Guarding Against The Spirit of Retaliation

 

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.”

 

1 Kings 19:1 - ““And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.”

 

> Your victory ticks off the kingdom of darkness.

 

1 Kings 19:2 - ““Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.””

 

1. Guard against burnout

1 Kings 18:40 - ““And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.”

 

2. Spiritual warfare requires physical fitness. So manage your energy.

 

3. Fatigue impairs judgment

1 Kings 19:2-3 - ““Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 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. Don’t go after Ahab alone. Have a support network.

Moses had Aaron and Joshua

Daniel had the three Hebrew boys

Paul had Silas, Barnabas

Peter had John

Gideon had the 300

David had his men

 

5. The enemy will seek to launch counterattack measures - fear, distraction, tragedy, opposition, will cause people around you to speak unbelief and doubt etc. hoping these would make you lose momentum. People that were once on your side may turn against you when you begin shut the operations of the kingdom of darkness.

 

1 Kings 17:12 - “Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that [c]there was no breath left in him. 18 So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”

 

6. This is not the time to rest or relaxation, but to keep your foot on your throttle.

One virtue that is significantly important in spiritual warfare is perseverance and confidence that God hears you when you call upon Him.

 

1 Kings 17:21 - “And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” 22 Then the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.”