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.” So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria, and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of his palace. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.)…
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” So, Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked. “There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” So, Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:1-3; 1 Kings 18:41-46 NIV)
In Genesis 1:3, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God’s words hold power and promises. When God told Elijah that He was going to end the drought and send rain on the land, Elijah knew it was truth. He did not have a doubt in his heart. Therefore, we see Elijah’s actions (faith) in two parts: (1) Although Jezebel could have killed Elijah, he went to present himself to the king anyway, knowing that God would protect him from harm. (2) Since God said rain was coming, Elijah told the king about it—even though there was no sign of it in sight.
Elijah never gave up his hope in God. He never stopped believing in what God said. Elijah knew something was going to happen. He warned Ahab to get going before the heavy rain came. Then he told his servant to keep checking for signs of rain. Elijah knew there would be a sign. He knew God would show evidence of the promise He had spoken. Therefore, the servant’s negative report did not cause Elijah to lose hope or stop believing God.
Then it came! God gave him a small sign, and that was all he needed. He did not need everything to show up all at once. He did not need multiple signs to point toward a downpour. Elijah did not need thunder and lightning to show up on the scene before acting on what he already knew to be true. All he needed was a small sign that this was the right time—that God was about to bring the downpour.
So Elijah sent word to Ahab to prepare him for the rain. As a child of the Most High God, Elijah called into existence the very thing that God had promised him. As soon as Elijah exercised his faith by declaring what God had promised, the sky grew black with clouds. Not gray, black. God was moving and something big was about to happen. The power of Elijah’s faith—manifested through his words—prompted God to act immediately.
Imagine the Provision
Just imagine the scene. We are used to clouds turning gray. We have all witnessed severe downpours. But have you ever seen the rain from a black cloud? I believe there was so much faith for ending the drought and poverty in the land, that the clouds could not contain it. There was so much rain gathered up into these clouds that they turned black. These clouds were filled up with provision the land desperately needed in order for crops to grow. This was not a mere drizzle. This was no normal rain shower. Rain was going to cover the land and when it was over, the crops would flourish, the empty wells would be full, and the rivers would be replenished.
Once God saw that Elijah’s faith triggered the rain, it was time to get him moving, and fast. A normal run would not do. God was about to show the people that He provides for their every need. He knew that Elijah, in his own strength and pace, could not get to his destination before the rain came. So He touched Elijah and Elijah felt so much power on him that he tucked in his cloak and ran. He ran so fast, that he actually outran horses—horses that already had a head start! Elijah outran everyone who had been ahead of him. They were all headed to the same destination, but Elijah beat them to it; with God’s help!
It’s Time to Run
God’s word is powerful in anyone’s life who believes. I don’t know what you are believing in right now but if it wasn’t time to move in faith, then you would not be reading this blog. You may not have seen a sign in the past, but keep checking. Keep watching and asking God to send a small sign. Don’t ignore the sign. Start claiming it. Don’t say it is coming—say it is here! Start preparing. As you start preparing, know that God will move you faster than the ones you thought were ahead of you. He will get you to your destination faster than you think.
The Drought is Over
Malachi 3:10 (AMP) says, “Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it.”
There are so many people who obey this scripture, giving their tithes and offerings and believing the Words of God. I believe that God is saying to these Believers, “I have seen your faithfulness and the drought is over”. The time is NOW. Blessings are going to pour in a way that we have never experienced before.
It may seem like friends and acquaintances are ahead of you—doing things that you are not doing. People are getting married, making more money, buying houses, growing in their careers and businesses, and getting jobs that seem perfect. There may be a lot of people who seem like they’ve got a lot of help and they’re getting ahead, while leaving you behind.
But keep praying, keep hoping, and keep believing that God is going to launch you forward. The prosperity may not be evident yet. The vision you once had, and the possibilities you once imagined, may seem like they have dried up. But don’t despair. The downpour has been setup. The sign is a drizzle of rain, but don’t be deceived. God is not mocked. This is not an ordinary rain, it will be the abundant flow of rain that restore the dried areas in your life and bring an overflow of prosperity.
Keep checking. Keep looking toward God. Keep seeking His kingdom.
Believe that God is going to have you run extremely fast—faster than you have ever gone before. So get ready and keep your eyes on Him for signs.
THE RAIN IS HERE!
Gaining Hope 