Walk With Me #Deararn.

Dance! Dance!! Dance!!!

And David danced before the LORD with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.

But as the Ark of the LORD entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she was filled with contempt for him. 2 Samuel 6:14, 16 NLT

You had to notice him every time he was in church. He sat in front, and he was always excited. He danced like crazy to every music and screamed back at the pastor every time. Many of those times, he was considered a distraction by many congregants. Did he not know that others had a right to worship too? As if he held them back from expressing their worship. Someone even argued that he might not be sane as it was not possible to be that excited week in week out.

Someone said, if you can think, then you can thank. When you think of the Lord’s goodness and remember that you are but dust, you will be grateful and need to express it anyway you can. Whether you are dancing after a victory or during a celebration like Miriam did when she led the Israelites to do after seeing Pharaoh and his armies drown at the red sea or your dance is your weapon of war to enact a decree, or a declaration of who is in charge.

If your dance has not caused indignation in some hearts like it did in Michal’s, or envy, then you are just warming up.

David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the LORD, so I celebrate before the LORD. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!” 2 Samuel 6:21-22.

Dance my friend, dance, your celebration time is here!

Dance in worship must never be thought of as performance, but always as ministry. When dance is used for the scripture, call to prayer, response to the word, call to worship, or benediction, it will be perceived as an integral part of the liturgy.

Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp.

For the LORD delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory.

Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Psalms 149:3-5

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

Praise Him!

Praise Him in the dance!

Who invented dance? How did it come to be associated with gladness?

When was the last time you danced? Has life robbed you of this beautiful gift?

Can you move your legs? Can you wave your hands? Can you move your body?

Do you hear a sound, can you hear the sound of heaven? Did you notice the leaves swaying to heaven’s music?

My beloved, if your answer to any of the questions is ‘Yes’, you need to stop whatever you are doing, obey His command and:

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp.

(Psalms 149:3)

Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,

(Psalms 150:4)

I know life has tossed you to and fro, I know you have been beaten a few times. Still, you need to throw it in the devils face and tell Him:

Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him … (Job 13:15)

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

I urge you to move your members to His music. If you listen to your heart now, you will hear the angels singing, and you see them prodding you to join in the heavenly sound. I know for some reading this, it has been a long time since there was any real reason for joy. How about:

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. (Isaiah 51:11)

How about making your dance before Him a sacrifice. With your dance, show Him you trust Him. Let the enemy understand that you are still here, a vessel in the Masters' hand and that He, God, has the final say.

Are you dancing yet? Remember it is a command. God's word commands you to praise Him in the dance.

Dance your way into victory! Dance your way into miracle!!

I know the times are rough, but you still have your legs, your members can still move. Why don't you move them? Obey the heavens command and put your feet to dancing!

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BOOKS BY Anne Ajadi:

YOU WILL MARRY WELL

GODS LADY IN WAITING

WALK WITH ME IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS

STRENGTH FOR THE JOURNEY

HEART MATTERS, LIFE MATTERS

WAIT, BELOVED, WAIT

Have you ever been in a situation where you need to hear an instruction, a command, an encouragement etc., and you hear nothing? The deadline is at hand, and nothing has shifted. What do you do? Ever been in a storm that you were desperately in need of the Masters’ touch and He was sleeping? Ever been told to wait when all you have done for the past donkey years was wait? What do you do when the word is long in coming? I mean, you know Him well, you know His voice, He has led you countless times, but now, He is silent. Have you ever had a night so long you wonder if the morning will break? Ever been in a situation so long the promise of deliverance sounds like folk tale?

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God. (Isaiah 50:10)

Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” (Mark 4:38)

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

(Psalms 27:14)

I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him.

(Isaiah 8:17)

Beloved, what are you having to wait for – the fruit of the womb, change in a wayward son/daughter, spouse, healing, commission, provision? Waiting demands absolute trust in the ability of the person who can bring about whatever we are waiting for. We fret and worry most times because we do not know the power and scope of the God we claim to know. Most times, what we claim to know is just mental assent; the truth of the Word is not really in our hearts. Someone once said, 'I know God can do it, but will He do it for me?'

