ISOLATION

This week I want to share with you from the life of Prophet Elijah. He is one of the Major Prophets in the Old Covenant and a mighty one at that, however, he had to get off the scene at a time that didn't seem he would have. He had a very awesome and powerful ministry, but, something got missing along the line; he gave in at the boiling point.

There is power in association in everything we tend to do. As humans, we are not all-sufficient; this is why there is a deposit of God in every man so no man can take that title of being God. The Prophet Elijah came on board demonstrating God’s power in an unusual way; he prophesied and there was no rain for three years. There has never been an event where anyone called down fire from heaven; it happened according to the decree of this man of God. He was unarguably phenomenal.  However, something was missing that contributed to the extinction of the prophet as at the time it seemed God was not done with him.

After there had been no rain for three years according to Elijah’s decree, the Lord instructed him to go tell the king there was going to be rain soon. On his way to delivering God’s message, Elijah met with Obadiah. Obadiah was a devoted follower of God and was also in charge of the affairs of King Ahab’s household. Elijah told Obadiah to inform the king that he was coming around, but, Obadiah was afraid Elijah would be nowhere to be found because on several occasion the Spirit of God took Elijah off after people reported seeing him to the king. Obadiah was afraid because this could cost him his life if Elijah was not found by the king after his report.

Elijah then assured Obadiah he was going to be around. He explained something profound which the prophet never gave attention to in the course of making a case as to why he should not allow the king kill him if Elijah disappeared again.

“was it not reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the Lord, how I hid one hundred men of the Lord’s prophets, fifty to a cave, and fed them with bread and water?” 1King 18:13

Now, the prophet didn’t give much attention to the fact that there were still faithful prophets of God who were not bowing down to Baal. He never saw any reason for association, he was the one God was using at that time and felt he was the only one. He never thought of extending the hands of fellowship to this other prophets. He isolated himself and it became difficult for God to bring him out of the depression that resulted from isolation.

For every victory there is probability of a new challenge. After he was victorious destroying the prophets of Baal, Jezebel threatened him, he became jittery. At such time as that, encouragement from a fellow believer was all he needed to get back on his feet. Even Jesus needed some to intercede for him at the peak of his pain. Despite what Obadiah told him he kept saying he was the only prophet and having done all he did, he still received death threats.

The prophet repeated being the only one standing for God the second time. God then had to commission three people who would carry on with the assignment and then God addressed his claim of being the only faithful one left:

“yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every month that has not kissed him” 1 King 19:18

That was how the journey of the prophet in the service of God in that capacity ended. Isolation led to a depression that God could not take out.

When you go through deep troubles, situations and circumstances that are life threatening, what the devil wants is for you to isolate yourself from the community of faith. This invariably will lead to depression which is deadly in itself. Sometimes it looks like a genuine feeling of what is not working in the church, the news about pastors mismanaging funds or the leadership not operating in the level of revelation you have, however, detaching from the community of faith is not the way; isolation is never God’s idea.

What could be happening to you that the gathering of God’s people no longer interest you? You feel staying alone will help you concentrate better or the situation you are going through is full of hurt which you don’t want to be known, so you give in to staying off God’s people?

Isolation is the mother of depression, when you allow the mother, the child takes over your life.

Share with the brethren; stick together; there is grace in the midst of God’s people. Daniel understood this, he brought the problem to his brethren, they prayed together and there was a way out.

Friend, no pain, hurt, feel of shame, level of knowledge or revelation should take you away from association of faith. It’s powerful beyond just gathering; it’s God’s intention.

“not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.” Heb 10:25

PS: You can download audio messages that will bless your life via this link

Have a blessed week.

Be Innovated

Olufemi Ibitoye