National Standards III: Prophecies of restoration

Christians need to access God's mind concerning his plans

A prophecy is the revelation of the mind and plans of God. It is a process where God gives man the privilege to envision His eternal plan. It is further interesting that more than 25% of the bible is prophecy. Considering that the 31,124 verses of the bible contain stories, events, genealogies, etc. God made the bible to contain so much prophecy (8,352) because He wants us to be conscious of His plans.

In fact, Jesus was unhappy with the disciples on the road to Emmaus because they were slow to believe the prophecy,

O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? Luke 24:25-27.

Furthermore Paul wrote,

I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied; for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, unless he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 1 Cor 14:5

So it means God desires that we know him, understand his mind much more than just speaking in tongues. Selah! And this is where Elijah got it spot-on. The mighty works of Elijah began with a prophecy coming from God that there will be no rain for a while (Jms 5:17, 1 Kings 17:1). This was not a scheme concocted by Elijah for public show, it was him accessing the plans and intentions of God (Prophecy) and revealing it to the Israelites.

We must remember that God has an eternal plan for all creation, and He is open to revealing these plans to his sons and daughters, as stated in Amos 3:7 says,

“Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets”.

God wants Christians to become children who are in pursuit of prophecy, and this pursuit of prophecy is what made Elijah unique.

Furthermore, let’s see the three prophecies Elijah accessed that led to transformation in Israel

1st Prophecy: Rain is coming! 1 Kings 18:1

Elijah hid for 3.5 years but had the audacity to come out of hiding because of this prophecy - He went straight for Ahab (1 Kings 18). Can you imagine the troubler of Israel stepping out of self-exile to show himself knowing his head could roll? He was not perturbed because he had the backing of God, a divine word of prophecy, a message that everyone wanted to hear.... rain is coming! How dare Elijah come out in such cavalier fashion? Well, how dare not him? He had a word of prophecy that was infallible and only he understood how it would come to pass.

Key lesson: Elijah’s audacity was out of a word of prophecy from God, is your faith and action based on a word received from God?

2nd Prophecy: The anointed ones. 1Kings 19:15-17

Here we see God planning for the triple government of order in Hazael (King of Syria), Jehu (King of Israel) and Elisha (Successor). We do not even know if Ahab was anointed but here is God giving a clear succession plan for both king and prophet that Elijah could use. In fact, Elijah’s depression (1 Kings 19:4) could possibly be because he could not see hope in the future, but with the plan of God given to him, there was a clear plan and a bright future. He now had to also be a mentor to someone else, no more just having a random boy who will check out for rain but someone he would teach to pray for rain. He also had a blueprint of God’s plan.

Key lesson: Are you discouraged, depressed, saddened by situations around you? You just need a word from God. Seek out a word from God for the current hour and allow His word give you life.

3rd Prophecy: The remnant. 1 Kings 19:18.

This seems like a word of knowledge rather than a prophecy but truly these words by God must have hit Elijah hard, “Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel”. It is the ‘yet’ that cut through me when I read the passage. God was saying, even with the corruption of the land, ‘yet’ I am still supreme and have reserved for myself 7,000 (10x more than the prophets of Baal). Elijah got the message - that he as a prophet was one of the many options of God and that he was replaceable. He saw the sovereignty of God that even in thick darkness He is the God of ‘yet’.

Key lesson: In every life, family, nation or circumstance where hope is dim and darkness seems to rules, God can still reveal himself as the'God of yet' – that nevertheless, in-spite-of the circumstances, He can still show up and cause a change. If God could preserve the 7,000 against all odds, there is nothing He cannot preserve, restore and reform.

I think God’s desire is very obvious, we must be sons and daughters of prophesy – always desiring to run based on what God is saying. That our heartbeats will be beat to His rhythm so much so that the words of Brooke Ligertwood will be evident, “Open up my eyes to the things unseen........break my heart for what breaks yours”

Hossana!!!

Previously: Battle of reason Next: The magnificent seven