Step In to Step Out in Ministry

Introduction

Here we have Elijah

Elijah was a prophet back in those days and he was considered to be the mouthpiece of God or God’s representative.

He would have performed countless miracles and even by the word of his mouth controlled the rain. He had the authority because of the Spirit of God in his life.

Fed by ravens. God replenished him a couple of times because of His guidance

Elijah was also an obedient servant.

Wherever God sent him he went.

He was sold out for God

Now we have a peculiar encounter. Elijah the holy, powerful man of God was afraid so he ran.

Earlier up in 1 kings 19, Jezebel was out to kill him and because of the feelings of loneliness, he wanted to give up, he wanted to die.

The Lord ask Elijah what he was doing there. Why would the Lord ask Elijah what he was doing there? It must be insinuating that he's not to be there.

Since the prophets were people who were directed by the inspiration of God to proclaim His will, then the Israelites cared nothing about God and wanted to hear nothing from him.

Elijah recognized the gentle whisper because he had a relationship with Yahweh. Jesus said, my sheep know my voice

Calmness in the midst of the storm

pulling cloak over face was a sign of reverence.

God Calls in the Midst of lowness

Have you ever realised that God will and can call you when it is that you are in your emotions?

Feelings of discouragement like Elijah, unable to function, feeling to give up, yet God calls.

You may wonder to yourself, why now God, why do I have to do this now?

Why can’t you wait until I’m happy and spritely.

Then we go with the obvious response, I can’t do it.

Believer’s don’t you think that is exactly what Satan wants?

You know ministry can be birthed under pressure.

Because we are going through so much, we tend to want to hear from God more. We want a word from Him. We start to desperately seek him.

Oh God speak now for your servant is listening. In addition to the comforting voice, there’s instruction.

Instruction for you to launch out, instruction for you to work on His behalf.

Even though ELijah was feeling low, even though he fled, ELijah went ahead and anointed ELisha. He didn’t anoint Hazael or Jehu directly, but Elisha did.

BUt I’m here to tell you that when we seek God in the midst of our fears He will be there.

God won’t call you and leave you. He will give you the strength that you need for your journey.

Not only that, we have to be obedient to the call. There’s a reason God calls us in our lowness.

We need to be dependent upon Him.

There were many times I had to preach or do something at church and I was feeling so low spiritually, the enemy felt as though He was after me.

But if Satan can use your emotional state to prevent you from doing what God is calling you to do, he would be successful.

We need to recognize Satan’s tactics but even when we fall victim, we are told that “Surely, he will deliver you from the fowler’s snare”.

In the midst of our hardships and God calls, He will deliver us. He will give us the strength that we need in order to function.

However, just as Elisha went to Horeb, the mountain of God, we need to be in God’s presence.

We have not been called to run from the enemy but to stand and fight using the authority God has given to us. The only way we can use such authority is if we are aligned with God and walking in His presence.

We Need to Be in the Presence of God

No ministry will be successful unless God is in it.

It is God who will enable us. It is God who will strengthen us. It is God who will be with us.

Moses said, if your presence is not going with us he’s not going.

We need to recognize the arsenal we have when we are in the presence of God.

Elijah said that he has been zealous for the Lord God Almighty.

He was thirsting after God and as a result, you saw32e4e3e the miracles that Elijah would have performed.

Raising a child from the dead

Prophesying and it coming to past

Proving God as Sovereign among all Gods (the show down)

God needs to be at the forefront of everything we do.

We can do nothing on our own and if we do think so, we need to recognize that the devil will have a field day with us.

We would be playing right into his hands to destroy ourselves and even others.

Illustration - I remember when I said yes to the call and was wondering how I would do it. It’s a big task, what am I to do?

But God said Zechariah 4:6 Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

The same God that ELijah was zealous far

Jehovah Sabaoth - The Lord of Hosts

The Lord in charge of armies. The militant God and if He is in charge of the armies, rest assured that He will fight on our behalf

He will command His angels concerning you so that you won’t dash your foot against a stone.

In His presence, God comforts, in His presence God strengthens, in His presence God equips, in His presence God commands

We need His presence to go with us because only then can we claim such promises

He who is within me is greater than he who is in the world

We are more than conquerors

I glory in my weakness because so that Christ’s power would rest on me

Elijah went to a particular place, a familiar place, the presence of God.

Today we have the advantage of the Holy Spirit dwelling withing us. But we need to position ourselves for active service.

Being in the presence of God does not exempt you from Satan trying to destroy you, what it means is that the Lord of Hosts is with you. One who is stronger than the enemy and we will have His glory as our rear guard.

We need to step into His presence so that we can step out in ministry. When His glory is our rear guard we will see

The manifestation of His presence

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

The miracles according to His will will be endless.

His personal presence will go with us

Higher heights and deeper depths

Uncharted territories

Saints, we need to come to the place just as Elijah where we are zealous for the Lord God Almighty.

Where we are sold out for God

Where we surrender to God and God alone.

Where we can say, Here I am Lord, send me.