. God fulfilled His promise to Abraham because he continued to believe through extraordinary circumstances.

Of course, we want to understand how our circumstances are working toward the fulfilling of God’s promises to us. But understand, the journey God has planned for us (His will), rarely follows a straight line. And, be warned, it is during these “detours” (as we see it), that we may be tempted to question God’s promises to us. We will talk more about this tomorrow.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 85: Our Lord had to endure great hostilities to obtain His promise.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

When thinking of the things Jesus suffered, we may forget that He had the option to opt out of the mission He was on.

Indeed, He chose to humble Himself, taking on our form, and therefore, our struggles.

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

Philippians 2:5-8 NLT

God used the process of Jesus’ humanity and human frailty to hone Him into the perfect obtainer, sustainer, and leader of our salvation.

“God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.”

Hebrews 2:10 NLT

Yes, God took on flesh, and as a human being, set aside the human will, making it subservient to the will of the Father.

“saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”

Luke 22:42-44 NKJV

This setting aside of the desires of the flesh and continuing on His mission is referenced as Jesus learning obedience through the things He suffered.

“While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.”

Hebrews 5:7-10 NLT

In our opening scripture we see that our Lord had a promise to which He clung, a word which sustained Him during His suffering.

And, as the writer of Hebrews notes, we do well to follow the example our Lord provided as to how we obtain the promises of God.

Now, not only do we have the promise of salvation, we have been given many great and precious promises that come along with salvation!

“And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.”

2 Peter 1:4 NLT

But make no mistake, these promises must be held to tenaciously no matter what comes our way. Jesus did this and became highly exalted because of His obedience.

Let’s look at a little more of a passage we considered above:

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:5-11 NLT

Jesus obtained a name above all other names by being obedient to the will of the Father. We must do the same in order to obtain our promises, to see the fulfilling of our word from the Lord. We will talk more about this tomorrow.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 86: The word becomes the tester.

“Moreover He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread. He sent a man before them— Joseph—who was sold as a slave. They hurt his feet with fetters, He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested him.”

Psalms 105:16-19 NKJV

We hear about Abraham being very old when he finally received the promised son, Isaac. But, I believe the even bigger miracle is that Sarah conceived after having completely gone through what we call the change of life (menopause). Indeed, Isaac would be Sarah‘s only child, whereas Abraham had other sons.

The writer of Hebrews expresses the reason for Sarah’s steadfastness in this way:

“By faith even Sarah herself received the ability to conceive [a child], even [when she was long] past the normal age for it, because she considered Him who had given her the promise to be reliable and true [to His word].”

Hebrews 11:11 AMP

On Day 84 we discussed the faithfulness of God concerning His word. Simply put, Sarah was able to receive her promised child by believing that God would do what He had said!

The word of God—such as the word given to Sarah concerning a child of promise—works in our lives like a lathe. If you are unfamiliar with a lathe, it is a type of tool which rotates a workpiece against a fixed cutting tool. This process removes material until the desired shape is achieved. The word of God is that “fixed cutting tool.” And, as we hold to the word (counting God as faithful), it will remove from our character all those things which are not of faith.

As an example, the promise that Jesus will come again is one that many Christians have given up on. They no longer hold fast to the promise of His coming and are no longer subject to its honing. The result of fleeing the cutting edge of that promise is a Church full of very carnal Christians who look just like the world’s children.

It was this very issue that James addresses here:

“So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives]. You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.”

James 5:7-11 AMP

Whereas the promise of the Lord’s coming is probably the promise most abandoned in modern churches, James’ call to patient endurance applies to waiting for any of the things God has promised.

In our opening scripture we see the psalmist giving the example of how God used Joseph to preserve the children of Israel during a terrible famine. We see in this passage that until the promise of Joseph becoming ruler over his people was realized, the word itself, the promise, tested him.

Because Joseph remained steadfast under all kinds of pressure to abandon the promise, he became a savior for God’s chosen family.

“The king sent and released him, The ruler of the people let him go free. He made him Lord of his house, And ruler of all his possessions, To bind his princes at his pleasure, And teach his elders wisdom.”

Psalms 105:20-22 NKJV

Dear friend, many times it may look as though what God has said could not possibly be fulfilled. But make no mistake, if God has promised it, it is His job to fulfill it. Our job is to stay committed to the process of allowing the promise to form us into what God has called us to be.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 87: There might be a showdown in your future.

“The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.”

James 5:16b-18 NLT

Let’s take a little journey with the prophet Elijah today.

Elijah was a prophet of God during the reign of King Ahab of Israel. We are told that Ahab was an evil king.

“Ahab son of Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-eighth year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned in Samaria twenty-two years. But Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. And as though it were not enough to follow the sinful example of Jeroboam, he married Jezebel, the daughter of King Ethbaal of the Sidonians, and he began to bow down in worship of Baal.”

1 Kings 16:29-31 NLT

Because of Ahab’s evil deeds, God would pronounce a drought on the land through the prophet Elijah.

