During King Ahab’s reign, Elijah killed 850 false prophets and called down fire from Heaven, yet he ran for his life into the wilderness, covered in deep discouragement and fear all because of one woman’s words. 1 Kings 18 & 19 is a powerful passage and I’ll have to unpack it in another course. 🙂 But what I want to highlight here is what Elijah was conscious of. He was used mightily by God to tear down earthly kingdoms yet when he received bad news, he chose to be conscious of his fears instead of being conscious of His God!
When we are conscious of Jesus (His Presence, power and rulership), we will see earthly kingdoms (which includes our own mindsets and strongholds we may be wresting with), obliterated by the power of His Lordship and Kingship.
Our minds become renewed and transformed as Holy Spirit deepens our awareness of the Person and Presence of Jesus. Today, what are we most conscious of? What are the pervading thoughts controlling our mental airspace?
Colossians 3: 1-2Â says, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Â Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”
Paul is encouraging us to keep seeking (present tense, so it’s a perpetual, daily act) and fix our mind and heart on eternal things. When we look at our weaknesses, insecurities, failures as well as our destiny and purpose in life, THROUGH the lens of the Cross and the lens of eternity, we become more aware of Christ’s power and His ability to work through redeemed people who depend on HIS glory, righteousness and authority.
All throughout the Bible we see God’s redemptive work displayed through characters such as Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Rahab, Gideon, Ruth, David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Mary, Peter, Paul and so many, many others, who God used despite their natural limitations, weaknesses and fears. Here’s a look at some of the fathers and mothers of our faith and their very real struggles and trials, yet God demonstrated His power through their ‘yes!’
• Noah was a drunk
• Abraham was too old
• Sarah laughed
• Isaac was a daydreamer
• Jacob was a liar
• Leah was not wanted
• Joseph was abused
• Moses had a stuttering problemÂ
• Gideon was afraid
• Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
• Rahab was a prostitute
• Ruth came from a heathen lineage of incest
• Jeremiah and Timothy were too young
• David was an adulterer and a murderer
• Elijah was suicidal
• Isaiah preached naked
• Jonah ran from God
• Naomi was a widow
• Ruth came from a line of incest
• Job went bankrupt
• John the Baptist ate bugs
• Peter denied Christ
• The disciples fell asleep while praying
• Martha was too busy and worried about everything
• The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once)
• Zacchaeus was short
• Paul was too religious
• Timothy had an ulcer
• Lazarus was dead
If these very real humans in the Bible experienced failures and impossible circumstances, the same God is most definitely greater than our past, any problem we face or any weakness or insecurity we may be anxious about.
The finished work of Jesus on the Cross, our right standing with God and our unshakable position as co-heirs with Christ, is what defines our identity and destiny!
“Having determined our destiny ahead of time, He called us to Himself and transferred His perfect righteousness to everyone He called. And those who carry His perfect righteousness He co-glorified with His Son!”
Romans 8:30Â (The Passion Translation)
God’s ways of displaying His Kingdom through fallible people is far above our limited ways. He chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
The earth is groaning for answers. With all the chaos that’s happening in our world on so many levels, I believe you and I have been divinely appointed to demonstrate the ways of our King to our generation – one heart at a time.
Acts 13:36 says, “For David after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay;”
You and I have a destiny to fulfill and a purpose to accomplish. As we saw in the previous weeks, God’s destiny in our lives, flows from that place of rich and sweet intimacy and oneness with Jesus and being aware of our identity in Him.
As we grow in our knowledge and understanding of the Gospel, we walk in greater awareness of the destiny and calling on our individual lives. To the degree we surrender to His Kingship, to that degree and more, we’ll impact the earthly kingdoms around us and fulfill the mandate upon our lives.
