Waiting on God

It was not because of any outward evidence that the showers were about to fall, that Elijah could so confidently bid Ahab prepare for rain. The prophet saw no clouds in the heavens; he heard no thunder. He simply spoke the word that the Spirit of the Lord had moved him to speak in response to his own strong faith…. Having done all that was in his power to do, he knew that Heaven would freely bestow the blessings foretold. The same God who had sent the drought had promised an abundance of rain as the reward of rightdoing; and now Elijah waited for the promised outpouring. In an attitude of humility, “his face between his knees,” he interceded with God in behalf of penitent Israel….

Six times the servant returned with the word that there was no sign of rain in the brassy heavens. Undaunted, Elijah sent him forth once more; and this time the servant returned with the word, “Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.”

This was enough. Elijah did not wait for the heavens to gather blackness. In that small cloud he beheld by faith an abundance of rain; and he acted in harmony with his faith…. As he prayed, his faith reached out and grasped the promises of Heaven, and he persevered in prayer until his petitions were answered. He did not wait for the full evidence that God had heard him, but was willing to venture all on the slightest token of divine favor. And yet what he was enabled to do under God, all may do in their sphere of activity in God’s service….

Faith such as this is needed in the world today—faith that will lay hold on the promises of God’s word and refuse to let go until Heaven hears….

With the persevering faith of Jacob, with the unyielding persistence of Elijah, we may present our petitions to the Father, claiming all that He has promised. The honor of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word.
Conflict and Courage p. 211
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Prayer Requests
—–Please pray that there will be peace in this country. Rose
—–Please Pray for me and my family! The Lord has revealed that the enemy is trying to destroy the life of a member of my family, but we are not sure who and how. I have been under intense spiritual attacks. Please pray for God’s protection and presence in our lives. Danny
—–We continue to thank everyone for their prayers of faith for Ken. It appears that after three knee operations we are rid of the infection. He goes back and forth with cane and walker depending on strength and balance. God is merciful and may all your names remain in the Lambs Book of Life. Revelation 21:27 Linda
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Dear Friends,

When I was a little girl, we would occasionally go to Milham Park. Since we did not have a car, we had to ride the bus to the center of town, transfer to another bus, take it to the end of the line, and then walk another mile to reach the park. Once there, I would beg to go to the little zoo that was there. It was not much of a zoo—three bears, some monkeys, a few otters and raccoons, but it was my favorite part.

Each time I would be warned not to go beyond the barriers. Although the animals looked harmless, they were not. Then would come the stories of people who had not heeded the warning signs, went into the area they had been warned against, overstepped the boundaries and had been injured or even lost their lives. In their final moments, they must have been very sorry that they had not heeded those warnings. Although my favorite animals were the bears who were sitting up on their haunches, waving their paws and begging for popcorn or some other tasty tidbit, I had no desire to climb into their enclosure with them.

Just as those warning signs, as well as the example of others who had failed to heed the warnings, served their purpose to keep the zoo’s visitors safe, so God’s Holy Word gives us examples from the lives of people who had lived long ago, as well as warnings to protect us from the danger of sin. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” 1 Cor 10:11-14 If we heed those warnings, we will recognize the snares of the evil one, who “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

In spite of our Great Redeemer’s warnings, many times we think that we can play with sin just a little and then walk away without suffering any harm. That is not possible. Sin is not the harmless thing it sometimes appears to be. As we toy with it, sin wraps its tentacles about us. Suddenly, we realize that we cannot get free. We attempt to pull away, but it has us in its grip. We are trapped. We are being destroyed. There is no way to save ourselves. We need a Saviour, Who will rescue us from the snare that holds us fast.

Praise God! We have such a Saviour, Who came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 Think of it! The Creator of the Universe, He Whom all Heaven adores was willing to leave the glories of His Heavenly Kingdom and come down to this dark and sinful old world to suffer all the difficulties and hatred the devil could heap upon him in order to save us. “He is despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way, and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” Isa 53:3-7 Oh what love! What wonderful love!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1,2 “Praise ye the Lord!” Ps 106:1

Rose