Daniel 11:32b ... but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. 

 

Acts 20:32 So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

 

The strength of Elijah snapped when confronted with a life and death situation after performing so many miracles. Does this suggest that what it takes to perform the miraculous is not sufficient to carry us over in times of personal difficulties? I think there were gaps in Elijah's knowledge of God; hence, he could not carry on in the face of Jazebel's threat to his own life. Proverbs 24:10 If you faint in the day of adversity, Your strength is small.

 

Daniel also faced life and death situations just like Elijah did, but Daniel KNEW that his God was able to deliver him from the lions and would rather stay on the side of righteousness than bow to the gods. Daniel also sold the idea of overcoming by KNOWING to his three friends Shedrack, Meshack and Abednigo. At the point of life and death they also confessed that they KNOW their God is able to deliver them through the burning furnace experience.

 

Abraham also had many life and death experiences. When God instructed him to sacrifice his son of promise, he KNEW God was able to provide a lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham KNEW that God will uphold His promise more than His instructions. 

 

But when personal challenges confront you it is only your self knowledge and revelation of God that can get you over, not your zealousness about the things of God as shown in Elijah's situation.

 

In the face of the challenges confronting our society, men taking the lives, family members rebelling against each other, the hearts of our generations being turned against Godliness, sicknesses and diseases ravaging lives, the cost of living escalating, etc, we need the knowledge of God more than ever before to cope with the times. 

 

Let's use God's knowledge of JOY as an example to establish the strength and exploits we can derive from a working knowledge of God. If we have a strong knowledge that JOY is not anything but a product of our recreated human spirit, we will know where to draw strength in times of trouble. Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness. Also, Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness, peace, and JOY in the Holy Spirit. If we think otherwise that JOY is derived from material things or the circumstances around you, your strength will likely fail in the face of challenges.

 

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will forget your children.

 

It is possible to be overwhelmed by our situations and consequently reject the knowledge of God's word you already know. Hosea 4:6 clearly shows us the outcome of rejecting the knowledge of God.

 

1. Prayer for God's knowledge and revelation to cope with your challenges. Name your challenges and ask God for His knowledge and guidance. 

 

2. Performing exploits requires the knowledge of God's word, as shown in the earlier two scriptures. Let's pray for knowledge from God If we want to take on the responsibility of being priests to our communities and being the solutions people seek. 

 

3. Prayer for those amongst us whose faith is almost at the point of snapping because of the challenges they are going through.