I am impressed today by the simple fact that Jehoshaphat, King of Judah, prayed much like his father did, King Asa of Judah!

If you remember, when King Asa faced an Ethiopian army of 1,000,000 men, awesome … he trusted God for the victory! “And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, WHETHER WITH MANY, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against THIS MULTITUDE. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.” 2nd Chronicles 14:11

Praying against a multitude!

And a generation later son Jehoshaphat was attacked by a huge force as well. “And it came to pass, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle. Then there came some that told Jehoshaphat, saying, There cometh a GREAT MULTITUDE against thee from beyond the sea on this side Syria; and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, which is Engedi.” 2nd Chronicles 20:1-2

What did King Jehoshaphat do?

He too prayed!

And Oh, what a prayer he prayed!

Claiming the promises of God, “And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, if, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.” 2nd Chronicles 20:5-12

“Our eyes are upon Thee!”

No longer leaning on wicked Ahab, as in the last war!

No longer depending on how many soldiers we can field!

“Our eyes are upon Thee!”

And God did answer!

His Words, through the Prophet Jahaziel: “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.” 2nd Chronicles 20:17

And the victory was won!

By trusting God alone!

Read the results: “And they (the Army of Judah) rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.” 2nd Chronicles 20:20-25, God so “confusing” this wicked enemy confederacy that they attacked and killed each other!

What an illustration of a Dad’s prayer life influencing (impacting) his son!

And what an illustration of the Power of God!

And what an illustration of trusting God, not an ally or a weapon … God alone!

End result: GOD ANSWERS PRAYER!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

I never thought Elijah would command six Lessons on prayer! But the Lord seemed to  impress my heart (yesterday) about today’s emphasis. The PLACE Elijah prayed when he “won” his greatest victory of life, spiritually speaking.

Many in Scripture did have a special “location” where they prayed. Or at least a “place” where prayer became essential to their lives. What a concept, famous places of prayer!

Like Gethsemane!

Like the belly of a whale!

Like a recently made altar!

Like a lonely sleeping place, where one’s head rested on a rock all night!

And … like a mountain top, one associated with the Presence of God!

And the five just mentioned places do link, in order, to … Jesus, Jonah, Abraham, Jacob and Elijah!

In fact our Lord, while making it clear there was no one special place (better than any other) where a man was required to pray … a “closet” was not a bad idea either! “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6

Let me show you what I mean, from 1st Kings 19, Elijah at Horeb, really better known as Mount Sinai. Realistically it was about a 200 mile walk from Beersheba (where the angel fed Elijah those 2 meals) to Horeb! At least a ten day trek under hurried circumstances! “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.” 1st Kings 19:8, sounds like Elijah took his time!

The next verse, “And Elijah came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and He said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?” The “conversation” has already begun.

Now talk about prayer … God to Elijah: “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by ….” 1st Kings 19:11, the Lord manifested Himself once again, there  at Horeb, Sinai! What a place to pray!

And it was there, “at the mouth of the cave,” that God encouraged Elijah.

And gave him 3 future assignments.

And, best of all, did not rebuke him once for being so despondent!

They talked, as Friend with friend.

Yet, the Lord further instructed him too. “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” 1st Kings 19:18

Maybe on occasion you too should try to find a special place (although, again, one can pray anywhere) to talk to the Lord. A place where He has been before … in mighty power. Or where some faithful saint of God has proved the Almighty again and again.

This tactic certainly proved helpful for Elijah!

I had a Preacher friend years ago who built a “rock altar” out behind the Church. That became his place of prayer. Though the man prayed everywhere he went.

I love to pray when flying, try it sometime at 36,000 feet. The clouds beside you, God via His Holy Spirit within you, and Word of God open before you … SWEET!

In an airplane!

In the car too, another of my favorite places to pray.

And if I ever went to Horeb, I’d like to pray there too!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

 

Yes, Elijah was having a “weak” moment!

Mr. Fearless has become frightened!

Yet, still, and this is VERY IMPORTANT … he is praying to God!

And in a cave, at Horeb (Mount Sinai) … God Almighty passes by! And speaks to his discouraged Prophet! “And, behold, there came a VOICE unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 1st Kings 19:14

“They seek my life,” says the man who just killed 450 false prophets of the god Baal!

