Elijah was a one-man army. He claimed to be the only surviving prophet of the Lord (1 Kgs 18:22). When taken up in the fiery chariot, Elisha was probably referring to Elijah when he exclaimed "My father! My father! Israel's chariots and drivers!" (2 Kgs 2:12)
Elijah was Israel's whole army, a spiritual army that brought the government and military system of his time to its knees. Elijah stopped the rain for three and a half years, thereby shutting down much of the evil works of Ahab, Jezebel, and their cohorts (1 Kgs 17:1). Elijah took on 850 false prophets, personally putting each to death by slitting his throat (1 Kgs 18:40). Elijah was a one-man wrecking crew who could "clean house" and shut down evil.
Yet Elijah was a human being just like ourselves (Jas 5:17). We as Christians have much more power than Elijah ever had. In fact, we can do greater by far than Jesus Himself (Jn 14:12). As we exercise our faith through almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, we enter into a new dimension of supernatural power. We are soldiers for Christ, an army, "Israel's chariots and drivers" (2 Kgs 2:12).
| PRAYER: | Father, more than 99% of Your power in me remains untapped. May I live in the power of the Spirit. |
| PROMISE: | "In giving alms you are not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Keep your deeds of mercy secret, and your Father Who sees in secret will repay you." –Mt 6:3-4 |
| PRAISE: | St. Aloysius Gonzaga gave his hereditary fortune away and gave his life by serving plague victims. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College