THE ELIJAH COMPANY
Pastor Carolyn Sissom \ November 11st, 2009 (323 views)
THE ELIJAH COMPANY
Preached by: Carolyn SissomSunday, November 1, 2009 Friday night 1 Corinthians 1:28 was written out in a dream. “And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yes, and things which are not to bring to nothing things that are.” God takes men commonly considered to be foolish, weak and of no consequence and through them vindicates the superiority of His own wisdom as seen in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself a crucified man is proclaimed and exalted as Lord over the universe. In view of my recent quest concerning The Gift of Wisdom and the present outpouring of that Gift on the church, I first connected this scripture with Verse 30. “But of him (God) are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” Christ is revealed as the embodiment of God’s wisdom…that is our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Paul W. Marsh suggests that we can regard this as definitive of wisdom. This should be the conclusion of the matter. However, I continued to study to get understanding. The Old testament does not lack instances of God’s deliberate choice of people or instruments that were foolish, weak, despised and mere nonentities by ordinary standards in order to accomplish his purpose; in this regard the gospel marked no change of procedure on his part. By this means, he annuls all conventional canons of wisdom, power, reputation and value of the flesh. One of those Old Testament men was Elijah. He is one of the most outstanding men of the Bible. Nothing is known of his family and little of his geographic origin. The Bible states clearly and repeatedly that he was from Gilead (Transjordan). He is also called “the Tishbite” which means “sojourner, carrying off, appropriating, captivating, capturing, leading away, making a prisoner, leading captive, and (The principle of the prisoner of the Lord). 1 Ki. 17:1: “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead. This also indicates his association with a place called “Tishbe” which is unknown. This was also spoken of Melchisedec: (Heb. 7:3) “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God; abides a priest continually. Elijah’s natural pedigree is not important; he was sent from God to restore a nation! In the New Testament Elijah is called “Elias” for a total of 30 times.
Thirty is the number of the throne of God; authority and maturity.
There were Seven Mountain peaks of Elijah’s Life and Ministry:(1) PRAYING – 1 Ki. 17:1 – Elijah prayed that there would not be dew or rain for 3-1/2 years until he broke the drought by his Word.James 5:17: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of 3-1/2 years. (2) PREACHING - at Ahab’s palace (1 Kg. 17:1) Elijah was the primary prophet to Ahab. Ahab’s rule is indicative of the end-time. Elijah prophesied his death and the death of Jezebel. Ahab speaks to us of political Babylon. Jezebel speaks to us of religious Babylon. The famine speaks to us of a time of tribulation. “he did evil (idolatry) in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.” (3) PREPARATION – at the Brook Cherith (1 Kg. 17: 2-7) The Lord sent the prophet eastward to hide by the Brook Cherith that was before Jordan, to drink of that brook; “I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.” Spiritual growth denotes change after change. At Cherith God cut on Elijah’s pride (taken out of the limelight), fear (of losing position). He had to yield his rights and have complete trust in God. Elijah obeyed. When he got comfortable with his own private brook, the brook dried up and he had to move on. No more fresh word.(4) PROVISION – at Zarephath (1 Kg. 17: 8-24) Elijah was sent to operate the word he ate at Cherith! He had been changed and was about to bring change to someone else whose word and spirit was scarce! The same way the Lord commanded the ravens, he commanded a widow woman. Jesus refers to this as an honor given to the Gentile widow but denied to the unbelieving Israelites. (Luke 4:25-26) “But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months when great famine was throughout all the land; but unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon unto a woman that was a widow.” The woman received the prophet’s reward; that is, what the prophet said. (Matt. 10:41-42). God had cut the prophet at Cherith. Now he was refining and smelting him at Zarephath before he met Ahab. (5) PROVING - at Mount Carmel (1 Kg. 18: 1-40) Elijah meets Obadiah. After many days, it was time again for more change! “Go show yourself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.” Obadiah as Ahab’s general. However, Obadiah feared God. While searching for water, Obadiah met Elijah. Go and tell Ahab, Behold Elijah is here. Obadiah replied in fear for his life. “(Vs.10) “As the Lord my God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent to find you, and they said he is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they had not found you.” He was between the devil and the deep blue sea. Ahab’s sin was idolatry. Elijah commands Ahab “gather to me all Israel unto Mt. Carmel,” with the 450 prophets of Baal, and the 400 prophets of Ashtoreth, which eat at Jezebel’s table. (1 Cor. 10:21). This done, Elijah asked the people, “How long will you halt between two opinions? (James 1:6-8) Their silence lusted after a mixture. Only the prophets of Baal showed. The contest was on. Baal speaks of the god of this world (11 Cor. 4:4). Elijah mocked the prophets. Verse 30-35 describe the restoration of the church by an Elijah ministry (Vs. 30) – Come near unto me (Eph. 