Must-have for Warfare

 

*1 Kings 17:1* - “*And Elijah the Tishbite*, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

 

> Those who kneel before God will stand before men.

 

Where are the Elijahs in the marketplace, ministry, politics, government, education, arts, entertainment, justice…?

 

R. Arthur Matthews in his book *Born for Battle* says it well: The Soldier of the Cross had taught His disciples the need to pray, "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." The obvious [implication] is that God has limited certain of His activities to responding to the prayers of His people. *Unless they pray, He will not act*. Heaven may will something to happen, but heaven waits and encourages earth's initiative to desire that will and then to pray that it happens.

 

A. *Count the Cost*

*Luke 14:31-33* - “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. 33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.”

 

"And His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (*Luke 22:44*). Here is God's work being done in God's way. God wills it in heaven, and a man wills it on the earth. The sacrifice at Calvary happened because first, out of His soul's depths in dark Gethsemane, the "Soldier of the Cross" willed with God for it to happen. The victory at Golgotha was settled and won in Gesthemane.

 

> A man who prays provides a landing space for God’s will to be done here on earth.

 

B. *Entering into covenant*- Recognising the Spirit within 

*Isaiah 59:21* - “As for Me,” says the Lord, “*this is My covenant with them*: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth…”

 

- Moses vs Pharaoh

- David vs Goliath

- Elijah vs Ahab

- Jesus vs Satan

 

C. *Knowing your Must-haves*

1. *Intel*: The word of the Lord came to Elijah (Verse 2).

2. *Supplies*: I have commanded a widow there to provide for you (Verse 8).