1 Kings 19:3-4

Elijah was a powerful man. He was one of the few who stayed faithful to God during a time of wickedness in Israel. Furthermore he was brave enough to stand in front of a wicked king and pronounce judgement upon the Land.

He called down fire from heaven and showed a whole nation that there was a living God and yet in these few verses we catch Elijah in a moment of weakness. The same man who had called down fire from heaven the day before was running away afraid for his life.

The Lord took pity on Elijah. Psalms 103:14  God remembers that we are only human. Often times we forget that we have a God in whom we trust and we are afraid of the troubles that seem to be pressing on all sides. We are discouraged and give up but God knows, He sees and he cares despite our distrust of Him.

“Are you tempted to give way to feelings of anxious foreboding or utter despondency? In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, fear not. Have faith in God. He knows your need. He has all power. His infinite love and compassion never weary. Fear not that He will fail of fulfilling His promise.” Prophets and Kings pp. 164

Leviticus 10:3

Romans 8:38-39

“His love is not uncertain and fluctuating. Ever He watches over His children with a care that is measureless.” Prophets and Kings pp. 59

“O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thine ocean depths
its flow may richer, fuller be” George Matheson

“God gave His only-begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for our little ones. “Herein is love.” Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth!” The Desire of Ages pp. 49

1 John 4:16

Love does indeed make the world go round. Love conquers sin.

Numbers 13:26-33; 14: 1-35

The Isralelites wandered in the desert 40 years because the refused to enter the promised land. Their reason for this was because Giants occupied the land and there was seemingly no way that they would be able to defeat them. They decided that it would be better for them to turn back and go to Egypt. It seems that they had forgotten that it was God who had led them from Egypt all the way to the border of Canaan. If they returned against God’s will who would provide manna for them in the wilderness? Who would give them water? Who would part the Red Sea? Although the Israelites decision seemed logical to them, it was utter foolishness.

Whenever we attempt to go against God’s will, however logical the plan of action may be it is foolishness to do such.

Deuteronomy 2:1-23

In this passage we hear an interesting account of the “relatives” of the Israelites. The Israelites were forbidden from settling in the land belonging to the Edomites, Ammonites, and Moabites. However we are told that the land these  3 nations were occupying was not originally theirs but that giants,  very similar to those the Israelites had been afraid to conquer 40 years earlier,  had previously occupied the land. The Lord had helped these nations to drive out the giants that occupied the land.

Let us not fear the giants we may face. It is no secret what God can do. He has defeated many other giants in other people’s lives He can do the same for you.

John 14:16

As Jesus neared the end of his earthly ministry, He gave the disciples an essential gift that was to guide them in their work for the Lord. As He was going to leave, He knew the future gospel workers needed another comforter who would work as His representative on earth and be a guide to the disciples.

The disciples who had been in the company of Christ were in need of the Spirit so even more so are we as we further the work of the gospel. The Holy Spirit is to be given to all who submit themselves fully to the will of God.

Luke 4:18,19

Jesus, our example, was constantly guided by the Spirit of the Lord. in Luke 4:18, Jesus clearly outlines the way his activities were Spirit-directed. His ministry was manifestation of the guidance of the Spirit. Here we also see thw types of activities we are to expect when the Spirit guides us:
1. Preach the gospel
2. Heal the brokenhearted
3. Preach the year of the Lord
4. Give sight to the blind
5. Preach deliverance to captives
6. Liberate the bruised

Hebrews 9:14 shows how Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of death for our sins was done through the Spirit. This shows how truly empowering the Spirit is if we surrender ourselves for it to work through us.

We are to daily commit our lives and ask for the Holy Spirit. Only through the Holy Spirit can we truly live lives that fully reflect the glory of the Lord.

Rufaro Chikari