© 25 Colin Melbourne
Tract images © Chick Publns. Used by permission.
After The Fire
Prophet Elijah the Tishbite endured a lesson following his divine victory on Mount Carmel, when fire from Heaven confirmed Jehovah as LORD God : The Creator of all things.
Click to read of Elijah prophesying the demise of the rulers of Israel. (c) Chick Publns.
You know the thrilling story in 1 Kings Chs. 17-19 KJV.
Satanic Rulers of Israel
Evil King Ahab and Queen Jezebel worshipped Baal (ie. Satan, Just like Zionists Today) and butchered true prophets of God.
So the LORD sent Elijah to chastise them with a drought that would only end when Elijah said so. 1 Kings 17:1 KJV;
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
Read in First Kings how the prophecy was fulfilled on Mount Carmel, and how Israel’s leaders were both turned into dog’s dinners. (Not for the sqeamish.)
Almighty God versus The Devil
Image from Chick tract, “Going To The Dogs” (C) Chick Publns. Used by kind permission
The outcome was; God’s servant had the Devil’s men “topped and deleted”, simpering King Ahab informed Queen Jezebel who, in a furious rage, demanded Elijah’s execution.
When the Prophet of Fire heard this, he fled like a scalded mountain goat into the wilderness… terrified and broken-hearted, sat under a tree, and asked the LORD to take his life.
What Crushed Him?
Two things: The Jews failed to believe God, and rejected the Word of The LORD yet again, plus he fled in fear, and by his own reckoning was no better than his peers?
He was suicidal, and wanted out of this life.
Have you ever felt such dismay?
Back to Sinai
His melancholic appeal moved the LORD to command His Angel, who offered him superfood that nourished Elijah on a forty-day journey to Mount Horeb of Sinai.
That’s Enough: I Quit
Disgruntled and alone, the LORD re-focussed Elijah with a simple question, 1 Ki. 19:9-10 KJV;
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.
Elijah reasoned he’d failed, so quit his ministry.
No Miracles: No Success
He reminds me of an Anglican missionary I met on a bus journey in the 1990’s. He’d been in Asia for three decades without a single convert.
No wonder he was depressed!
But his message was wrong, so there was no Holy Ghost conviction or miraculous confirmation.
If he’d proclaimed the Good News of what Christ has done for every sinner. he’d have seen success, but he was snared by ecumenism, so doomed to fail in dead religion.
The Message That Works…
Is the Gospel confirmed by The LORD Almighty’s miracle power, 1 Kings 19:11-13 KJV;
What doest thou here, Elijah? And he 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.What doest thou here, Elijah? 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 unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
The LORD made dog-food of Ahab and Jezebel because they rejected His Word. Don’t you become mince-meat. (C) Chick Publns. Used by kind permission.
Why Are You on Earth?
Are you fulfilling the purpose for which the LORD created and saved you?
If you are not sure, consider what the LORD said to Elijah before He gave a glimpse of how Almightiness works.
It’s summarised as:
1) Go forth: Get on with what you’ve been told to do.
2) Stand on the Mount: Depend on the mountain of Christ’s accomplishments on our behalf. Don’t move, or give way. Self-reliance and human ability are useless. Rely on Christ’s Victory, His Name, His Faith, His Spirit, and His words.
3) As you do that be certain the LORD will assuredly pass by and fulfil His word.
Notice; …AFTER the Fire.
Have you got it?
You Need the Fire Baptism
Don’t waste your Christian life tripping over your feet trying to please God without the Holy Ghost anointing He has already provided.
Get Spirit-filled, and Stay Filled.
Once you’re saved, this Holy Fire is offered freely, to abide and empower to fulfil the works Christ created you for. Filled is not 99% full: It is 100% full, and overflowing with love for Christ The LORD.
Love that obeys Him.
Elijah, the Prophet of Fire, did not have the Baptism in the Holy Ghost: Why? Because Christ had not yet; redeemed mankind, ascended to Heaven, or offered His Precious Blood on the Mercy Seat to pay for our sins.
Nor had the Holy Ghost been poured out on believers, that was a New Covenant blessing, unavailable under the Old Covenant in animal blood.
The LORD anointed the Prophets and Kings of old with the Holy Ghost upon them briefly to accomplish a specific task, but He could neither abide within their spirit, nor fill them as in the Acts two anointing.
This was a new thing that Christ prophesied, Holy Bible, John 14:15-18 and 25 KJV;
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
These words were confirmed by the Acts 2 outpouring, and ever since, whenever believers believe and receive what Christ died to offer them.
We need the power of God filling our spirits to enable us to overcome, to stand firm, and to honour The Living Word of God.
You received Christ as LORD, now Receive His Holy Spirit to be effective in your witness of Christ.
And you surely will be … after the Fire.
AMEN
© 25 Colin Melbourne
Tract images © Chick Publns. Used by permission.
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