Click the links below to read back issues of our study series on the non-writing prophets, originally published in Prophecy Today through the 1990s.

Elijah

Elisha

Deborah

Micaiah

Nathan

Samuel

David

Moses

The Unnamed Prophet

Ahijah

Azariah

The Unnamed Man of God and the House of Eli

A call to radical discipleship.

In part two of a series examining the relevance of the message and ministry of the non-writing prophets for today, Wilfred Wong looks at the lessons which can be learned from the life of Elisha.

The ministry of Elisha was complementary to that of Elijah. Elijah's name means ‘God is Yahweh’ while the name Elisha means ‘God is Salvation’. Elisha was an evangelist whereas Elijah, like Moses, had to restore and vindicate the dignity of the law which was, at the time, neglected and despised. Elisha led back to God those who had been aroused from their complacency by the ministry of Elijah.

The role of both Elijah and Elisha are crucial for today's church to encompass, in presenting to the world the message of who God is (Elijah) and that God saves (Elisha).

They both prophesied to Israel at a time of widespread religious confusion and disobedience to God. This was fuelled by relativism and syncretism, a mix of false teaching and divine revelation, similar to the times that we now live in. At that time in Israel, remnants of God's teachings existed side by side with the idols Baal and Asherah of the Canaanite religion. The king of Israel and the people were confused as to who the true God was.

Similarly, today, this nation has been flooded with more religions and occultic belief systems than at any other time in its history. Under the guise of 'tolerance’ and 'progressiveness’, even church leaders have professed their own subjective and unsubstantiated opinions about God rather than what he has revealed in Scripture.

Today in the West, many people have adopted a consumerist attitude towards religion, including Christians. Some Christians like to pick and choose those aspects of God's character which they are happy to accept. God's love is emphasised and his anger ignored. Many convince themselves that surely God will not mind if they continue to be disobedient. God has been neatly packaged for our convenience and placed in our back pockets. These mistakes are nothing new; they were committed as long ago as the time of Elisha. For all our ’modernity’ and 'progressiveness’, we appear to have come full circle and are no more spiritually enlightened than the people of old.

Elijah and Elisha both prophesied to Israel at a time of widespread religious confusion and disobedience to God.

This spiritual depravity is also reflected in the senseless violence that is on the rise in British society, where even little children are brutally murdered for sexual gratification and about eight million unborn children have been killed since the introduction of the 1967 Abortion Act.¹ The latter is perhaps comparable to the human sacrifices conducted in the Canaanite religion.

God’s Righteous Anger

God's anger is clearly demonstrated after Elisha is mocked (2 Kings 2:23-25). This passage is often cited as a major moral problem in the Old Testament. However, the mocking of Elisha, as God's representative, was tantamount to mocking God himself and such blasphemy was punished according to the Deuteronomic doctrine of retributive justice (Deut 7:10, 18:19).

Furthermore, Elisha himself could not have brought about the punishment of the youths. There is no need for Christians to try and make excuses for God's anger in these verses, for though God is love, he is also a God of righteous anger and he has no need to justify his acts to those whom he has created. This anger is demonstrated at many points in Scripture, for instance in the punishment of Ananias and Sapphira for lying to God (Acts 5:1-11).

Although God is merciful and forgiving, he wants us both to love and fear him - the reason for the latter being that fear of God will help to keep us from sinning (Ex 20:18-20, Luke 12:45). Many people, including Christians, lack an awareness of sin and its consequences because much of the Church has shied away from teaching about God's righteous anger. Sin is an unpopular subject nowadays. Perhaps it may only be a matter of time before God's anger results in a terrible chastisement upon this nation and on the whole world, for its blatant disregard for his laws.

For Those Who Will Obey

Though Elisha is to proclaim that God saves, this salvation is only for those who humble themselves and are obedient to God. As is demonstrated above, those who dare to mock God are made to account for their actions (see also Gal 6:7). There are numerous miracles performed by Elisha, which demonstrate God’s saving power for those who are obedient to him: in 2 Kings 4:1-7, Elisha saves a widow in debt from having her two boys taken away as slaves. 2 Kings 4:38-41 describes God’s power to make safe that which is harmful, when Elisha makes a deadly stew edible.

Although God is merciful and forgiving, he wants us both to love and fear him – for the fear of God will help to keep us from sinning.

