TUESDAY - 11TH JULY, 2023
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
WE CAN EXERCISE OURSELVES IF WE PROVE GOD IS THERE - The Commanded Series 006
Read I Kings 17:9-16
I Kings 17:8-9, KJV
"8 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, 9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee".
Brethren, you're welcome to another faith request and growth of faith. You see, we are disciples and we're called to be instant in and out seasons (II Timothy 4:2). The acknowledgement of "in and out seasons" affirm that man would share in both bad and good weathers. However, when it's our stringent days - moment when we have numerous needs ourselves yet God (solely God) is making demands on us, it becomes of us to have it released. There's joy in a Christianity that is practiced and allowed to flower though there'll truly without falsity be many hindrances to this. Good news is that you are an overcomer because God knows you can overcome. So, He has slated you for this outcome.
It's such a shock that God didn't send Elijah to any who could boast of a store of food. Rather, He sent him to a fellow described as a widow woman. Do you know who a widow is? A widow has no husband. It means that woman lacks the needed support and so is not in anyway to be described as affluent. She's a pauper and even if she was not one before, she is now at the herald of this prominent famine. It reveals in her own statement when she says, "... and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die (I Kings 17:12, KJV). As in, what quantity of food could two sticks cook? That tells you even if she were well to do before, the famine has now dissolved and equated her to a pauper. But we can assuredly gather that she's like a worm without backbone. She's a widow woman!
When Elijah arrives at the gate of Zarephath, he must have received a witness of who the widow is actually. To prove that, he makes a demand to test if this is the commanded widow. I believe the sign would be that the commanded widow would come under command and the uncommanded will refuse the request. Though the woman confessed her own need and inadequacy also yet she opens up. Her reply to Elijah proves that she's the commanded widow.
I Kings 17:10-13, KJV "10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink. 11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12 And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son".
Did you follow the reading? From a simple request of "fetch me water to drink" which the woman succumbs to and goes to fetch, Elijah doubles it up and requests that she fetches him a morsel when returning also. Here, the woman narrates her hindrance in doing so but Elijah reinstates his last and austere demand and with a blessing. Then, the woman unarguably goes to prepare for Elijah first.
This woman gives under strict stringency. She has not seen the blessing in reality when she already agreed she'll make for Elijah first. What if nothing was multiplied in the process? She didn't even believe it that way. She rather put God first and releases to God who had placed a demand and command on her. That's the truth. Once you prove the demander and commander, you can make a release. That woman in responding to Elijah also dropped hints that proves she knew the God of Elijah somehow. While the holily dressing of Elijah could give him out as a prophet yet this woman under such circumstance of being in want wouldn't have been very much swayed by a mere appearance but the fact that she's living out a command. She identifies Elijah with his God by saying, "as the Lord thy God lives". Christian, once you prove God, once you're sure this is God making this pull on you, it is no lie, you can give under that stringency. However, mind it. Many who came to claim that a prophet collected something from them are always not those who heard God saying they should give in the first instance too. Even if Elijah had lied, this woman wouldn't have released her bread because she knew she was not any commanded for his support. Hearing God on where to administer your money is a thing to receive also. It is not only on who to marry. Covetousness also can't but put many ministers in trouble. They collect from those God has not commanded. So, this blessing can't but backfire. It is the blessing the Lord gives that makes rich and adds no sorrows. Promoted human blessings would land you in many pangs. When you collect from such God didn't ordain for you (who if they were put under command, even if they exercise themselves for your sake) won't say it or reproach you for it, then get ready to be spread all around in shame. Many stories there be of how many supposed church faithfuls have said their pastors swindled them. Agree you were stupid and dubbed by a con artist because you were neither sent to him or he to you by God. Realizing how human deception could make you yield up what you have laboriously gathered (which you didn't do willingly) is what has ressurected revenge in you for what you call, your humiliation. God is committed to all Christians and if each of us will first be a man and woman of the Spirit, He'll lead us to the commanded giver who has our bread with him or her. Even under stringency - when it's only a little meal and a little oil left in their flasks, they'll still give while trusting God who commanded them to give to be faithful to them also. Keep raising the bar. Keep doubling the standard. It would meet at the expected end if indeed God has commanded you to another commanded. He/she won't refuse you. If that fellow is ever the commanded, "he/she will not only give you water to drink but will draw water for your camels until they are done drinking also" (Gen.24:14, 17-20). They'll just be willing to come under austere conditions and sacrifices for your sake. And this won't be because you charmed or sweet tongued them. We should always experiment to find how what works and is truth. Elijah said, "give us bullocks and let us practicalize, the God of he who answers by fire is God". That's not sweet tonguing. Witnesses are all around you. Let them prove which works. Let the process alone to justify itself (I Kings 18:23-24).
I pray that God will put men under command for you. It's a great favour for men to be under command for your sake. It's the mystery of adoption at work for that time. It means God has given them to you to cater for. On each occasion that Elijah was fed, he was a commanded sent to another commanded. May you be this ordered to who is this ordered.
PRAYER: Lord, may I not be presumptuous in my Christian journey. May I always be led to reap the led's outcome.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: 1 Chronicles 9:1-10:14; Acts 27:21-44; Psalm 8:1-9; Proverbs 18:23-24
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