Mountains are moving...do you not see it?
Strongholds are breaking...do you not feel it?
Rain is coming...do you not hear it?
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, from the Gilead settlers, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, I stand before Him, and there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command! ”” 1 Kings 17:1 HCSB
“After a long time, the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year: “Go and present yourself to Ahab. I will send rain on the surface of the land.” So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. The famine was severe in Samaria.” 1 Kings 18:1-2 HCSB
God sent a promise for rain but before the promise was given, He sent instructions.
Despite the circumstances testifying against rain...though there was a great famine in the land that had persisted for 3 years, Elijah instantly took God at His word and immediately acted upon the instructions he was given, even though he could not yet see a sign of the promise. Elijah acted on the instructions because he had confidence in God to perform what He promised.
The promise came AFTER Elijah did what was instructed.
Many of us are waiting to see the promise manifest before following the instructions God gave us but that’s not how this works. Could it be that God is waiting on you to act before He performs? Could it be that your procrastination and disobedience is the very thing delaying the manifestation of the promise?
As Pastor Chance Lynch always says, “obedience proceeds overflow.”
God sent the instruction “Go and present yourself to Ahab” BEFORE He promised saying, “I will send rain on the surface of the land”. God could’ve said, “I’m sending rain so go to Ahab” but He didn’t and I don’t believe that was a coincidence. God is intentional with every word that precedes from His mouth.
God wants us to have the faith to act on His instructions even when we don’t yet see the promise. If we don’t have faith to trust Him to perform what He’s promised, how can He trust us with what He has promised?
God is looking for radical, obedient, blind faith. Not faith that has to see in order to be believed and acted on. That’s not faith at all.
“Elijah said to Ahab, “Get up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.” So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ” In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel.” 1 Kings 18:41-45 HCSB
The servant went out and came back with the report that he saw nothing. But 7 times Elijah sent him back to look again. How persistent is your faith? Do you pray once and stop when you don’t hear an immediate or see an instant manifestation?
Though it tarry, WAIT ON IT. (Habakkuk 2:3)
Though you see nothing now, LOOK AGAIN...and again and again and again for the One Who promised is faithful to perform.
On the 7th time, the servant sees a cloud the size of a man’s fist. It seems insignificant but Elijah sends word to Ahab to “go down so the rain doesn’t stop you”. Elijah obviously anticipated a great downpour though the cloud was so small. He had faith that it doesn’t matter how small or insignificant something appears in the beginning, when it’s in the hands of God it is sure to exceed expectation.
Prepare for the promise even if it appears petite. Could it be that God will allow the promise to meet your level of faith? What do you have faith for? What are you preparing for?
In the last verse it says, “In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour.”
IN A LITTLE WHILE. The cloud seemed small but when God is involved it doesn’t take but a moment. Things that take days, weeks, months, even years - can happen suddenly when God is in the mix. We serve a God Who moves suddenly.
This Scripture has been on my spirit,
““Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.” GOD’s Decree. “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings! Blessings like wine pouring off the mountains and hills. I’ll make everything right again for My people Israel: “They’ll rebuild their ruined cities. They’ll plant vineyards and drink good wine. They’ll work their gardens and eat fresh vegetables. And I’ll plant them, plant them on their own land. They’ll never again be uprooted from the land I’ve given them.” GOD, your God, says so.” Amos 9:13-15 MSG
All it takes is a little while. All it takes is a ‘suddenly’ to turn your drought into a downpour.
Pray and wait on the Lord. Prepare! Look AGAIN. The rain is coming...do you not hear it?