God also shows his care and provision for those who follow him. In 2 Kings 4:42-44 Elisha feeds a multitude of people with only a small number of loaves demonstrating, yet again, the Lord's care for the needs of his people. In the healing of Naaman, in 2 Kings 5:1-27, Elisha demonstrates God's mercy on those who are willing to humble themselves before him, seek God’s will and faithfully obey him (here we have a story of the conversion and healing of a non-Israelite leper).

We also see God’s severe punishment upon those who are unfaithful in their service to him. Naaman, in gratitude for his healing, offers Elisha a gift, which he refuses (vs 15, 16). However, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, deceives Naaman into giving him the gifts and he and his descendants are struck down with leprosy.

Storing Up Treasures in Heaven

Gehazi was supposed to be serving God through his service to God’s chosen prophet, Elisha, yet he failed miserably when tempted by riches. This is a lesson for all of us who are engaged in Christian service. It is very common today to hear reports of Christians whose ministries are corrupted by sex, pride or money or any combination of these factors. All of us who serve God need regularly to examine our motives and attitudes and ask ourselves whether we are storing up treasures in heaven or on earth (Matt 6:19-21).

Will we follow the way of Elisha or Gehazi? Until the day we leave this world, we can never be too sure. This is a humbling thought and we need always to seek God’s help in remaining faithful. Although life may sometimes be very difficult, it is only temporary and God will reward believers according to how faithfully and obediently they have served him (Rom 14:12, Rev 22:12, 1 Cor 2:9).

It is quite awesome to realise that the nature of God's eternal reward awaiting us in Heaven will be determined by whatever we do during our temporary stay on earth. If all Christians truly internalised this truth, we would fling aside all those distractions which side-track us from effective Christian service, and focus single-mindedly on serving and pleasing God.

Uncompromising Discipleship

Such is the manner in which Elisha served God. He not only was obedient and faithful, but was willing to give up his livelihood, humble himself and be a servant to Elijah in order to be prepared for his prophetic ministry (1 Kings 19:19-21).

All of us who serve God need regularly to examine our motives and attitudes and ask ourselves whether we are storing up treasures in heaven or on earth.

By the standards which Jesus set, Elisha was a true disciple. When called to serve God, he left everything and did not look back (Luke 9:57-62) and he was not afraid to sacrifice and suffer and even to risk his life, as his ministry was likely to incur the wrath of the authorities (Luke 14:20-27).

True discipleship is always radical, yet we often water down the quality of our service to God, justifying this in the interests of our convenience and comfort. Elisha in his ministry was not only proclaiming God’s salvation but also encouraging the people to obey God. Some parallels can be seen with the Great Commission which Jesus gave to his disciples as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20. They were instructed not only to ‘make disciples’ but stress was also placed on ‘teaching them (i.e. the nations) to obey everything I have commanded you.’

What prophetic role is the Church in this country performing to teach the nation to obey God's commands? Unfortunately, some Christians seem more concerned with their image and not upsetting others than with uncompromisingly proclaiming God’s laws. The wavering stance within parts of the Church on the sinfulness of homosexual practices is just one example of this continuing process of compromise.

Sadly, many parts of the Church are failing to teach God’s commands by word or example. In the West, rather than influencing society, society is influencing the Church. Even sincere and devout Christians often fall into the trap of professing beliefs which are based more on the cultural influences of the day than on God's teachings as found in the Bible.

It is quite awesome to realise that the nature of God's eternal reward awaiting us in Heaven will be determined by what we do during our temporary stay on earth.

More Than We Can Imagine

We are all called to radical discipleship. It is not an easy road and we need God’s assistance and guidance along every step of the way. Like Elisha, we should have lives of deep prayer and seek God's will, in prayer, with an attitude of humility and obedience and through the study of God's word.

When we are humble and obedient instruments of God, he is able to achieve great things through us, perhaps more than we can imagine, as he did through his servant Elisha.

First published in Prophecy Today, Vol 13(5), 1997. Part of a series - click here for back issues.

Notes

1 2015 statistics.

Discover books from Instant Apostle.

Last year we interviewed Manoj Raithatha, pioneer of Christian publishing house Instant Apostle. Now Prophecy Today readers give their verdict on a selection of Instant Apostle books.

The Judas Trap: Why people mess up (and how to avoid joining them)

Derek Williams (2016)

Ian Farley comments.

This stimulating book takes a look at the infamous apostle, unpacking why he did what he did before asking how we can avoid acting in the same way. Williams takes a generous view of Judas and encourages us to think more carefully about him – which draws the reader in, although deeper theological questions about Judas’ betrayal are not dealt with at length.