“Now Elijah, who was from Tishbe in Gilead, told King Ahab, “As surely as the Lord, the God of Israel, lives—the God I serve—there will be no dew or rain during the next few years until I give the word!””

1 Kings 17:1 NLT

Indeed, the pronouncement Elijah gave concerning the drought, is actually our introduction to him.

Immediately after having given the word concerning the drought, the Lord sends Elijah to one place and another where he will be preserved during the drought. During this time Elijah performs many miracles.

But then the time comes for the drought to be over, and God again speaks to Elijah giving him his orders.

“Later on, in the third year of the drought, the Lord said to Elijah, “Go and present yourself to King Ahab. Tell him that I will soon send rain!” So Elijah went to appear before Ahab. Meanwhile, the famine had become very severe in Samaria.”

1 Kings 18:1-2 NLT

Meanwhile, King Ahab sends out his servant, Obadiah, to look for water. And this happens:

“As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. “Is it really you, my Lord Elijah?” he asked. “Yes, it is,” Elijah replied. “Now go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’””

1 Kings 18:7-8 NLT

When Elijah meets up with King Ahab, Elijah calls for an “O. K. Corral” scenario.

“Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.” So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel.”

1 Kings 18:19-20 NLT

Yes, there is about to be a showdown.

Now consider this, when God spoke through Elijah concerning the drought, it happened immediately with no further action needed by Elijah. As well, he was preserved during that time.

But now—when it is time to pronounce that the drought will be over—the Lord has Elijah call for a showdown.

You see, we make a mistake to think that God must adhere to some “formula” in terms of the way He brings about His judgments and His promises.

Now, we know that God is true to His word; if He has spoken something, it will happen. However, the way He worked at one point in time, may not be the way He works at another.

In my own life, I have seen immediate action concerning some words the Lord has given me. In other cases, it took a longer time to see fulfillment, time in which there were some unusual twists and turns. Some of the words I still hold to, not having yet seen the fulfillment. But I know that just as God has been true to His word in the past, He will remain true to His word, now, and always.

In our opening scripture we see the writer of Hebrews—in stressing the power of fervent prayer—employs the story of Elijah.

Now, in this rendering of the drought scenario one could imagine that the drought happened immediately after having been spoken, and that would be true. But, as we will see, to assume that nothing of any magnitude happened between the pronouncement of the drought being over and rain falling, would be a mistake.

Before rain will again fall, there must be a showdown.

Tomorrow we will look more into the showdown at Mount Carmel.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!

The Prophetic Word

Day 88: God shows up to fulfill His word.

“Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel.”

I Kings 18:41, 45 NKJV

Yesterday we left the prophet Elijah as he was issuing a challenge to evil King Ahab.

“Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.” So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel.”

1 Kings 18:19-20 NLT

As we begin today we see that Ahab takes Elijah up on his challenge.

“So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.”

I Kings 18:20 NKJV

Elijah begins the contest on Mount Carmel by confronting the children of Israel concerning their idolatry.

“And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.”

I Kings 18:21 NKJV

The plan for the contest is that Elijah and the prophets of Baal will each offer up a sacrifice. And, the God Who answers by fire, will be worshipped.

As the story goes, the prophets of Baal cried out before their sacrifice all day long and received no answer by fire.

Following their desperate displays, Elijah begins his turn by repairing the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

“Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord…”

I Kings 18:30-32a NKJV

You see, Elijah built an altar of covenant on which to offer his sacrifice. (God had declared Israel to be His own and given them terms of the covenant.)

A good point to take from what Elijah did concerning the altar is that our prayers—in order to be effective—must be based on our covenant with God in Jesus Christ. As well, we must be true to that covenant relationship to receive its benefits.

To try to get a response from the Lord based on our covenant with Him in Jesus Christ, while not being obedient to the terms of that same covenant, is ridiculous.

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, Or take My covenant in your mouth, Seeing you hate instruction And cast My words behind you?”

Psalms 50:15-17 NKJV

[Jesus speaking:] “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46 NKJV

Elijah offered his sacrifice on the altar of God’s covenant to His people. And, Elijah was in good standing in terms of that covenant; He was walking in obedience to the Lord.

Elijah then drenches the altar, the sacrifice, and a trench around the altar, with water and prays a short—but powerful—prayer.

“And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.””

I Kings 18:36-37 NKJV

In this prayer Elijah acknowledges that He is acting on the word of the Lord and asks the Lord to vindicate him and glorify Himself before the people.

With that, fire falls down from the Lord, consuming the sacrifice, the altar, and the water!

But, the showdown isn’t over. The false prophets must be destroyed!

“And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.”

I Kings 18:40 NKJV

Now that there has been a showdown, now that the false prophets have been destroyed, God shows up and brings the rain!

This week we have examined things we must know in order to be successful in the showdown that might come before the show up (the word of the Lord coming to pass).

Let us not fall short of what God has promised by shrinking from a showdown.

Don’t be afraid! Stand on God’s word! Our God is the One Who answers by fire!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming. Get ready for Him!