“Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” 1 Kings 18:37-39
During the time of 1 Kings, Elijah served God as a prophet to Israel. A prophet is someone who hears a word from God and relays it to the people. Ahab was the King of Israel and the bible says he did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. He married Jezebel the Sidonian and went and served Baal. He built a temple for Baal in Samaria and carved a graven image of Baal for the people to worship. God was very clear when He gave Moses the ten commandments that He was a jealous God and the people of Israel were commanded not to bow down to any graven image or have any god besides the Lord God Jehovah. Ahab rejected this law and worshipped Baal openly. Ahab coveted Naboth’s vineyard and when Naboth refused to sell him his inheritance, Jezebel had Naboth murdered and Ahab took possession of Naboth’s vineyard, something that did not belong to him. Ahab was so brazen that he bragged to Elijah the prophet and told him what he had done and there were no consequences from God. Elijah proclaimed a drought that would cover all of Israel, until Elijah prayed for rain. There was a drought throughout Israel for three and a half years. During the time of drought God provided water and food for Elijah, first at the Brook Cherith and then the widow of Zarephath feed Elijah until the drought ended. After three and a half years, it was time for the showdown between the false gods Ahab served and the one true living God. God told Elijah to go and show himself to Ahab and He would send the rain. Elijah sent word through Obadiah to gather the four hundred prophets of Baal and to meet him on Mount Carmel. The people of Israel came to watch the battle of the gods. Elijah candidly asked the people, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him; but if Baal follow him.” Them Elijah instructed the prophets of Baal to prepare an altar for Baal and sacrifice a bull on the altar and if Baal sends the fire and consumes the sacrifice, the people would know that Baal is the true god. The false prophets prepared the altar and cried out to Baal all day long, cutting themselves with knives trying to get Baal to respond to a blood sacrifice. There was no fire from Baal. Psalms 115:5-8 describes idols as “They have mouths, but they do not speak; eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; noses they have, but they do not smell; They gave hands, but they do not handle, feet they have, but they do not walk, not do they utter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them.” Elijah took twelve stones and built an altar to God. He dug a trench around the altar and put fire wood on the altar. He then cut the bull into pieces and placed it on top of the wood and told the people to fill four pots full of water to pour on the sacrifice and the wood. He did this three times, until the trench was full of water. Then he prayed a simple prayer. Fire came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and licked up the water in the trench! God had answered, He was the one true God! Elijah told the people to go after the prophets of Baal and not let them escape. Then Elijah went back on the mountain and prayed for the rain to come. Each time he prayed; he sent his servant to look for clouds in the sky. Finally, after the seventh time he prayed, the servant said he saw a cloud the size of a man’s hand. As soon as he heard this, Elijah told the people to get off the mountain and run before the rain could stop them. Ahab got in his chariot and sped down the mountain and the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah and he girded up his skirts and out ran the chariots of Ahab.
I believe we have seen proof last weekend that our God is the one true God and God is interested and is involved in politics. The radical left has spread rumors and accused Donald Trump of dishonesty and conspiracy with other nations. They have tried to break him financially by fining him outlandish fines for non-criminal charges. They have drug him through court and brought 34 indictments thinking that this would stop God’s anointed man. They have invaded his home and did unlawful searches and sieges at his property at Mar Largo. In spite of all the opposition, Donald Trump has bravely rallied several times a week and meet with the American people. When all the other attempts to stop him have failed, this last weekend, in front of thousands of people and on live TV, a snipper was allowed to climb on top of a building 150 yards from the stage the President was giving a speech on. People on the ground recorded a video where they told law enforcement that they could see a man on the roof and nothing was done to secure the premises or President Trump. The sniper took aim and shot several bullets at Trump. Donne Petruska the daughter of Prophet Kim Clement told Amanda Grace the week before the shooting that God was going to take Donald Trump by the ear and turn him. Donald Trump’s head could not have been in a better position to survive the bullet fired at him. The thousands of people in Pennsylvania and the those watching on TV and on line witnessed God protecting President Trump. While we are so thankful that no weapon formed against President Trump can prosper, our thoughts and prayers go out to the three victims who were shot that day. On Monday the Supreme Court upheld the law and ruled that as President, Donald Trump had immunity from prosecution for any documents in his possession from his presidency. Instead of all the attacks causing problems, for Donald Trump, after each attack, his popularity rises tremendously and the American people are waking up the disgraceful tactics the enemy has tried to shut President Trump down with. God’s word says in Isaiah 43:11 “No weapon formed against you shall prosper.” It is evident to see this in President’s Trump. There have been many weapons formed, but none of them have prospered and hindered the call and anointing on his life. I believe Donald Trump would agree with Joseph when he told his brothers in Genesis 50:20 “you planned something bad for me, but God planned it for good to bring about the present result- the survival of many people.” All the attacks of the enemy are bringing about the good plans God has for the United States of America! God has a plan for our great nation!
As we celebrate the protection of our President, and worship God for His faithfulness, we cannot assume the political battle is over. Even thought God answered Elijah’s prayer by sending fire down from heaven and consuming the sacrifice, the raid did not start immediately. Elijah prayed seven times before his servant saw a small cloud the size of a man’s hand. We are still fighting a spiritual battle that will never end. Ephesians 6:12 makes id clear, “For we wrestle not with flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” It may look like politics, but it is a spiritual battle. Even Joe Biden said this is a battle for the soul of our nation. After seeing the policies and the endorsement of DEI, LGBTQ, the fight for abortions and all the other policies that are contrary to our Christ like faith, we can see the influence of the darkness on the current administration. The bible does not give us a pass or reason to quit when things get difficult or when we are afraid of the consequences. Ephesians 6'10 instructs, “Finally my Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Then verses 14-18 “Stand therefore having girded your waist with truth, put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all take the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.” We cannot quit praying until God’s will is completed. Elijah prayed seven times for rain and then by faith ran to safety when he saw the evidence of answered prayer in the form of a cloud the size of a man’s hand. It is more important than ever that we pray without ceasing and that we bring God’s kingdom to earth just like Jesus taught us in the Lord’s prayer. As we celebrate and worship God for His sovereign protection on President Trump, it is imperative that we continue the spiritual battle in prayer. When the time comes, we will feel the hand of God on us and we will be able to mighty things like Elijah out running Ahab’s chariot. Get ready! God has great things in store for you and for our beloved United States of America.
Cathy Nesmith