Williams does not restrict himself to figures from the Bible, however, but also includes a plethora of modern illustrations that help unpack his points. Some of his comparisons are hard to swallow – nevertheless he does well to remind the reader that every human, no matter how given over to darkness, also has within them the possibility of turning back to the light. God does not give up on anyone.

Each chapter contains a list of suggestions for readers to apply, and the final chapter provides a good and helpful summary of the characteristics of the renewed Christian mind – the kind of people we are called to be. Thought-provoking, at times controversial, and eminently readable.

The Judas Trap (256pp) is available from Amazon for £5.75.

Refugee Stories: Seven personal stories behind the headlines

Dave Smith (2016)

Maureen Trowbridge comments.

These stories of the lives of refugees make disturbing reading – even as one learns of the persecution and traumas they endured before the dangerous journey to safety. Reading this book gives one a deeper understanding of their circumstances and engenders a growing compassion for them, plus an awareness that things often remain difficult for them even after reaching Britain.

The refugee crisis may well cause consternation by being something of a Trojan horse for Islamic extremists. In the face of this, it is good to be reminded of the genuine plight of so many hundreds of thousands fleeing the horrors of war, poverty and persecution.

The author of the book is the founder of the Boaz Trust which works with destitute asylum seekers. This book is both challenging and well worth reading.

Refugee Stories (225pp) is available for £9.98 (new) on Amazon.

Found By Love: A Hindu Priest Encounters Jesus Christ

Rahil Patel (2016)

Derek Bownds comments.

Found By Love tells the true story of Rahil Patel, a young Indian who was drawn deeply into Hinduism as a teenager and pursued the call to become a swami, a priest set aside to minister to the Hindu gods.

Despite being favoured in his new ‘calling’, Rahil grew restless with questions as he came across inconsistencies in Hinduism, religious practice that left him dissatisfied, and always a still small voice inside saying “You’re not supposed to be here. You’re in the wrong place.” Eventually, he abandoned his high-profile position and flew from India to London. One day he wandered into a church, and knew he had finally come home. He had been found by love – and over the next two years he was stripped of the scars of the past, and given new life.

This is the story of one who tried so hard to reach God by his own efforts but discovered that his standing before God depends entirely on Jesus. In place of a human guru, Rahil found the eternal Saviour. Instead of a title and rank and constant searching and doubt, he has been given sonship and truth. In place of rules, he has found grace and a loving community. How can it not be a good read?

“…one of the most enthralling books…once I started to read it I found it so absorbing I could not put it down. I thoroughly recommend it and feel sure you’ll feel the same about it too!” ~ Maureen Trowbridge

Found By Love (230pp) is available for £9.98 (new) on Amazon.

Far from it – it is time to reclaim our Christian heritage.

One unexpected fallout of the General Election has been the question about how Christians can, without compromise, serve in Parliament.

With the conservative, Protestant DUP party potentially entering Government with an influence far beyond their small number of ten MPs and the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, Tim Farron, resigning so as not to compromise his faith, much is being said. But can we not also discern the voice of God in all this?

Actually, there is a clear answer to this question that is easily lost in our peer-pressured, politically correct, compromising society. In a nutshell, true Christianity should be at the heart of the government of the UK, with no divide between politics and Christianity.

Sworn Duty

We do not have a written constitution, such as in the USA. If we did, the clear role of Government would be to interpret and defend the constitution. What we have, however, is potentially better.

Over many centuries, since the days of Alfred the Great, our four-nation Union has developed a balance of laws and customs that define our constitutional framework of Monarchy, Church and Government. This framework is intended to be reflected in our laws, education, finance and business structures.

When MPs enter Parliament they are required to take an oath or affirmation of allegiance, known as ‘swearing in’. The exact wording can be found here.

The oath or affirmation is either in the name of Almighty God (the oath) or a statement of honour (the affirmation) to “be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, her heirs and successors, according to law.”

True Christianity should be at the heart of the government of the UK.

When we consider the constitutional position that is defined by the Monarch’s own Coronation Oath, surely the allegiance declared by MPs is to uphold what the Monarch stands for. If she had not taken the Oath she would not, by law, have been crowned Queen – that is how important this is. As we have said in other articles in Prophecy Today, central to the Coronation Oath is the commitment “to the utmost of power to maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel” (for the wording of the entire Oath click here).

