(1Kings 19:14,18; Mark 9:38-40; Acts 18:24-28; Isaiah 45:17-25)

1Kings 19 verse 14  And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

verse 18  Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him

 

This was Prophet Elijah’s account when there was a serious threat to his stand in God.

Please, this is not for the purpose of critique or criticism but for our edification. We all know Elijah was a prophet without equal. Even if he was not, we must never be a judge to anyone. Our focus here is our personal edification, as the Holy Spirit will help us. We are studying so as to fulfil the Lord desires for which He permitted this particular account to make it into the Holy Scriptures. So please, we are not learning from the saints before us as judges but as faithful and responsible students.

What the Holy Spirit is pointing out to us is “knowing that we still have faithful brethren like us, who are taking firm stand for the Lord just as we are doing”. Yes beloved, we are not alone in this race of the kingdom. There are other brethren we might not have come across, but are still faithful to our King and Lord, just as we are. Once in a while, we come across such brethren and we are left stunned that “so there are still brethren like us in this race”. Yes, there are!

In Moses’ time, we know of Jethro. In Elijah’s time, we had 7000 faithful brethren. In the disciples’ time we had those who were not counted with them but exercised same authority in the Lord Jesus’ name (Mark 9:38-40). In Paul’s time, there was Apollos (Acts 18:24-28).

Really, the population of 7000 faithful brethren to the whole population of Israel then was like a “miserable fraction” but it is showing that God still had some more people standing for Him. In this time and world of ours we might feel like the only faithful ones but God still has His people who are still numbered by Him as those who stand for Him. With the grace and strength given to us, let us find more comfort in that, we are not in solitary in this kingdom race.

The stand may not be without threat from the different vices of the evil one. In spite of this, our meditation should not be that “it is difficult to be the only one for God” but let it be “there are still more people standing for God like us.

I exhort you to continue to grow and go deeper in the knowlege of our Lord. This we help us more to understand that our stand for Christ is to be made out of a heart of love and not from compulsion. I pray that in Jesus name, we will not fall into shame, desires or intimidations that can sweep our feet off this stand.

While we talk about knowing there are others faithful brethren like us, there were some also who acted faithfully for God in solitary e.g. people like Noah, Joseph and David. Of a truth, the society was corrupt in the time of Noah but Noah was faithful to God. In David’s time, rulers and nations could be bowing to idols but David determined to bow only to the living God of Israel. Joseph might have dwelt in the midst of terrible ones like his siblings or the pagan Egyptians and again in the house of a promiscuous high class woman (Potiphar’s wife) yet he stood in unwavering faithfulness to a faithful God. Daniel was standing for God even when his standing seemed solitary and dangerous.

The strength to stand by faith is drawn from the Lord’s grace, the inner strength given by the Holy Spirit and the deeper knowledge we have about our Lord. I pray none of these will be found lacking in us, in Jesus name.

Please, be assured that the Lord knows and numbers all His faithful children (1 Kings 19:18).

May the grace and blessings of the Most High be upon us all. May His presence continuously be with us. May His mightiness fight for us. May the fire of His will continuously burn in us. And may His glory overshadow us all, in Jesus name.

 

Prayer Points

1) Father, thank You for Your grace that is sufficient for me.

2) Lord Jesus, give me the power and grace to stand for You.

3) Oh Lord, release into me Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know You fully, in Jesus name (Romans 10:2, Ephesians 1:17)

4) Lord Jesus, satisfy me in and with the riches of Your glory and magnificence.

5) Father, lead us not into temptation (Matthew 6:13).