1 Kings 19:4 – 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 not better than my fathers.

1 Kings 19:5 – And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

1 Kings 19:6 – 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.

1 Kings 19:7 – 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.

1 Kings 19:8 – 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.

Hello dear readers, another blog today, and we’re back to Elijah’s life! And we are dealing with after Mount Carmel. Because after the Mount Carmel victory, a dizzying low hit Elijah’s life. Revival had happened, the fire had fallen, the prophets of Baal were dead, and the rain had tumbled down and brought relief to dry, parched, cracked Israel. But then Jezebel threatened Elijah, and this mighty man of God, on the run from a woman!! Elijah hit a big low in his life. A huge low. An unexplainable low… the Lord had proved he was the God and yet Elijah hit rock bottom anyway. What can so easily happen when we take our eyes off Jesus, as Peter did when he walked on water… was filled with fear and began to sink… the Bible says looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! We can be just like Jeremiah who sunk in the mire in the dungeon. A low so low that here Elijah wanted God to take his life. It is enough Lord. We have all been there and will be there … we go through times where we want to check out from the fight. Because the Christian life is a fight, you are a soldier if you are saved… but you are on the winning side! That’s why you need the armor of God, that’s why you need the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, which is why you need the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness! The fight gets on, and it’s ON, Satan will knock us for six in ways we don’t expect, he knows how to blindside us… we are not to let him get advantage of us… we should not be ignorant of his devices… he wants to devour us… and he uses others, even fellow Christians to do it… Galatians 5:15 – But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another… and after victories or highs in our life, so often straight after comes the low. A low so low to match a high so high. Elijah got depressed, discouraged, he got down. Blackness… darkness… a darkness that can be FELT… Jude says the BLACKNESS of darkness. Not just darkness, but BLACK darkness. The black darkness of Egypt during one of the plagues… a PAINFUL darkness.

And Elijah, like us, was a perfect case for the grace of God. We all need the grace and mercy and compassion of God. He is ready to have compassion and mercy on us, to show his great grace and love. When we are weak, then he is strong. And Jesus Christ, the Son of God… knows how we feel, he is our Great High Priest. Our go between between us and God, who intercedes for us to the Father. BUT we see Jesus as Hebrews says and we read this in Hebrews 2:14-18 – Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. Jesus can identify with us, he knows how we feel. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. We read in the Bible that he bore our infirmities, he took our curse in his own body, he was reviled and he threatened not, he was wrongly imprisoned, wrongly tried, he was beaten to a pulp, his justice and judgement was taken away. He is the suffering servant, God came as a servant… to minister. To lay down his life for us. That’s what true love is… charity seeketh not her own, charity rejoiceth in the truth, charity beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. We all need some charity… charity shall cover a multitude of sins.

The Bible says the Word (Jesus) was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, FULL of grace and truth. And just like he did with Elijah here, God wants to show his mercy and compassion and grace to us. When Jesus came, he said… go and learn what this meaneth… I will have mercy and not sacrifice. He came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. He wants to go after the LOST sheep. There is rejoicing in heaven when the lost sheep is found. We have to get lost first… we are lost… but we need to see we are lost… then God can save us, he is willing to and he will. That’s what God’s law does, it makes us guilty, it makes us see how far short we have fallen of the glory of God… we see the need for a Saviour. We need to understand our immense need for Jesus. He came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel! We are that axehead which has flown off the handle and lies helpless at the bottom of the muddy Jordan river. The iron can swim… just add the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ to your situation.

Elijah went in a downward, dizzying spiral. But God stepped in. He let Elijah sleep, and he provided food for him. God gives rest to us, a rest in our spirit, in our soul that cannot be substituted for. Jesus said on the cross, IT IS FINISHED. The work is done, the victory has been. Jesus made an open show on the cross. It’s over, done… our sins paid for… just believe. In Psalms 23 we read, he maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me by the still waters, he restoreth my soul. In Psalm 4, David was on the run from Absalom, in huge trouble, in huge distress, sorrowing, and in shame and trouble… he was in the pits… and then David could write… I laid me down and slept, I awoke, for the Lord sustained me. God knows how to take care of his children. When they stoned Stephen, his face was as the face of an angel. When we are weak, he is strong. He is the great Shepherd of the sheep. He is the KEEPER. He can keep us… we cant keep ourselves, in fact we can’t keep anything, we can’t keep anything … and God want’s us to let go… because we only end up fooling ourselves and fumbling around in futility… that’s why our life, our hopes, our dreams, our will has to be surrendered to his keeping… and then things are KEPT. When the shaking comes, what he has kept, what he has established… will remain. He is the faithful Creator.