In short, the duty of every member of the Lords and Commons is to test every aspect of UK governance against the Queen’s commitment before God “to the utmost of power to maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel”! Every successive Government must interpret our constitutional position and every MP must measure what he or she is promising when standing for and taking office, against this one benchmark: that by law Britain is a Christian nation and the MPs’ vow is to uphold this position!

Far from Christian MPs struggling over conscience issues to serve in Parliament, the entire conscience of the nation should be measured by the biblical interpretation of all that is done in both Houses. This is especially so since the Monarch’s power has been restricted to a largely advisory capacity and, at the strongest (apart from the power she has over her own hand to sign in new laws!), to warning the Prime Minister during their regular meetings.

Tim Farron: A Case in Point

Tim Farron. See Photo Credits.

Obviously, however, for the past 50 years the UK has been subjected to a powerful process of secularisation which has undermined our biblical heritage.

Look at the issue of Tim Farron. When he was asked whether or not homosexual sex acts were sinful he should have said “yes they are sinful” – and so should all MPs, not based on their own views or party lines, but based on clear interpretation of biblical principles into all matters of governance. This is the responsibility MPs have taken under oath - not a matter of personal opinion.

The allegiance sworn by MPs is to uphold what the Monarch stands for – that which she promised in her Coronation Oath.

It is up to the individual who performs such acts of sexuality to face up to Almighty God, who has declared his principles clearly through his word, but is also full of grace for any repentant sinner. It is for politicians to ensure that laws are in place which protect the vulnerable in society and to bring in educational strategies that help our children to have a conscience framed on biblical principles.

Anything less is a breaking of our constitutional position made before Almighty God. Is it any wonder, with successive governments failing in their oaths and commitments to God, that we are facing the situation in our nation where God’s hand of protection is being withdrawn, with horrendous and escalating consequences?

Defining Our National Character

In the House of Lords there are 26 bishops, including the Archbishops of Canterbury and York. They are termed the ‘Lords Spiritual’. It is their right to serve and their role to bring biblical insight to bear on every issue before them. This is where we must hear a clear declaration and reminder of the laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel, to help all other Members of Parliament be clear on direction.

Many non-conformists in the UK may have long since ceased to think that the Christian faith can be central to the political workings of the nation, but until the Coronation Oath itself is liberalised, this is not so.

Until that time, by law and custom, politics and the Christian faith (albeit expressed chiefly through the Established Church) should be seamlessly connected in the governance of our nation. Christianity should define the character of the United Kingdom. God knows this and that is what he expects – no less. Every Government bill, every debate in the parliamentary chambers, every discussion between Prime Minister and Monarch, every prayer meeting in Parliament, should be centred on interpreting biblical principles accurately into the life of the nation.

Our Responsibility

This is why we have 26 bishops in the House of Lords. They are there to declare the word of the Lord and to give biblical advice to MPs as they make the laws of the land. But do we ever hear the word of the Lord declared by any of the bishops? It is so rare that it would no doubt be headline news in the media!

Until the Coronation Oath itself is liberalised, the Christian faith should be central to the political workings of the nation.

If the Church is silent on the great issues of the day, how can we expect MPs to know the standards of righteousness required to conform to biblical teaching? In ancient Israel the Lord held the religious leaders responsible for the state of the nation. “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock” (Ezek 34:10).

We all have a responsibility to pray for those in authority and in a democracy we have the right and the ability to make our views known to our representatives in Parliament. The whole Church, therefore, not just the bishops, shares the responsibility for the state of the nation. This is a sobering thought! Are we, individually, doing all we can to make the word of the Lord heard in the United Kingdom?

This is not a call for some dry religiosity to descend on our nation, but for us to return to God so that he will protect us in all our ways, restoring a tangible peace and security to the UK. Herein is our prosperity and our commission to serve one another. Herein is the protection of our borders, our care for the elderly and vulnerable, the future and hope for our children - and principles whereby we can avert the tragedies that are currently besetting us.

It’s time to pray, not play the blame game.

As Londoners are left reeling with shock at a succession of terrible tragedies, angry residents and pundits inevitably start looking for someone to blame.

When children fight in the playground and someone gets hurt, it’s always someone else’s fault. But there is a sense in which we are all to blame – for we have, as a nation, turned our backs on truth, honesty and integrity in favour of the brave new world’s ‘anything goes’ mantra - as long as it feels right. How do we measure truth when it is so subjective? If it’s not found in the Bible, where do we look for it?

Truth Has Stumbled

After discarding our Christian heritage and throwing out God’s laws, it’s not surprising there are so many different versions of truth portrayed by today’s media.

