The Supernatural Exchange Part 4 By Bill Click

Bill Click

Onward to Zarephath

While at Cherith, Elijah learned how those who are called to move supernaturally must receive personally from God. This established him in what mattered most to the Lord for their relationship. By doing so, Elijah was prepared for the next step that would lead to fulfillment of his prophetic word: Zarephath.

Elijah did not move from Cherith to Zarephath as the result of conducting demographic research which sociologically identified his "target audience." Neither did he go there as the result of "shop talk" about where God was moving. Nor were there pre-existing relationships which could be tapped for personal provision and ministry opportunities. Elijah heard the words, "Arise, get thee to Zarephath which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." (1Kg.17:9)

This most unlikely scenario for Elijah moved him outside the zone of the promise. He was led away from the very place he prophesied over. This move seemed to have him siding against the prophesied rain (Zidon was not exactly, pro-Israel). But the present tense leading of God was to move in a direction which seemingly violated the promised destiny. We need to see from this that it will become essential to truly believe in the word God has given, yet be able to completely release holding on to it. This is because the route the Lord takes us through to fulfillment can often seem quite nonsensical, backward to what was originally promised: even like going around in circles.

It's interesting that in this season of Elijah's life, we see only a brief reminder to him about the prophecy of rain. In ministering to those who would support him, God reminds Elijah of His promise to not only support those who support him, but also that he will not lack (1Kg.17:14-16). For us and those we lead, it is a promise that if they will be faithful to follow us as we follow Christ, they will endure in the midst of any and every adverse circumstance until what God has promised is brought forth.

Growing Trust

Unbeknownst to Elijah, God has something for him in the Zarephath season that goes far beyond learning how to allow God to transform little into much, receive provision for ministry, restore life from death and bring wholeness to others. Elijah, too busy with "the now" to be obsessed about rain or trying to make that happen matures by living in the moment and ministering in it, fully confident of God's sufficiency and omnipotence. Elijah releases responsibility for the promise given to even a greater degree than at Cherith; his trust grows as he obeys God in what is set before him.

How many of us would either reject that ?Zarephath? word, or tell the one who received it: ?that can't be God.? But Elijah doesn't seem to oppose God?s leading. Why not? After all, it seemed to take him even farther away from what God had originally promised to do through him. But Elijah had learned at Cherith he could trust the Truth within the Voice. Therefore, "he arose and went to Zarephath." (1Kg.17:10)  Elijah just simply did what God told him to.

So Elijah, having left Cherith, begins toward Zarephath. By doing so he is beginning to move beyond the basics of survival in isolation at Cherith. By going in obedience to Zarephath, Elijah puts himself in position to trust that God will work through someone to provide for him. After all, if the Lord told birds what to do and they complied, how much more will He effectively communicate His will to someone made in His image (Israeli or not!)

Simple as it sounds, this can seem to be an insurmountable issue for many called to be Prophets and Apostles. Rejection, persecution, ridicule and humiliation can interfere with a foundational minister's willingness and ability to trust that God will sufficiently persuade people to be obedient on their behalf. Especially if that call moves us into unfamiliar settings, with those who either seem different, or unlikely to identify and align with our Divine uniqueness.

Trusting God in the Present

It is clear there is a flow of resource in the Kingdom of God that includes prosperity, abundance and a continuity that Apostles and Prophets must learn to receive and move in (Dt.8:18). It is my firm conviction, however, that because true trust in God is lacking, there is precious little manifestation of it. In fact, it is clear to me that many of the outlandish sowing and reaping "revelations" of this hour are motivated by fear that without "tweaking" people, there won't (otherwise) be enough money to meet ministry and individual needs. Regardless of his experience of the past, Elijah trusts God in the present. That is our call as well.

As Elijah humbles himself to receive in this new way, he moves past just issuing of words which are cataclysmic in scope, then waiting for their fulfillment. He progresses beyond that realm of "seeing, hearing and saying" God's Word and begins moving into dimensions of "going, moving and pioneering" it. All of the sudden, there is an anointing for immediacy in breakthrough and result. He begins to manifest God's power in a new way. Instead of just holding out for what God has said, he is speaking the "now" word and others are seeing it come to pass in their lives.

For us today, this should be seen as a type and shadow of moving from a predominately prophetic ministry and wineskin into a more apostolic authority of breakthrough and establishment. We must allow ourselves to move in a new way as Elijah did, that is: if we are ever going to be provided for in the place and/or way God is calling for. And in the seasons ahead, this need will only increase in both its depth and perhaps also its frequency as we allow ourselves to become moved as Elijah was: only by the Voice of the Lord.

Elijah's new season insures not only his continued provision but also keeps him on track, preparing for the showdown on Mount Carmel. I have no doubt that at this time in his journey he could not even envision such an event taking place. (We usually have not trouble imagining God fulfilling His Word, but when it comes time for His promise to manifest, the way He does it is always different than we imagined). Likewise, we are being called to battles ahead that we know not of, so we'd better obey God in the present if we want to be ready for them when they arrive without our permission or knowledge. So this time in Elijah's life serves to prepare him for the moment he will manifest to the entirety of God's people a valid demonstration, witness and opportunity to receive the One True God (1Kgs.18:36-39). Many today are perhaps called to such a moment, but they won't be chosen for such an encounter and victorious outcome without moving with God's direction in whatever season they find themselves in.

Continually Depending on God

Zarephath builds Elijah's trust for that which lay ahead: a battle and release of faith that (at his present time) he really knows little about. How many of us could benefit in the days ahead - when we are older and our flesh more "tired" from a more heartfelt, sincere trust of God built into us now? So this is Step 2 of the Supernatural Exchange: continually depending on God for everything He's led us into and promised to establish, therefore having Him loose us into a greater dimension of anointing and responsibility which consumes the entirety of our focus.

By stretching him to believe for that which the Spirit is now saying, God moves Elijah into a greater dimension of manifesting the God of Israel. This requires that Elijah remain in God's hands, willing to call others out into that dimension as well. This is how Elijah begins enabling others to live it out just as he is.

The foundations of dependency on God got rooted in Elijah at Cherith. At Zarephath he does not graduate from dependency on God. Instead, that trust in God is not just personal and private. It must now also involve God moving through others. Likewise, we will never arrive at a level of not having to believe and trust God (Heb.11:6). Instead, God will reveal Himself by showing how He moves through people, but that it must always be Him that is moving. Therefore, Elijah comes to stand in increased trust and faith, flows from it in every instance, and begins calling others into it as well. As a result, his trust and faith is secured to a greater degree, and God manifests though him more than ever, benefiting those others who are also obedient. We must be likewise expanded as Elijah was, or we cannot ever be used to expand others (as Elijah did).

To do as Elijah, we must have first received all God had for us at our own personal Cherith, because whatever strengths we receive while there (as well as weaknesses which remain untransformed) will accompany us into Step 2 at our "Zarephath." Whatever strength is in us to believe will be imparted to others who have been commanded to receive from us. But whatever weakness and fear which remains will be transferred to those who have unbelief and fear following God. The Lord wants to help us to go on to Zarephath of Zidon embracing Cherith: thankful for and building on it? not forsaking, resentful or ashamed of it. That is how we will see others transformed, not just ourselves.

Bill Click

rpm5clicks@juno.com