God wants to feed us… and the food we need that truly feeds us and sustains us is spiritual food which he readily gives us.  He wants to rain down manna from heaven for you. He will provide… he does provide… Abraham attested to that at Mount Moriah… Jesus said Abraham rejoiced to see my day! We need to see Jesus’ day in our lives… so we know for OURSELVES. When Peter was set free from prison… he was doubting, he was disbelieving… how can these things be… but by the end of it he said… NOW I KNOW. God’s words are spirit, and his word is our spiritual food. It is good for us. There is no substitute. Nothing else will fill and satisfy your soul. We need God’s word, we need to read it, abide in it, feed on it, mediate upon it…. it’s what makes us strong as John wrote in 1 John… I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one. God’s word is the manna that rained from heaven. Jesus is the living Word of God. He is the Bread of Heaven. His flesh is meat indeed and his blood drink indeed. Jesus said blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Do you hunger for truth? You will be blessed, you will find truth, you will KNOW the truth, the truth shall be in you and will be in you forever as John wrote, you will be filled, and the truth shall set you free.

Gods word ministers to our spirit, its how we are born again to begin with and then it’s how we grow. We start off on the milk of the word and then we eat the meat of the word. In 1 Peter we read that we are to desire the sincere milk that we may grow thereby. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Have you tasted and seen that the Lord is gracious? In a battle in the woods one day Jonathan found honey on the ground, he ate it, and his eyes were enlightened! God’s word is sweeter than the honeycomb, it will lighten our fading eyes. We need some sweet enlightenment in the battle of life. Jesus when he came did many miracles, and he opened the eyes of the blind, he gave understanding. His life gives life to his word! Is the word of God alive to you?

John the Baptist of all people wanted more proof. Here’s what Jesus told John the Baptist’s disciples to go and tell John … Matthew 11:4,5 – Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see:  The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Jesus is alive today, he will give us poor blind people sight if we want it. We have to admit we don’t see, so then Jesus can make us see. God’s Holy Spirit works in perfect harmony with the word. People today try to unhook the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth, the Comforter (God comforts us… truth is comforting!) from the word, but they are one and the same, just as God is One. The Holy Spirit doesn’t speak of himself, but what he hears he says, he works in perfect harmony with the Word of God. He honors and exalts the Lord Jesus Christ and empowers us! Jesus said, my words are spirit and they are life. Jesus said man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Every word is important. EVERY single word in the Bible. Jesus said every hair on our head is numbered, Jesus said not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law till all be fulfilled. That’s how exact and interested in details God is. He can number the stars of heaven and the sand on the sea shore. Noone else can.

We need to get to the king’s table. And not be intercepted before as Absalom, the devil, who intercepts us before we get to see the king. Watch out for Absalom!! 2 Samuel 15 – He’s a lovely chap, he will prey on your controversies that you want to take to the king, Satan works through and sifts issues of life to try and get your heart… Absalom and so the devil will use controversies… tough situations which we are struggling to negotiate… and he will use them to turn your heart away from Jesus! Are you ready to trust God and not lean unto your own understanding, and in all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths? We read in the Old Testament of one of the sons of Jonathan, the son of Saul, a lame crippled man called Mephibosheth. David showed such great kindness to him because of his covenant with Jonathan. God honors his covenant to us. And the covenant between God and man is based on the blood of Christ. That’s it. The blood of Christ is enough, it satisfied God, it washes us, cleanses us, makes us new. Jesus did it all for us, he shed his blood, all we need to do is repent and believe. Receive what he has done for us. God says, when I see the blood, I will pass over! There is life in the blood, and Jesus’ blood has true life and true power. Accept Jesus into your life, receive his forgiveness and eternal life… live in him and through him… abide in him and he in you. Mephibosheth ate at the king’s table, this cripple, this lame, upon whom such great grace, compassion and mercy was shown. We are all lame, we are all Mephibosheth, we all struggle to walk properly! We are all earthen vessels! How about we love one another and build each other up rather than tearing ourselves apart! Charity is the MORE EXCELLENT way. All the Corinthians were squabbling about gifts… we squabble and charity goes straight out the window. And without charity we are NOTHING. We are all unworthy, but God wants to have mercy on us, he will respect the blood of his Son that covers us, and he will fill us with good things. He gives good gifts to his children. He will deal with you as a son when you are saved. He is a good Father. He is the perfect Holy Father. He knows what he’s doing with his children.