Waiting is tortuous if we do not have information, and information must come out of a deep relationship with the Father. How do you know God can deal with cancer if you have not seen Him touch a headache? How do we build our trust in a God we do not see? The word tells us that all around us are things that speak of God's greatness and ability. If you can pay attention, you will know that God can do what He promised. Wait my brother, wait!

Anytime, I am in a bind, and it looks like God is long in coming, I take long walks and observe creation. I always come out of the experience, convinced that if God had not lost control over the universe, how will He lose control over my life? I may not know what He is doing, I may not understand His methods, but one thing I know, God is all-powerful, and He loves me! My nights have sometimes been very long, but I have seen a few nights turn today. That is enough to prove to me that whatever other nights I may have to endure, will also shift.

Saul could not wait for Samuel the Prophet to come and offer the sacrifice. He decided to do so himself because of pressures from the people. The result, he lost his kingdom as this was interpreted as his lack of faith in God. (1 Samuel 13:8-14)

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Abraham succumbed to pressure from his wife and had Ishmael; the world is still suffering from the effect till date. My friend, what have you been asked to wait for? You will do well to obey. Just stay there. God is never late. He has you all covered. Jesus said concerning all that the Father gave Him He did not lose any. He is not about to let you go. Relax! He will come through for you.

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THE LIFE OF AN UNDERDOG

His conception was in sin. No wonder he was almost never in the same space with his brothers. How do you let the bastard hang around the legitimate children?

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

(Psalms 51:5)

The day the prophet came, his father forgot he had a son named David. Who sent him to shepherd the flock? Did the father also forget he had sheep and someone was tending them? How come the big brothers were home, and David alone was with the sheep? When there was an errand, he was needed. One of those errands was to take bread to big brothers who had gone to war. Could they not have carried their bread?

So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” (1 Samuel 16:11)

The King got sick, and a musician was needed. Guess who got the job, our shepherd boy. He played the harp, the King got well, but signs showed the guy was going somewhere. Before he knew what was amiss, he was on the run. A whole king left kingdom issues to pursue a shepherd boy. How old could he have been? What was it about him that invoked King Saul's anger? First, it was that of his brothers and now, the King.

What was he to do? He did not ask for any of the things that characterized his life, yet he had to live that life. In time, the King lost his life, and the shepherd boy assumed his throne. The fighting continued, his God defending him all the time. He missed a step, and his household got thrown into chaos. Our King became a fugitive, his son is pursuing. What a life! In all of this, he never forgot to worship his God. From shepherd boy to King to fugitive, worship ran through.

You guessed right; this is about King David, the guy after God's heart. There's a whole lot to say for him but for now, let's content ourselves with the guy who never toyed with his God no matter what. When he was alone with sheep, he worshipped, the job in the palace was to bring God's presence down. He became King and worship was still key and when on the run, worship accompanies.

King David had a deep relationship with God. What can we say of your relationship? Is your life characterized by battles like David's was? How did he become God's favourite, and how do you plan to be?

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KINGDOM MATTERS

He set up shop for the day. Business was booming and he had no reason to complain. Thanks to the new prophet in town. Such a popular guy and very well-liked, at least by the regular people.

What did the merchant care, as long as he could sell his wares? He did not have to go into the temple. Just stayed outside and sold his goods. He had grown over the years, from selling doves and pigeons to changing money, then lending money to desperate folk. His sons operated the other shops whilst he sat over the money bank.

From all indications, the day was different; the crowd of worshippers were more than usual. Rumour had it that the new prophet was coming by. But nothing prepared him for the events that ensued, nothing!

The prophet came, whip in hand, and chased every trader out. He drove and scolded them, so angrily it was unbelievable. He overturned all the tables. What was that? Bewilderment everywhere!

His accusations were serious: He labelled them thieves and robbers. He accused them of desecrating his Father’s house. He even stated that the house should be used to pray for all nations. Who was that man? What nerve! Did he not know business had gone on at the temple for ages? How dare he?

Next thing all the sick folk and smelly fellas now had access to the temple. The greater surprise, they came out clean, whole!

Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the moneychangers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.” But the leaders were indignant. (Matthew 21:12-15 NLT)

Jesus went into the temple and chased out everyone who was selling or buying. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of the ones who were selling doves. He told them, “The Scriptures say, ‘My house should be called a place of worship.’ But you have turned it into a place where robbers hide.” Blind and lame people came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them. But the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were angry when they saw his miracles and heard the children shouting praises to the Son of David. (Matthew 21:12-15 CEV)

My friend, what brings you to Church: business, worship, social networking, fraternising? What?