4:11 – a ministry that can change the situation of drought)” – This is the key to all else. We must come close in obedience. (Tit. 1:1) Elijah restored principles of prayer, worship, and dedication. The relationship with the Lord must be repaired first. The altar is the cross of Calvary and all its principles. (Vs. 31) 12 Stones speak of government and divine order. This was also part of the preparation for the fire to fall! The stones in this passage point to the living stones of 1 Pet. 2:5. The body of Christ is an ordered Altar unto the Lord. We are princes with God. (Vs. 32) – The many stones became one altar! (1 Cor. 10:17). We are the trench (channel, conduit, and watercourse”) for the measures of seed.” The first seed came to the measure and so will His brethren. (Eph. 4:13) (Vs. 33) – The wood (humanity) was in order, as was the bullock (burnt offering of Lev. 1). The first of 4 barrels of water. (Vs. 34) -The second and third of 4 barrels of water (Eph. 5: 25-27), a total of 12 barrels. These 3 levels of faith will dispel the universal doubt and unbelief of the people, (compare Gideon’s 3 groups) (Vs. 35) - This unreasonable and illogical operation of ministry (water was scarce- 1 Sam. 3:1) concluded by filling (Jn. 3:34) the trench with water (Jn. 6:63; 15:3)! The altar was baptized with water, Spirit and fire. The fire and the Rain from heaven. (Vs. 38 & 41). At the time of the evening sacrifice (end of the age). Elijah the prophet (Corporate Company of Prophets) is coming near! Jacob became “Israel”. He had done it all by the preparation of the Word that was fed him at the Brook Cherith. (Bible revival). The time was probably the ninth hour (3 p.m.). (Acts 10) Verse 37 reveals the right pastoral attitude, “You have turned their heart back again”. (Romans 4:17). The result of this Elijah ministry that demonstrates the Kingdom is a people on their face crying, “The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God.” (18:14) (7) PARTING- AT THE River Jordan. (1 Kg. 19:19-21; 11 Kg. 1:1-4) I believe I will continue this teaching on Elijah next week. I have not touched on the relationship between Elijah and Elisha. It was that of master and servant and thus sets forth that which exists between Jesus and his ministries; specifically, that which exists between Jesus and the overcomer, that company of sons that receive His mantle (anointing)! After he finished his work and a supernatural passage through Jordan (death), he supernaturally ascended (as did Jesus). “And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind that Elijah went with Elisha from “Gilgal.” Gilgal means rolling away or the place of the circle and speaks of the place of circumcision. Every man is alone when God cuts away his flesh. “Tarry Here” is the test of the Lord, for some will stop with the outer court principle, exemplified by water baptism. They went down to “Bethel” which means “House of God” (principle of the body of Christ). There were those who had camped in this second dimension of the Feast of Pentecost. “Do you know that the Lord will take away your master from your head today?”(2:3). “So they came to Jericho” (the place of fragrance, or place of palm trees). One of the many truths of Jericho is the demonstration of the power of God to do exploits. These are content to be trend followers and not trendsetters. “And the two went on.” (2:6) Elijah went up, and his mantle came down. Jesus went up and the Holy Ghost descended. Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went and stood to view afar off; and they two stood by Jordan and Elijah took his mantle and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided, hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. Elisha asked for a double portion. Let us not be afraid to ask for a double portion. This is the portion of the firstborn. There is a high calling, and a choice covenant. Elisha had made separation in three dimensions, and had gone for the three dimensions of the life of Jehovah. Elijah was lifted up into another dimension. The Elijah Company will not just follow the Ark, but must desire to be one with the Ark (trendsetter) and led the nation in! As they still went on and talked…there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heave. The chariot is the principle of the Throne of God in motion. The horses speak of the overcomers. The mantle of power is not for our adornment, but His employment. He smote the waters and said, where is the Lord God of Elijah? (1:14) and death scurried. Elijah appeared in Matt. 17 on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses. There will even have to be a separation from those in the 100-fold realm who are afraid to pass on over. The Lord Jesus revealed two truths about Elijah: (1) Elias is come already and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever the listed. Likewise shall also the son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spoke unto them of John the Baptist. (Matt. 17:12-13) (2) “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Mt. 17:11) Elijah did come in the person of John the Baptist. The Elijah Ministry shall come in an end-time prophetic ministry (in the principle of John the Baptist) that precedes the literal coming of Jesus Christ. I expect the Lord to again choose “the base things of the world, and things which are despised has God chosen, yea, and things which are not to bring to nothing things that are.” Carolyn Sissom, PastorEastgate Ministries, Inc.www.eastgateministries.comScripture quotes from K.J.V - Bibliography – Principles of Present Truth from 1Kings by: Kelly Varner. Comments and conclusions are my own.