Yes, a momentary lapse of courage.

But watch what God does!

He ignores the “self-pity” and “false” sense of loneliness … and gives His man more work to do!

Get BUSY for Jesus!

God commissioning (or maybe re-commissioning) Elijah!

“And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: and Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.” 1st Kings 19:15-16

While Elijah was about ready to give up!

God was planning on the future!

And He wanted Elijah to be a part of it, too!

Three assignments for the soon-to-be-busier-than-ever Prophet Elijah!

Go … anoint the next King of Syria (Hazael), whom the Lord will empower to be a scourge, a whip, for rebellious Israel!

Go … anoint the next King to replace apostate Ahab too, the zealous Jehu!

And go … anoint the next Prophet (Elisha) to keep preaching the truth to the Jews! God’s Work, God’s Plan continues, unabated, without delay or frustration!

That’s God’s reply to a discouraged servant!

Paul would have worded it this way: “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2nd Timothy 2:3

And how did all this happen, when did it happen?

As Elijah was praying!

Friend, God is not through with you either!

Jesus said it best. “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1

Or again in Luke 21:36. “Watch ye therefore, and pray always ….”

What lessons for us too.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, Elijah … you are not the only one left standing for God! Listen to the Lord: “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.” 1st Kings 19:18, many of whom were apparently “silent” believers … but God “counted” or “claimed” them nonetheless!

If you are still “with” the Lord, He knows that fact! “The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2nd Timothy 2:19

Amen!

 

 

I’m not sure Elijah’s greatest victory occurred at Mount Carmel, when he literally prayed “fire” down on that water soaked altar. Proving God to be God in the sight of all Israel.

Perhaps an even more significant lesson was learned by the Prophet when he had fled to Mount Horeb, Mount Sinai to us! And even this experience was based on prayer!

Our Prophet has just had his second angel-served Meal! And he … “did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah? AND HE SAID, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.” 1st Kings 19:8-10

My Dad would have called Elijah’s speech here “poor mouthing!” I say “speech,” the Prophet is talking to God! Directly to God! At the Mount of God! Where Moses received the Law! Such communion is also called PRAYER, folks!

Now it’s true. Believers who have been “hurt” or feel “threatened” often speak of their own self-worth! “I have been very jealous of the Lord!” Or “I am the only faithful one left!” And if you check our Text carefully, Elijah moaned this lament TWICE unto the Lord, within a very brief time!

A “pity party” is  in progress!

And a “superior attitude” is never pretty, even in a dedicated follower of the Lord!

“Grumbling” is forever unattractive to our God!

The events (their murmuring) in Israel’s life (nationally) prove that fact, particularly near and subsequently around Horeb, around Sinai! The very place Elijah is standing.

BUT AT LEAST ELIJAH BROUGH HIS COMPLAINTS TO THE LORD!

Praying his “burdens” back to his God!

Doing what Peter said, just a few hundred years ahead of time. “Casting all your care upon Him (the Lord); for He careth for you.” 1st Peter 5:7

So, how does God “answer” this prayer?

So far … not Elijah’s finest moment!

God answers with a theology Lesson!

With a Theophany (an appearance of the Almighty), visibly so!

With a Primer on knowing God better!

With a tutorial on the Ways of God!

The Lord gave Elijah much more than he ever expected!

More than he asked!

More than enough!

Just like Job was given a lesson on God’s Power … instead of an explanation of Job’s suffering!

Elijah is given a lesson on God’s Essence, God’s method of Operation … instead of various reasons for Jezebel’s seeking his life!

“And God said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. 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 an 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 in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice (probably a still, small one)unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? And Elijah said …” 1st Kings 19:11-14, where more prayer follows … “and he said!”

God is not always in the wind!

God is not always in the earthquake!

God is not always in the fire!

But God can be, at times anyway, in a “still small Voice!”

Elijah just learned something BIGGER that all his previous life lessons had taught!

Elijah, the Prophet of the big, boisterous, dramatic things!

Is now Elijah the Prophet of “small, quiet” things as well!

God is not through with Class yet … more to learn tomorrow … but already Elijah’s time at Horeb has been well spent! And this too … God can speak to us yet today … “in His still small Voice!”

