Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
(James 5:17-18 NIV)
Elijah was a human, just like you and me. But he did some extraordinary things. When I read this verse, I wanted to go back and read the account in the Old Testament, which is found in 1 Kings 17.
Because Elijah prayed for the lack of rain, there was a famine in the land. Yet, God supplied food for him by way of a raven and water by a nearby brook. But after a while, the brook dried up due to no rainfall. God then told Elijah to go into a certain city and there a widow would provide him food and drink.
But when he arrived, the widow said,
“As surely as the Lord your God lives,” she replied, “I don't have any bread---only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it---and die.”
(1 Kings 17;12 NIV)
Now, why would God send Elijah there if the widow had no food? Isn't that what many of us would ask? Isn't that also what the Israelites said when God lead them to be stuck in-between the Red Sea and the Egyptians? They said "it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!". Yet, God purposefully put them in what looked like a dead situation. In fact, they were on their way out of Egypt and God told them to turn back.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites to turn back and encamp near Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea. They are to encamp by the sea, directly opposite Baal Zephon.
(Exodus 14:1-2 NIV)
Why? Why does God deliberately place us in situations like this? From my reading, it's because He wants to show us that He is God and nothing is impossible for Him. He wants to show us that He can make a way out of no way. Make rivers flow in the desert, if you will.
We know God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites. Though, they didn't expect it, God performed a miracle. On the other hand, Elijah didn't question if God was going to perform a miracle. He knew God was going to perform one. Why? Because Elijah believed if God said this widow was going to have food for him, then the widow was going to have food, regardless of her stating that she didn't have any.
So, not only did Elijah expect a miracle, He allowed God to use him as a vessel through which the miracle was performed. But bare in mind James 5 says he was a human being... just like you and me.
What does that mean for us? It means that when God says a thing we ought to believe it. God promised Elijah food and water from the widow, so he believed it, regardless of the circumstance. Likewise, we ought to believe God, no matter what our situation may or may not say. Secondly, it means that when God leads us between a rock and a hard place, then we should expect deliverance. We should expect a miracle.
But we shouldn't just expect a miracle, we should also make ourselves available to be used as a vessel through which that miracle can flow. God has used humans to perform miracles on multiple occasions... Moses, Joshua, Paul, Peter...
God's vehicle for the miracle that you are expecting could very well flow through your own hands. God has, afterall, endowed us with a certain measure of power and authority. Ephesians 3:20 tells us about the power that works in us and Romans 8:11 tells us that the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in His children.
That's power! That's authority! You mean to tell me the Holy Spirit can dwell in you, but a miracle cannot be performed through you? Nonsense. It can! The Book of James states that we are human just like Elijah for a reason. It's to show that although we are mere humans, with God, we can be vehicles for change. Vehicles for power. Vehicles for miracles.
So, will you submit to God today? Will you allow Him to use you as a vehicle through which miracles can flow? We should be willing to be used, eager to be used... because what an honor it is to be used by God!
But God needs clean vehicles. To be a vehicle or vessel for God, we need to be washed, forgiven of our sins and transgressions. We need to be vessels that allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and guide us.
You wouldn't want to travel in a dirty car, plane, or train if you were traveling, so don't expect God to use an unclean vehicle to transport His work. Let's clean ourselves up, repent, and turn from any ungodly ways. Be a clean vehicle. Because who knows? While you're waiting on that miracle, maybe God's waiting on you so that He can transport it through you.
That's all I have for you today guys. Be blessed! Lord's will, I'll see you next week.
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