Picture a crusade ground; before you get into the place of worship, you would walk by different merchants selling all kinds of wares. Many never make it into the temple; all they do is, hover around the anointing.

Let us wax spiritual a bit. We ought to remember that we are God's temples. Dare I ask, what goes on in our temples? Are we buying and selling or busy doing every other thing but the very thing for which the temple was built? What does Church spell to you: a place of business or a place of worship. What do you do in Church: trade, scam, prospect, serve, worship, or intercede?

Jesus said, 'my house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'

What are we to do in Church? Pray, intercede, bring the nations before God, heal the sick, exalt the Lord and not use His name to trade or do business. God promised, if we sought His Kingdom, all other things would be added unto us. Besides, all those things that men run after are what the Gentiles do. How can we who have the promise of God's kingdom carry on as the Gentiles do? That will be debasement, and we should resist it. Ours is a higher call, a higher life.

Beloved, if Jesus stopped at your house today, what would He do? Will he overturn tables, chase, rebuke, or would He endorse your activities?

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What to do with Wounded Soldier

What do we do with our wounded soldiers? What should we do with the wounded? The Bible recommends that we restore them in gentleness. Be kind and take care; you can trip up. When one of us is injured or derailed, it should not be for us an occasion to boast or berate. Most times, the person in the wrong already knows they are wrong. They are already beating themselves down and do not forget; the devil is already having a field day; we should not come in and continue the beating.

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else (Galatians 6:1-4)

So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

(1 Corinthians 10:12)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Remember, we are what we are by the grace of God. Be kind and gentle to others, especially when they are down; who knows, you may soon need them to be kind and gentle with you too. As we go about our daily duties, let us choose kindness and tenderness. Many of our brethren are already broken; some are at the breaking point. Be sensitive, show love and care; know this, but for the grace of God, it could be you in need.

Remember, Jesus came to seek and save the lost. He came to restore us to Himself. He came to bring back home the lost sheep. As His ambassadors, we are to do the same.

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CLEAN HOUSE

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalms 32:5)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

When was the last time you took the lid off your secret faults? When was the last time you bared your weaknesses intending to get rid of them? When was the last time you asked to be prayed for to overcome a fault or sin? When was the last time you attended a prayer meeting, and the Holy Ghost insisted on a clean house?

How do you confront sin? Who do you know that thrives in secrecy? Who lurks around in darkness? Satan. Who encourages you to hide? Lucifer.

Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.

(Psalms 32:2)

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

(Psalms 66:18)

Confession snuffs the life out of the sin. The Word tells us that if we cover our sins, we are courting trouble. The more we defend our faults, the more we empower the demons attached to them.

Richard was a good man. He loved God and loved to serve. God had blessed him, and his resolve was to use the blessings to benefit his generation. He, however, had a problem with lust. He was abused as a young boy, and this opened him up to immorality. He did not like it, but he found himself entangled in it. Every nice looking broad that came close was a candidate in his heart. Did God not say if we looked lustfully, we already did the act?

His influence brought them by the droves, and the pull was powerful. So far, he had not fallen at least in man’s eyes, but by God’s standards, he already did except, of course, if he took the sheets off. He went on for a very long time, how will it be heard? A whole Pastor Richard! Then came this day during the service; the Holy Ghost would not let up. He summoned up all the courage he could find and climbed the podium and asked the brethren to pray for him. He was dealing with lust, and he was so sure if nothing gave, he would fall.

Then the healing broke! The whole congregation was down on their faces before God, prayers, tears, repentance broke and with it came revival! The entire house got cleansed. You guessed right; even the house could not experience the fullness of God until God found a foothold in it. Did the Bible not tell us that the anointing flowed from the head? Everywhere there is sin, God cannot function, but if we do away with evil and all it embodies, we will see healings break out in their droves.

Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife; quarrels and insults are ended.

(Proverbs 22:10)

I hear some hearts wondering, 'is it not enough to tell God our sins/issues? If we tell others, it might become NEWS IN BRIEF?' What do you care? Do you want freedom from sin/issues or you wish to retain your image? What is your image anyway? Have you ever heard of the king dancing naked? He is the only one that is fooled. For some of us, our issues precede us everywhere and like it or not; issues know how to announce themselves.

