IN THIS SEASON

GOD IS CALLING US TO THE CAVE, HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO US AND DISPLAY HIS MAJESTY BEFORE US.

Learning to Prophesy MinistryMarco Lafebre.MARCH 16, 2016 SESSION #7

Here is presented a training that Elijah when through. We all need to be trained as Elijah.SO WE CAN MOVE IN THE SPIRIT OF ELIJAH.

The Prophet Elijah• Elijah means “Yahweh is my God.”• He lived in a time of:• Witchcraft, spiritual darkness, sexual

perversity.• There was a lack of God’s Word.• Jezebel was reigning with intimidation

and fear.• She trained prophets.• She had 450 Baal’s prophets.

1 Kings 17 (NKJV)• Elijah Proclaims a Drought• 17 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.”

Elijah confronts King Ahab

•He declares a drought that will end up only at his Word.•Elijah, doesn’t fix his eyes in the natural seeing King Ahab standing in front of him, but he boldly declares that he stands before the God of Israel. He choses to look and declare the supernatural.

Elijah undergoes a training

• After delivering the Word of God, the Lord took him out of the picture• He was put under training to:• Trust God for his sustenance both in the

natural and supernatural realms.• Use the power and authority giving by God

to engage in spiritual warfare and to oovercome the power of darkness.• At the end of his training Elijah became

“A VOICE”, not an echo or just a sound.

A voice• A voice utters words, phrases, ideas,

plans and has full understanding of what is saying.• Becoming a voice of God implies that you

are delegated to speak in His name.• An echo is a repetition of a voice, has no

full knowledge of what is saying, and eventually will deteriorate and disappear.• A sound is simply a noise, and at

moments it can be very disturbing.

Today as in Elijah times…

• There is a famine of God’s Word.• Reading of the Bible, prayer, calling on God’s name in public places is banned. Godly concept of family and marriage is downtrodden, Respect for life is inexistent. Abortion and euthanasia are legal instruments to suppress life.

Get in the cave...• But God releases His Word through the

Elijah’s of today.• Who are those Elijah’s?• Those who are willing to isolate

themselves with God in the cave, and listen what God has to say.• God wants to train His people.• He needs more Voices that can be able to

see and hear His voice and be willing to deliver it unto others.

Training step #1

Trusting God for his sustenance.

1 Kings 17:2-4 (NKJV)• 2 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3 “Get away from here and turn eastward, and hide by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan. 4 And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”

From Samaria to the Brook CherithOne of the first things that God will do when He is preparing us for a task is separate us from the eyes of people, in a way He captures you for his own. He is jealous and wants your full attention.

Elijah trained to depend on the Lord.Depending on the Lord for his sustenance , The natural and supernatural meet here as part of his training to learn how to rely on God.

After confronting King Ahab

• God orders Elijah to go to the east of the Jordan River and hide himself close to the Brook Cherith.

• This hiding is not of fear, but God separates Elijah from the eyes of the world.

• Elijah is isolated in this place with God.• Cherith is a place of: • Circumcision, test, where you put off the flesh.• In this place Elijah is delivered and transformed, cut off

of his old self, any traces of his old life died here. • This is necessary in order to be able to move in the

Spirit.

Trusting in God’s provision

• Here Elijah learned to depend on God, both, in the natural, and in the supernatural provision for his sustenance.• The brook was a natural provision for

his thirst.• The ravens acting against their natural

instinct where supernaturally ordered by God to feed Elijah.• At the same time, all his religious ideas

went under transformation.

Cherith’s provision lasted just for a time.

• Drought brings Famine and both bring spiritual and material change, poverty and death.

• The natural: The brook that calmed Elijah’s thirst dried up.

• The ravens stop bringing the daily food.• When we speak the Word of God, it will affect

not just others, but we will feel its effect as well. Our environment will change!

• By Elijah’s command there was no rain, consequently the brook eventually dried up.

• The supernatural: Ravens stopped feeding Elijah.

Training step #2•Spiritual warfare hands on training.

1 Kings 17:8-10 (NKJV)• Elijah and the Widow of Sarepta

• 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”

From Cherith to Zarephath

Changing from a physical location to another one, brings us as well to a different spiritual atmosphere. The territorial rulers, powers, authorities, principalities and the like are different.

Elijah’s Warfare training

Zarephath becomes the place of warfare training. Here Elijah learns to exercise his God’s given authority and confronts the evil king and priest Ethbaal who is Jezebel's father.Again, God separates Elijah and sends him to a foreign country to depend on a poor widow who will take care of him.

Zarephath or Sarepta• Zarephath= place of death, place of smelting and

refining• Doors= Authority, greater opportunities.• Here Elijah learned to exercise his authority over

the enemy.• Here Ethbaal, Jezebel’s father was king and priest.• Ethbaal = with Baal, or for Baal.• So there was an spiritual confrontation in the place• The true God against an idol god.

Elijah carries the fire.• The Sidonean widow, and her son are about to die

of hunger.• She is collecting sticks for the fire.• She is doing the work of a child, children don’t

carry fire; only the Father or mother will kindle the fire.

• Elijah comes as the father of Israel, to be trained how to call down fire upon the sacrifice.

• The widow’s sacrifice is accepted and kindled by the fire of God that Elijah brings to her place.

Bring down the Fire of God.• Elijah is trained to bring down the fire of God

to consume sacrifices that are acceptable to Him.

• The faith of Elijah in God’s promise is shown by his request of help to the widow.

• It’s followed by a declaration that prosperity will come into her life after first helping him.

• God accepted their demonstration of faith and prosperity was for the widow who in turn helped Elijah.

A childlike attitude• The widow at the time was doing the duties of a

child.• When she hears the man of God speaking, she

chooses with a childlike mind to believe the man of God, and the miracle takes place.

• Elijah’s prophecy brakes the yoke of fear.• It brings life for her and her son.• It brings honor, displacing shame of their lives.• It brings continue provision.• It delivers trust in God and hope for the future.

Training step #3Facing the enemy.Opening up the floodgates of heaven.

1 Kings 18:1-2 (NIV)

• 18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria,

In Three years Elijah is conformed into the image of

Christ.• 3 means “conform”. Rom 8:29b NKJV “predestined

to be conformed to the image of His Son.” • In here, Elijah is being conformed in the three areas of

his being: Spirit, soul and body.• Here he learns to obey, to imitate God, he is called to

be a copy of God.• His spirit is enriched with the freedom of God’s Spirit.• His mind is transformed so he may have God’s

thoughts. (1 Cor 2:16 “But we have the mind of Christ”)• His emotions come under control.• His will suffered change, isn’t there anymore, God’s is.

1 Kings 18:7-8 (NKJV)• 7 Now as Obadiah was on his way, suddenly Elijah met him; and he recognized him, and fell on his face, and said, “Is that you, my lord Elijah?”• 8 And he answered him, “It is I. Go, tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”

Obadiah knows who Elijah is.• Elijah dispels the fears of Obadiah and

becomes the messenger to speak to king Ahab• The time to confront and start the

destruction of Jezebel’s reign of witchcraft, terror and manipulation has come.• Elijah is eagerly following God’s instruction

and wants to confront King Ahab.• Ahab wants to destroy Elijah, so they met.

• TRAINING IS OVER, ITS TIME TO SHOW THE MIGHTY POWER OF THE LORD.• ALL THE EXPERIENCES LIVED BY ELIJAH HAD PREPARED HIM TO BE THE WEAPON THAT GOD WILL USE TO DISTROY THE OPPRESSORS OF ISRAEL

1 Kings 18:41-46 (NKJV)• The Drought Ends

• 41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”

• So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”

Elijah prays, his servant is sent to look toward

the sea.

Elijah heard from God: I will send rain on the

land.”

• He believes God, he visualizes the coming rain, he earnestly prays for what he sees in the spirit to come to pass in the physical; he sends his servant to look towards the sea from where rain should come.

• His servant comes with a negative report, he cannot see what his master sees, apparently he doesn’t really care too much about spiritual things.

• Seven times Elijah had to send his servant until finally he comes notifying a cloud in formation.

• God wants us to look intently into his promises, so they can become real for our benefit.

• Piercing through the natural will open the door of the unseen, of that what is to come but is not there yet

• We need to look and look until the object of our searching comes in our vision span.

Why Elijah prayed seven times?• It was not for lack of faith.• He was spending time with God.• He was preparing himself to make just

one single prayer in front of the King and Israel’s people and the people who served idol gods.• At the same time he was giving

opportunity to his servant to see in the invisible realm.• A servant was supposed to learn from his

master, and in some cases take over when the master dies.

1 Kings 18:41-46 (NKJV)• 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that

he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’”

• 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

7 Means: Complete, finished, all.

• Elijah persisted in prayer until his request to God was completed, he knew his work was finished when his servant informed of the cloud.• Elijah doesn’t require more. He knows that God is

on the move and he decides to leave the place.• But before doing that, as he cares for King Ahab,

he sends with his servant word that he needs to run away before his chariot gets stuck in the coming mud.• The Spirit of God comes upon him and outruns

the king’s chariot.

Elijah runs for his life.

After killing Baal's prophets, Elijah ran

from the furious Queen Jezebel. He fled to Beersheba,

then into the wilderness, and finally

to Mount Horeb (Sinai) ...

1 Kings 19:3-4 (NKJV)

Elijah runs for his life

• 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.• 4 But he himself went a day’s journey into

the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, LORD, take my life, for I am no better than my fathers!”

Elijah under the broom tree• Elijah allows fear to control him and runs

for his life.• He goes with his servant and left him in

Beersheba. He goes alone to the wilderness, he wants to find the Lord.• Elijah tired and dejected seats to rest

under a broom tree, as a prophetic act saying: I need my mind to be swept out, to be dusted off.

Elijah desperation meets God’s

faithfulness and mercy.• Psalm 91:11New King James Version (NKJV)• 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.• Psalm 103:5New King James Version (NKJV)• 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.• Isaiah 40:31New King James Version (NKJV)• 31 But those who wait on the LORD

Shall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint.

• The Lord sends his angel to feed Elijah.• As in the Cherith Brook He is fed with bread

and water,• Here an angel of the Lord takes care of him.• Twice he is fed, Double portion! Communicating

to His servant no matter what you Elijah are MY SON and I still have plans for you.• Ministering the body of Christ sometimes is not

easy, God understands that, Jesus passed the same experience.

1 Kings 19:5-8 (NKJV)• 5 Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree,

suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jar of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 And the angel of the LORD came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.” 8 So he arose, and ate and drank; and he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

Angelic food and drink for Elijah

40 Days and 40 Nights journey

• In here the forty days and forty nights journey is symbolic.• 40 means: Acceptable or unacceptable rule; dominion.• Elijah spends 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness before

he reaches Mount Sinai.• Moses spent 40 days and 40 nights on the mountain when he

was receiving the law.• Our Lord spent 40 days and nights in the wilderness as a part

of His temptation.• I believe the Lord was giving Elijah enough time to reflect and

have dominion over his fears and dejection, giving him time to rule over these situation.

1 Kings 19:9-10 (NKJV)• 9 And there he went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the word of he LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings 19:11-12 (NKJV)• God’s Revelation to Elijah

• 11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Kings 19:13 (NKJV)• 13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

Elijah went out of the cave.

Elijah heard the whisper.Wraps his face with his mantle.Went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.Then he hears the Voice of the Lord.

1 Kings 19:15-16 (NKJV)• 15 Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 

God does not accept sudden resignations

• God requests Elijah to anoint two Kings, and to• Anoint the Prophet that will replace him.• God is interested in restoring his prophet and He let him know that he still has some work to do.

1 Kings 19:18 (NKJV)• 18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

You are not alone.• Elijah forgot that Obadiah told him that

he has hidden 100 Prophets, 50 each in two different caves.• He was not alone.• The Lord informs him that He has

reserved 7000 in Israel.• 50 meaning the accepted ministry of this

prophets.• 100 meaning fully accepted by God.• 7000 meaning mature judgment.

Elijah returns

From Mount Horeb to the Wilderness of

Damascus. Elijah has some tasks to do.

• In all this instances Elijah is visualizing things that are about to come, before they would come into being.• He was able to see his manifested power

through the wind, the earthquake and the fire.• He was able to detect the very presence of

God when he heard the still small voice.• He received direct orders from God about

some task that he had to do,

• Some Scholars believe that this cave was the same one where Moses stood to see the Glory of God.• Moses requested to see God’s Glory.• God ordered Elijah to go out and stand before His presence.• Both of them Heard God’s voice

• Moses got revelation of God’s name and characteristic.• Elijah received orders and revelation of future Kings to reign and of whom would take his office.• Both of them appeared with Jesus in the Mount of Transfiguration.

IN THIS SEASON

• In this season, God is calling us to the cave

GOD IS CALLING US TO THE CAVE, HE WANTS TO SPEAK TO US AND DISPLAY HIS MAJESTY BEFORE US.

Recommended Book• GATEWAY to the SEER REALM

Look again to see BEYOND the Natural

Barbie Breathitt

This is an excellent book, I really encourage you to read it, it will transform your life.

Next Week• We will meet again next Wednesday and

we will study something about the Prophet Elisha.