Print Friendly

Following the Promise Comes a Process

Elijah understood what we often fail to comprehend today: the same Spirit who spoke the words of promise also (through everyday life) reveals the steps for their fulfillment. Elijah had placed himself in an either/or situation by obeying the Lord. It would either rain when He said, or it would rain some other time. He would either be proved true, or false. Those yoked to Ba'al through Asherah by way of Jezebel were hoping it would rain soon, without depending on obeying the LORD and apart from any demonstration of the true order of God! They did not want Elijah's word to truly represent the LORD. And it is so true: the flesh doesn't want to consider other than what it desires; it does not wait. The word of wisdom which calls for process is often rejected in favor of the false promise of a supernatural shortcut. But God….

At Mount Carmel do we see Elijah defending himself, or trying to prove that he is God's Prophet by praying against their continual demonic rain dances and offerings to Baal? No! Why not? Elijah had been properly prepared at Cherith; he went through the steps necessary to become the instrument of God's rain in the earth. Elijah's process could be summarized in this way: God basically said, "all right, Elijah: you said what I was saying. Now, let me take you over here where I can form you into the vessel which can be released so that my Word can become a reality." (1Kings 17:2-5)

Most of us wouldn't last very long at Cherith. But the major obstacle which would drive us out probably wouldn't be the uncertainty of when lunch was coming. There's been so much teaching on fasting and prayer that many would probably be able to handle the "in between" better than Elijah! Instead, what would drive us back home would be doubts of whether or not it was raining there, and/or what was taking place in our absence, or (especially) what was being said about us on Facebook and Twitter, regardless of the weather pattern. This is partly because we have so conditioned ourselves to be completely aware of everything and everyone all the time. It is also because there is such a fear of making a move in the body that would result in us standing alone.

Spiritual Schizophrenia

But these ways of thinking and prioritizing result in essentially shutting the Spirit of God out of our decision making processes. It's sad, but true. Many come to the place that they believe as long as they can receive a word to speak when it's time to minister, or get a word when they are on the edge of disaster that insures their protection, then ("whew!") everything is all right. But nothing could be further from the truth.

Such spiritual schizophrenia keeps not only those who operate this way, but also those who follow them bound in religiosity, perplexed by double mindedness, and confused by the demonic bifurcation between what is proclaimed publicly versus what is practiced privately as "leadership." This is why revival which does come to us cannot abide. Due to this hypocrisy the water of renewal often cannot even be found or poured out because of rotting cisterns (Jer.2:13). And it is because of this that "change" is (at best) something that is only momentarily felt at the altar, never making its way into the day to day lives of those "receiving" that call to newness (Ro.6:4; 7:6). Why? Because the Spirit of God does not have His way in the daily operations of the church. Body of Christ, please hear this: only what is "up top" can flow down, one way or the other. If leaders cannot apply the reality of God's direction, then how can their followers?

Yet, we see Elijah as one who is able to release all these concerns and just hang out with God in the midst of complete and absolute uncertainty. And as I said before, this is step one for those called to the Apostolic/Prophetic that is yet to fully come. Those called to demonstrate God's power and miracles can never look to the natural (for it is always totally undependable). Settle it: God will go to great lengths to insure that those called to move in demonstration of the Spirit do not build their understandings of God, church, and ministry upon impure mixtures of flesh and Spirit. Why not? Because to do so is to be hexed, transmitting witchcraft (Gal.3:1-5).

Responding to God's Voice

Elijah is faithful to follow God to the brook Cherith and place His life totally in God's hands. Because of that obedience he experiences the first level of "The Supernatural Exchange." By obeying God Elijah also (without trying) separated himself from being seen as a narrow minded, malcontented radical. He was also set free from continually going up against the arrogance of those determined to lean on Ba'al for their needs. (Sounds like freedom to me.)

Elijah uses his faith in God's Voice as the purchasing power for God's provision. In a sense, he tests God in the same way that the word he'd just released became the continual basis for testing him. In essence he says: "OK God, I can't make it rain, anyhow, only you can. So you want me to go out here in the middle of nowhere with nothing and nobody, well…..why not? The only way any of this is going to happen is if you come through anyway, so you call the shots." 

Elijah allows himself to be thrust into the process which establishes that trusting God is always the price, but that miraculous provision is always the reward. Being willing to act on God's direction is the means; being willing to content himself with the result is the end. Ravens weren't at Elijah's disposal, they acted only at God's command. Can you imagine how this learning process unfolded; how the Prophet came to fully feel the degree to which Ravens don't speak Hebrew, and that they would respond only to God's Voice, not his?

Cherith is the first obvious foundational test for coming into a showdown type of Supernatural authority with God. It is a matter of faith, trust, test, contentment, recognition of God's sovereignty? with all the conditions being set by God and your very life hanging in the balance. That's what we must get ready for in this hour. Now: how many still want to move in the Supernatural with God? You should, and being called to the Apostolic/Prophetic, you absolutely must. But since you are, you must be willing to not only go all the way through the process of the first step of "the Supernatural Exchange" called "Cherith." You must also do it humbly and in God's way. If not, you may find yourself eaten by the very birds that God wanted to use to provide for you, or (perhaps worse) give up and return home only to find that it rained without you and there are stones in the hands of those to whom you released the Prophetic Word.

It's an awesome thing to walk with God, and we should never cheapen it by thinking that just releasing our gift is the answer to everything. Our gift will definitely make room for us, but it may also take us somewhere our character cannot keep us? especially if we refuse God's preparation process at the brook Cherith. But if we will honor God to go to Cherith when called, contenting ourselves with Him and His provision in that place? learning His ways in the midst of all the natural uncertainties during that season, we will be promoted into step two of the process I call "the Supernatural Exchange."

Bill Click