My advice, get rid of them before they get rid of you. If you are the custodian of other people's secrets, be careful how you deal with them. Remember you also have faults, and you would not want them paraded on dinner tables. Covering one another is a virtue.

One of the most humbling stories of the Bible for me is the story of that of the fig tree. Jesus wanted fruit, and there was none. It makes me ask myself, do I look like it and am not it? For me, it is a scary thought. I never want to be caught like that, so I endeavour to keep myself in check.

My friend, today, free yourself, the only cloak you need around you is the one the Blood of Jesus

Will Your ‘But’ Hinder You?

He had it all - power, position, influence. He was at the peak of his career, and everyone respected him. By him, victories were wrought for his country. The king owed him a lot. He had soldiers under him, but he was a leper. Pray, when did he become one? Before or after he rose in his career? How did he pull it off? Did he have to retire after becoming leprous? Aren't lepers supposed to be kept outside the camp? Are the rules different in Syria?

How come this leper had a household that even had servants? How were they relating to him? Did he have to tie a bell on his legs? Was he allowed into state functions, or did he have to sit at some inconspicuous place? Intriguing though is the fact that though he had a disease, the first thing we learn about him was his fruit, his results. He won wars and brought home bounties.

He was great Captain, honourable deliverer and mighty man. If we looked at the half-full cup, we would see all his achievements. If we, however, choose to see half-empty, we saw his disease; we would call him a leper. We have the choice to go through life, bearing significant fruit, scaling great heights, or we can choose to stay with our pain or 'but' and remain unfruitful.

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy (2 Kings 5:1)

Naaman, in his fruit-bearing season, brought home a solution provider. She became his maid, and even though she was disadvantaged and a servant, she chose to use her gift. She knew what her master needed, and she was not going to be selfish with it.

She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3)

How come she was so sure? Simple, the lowest of the Israelites knew about the covenant-keeping God, the healing God and the all-powerful God. Remember, she was just a maid. Even in this state, she was a blessing. All she had was a word, not sure how it would be received; she shared it all the same? Tell me, what do you have that the world around you can use?

They brought it to General Naaman's attention, and he chose to make it a state affair. He was the diseased party; first, he went to his king to ask that he liaise with the King of Israel. From Israel's king's reaction, we learned that the Syrians at that time were not just their captors; they were the superior power and making such a request was spoiling for trouble.

When you are down, the tendency is that you forget who you are. The King of Israel must have forgotten that though they were under Syria, they were still covenant people. Your situation does not define who you are. Problems do not last forever. There is always a timing to everything, and no matter what; God is still your God.

Thank God for prophets! God always has them in every season. The prophet sent a message to the king, 'Tell him to come to me; I have what he needs'. Naaman, the leper, arrived at the prophet's house with pomp and pageantry. Talk about a proud sick man. Remember he, with all his achievements, he was the one in need. The prophet reduced him to size; nobody comes to God achievements in tow. You lay down your crown and humble yourself. The instructions were sent, state protocol set aside and General leper was angry. What pride? The aides plead with Master Leper, he must have come across as pitiful, but thus far they already came and what good would their returning empty do?

'Oga try', they encouraged. Fancy begging a man in need to receive help, but what could they do, for as long as he was in that state, themselves could not have the peace they desired. He reluctantly assented and dipped himself in the Jordan River. If the fancy rivers were healing waters, would he have been in his state? Surprise! He got healed....

What Is Your Story?

What is your story? How is your life? The woman, let us call her Jane, had such a journey. In today's parlance, we will say she had been unlucky with men. She married five of them, and none of them filled the void she felt on the inside. Each one looked like it, but as soon as she got in, she realised that she had made another mistake. She had to endure many snide remarks. No one understood her, and it became embarrassing to the point she would rather go to the well when she was sure there was no one else there.

She found a way to escape by avoiding the crowd and staying away from social functions. She was sure to avoid other women so as not to be accused of husband snatching. It was such a lonely road, but what could she do? Mind her business and that she did.

The stories had become too many. Many of them were, of course not so accurate, but how could she clear herself knowing her reputation did not help her case at all. No wonder she chose to go to the well in the afternoon. At least she would be alone; She would not have to endure any mean look or bear the mischievous comments.

