Teaching by Pastor Margaret Ochsner, Women’s Apostolic Alliance Member
1 Kings 18:17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, oh troubler of Israel?”
· Prophets will have FALSE ACCUSATIONS COME AGAINST THEM.
v. 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.”
· Prophets CONFRONT with TRUTH.
v. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezabel’s table.
v. 21 And Elijah came to all the people and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”
· Prophets STAND for TRUTH and ISSUE CHALLENGES.
v. 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him and he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.
· Prophets bring RESTORATION and ORDER.
· Prophets want to DEMONSTRATE GOD’S POWER.
v. 36 And it came to pass, at the time of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant and that I have done all these things at Your Word.
· Prophets want to HONOUR GOD (with the evening sacrifice)
· They HEAR from God CLEARLY.
· They know the TIMING OF GOD.
v. 37 “Hear me, Oh Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
· Prophets PRAY IN the WILL and POWER OF GOD.
· They ENCOURAGE the people to TURN BACK to GOD.
v. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench.
· God is a FAITHFUL GOD and He will HONOUR OBEDIENCE, FAITH and TRUST in HIM.
· Prophets are GOD’S SPOKES-PEOPLE and He will BACK His TRUE PROPHETS.
v. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
· When God is lifted up, He will draw all men back to Him.
· God’s power, signs, wonders and miracles confirm who He is and His greatness.
V. 41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, and eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.
The drought broke!
· Prophets bring CHANGE.
· They BREAK DROUGHTS and bring in the REFRESHING RAIN of GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT.
That day there was a huge manifestation of God’s Power and defeat of the enemy.
· Prophets usher in GOD’S POWER AND PRESENCE.
· They are REFORMERS and CHANGE AGENTS.
Margaret Ochsner
