NOW I KNOW YOU ARE A MAN OF GOD!

1 Kings 17:24 AMP Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord in your mouth is truth." Let me set the tone for this story, cause you know it is always a story to learn from the word. In the chapter prior some kings went against God Almighty and they caused the people to sin, the kings died and another king came. When King Ahab took the throne, the scripture said that he was worse than the kings before and not only that he committed the same sins they did but he married Jezebel. Absorb that for a moment, his sin was worse in addition he married Jezebel. When Ahab married Jezebel she convinced him to introduce the worship of other gods, she was confrontational and killed anyone who opposed her. She commanded the death of some of God's prophets, this then provoked God who spoke through the prophet Elijah. "No dew or rain will fall for the next few years. The rain will fall only when I command it to fall." 1 Kings 17:1 Then the Lord directed Elijah to go where God would take care of him. Elijah went to Kerith Ravine where the Lord fed him twice a day using ravens. This first step in obedience kept Elijah from the effects of the famine that came to the country. could you imagine going through a hurricane, tornado or a pandemic and not being affected? As some time the stream dried up, the place where you were being blessed slowed down, business slowed down; but God had more for Elijah. God said go to Sidon I have a widow that will take care of you. Elijah went to Sidon and the scriptures said that he saw a woman gathering wood and asked her to bring him some water and bread. How did he know that this was the widow? It was discernment, it was him paying attention, not getting caught up. She was going to get him the water but the bread, she looked at what she thought was not enough. She said, "I only have a handful of flour and a little bit of oil." What could that make? But this widow had already given up, she did not know where her next meal would come from beyond what she had. This lady did not know who God sent. Elijah reassured her and told her to first make him a small piece of bread and give it to him, did he not understand there was not enough flour and oil? Sir, I don't even know you. God said, "You will always have flour and oil until there is rain." The plot thickens this lady's son got sick so she went to the man of God. Although, there were hard times around her things changed when she received the man of God, after all of her blessings came a test. Her son after being sick and stopped breathing. This when her faith was tested, could she still stand on the promises of God? Her faith began to shake she said to Elijah, "You are a man of God. Can you help me? Or did you come here only to remind me of my sins and to make my son die?" Maybe she forgot but didn't this same prophet bless her, she and her son was planning on dying. Oh how quickly we forget but the man of God said to give him the child and Elijah went to his room and cried out to God. Imagine being the prophet having to go through this, this woman's faith is now shaking because she couldn't believe that God would allow her to go through something like this, a prophet is in her midst and her son got sick that doesn't even make sense. But what the enemy meant for bad God turned around for His good, what was a test became a testimony. Amid this Elijah's faith also started to shake, this child is still not breathing, I am a man of God or I think I am...or maybe I sinned and God stepped away. He may have started to doubt the gifts that he had, he may have gotten scared or even frustrated at the situation, he tried to warm up the child's body with his, he prayed. "Lord my God, I am living with this lady. Would you let such a thing happen to her? Let this boy live again!" My beloved, this child was already dead, the situation over, the relationship over, the business failed; the boy began breathing again and was alive. This situation did not and will not remain the same there is hope, there is life and breath back in the deadly situation. Through all of this widow was doubting God but when she saw that her son was breathing and alive again she said, "Now I know that you are a man of God. I know that the Lord speaks through you!" had she not went through that situation and saw God's blessing, His love, His mercy and grace she would've been Ms. Religious going to church playing church, praising god but not believing, sharing the word but not knowing God's faithfulness. Through all the drama and theatrics came God's glory! Nevertheless, Elijah still had more work to do for the Kingdom. These people were worshipping other gods and the authority over that land was being ruled by a man who was being controlled by Jezebel, a woman who would let nothing get in her way. The Lord told Elijah to go and meet with King Ahab and He will make it rain, at this point Jezebel had already killed the Lord's prophets. When Ahab saw Elijah he said, "is it, you the troublemaker." It is crazy how people do not see their wrongs, they throw blame and do not understand the effects of their actions. No dude, don't mix me up I am not a trouble maker you and your family chose other gods and don't obey the Lord. "Now tell those same people who worship other gods to bring their prophets that get the support from Queen Jezebel to meet me on Mount Carmel." 1 Kings 18:19 They got sacrifices and shared them between the other prophets and Elijah. These people jumped around, prayed, cut themselves and they got no answer from their gods. It did matter how much they prayed, how loud they got or how much blood was shed god did not show up for them but when Elijah prayed to our one true living God the fire came down from heaven and burnt the sacrifice the wood, the stones and the ground, even the water dried up from the ditch. After that, the people bowed down to the ground and worshipped God saying "The Lord is God!" I guess it was not so obvious to them that their gods were not responding and never did but it took fire from heaven to get their attention. Do you need fire from heaven to believe in the good news of Jesus Christ? Do you need some theatrics for you to believe that God is living, that He is among us and is still using His children even today? A few days ago I watched a touching movie, this guy lost his wife in a car accident and he then lost his belief in God and then became a recluse. Sometime later there was a tornado and his house was destroyed he was certain there was nothing to worry about insurance would cover the loss but it did not, his niece got sick and was about to die. This guy became angry at God saying that God could not be one of love, to allow so much hardship, wars and sickness. He took God to court, but during the time he was preparing his suit against God he was reconnected with God. With all of the pain, there were still blessings, with a loss there was gain. His toughest season ended up being his best season. I wanted to encourage you today that no matter what you are going through today there is still light in the darkness, there is a rainbow after every storm. God's promise to us is yes and amen but you must first believe in Him. This man was angry with a God he never really believed in, death turned him away from knowing how God truly loved him. It took him the time in the wilderness, the crushing, the single-season to learn more about God; that even when things look dead they can be revived. It is also during these times what is in our hearts can be revealed, what we think we don't have an issue with we actually do and sometimes we could've been playing church. The woman after Elijah spending so much time with her, she no longer was being affected by the pandemic or by lack. She forgot about how she was blessed when she was faced with a trial. What was in her heart was revealed. Let's pray and ask God to reveal what is hidden in our hearts today, for God to give us clarity on the things that may be hindering that next level of blessings. When the people in the story of Ahab and Elijah worshipped God the rain did not come right away. Elijah went up in the mountains sent his servant to look seven times and the last time he said"I see a cloud the size of a man's fist that was coming in from the sea." 1 Kings 18:44 The servant went to tell the king to leave because the rain was coming and in no time heavy rain began to fall, with wind and the grace of God came to Elijah and he ran faster than the chariots back to the city. God's move is so great that when we believe, obey and remain humble we will be able to exceed our enemies and the expectation of others and even ourselves. God's anointing is there waiting for you today!

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