Did I miss the voice of God
1 Kings 18: 1-2
After many days the word of the Lord came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” 2 So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria.
1 Kings 18:41-45
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees. 43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times. 44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’” 45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.
Summary
There was a famine in the land for three and a half years, due to the wickedness of the people (Luke 4:25). This famine affected everything. The fields were dry, grain didn’t grow, trees didn’t produce fruit, and there was little water. This famine affected everyone.
In the text above, the word of the Lord came to Elijah declaring that He, (The Lord) will send rain upon the earth. Again, He would send rain upon the earth, despite the famine that has lasted for three and a half years. Yes, three and a half years, the people and the land went through a dry period.
A dry period
Nothing was changing
There circumstances remained the same
It seemed to be no hope
There were holding on to a string of hope, praying that something would change
Yet, the word of the Lord came before Elijah, declaring that He (the Lord will send rain). Therefore out of obedience, Elijah went before Ahab and declared the word the Lord gave him. Notice what happens next, Ahab goes to the top of Mount Carmel, and bent down to pray. He was declaring the word of the Lord that it would rain. After he prayed he summoned his servant to go and see if the rain was coming.
If Elijah sent his servant, it meant that he was expecting the servant to come back with a good report, right? Well he didn’t. Instead, the servant came back and said, “There is nothing!” Being relentless and confident that he heard from the Lord Elijah prayed seven times, and each time he sent his servant, and on the seventh time, Hallelujah…the servant returned saying, “Behold, a little cloud like a man's hand is rising from the sea.” Glory, Glory, Glory
Lets stop right there.
How many times have we received a word from the Lord, and it seemed like the situation got worse? It almost made you re-check your notes, replay the audio tape, re-analyze the dream. You may have even went as far as to say, did the prophet miss the voice of the Lord?
How many times, have you fasted, prayed, and sowed an offering anticipating that your situation has changed?
How many nights have you cried out to the Lord, asking what you were doing wrong? You made your declarations, read your bible, fasted, sowed seeds, eliminated negativity, eagerly sought the face of God, and nothing is changing.
It’s to the point that, you are growing faint, weak, tired, and feel like giving up. Scared to say it out of your mouth, but thoughts are going through your mind, as your heart is crying, saying “Oh is there any hope?”
Oh, but I’m here to tell you the devil is a liar! Hallelujah
Despite, what the servant came back and said, Elijah was relentless. He didn’t allow the enemy to persuade him to stop praying. He didn’t allow his circumstance to analyze if indeed, the Lord had spoken to him. He knew he heard from the Lord. The bible declares, that God is not a man that he should lie (Numbers 23:19). Not one word the Lord has spoken to you shall return void (Isaiah 55:11)
The problems is that when you receive a word from the Lord, Satan fights it. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy John 10:10. Satan indeed is that thief. Hallelujah But as a believer, when we receive that word, we must press it through in prayer. Press! Press! Why? Because you are giving birth to something, and you are squeezing that thing out. You are pushing with all of your strength, that word the Lord gave you. Glory be to God.
The bible declares
Jude 1:20
But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 10: 35
Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.
Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ
My sister, My brother, don’t give up. Keep pushing. With tears in your eyes, keep pushing. Keep pressing. I don’t care what it looks like. I don’t care what others around you say!
Don’t stop, if God didn’t put purpose in your life, satan wouldn’t be fighting your: dream, breakthrough, deliverance, increase, healing.
God has a mighty purpose for your life, don’t give it. Instead press through with your prayers, press through with your faith. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)”
It’s not over, so don’t quit. You didn’t miss the voice of God. You heard right, so press.
Be blessed