"Go, Return on Your Way" 9-4-09

Good morning, Lord Jesus. Be high and lifted up in my heart and throughout my day. ... "Then the Lord said to (Elijah), 'Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. Also you shall anoint Jehu has king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah in your place..." (1 Kings 19:15-16). Elijah was on a mission from God, anointed and led by the Spirit of God, when he boldly confronted the blasphemous governmental authorities and the idolatrous religious authorities of his nation (v. 18:17-40). He was flowing in the Spirit, travailing in prayer and prophetic intercession, used by the Lord as a weapon of Your warfare and an instrument of Your grace. You moved him to fervently, passionately pray for the drought to end and the rushing rains to come, breaking the curse upon the sickness of the soil of the land so that the cleansing rains, abundance of Your blessings, and revival to their destiny could come again to the people of his land (v. 18:41-46). But the enemy of his soul and the people of God was greatly displeased at the humility of Elijah's heart in his prayer before God and the boldness of his faith in his witness before man. The blasphemous submission and idolatrous worship of Baal by both government and religion throughout the land was ultimately the worship of Satan himself, as is all false worship and false religion. And Satan moved through every means of access and influence he had in the heart of Jezebel to stir up radical hatred and violent rebellion against Elijah and Your Spirit of breakthrough, revival, and awakening in the land, as You used him to prepare the way of the Lord in hearts of the people. The Spirit of Jezebel both fears and hates the Spirit of Elijah. And in her fury and fear, Jezebel mustered every measure of power she had to strike fear into the heart of Elijah to distract and destroy the man and the mission of God to restore the hearts of the people to their God, the one true God (v. 19:1-2). And in that moment, despite all the mighty victories of God and abundant fruit of Elijah's ministry in the Spirit, the Spirit of Jezebel seemed to prevail over the Spirit of Elijah. In the weakness of his human flesh and blood, it turns out "Elijah was a human being like us" (James 5:17). His flesh was not yet fully crucified; his sprit was willing, but his flesh was weak. "Then he was afraid, and he got up and fled for his life" (1 Kings 19:3). But You are the God who never leaves us nor forsakes us. You never let go. You are always with us -- even when we give in to the forces of fear and the weakness of flesh, fanned into flame by the fallen spiritual "powers of this present darkness" (Ephesians 6:12). And You were with Elijah -- providing for him, strengthening him, encouraging him to come the place where he could continue his journey, into his calling and destiny for his generation (1 Kings 19:4-14). You called him by name and asked him to look deep inside himself, to see where he had come in fear so he could hear where he should go in faith (v. 19:13-14). You were reminding him that You loved him and that Your hand was upon him (v. 18:46). In the embrace of Your arms and the glory of Your presence, Your love cast out his fear, and Your Spirit lifted off his discouragement and despair. "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). Your That's when You told him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness ..." (1 Kings 19:15). That's when You reminded him of his calling and destiny to prepare the way of the Lord. "A voice cries out: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.... Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken' "(Isaiah 40:3-5). You met Elijah where he was, but You didn't leave him there. You healed him and freed him, refreshed him and renewed him, then You returned him on his journey in fulfillment of his destiny. In fulfilling his calling and destiny in his generation, You would use to him to call forth and "anoint" the calling and destiny of others for their generation (1 Kings 19:15-18). Then in Your timing and in Your way, through Your people called by Your name and anointed in Your power, the kingdom of Ahab would come down (v. 22:37-38). And the Spirit of Jezebel would be flung down and crushed under foot (2 Kings 9:30-37). Lord, give us humility to wait in the silence and listen for the leading of Your voice. Give us faith to believe You're always with us, freeing us, healing us, reminding us of our calling and destiny in You, and returning us to our place and purpose on the journey. Let us "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of (Your) power" (Ephesians 6:10). Though we may face governmental opposition, religious deception, and human retribution, remind us that "our struggle is not against enemies of flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12). But we need not fear, "for the One who is in (us) is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Continually speak into our spirits, "In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" (John 16:33) In Jesus' name I pray, Amen. Be encouraged today! In the Love of Jesus, Tommy Hays Friends, thank you for your prayers for our Prayer Revival in central Kentucky this week. Our final night, the pastors brought in busloads of children to hear about the prayers and the God of Elijah and many received Jesus into their hearts for the first time! Praise God! Thank you for all the ways you are a part of our ministry with your prayers, encouragement, and support. I pray for breakthrough, revival, and awakening in your spirit, your land, and all the burdens of the Lord on your heart! Order my books, Free to Be Like Jesus and Morning by Morning and our other Messiah Ministries Resources or Contribute to Our Ministry on-line at:www.shop.messiah-ministries.org Subscribe by email to me at Messiah Ministries --MessiahMin@aol.com -- "Preparing the Way of the Lord ... Ministering the Healing Love of God" www.messiah-ministries.org 2800 Tates Creek Rd; Lexington, KY 40502Devotional Archives at: www.morningbymorning.blogspot.com