God was so good to Elijah. Elijah got sleep, he got fed, God was tender and merciful to this man of God… who was struggling greatly, but God got him up and going again. And the strength of the meat sustained Elijah on a 40 day and night journey to Mount Horeb. Wow! The food that God provides goes a long way… just a little food goes a long way! The gospel goes a very long way, in fact forever, if you hear the gospel and believe and receive the good news of forgiveness and eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ, that will last you for eternity! God’s word is enough for us. The children of Israel LOATHED the manna in the wilderness, it didn’t satisfy them… they wanted back to Egypt… we can want to feed our lusts, our hatred, our pride… we so easily want to feed what should be crucified to us… but we feed it instead and it destroys us and those around us!

Will God’s word be enough for you? It is enough, God is sufficient. He will provide. He does provide. And he provides more than enough. God provided enough for Elijah. And God doesn’t just provide… he provides something BETTER. We can think we have it made at the moment. But God wants to give us something BETTER. If Abraham hadn’t obeyed… he didn’t understand God’s will at the time… and he had to offer up what was most precious… his beloved dear only son whom he had waited his life to receive… but he obeyed God’s command, we can read and reread and miss how momentous this story is… but if he hadn’t obeyed and surrendered his will, his thoughts, his ideas, his hopes, his dreams, what was most precious to him, the thing God couldn’t have… he wouldn’t have seen Jesus’ day! You will not see Jesus’ day in your life if you don’t obey the word of God. But you will see the Lord Jesus Christ at work in your life if you obey! Even if you don’t get it… just obey the word of God! And then he provides, and provides something better. But we can be content with with what we’ve got, in fact content with something far inferior. Samson was delivering Israel, but Israel LOVED Philistine dominion… they said… Know ye not that the Philistines are rulers over us? As they came to deliver Samson… their DELIVERER (what!!!?) to the Philistines. Satan wants you to surrender your own deliverance… crazy!

If God’s word, God’s provision is not enough for you, the problem is not with God, but with you. Jesus said to the woman at the well… he that drinketh of the water that I give shall not thirst again. Are you thirsty? God can satisfy your thirst. Forgiveness. Eternal life. It’s free, and it’s in us a well of water that that springs up into everlasting life in our hearts. It’s a river in us, flowing in us and through us. And we can impact those around us. Because those who are truly saved have a joy that noone else knows of. Even in our tribulations, our fiery trials, we have joy, peace, love that cannot be understood or comprehended. Elijah’s depression was solved by God… if you are depressed, if you are in confusion, if your world is swirling in misunderstanding, in darkness, emptiness, lost in your own inadequacy and self destructive human tendencies, read God’s word, let God provide, just let go and believe him, apply the blood of Christ to the situation, apply the cross of Jesus to the situation… the good news of our salvation… get God’s love in you and let it flow through you … and the whole situation will flip… we can only truly love people when we have God’s love in us… ask God for the love of God, to give you his love, and that love then extends to us… Behold the love of God! John wrote a lot about the love of God… Jesus’ commandments were so simple… love one another… if we walk in the light we love one another, if you hate people, the love of God is not perfected in you… however all this is just words on paper until the love of God hits you like a ton of bricks. God has got good stuff for us, exactly what we need for our journey, maybe we need to come to the end of ourselves though before we are ready to receive it… it’s time to surrender and yield and submit and let God take over. God keeps his promises. He’s got plenty for all of us for our journey. Let his grace and compassion and mercy come to you, receive it, and go in the strength of it on your journey.

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