Daily Trust Sunday

Where is the Lord God of Elijah

- Bishop Dr Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l.

2Kings 2:11-25, “And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. [12] And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. [13] He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; [14] And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. [15] And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.”

Today we focus on the man, the mantle, and the oil.

Elisha knew something that most Christians today don’t know: the God of the mantle. He was face to face with a challenge of how to cross the Red Sea. He had the mantle that dropped from Elijah in his hands. It contained the power of God but when he struck the water he shouted, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? Notice he did not ask for Elijah, he did not ask where is the power in the mantle; he asked Where is the LORD God of Elijah?

Most people who called for the interventi­on of my God got a miracle. They got it right: the anointing on a person called by God is recognized in heaven.

There are two reasons most people never receive a miracle:

1. Focus on the vessel rather than

God.

2. Unbelief.

Every miracle is done by God using men as vessels. Jesus did not minister as God; instead, He ministered as a man fully yielded to the Holy Spirit. Let us see what the Bible says.

Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Jesus made it clear it was the Father that was doing the work.

John 14:10, “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

NLT John 14:10, “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me DOES HIS WORK THROUGH ME.”

John 5:19-20, “19Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth:”

Even revelation­s come from the Father. Matthew 16:17, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

God used the hands of the apostles. Acts 5:12, “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people...”

Acts 19:11, “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul…”

It was not Paul doing these miracles; God used him as a vessel. He has promised to use us also. So, the faith of the people should not be planted in the vessel but in God. After all, God promised to be present in any gathering that is in His name.

It should therefore not be what miracle has this man done before but what has God done before. Our faith should be in the promises of God and not in the charisma of the vessel even though the charisma of the vessel helps to point people to the miracle-working God.

The people in Jesus’ home town missed God when they focused on the boy they grew up with. Jesus referred to this as ‘unbelief.’ This form of unbelief is hardly recognized today or talked about by the church. We look at unbelief only as doubting the Word of God. Yes it is! But if you don’t receive the vessel, you will not receive the message brought by the vessel. If you despise the vessel you will despise his message. But we must always give the credit to God.

Every miracle is an act of God! And we must always look up unto Him and give Him the glory when the miracle takes place. The vessel must also be careful not to share in God’s glory.

The Mandate

God called me and anointed me to bring light to those sitting in darkness; to liberate people from demonic oppression, failure and poverty and make them shining stars. Like Elijah and Elisha, God has sent angels to appear to me and assist me. Angels have appeared in our Services. He has made me a star as evidence and everyone who believes in me and follows me will become a star. Elisha followed Elijah and he was made a mighty prophet. He received a double portion of the anointing on Elijah.

The mantle he received from Elijah worked for him as it worked for Elijah. The waters of River Jordan divided for Elisha just as it did for Elijah.

From today, rivers of problems will divide for you, in Jesus Name.

My God will divide waters for you. He will calm every storm in your life, in Jesus Name.

You will prosper and increase, in Jesus Name!

Have a blessed week.

So, the faith of the people should not be planted in the vessel but in God. After all, God promised to be present in any gathering that is in His name

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