I remember the first time I had the opportunity to minister in an International setting. I was in the nation of El Salvador, and I was asked to speak at a local Church. I asked God “What should I preach on?” I sensed the Spirit of God say “I want you to preach about Elijah calling down fire from heaven and when you’ve finished, I want you to call down fire from heaven.” I felt so vulnerable in that moment. I thought “God why cant you give me a little teaching on loving Jesus, why do I have to be out here on a limb? What if nothing happens?”
I imagine Elijah must have felt that way as he called the whole nation of Israel together. He was the last true Prophet left. All of the other Prophets of God had been killed and he was up against 450 prophets of Baal. He had the who nation of Israel watching him. He knew if there was no fire from heaven, he would be killed too. James 5:17 tells us “Elijah was a person just like us, and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and rain never came to the land for three years and six months. “
Elijah was a human being. He must have had doubts as he stood on that mountain. “What if the fire doesn’t fall?” “What if God chooses to ignore this prayer or delay the answer?” He knew the repercussions of failure were serious. I remember hearing a story about Benson Idahosa preaching at a Crusade in a Muslim town. He called all the deaf forward and said to all the Muslims gathered “If God doesn’t heal these people then you can stone me and run me out of town; but if Jesus is the Son of God then you must believe!” Every one of those deaf people were healed and the place was shaken with the power of the Gospel! What boldness, courage and daring!
And of course Elijah had to follow God’s leading and he had to obey God anyway. Sometimes that’s all you can do! When he prayed, the fire fell from heaven and consumed the sacrifice and then everyone knew God was alive. God loves the opportunity to prove Himself to others, but we have to be willing to go out on a limb. I remember the first time I preached and prayed for fire to fall from heaven. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the fire of God fell in that Church and the Spirit of God swept through that place like waves for hours!
Today maybe you’re out on a limb wondering where God is, wondering if He will come through for you. I want to encourage you, keep being obedient to God, you’re about to have a date with destiny. When the fire of God falls everything changes and I’m believing God that as you read this Fire on Friday’s message, that it will fall on you! That God will come through for you! Don’t you give up today, a miracles is coming your way!
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