Oh yes, the world yet in her future faces plenty of wind and quaking and fire … but for now … listening for that sweet Voice is enough!

Sufficient!

In fact, I can hear Him now.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

 

Yesterday we saw Elijah “strong,” a bold Man of God!

A Prophet whose prayers moved Heaven, had the very Ear of God!

Today … we see him at his “lowest!”

Discouraged … yet he still prays!

Soon after Elijah prayed fire down on that water soaked sacrifice, proving God to be God! Soon after he dispatched (executed) all those false prophets of Baal! Soon after he prayed down the rain, after a three and a half year drought!

Jezebel, perhaps the most wicked Queen Israel ever had, threatened Elijah’s life.

Ahab the apostate King had just gone back to the palace and …  “told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.” Then, immediately: “Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.” 1st Kings 19:2, you will be dead by tomorrow!

This, surprisingly, frightened Elijah!

And he ran!

“And when Elijah saw that, he arose, and WENT FOR HIS LIFE, and came to Beersheba (100 miles south), which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and HE REQUESTED FOR HIMSELF THAT HE MIGHT DIE; and said, IT IS ENOUGH; NOW, O LORD, TAKE AWAY MY LIFE; FOR I AM AM NOT BETTER THAN MY FATHERS. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him 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.” 1st Kings 19:3-8

That’s not like Elijah at all!

Perhaps he was emotionally exhausted!

Perhaps this is the “let-down” after an such an exhilarating experience! What a “victory” God had just send the righteous in Israel!

Perhaps, physically, the man merely needed sleep, exhaustion having engulfed him!

Yet, as I said, he prayed!

Again … “He requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, TAKE AWAY MY LIFE; for I am not better than my fathers.”

Wow!

Here’s a prayer of Elijah’s God did NOT answer!

Watch him accuse himself, degrade himself: “I am no better than my fathers.”

Watch him “give up,” becoming nearly suicidal!

Watch him starving with hunger … and not even wanting to eat!

WE ARE NEVER OUR BRIGHTEST MENTALLY, EMOTIONALLY, AND MAYBE SPIRITUALLY TOO, WHEN WE ARE DISCOURAGED, FEARFUL OR FRETFUL!

I told you earlier that prayer in the life of any man or woman is “cut” from the “fabric” of their very character, their very being. One “prays” as one “lives.” Unfaithful men do not pray faithful prayers! Undiscerning women do not pray incisive prayers!

And this “pleading-to-die” Elijah is now going to receive a visit from an angel of the Lord! Food, water … twice! And some rest as well!

Now let me show you something today.

Even a GIANT can pray some pretty senseless prayers.

Even this great Prophet needs help as he prays!

And help he gets!

God comes on the scene!

Like a Comforter!

There by Elijah’s side!

Miraculously strengthening him!

Food that gave nourishment for forty days and nights!

For a trip all the way to Horeb, all the way to Mont Sinai!

What a journey!

About 200 more miles, by foot!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, the same Lord stands by us in our times of discouragement too.

The Greek word “Comforter,” used often by Jesus of the Holy Spirit, translates the noun “parakletos.” It means “one who is called to come and stand by your side” … to help and strengthen and encourage, to embolden as well!

And this Holy Spirit, when I do not know how to pray properly (as Elijah in Beersheba, “Lord take away my life”) prays in my stead! Prays for me! Intercedes wisely on my behalf!

And “kill me” suddenly becomes “protect me, guide me, enable me!”

Romans 8:26 describes this. “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but THE SPIRIT ITSELF MAKETH INTERCESSION FOR US with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

The next verse too, “He (the Spirit) maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Enjoy your relationship with God, with the Godhead, with the precious Holy Spirit! Learn to, using Paul’s word, “commune” with the Holy Spirit hour by hour. Practice leaning on Him as you pray.

Jude calls this, “praying in the Holy Ghost.” Jude verse 20, precisely.

God was so good to Elijah that day long ago … because Elijah was a better Follower than his defeatism revealed on that specific occasion.

There’s more tomorrow, of course.

Friends, pray today, realizing the Holy Spirit is present to help you too.

Amen.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell