"I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life." NKJV
“I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” NIV
“I’ve been working my heart out for God… The people of
“I have always served you… I am the only one left—and they are trying to kill me!” TEV
Elijah felt like it was over for him. He felt as if defeat was inevitable and his life and ministry was over. What we feel may not be accurate, but when we are facing persecutions and problems, we sometimes have the same type feelings. Despair and
discouragement set in. The problems overwhelm us, and we consider ourselves as being at the end of the thing- a marriage, a ministry, a life, whatever it may be.
Because we have the bible, we know there was more in store for Elijah. When we read on the bible, we see that his perception was inaccurate, and God had more for him and in him. However, we do not have the ability to see beyond today in our own lives, unless we do it with the eyes of faith and spiritual vision God has given.
Elijah had created some Danger Zones that led to the pitfall he was in. A pitfall is defined as a hidden or not easily recognized danger or difficulty; A trap set for the unwary; A danger zone is a place to be alert, guarded, and cautious.
DANGER ONE: Letting your guard down after a victory. Elijah had just called down the fire and rain. Prior to that, he had raised the dead. Now he is hiding in a cave, running from Jezebel. It is after some of our greatest accomplishments that the enemy find ourselves under attack. Don’t put yourself in vulnerable situations: Samson with Delilah, David with Bathsheba. Don’t counsel with or have inappropriate conversations with opposite sex. Guard yourself from spirits that war against you.
DANGER TWO: The danger of being performance driven. Elijah was worn out and burned out. He said, Lord, I have been zealous… I have been working hard for you, Lord. He was burning the candle on both ends. Working much, worshipping little. Like Timothy, he had lost the spiritual fire. Like Martha.
DANGER THREE: Pride. He said, I have been working hard… I am the only one left preaching truth and living right. He was caught up in himself. We must remember it’s about Him, not us!
DANGER FOUR: Discouragement. Looking at the response of people can bring discouragement. Elijah had felt the people had rejected his message, and the Lord. Discouragement is a weapon of the enemy we must fight against. Elijah told people, God, these people don’t really like you. They’re just a bunch of hypocrites and heathens. God, we’re wasting our time. He had become disheartened with the results. It ain’t working. When you work hard, but seemingly accomplish little.
DANGER FIVE: Isolation. Elijah was all alone. He had become isolated from others. He said, I alone am left. He was not connected. We need to be connected with other men, other women, other youth, other churches. Isolation is not a good thing. We need connections in our own local church.
DANGER SIX: Living in the past. Drawing from past experiences is good, but you need present anointing. It’s not about what you had or did yesterday, but you need fresh life and victory and anointing today!
DANGER SEVEN: Being stuck in the present. Our life’s purpose is about more than now. Present battles do not eliminate future purposes. Never make a decision based on present problems. There is more for you and more in you.
REMEMBER, THERE IS MORE GOD HAD FOR YOU, AND THERE IS MORE HE HAS IN YOU