She longed for peace, 'so who was this man? Look, I have had enough of men in my life. This one does not look threatening, though. He is kind and gentle;' then, he started the conversation. She did not have to entice him, no need to woo him. Besides, she was already tired of man trouble. This man, though Jew did not mind relating to her, amazing! A typical Jew would not condescend; this was turning out interesting.

There was something about him. It would have come across as pride, but he had a certain authority in his tone. He seemed to have a knowing that was beyond peripheral. He was at the well wanting a drink yet promising everlasting drink. Indeed, this man should be listened to. Did he not know which well he was at? Everyone who came to the well drank and got their fill; their livestock too and a strange man was offering some other drink?

He then kicked it up a notch, 'where is your hubby' he quizzed? And her reply, 'I do not have any'. 'Truth', he affirmed, he then proceeded to tell her life history. 'Clearly, this was no ordinary man. For the first time, someone understood her. Someone hit home. Someone touched the void in her. She's had husbands, hobnobbed with men, but they barely scratched the surface. This one hit, home. She was used to men, but they did not quench her thirst.'

The discussion continued, and she veered into doctrinal issues: Jewish belief vs Samaritan belief. His reply to this was very informative; religion had not been able to save anyone. Not then and certainly not now. Worship is of the heart and certainly must be in truth and the spirit. Anything outside of the spirit can only lead to long journeys and eventually, death. Ask the children of Israel; they have more than a few stories to tell.

We have all read Jane's story before (John 4:3-26, the woman at the well at Sychar). How will they write your story? Have you been tossed about in search of the real God? What are you even looking for – fame, money, power, husband, wife, children, position? How are you going about your search, our Jane kept trying out men. What are you trying out? Her story ended with her becoming an evangelist. An encounter with the Messiah turned her life around and answered the deep questions in her heart.

Do you need such a meeting with Him? Do you need the touch only God can give? You may have been around for a while. You may even have been serving for so long, but there is a deep yearning that only God can fill. Go to the well. The Messiah is waiting.

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A MAN LIKE YOU

Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:17-18)

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1)

They replied, “He had a garment of hair and had a leather belt around his waist.” The king said, “That was Elijah the Tishbite.” (2 Kings 1:8)

All we know is that he comes from Tishbe No more no less! We have information on how they called other prophets, their training and all, but this one, nothing except that he was a Tishbite. Can we then safely deduce that there was nothing to him except that he was a prophet and all by himself, he shook the nation. We learned that he stood before God so was privy to the goings-on in the presence of the father. The first time we heard about him, he was rattling the king and unsettling the whole nation. One man!

The Word had said the whole nation under Ahab had gone a whoring. Elijah came on the scene, and faced the source of their livelihood. He touched the root. His thoughts, ‘If it does not rain on your crops for three and a half years, you definitely will pay attention to God.’ We learned that Elijah was a man, just like us. He was just as passionate and just as fearful. He rattled a whole nation but ran from a woman.

Our emphasis today is his prayer: the Word recorded that he prayed earnestly. Yeah, he stood before God, so He knew how God operated. Yet he prayed fervently; we even learned that at some point, he put his head between his knees. What was the content of his prayer? Basically:

* • That God will do something that would arrest the people's attention and shake them out of their evil ways.

* • That the land would be rid of the perpetrators of evil.

* • That the people may know the true God.

* • That it would be obvious who owned the land.

* • That the people would see that he was not running his agenda.

At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. (1 Kings 18:36-38)

How does this affect us? Simple. God will use you if you yield yourself. You too can be God’s oracle here on earth. You do not have to have a fancy background before God can find you useful. A heart for the things that bother God is all you need.

Elijah did not offer the sacrifice anyhow; he did at the time of the evening sacrifice. He put things in order before he lit any fire.

He represented the whole land. Even though Israel at that time was split in two, he went to God on behalf of everybody (you cannot be sectarian and expect to see the hand of God the way Elijah did). God is the God of the whole earth. Jesus died for all, and he feels the same about of all of His children.

What should we do? Examine yourselves. Are we partisan or prejudiced?

Stand in God’s presence and see with His eyes. Be passionate about God matters. Speak against sin wherever you see it. God will help us all in Jesus name.

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