The Spirit and Power of Elijah
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The Spirit and Power of Elijah
11/16 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 7-8; Hebrews 11; Amos 5; Luke 1:1-38
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
11/16 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 7-8; Hebrews 11; Amos 5; Luke 1:1-38
Luke 1:17
“…and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
PREPARED
This prophetic word concerning the ministry of John the Baptist would almost seem to contradict the singing of some Sunday hymns, as well as our evangelistic efforts. John was to make ready for the Lord a people prepared. Yet we sing, “Just as I am without one plea.” The ministry of John is no different from ours as a witness to those unsaved. Fallen man’s tendency is to attempt to justify himself before a holy God. He will do everything he can to make himself ready. Why? The flesh lusts to take credit for any part of salvation. The flesh wants to say, “I did this!” or “I did that in order to make salvation possible.” When John preached repentance, it was to repent from dead works which attempted to justify men before a holy God. The spirit and power of Elijah prepared the people by laying bare everything within us so we could surrender completely to Christ by God’s grace. It is as Toplady so wonderfully notes, “Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” The spirit and power of Elijah that turns human hearts, which ministers wisdom to the disobedient, and prepares people for the salvation of Christ, strips away every work of the flesh and worldly whims so that one may truly surrender all to the Lord Jesus. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Not the labours of my hands
Can fulfill Thy laws demands;
Could my zeal no respite know,
Could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone;
Thou must save, and Thou alone.
“A Living and Dying Prayer for the Holiest Believer in the World”
aka “Rock of Ages”
Augustus Toplady (1740-1778)
