Leaders are Climate Changers

UV 1539/10000 Leaders are Climate Changers

And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
I Kings 17 v 24

Elijah was a nobody who came from somewhere in 9th century BC Israel. His ancestry was not known. He came from Tishbe in Gilead and was called Elijah, the Tishbite. The name “Elijah” means “Jehovah is my God.” His name proclaimed his faith in Jehovah. God clothed him with power on high. There are different kinds of power the Lord bestows on His chosen vessels: sustaining power, overcoming power, overwhelming power and wonder-working power. All types of power were manifested in Elijah’s life. He had overwhelming power for when he said that it would not rain or drop dew for three years, God confirmed the word of his mouth as truth. The Lord counselled Elijah on making a strategic retreat after his word of prophecy of drought for three years. He was sustained in the desert with water from the brook at Terebith and with meat and bread brought to him by ravens. He overcame his fear of the power of King Ahab and his wicked queen Jezebel. When the widow of Zarephath cried out for her son’s life, Elijah resurrected the child by lying on his dead body. When Elijah offered a sacrifice, the Lord sent down fire to consume his offering. The Lord vindicated the words of Elijah’s mouth and proved it to be His own.

We too might be ordinary people like Elijah in terms of our background or where we come from. But the Lord has called us to be extraordinary. When the word of the Lord is constantly in our mouths and on our minds, He will anoint us with sustaining power- we do not have to worry over what we will eat or drink even during a time of famine. The Lord will provide our need. He will give us overcoming power to speak the word with authority as Elijah did. He will give us overwhelming power against our mortal foes and enemies. He will give us wonder-working power. He will not let a word from our mouths fall to the ground without being fulfilled. He will cause miracles to happen that will manifest His awesome power. He will give us power over the elements of nature- to command the rain to cease and to fall. Our sacrifices will be acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.

The powers manifested in our lives are not to draw attention to us but to point people to God. There were different seasons in Elijah’s walk with God. He was willing to stand up for God and speak on His behalf the uncompromising word. Therefore, the Lord chose to honour him and his words. The climax of Elijah’s leadership was his being taken away in a chariot of fire. Elijah was a king-shaker, king-remover, king-anointer. He did not forecast the weather. Yesterday, many world leaders at the UN met to focus on the phenomenon of climate change. Elijah was the cause of climate change. God chose to establish him and his words as He establishes us and our words in this day and time. He wants us to be climate changers like Elijah in the 21st century. Like the widow at Zarephath and the people of Israel and King Ahab were witnesses of the extraordinary presence and power of God with Elijah, the least to the greatest in the land we dwell in will be witnesses to the presence and power of God in our lives.

Prateep V Philip