The BBC, for example, has shown a propensity in recent times for turning terrorists into victims – particularly when reporting on violence in Israel. Thus, last Friday (16 June), when a 23-year-old Israeli policewoman was stabbed to death and four others injured in a Jerusalem attack which also involved shooting, the BBC tweeted: “Three Palestinians killed after deadly stabbing in Jerusalem” – a shamefully misleading headline focusing attention on the attackers as if they were the victims.¹

How do we measure truth if it is subjective? If it’s not found in the Bible, where do we look for it?

The Prophet Isaiah wrote of how, when we have turned our backs on God, “truth has stumbled in the streets; honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found” (Isa 59:13-15).

Perverse Claims

At the rally following London’s Al Quds² march, the Iranian-inspired day calling for the destruction of Israel, one speaker perversely blamed the tragic West London fire on ‘Zionists’. “Some of the biggest supporters of the Conservative Party are Zionists”, he ranted. “They are responsible for the murder of the people in Grenfell [the tower block].”³

As blogger Richard Millett asked: “How in 2017 is a terror organisation like Hezbollah, with a rifle emblazoned on its flag, allowed to parade through London? Is the British Jewish community so ill-considered, so small that we are so easily sacrificed? Would the authorities allow Al Qaeda or ISIS parades?”

The marchers have exploited a loophole in the law against flying the flags of proscribed organisations like Hezbollah by claiming that they are supporting its political (rather than military) wing even though they both use the same flag and support the same cause, which is the total destruction of the Jewish state, as their chants – “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” – clearly indicate.⁴

Whatever happened to the law against ‘hate speech’?

After discarding our Christian heritage, it’s not surprising there are so many different versions of truth portrayed by today’s media.

Convened by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, a British Muslim organisation with close ties to the Iranian regime, the march took place despite a petition calling for its ban signed by over 20,000 people which stated: “After the terrible recent terrorist events in Manchester and London, this display of extremism has no place on the streets of the UK”.

In the light of such a brazen demonstration of hatred, a backlash from unhinged members of society is hardly surprising, as in the tragic events outside the Finsbury Park mosque which left one dead and a number injured when a 47-year-old man ploughed into them with a van.

Unfortunately, this attack is being cynically used by jihadists as a call to war. But neither Britons as a whole, nor Christians in particular, have any quarrel with Muslims. We share their grief – Christians are suffering all over the world for their faith – and we reach out to them with the love of Jesus. They are our friends, not our enemies. And Jesus has told us to love even those, like jihadists, who wish us harm!

Hope Rises

But I see hope on three specific fronts, starting with the example of Christians in South Africa, to whom I have already referred on this site. Faced with corruption and violence in their nation, they came together in a farmer’s field to pray on 22 April; not just the faithful few, but a massive gathering of 1.7 million – more than the population of Birmingham, Britain’s second city. Many had travelled the length and breadth of that big country to plead God’s mercy on their troubles.

Isn’t it time British Christians got together to do something similar? Is our situation not desperate enough, with violence becoming endemic and truth turned on its head?

Isn’t it time British Christians got together to plead God’s mercy? Is our situation not desperate enough?

Secondly, not far from Birmingham, I visited a friend in prison whose Christian faith shines out so brightly that he is effectively working as a chaplain to many of his fellow inmates. He knows from his experience in the outside world how it is often difficult to get people to talk about or share their faith, even in churches. But now he struggles to shut people up as they all want to share the goodness of God, especially during Bible classes and chapel services packed with men praising the Lord in full voice. And another friend tells of a prison in the South-West where men, “feeling completely abandoned by society, are so ready to hear the Gospel”.

Many years ago I was told of a prophecy that revival in Britain would start in the prisons!

Thirdly, I have been profoundly moved by the response of churches in the Grenfell Tower area of London, scene of the tragic fire where an estimated 79 people perished and hundreds more were made homeless.

Churches such as the Tabernacle Christian Centre have opened their doors to victims and have been providing refuge, shelter and the wonderful truth of the Gospel ever since.

Sally Richardson, a friend of mine who visited them, remarks elsewhere in this issue of Prophecy Today, “Grenfell Tower has burned, but let’s pray that a candle will burn in North Kensington that will never be put out. May the surviving victims find Jesus to be their tower of refuge and strength (Proverbs 18:10)”.

References

1 Roberts, C. BBC apologizes for headline incitement. Arutz-7, 18 June 2016.

2 Al Quds means ‘Jerusalem’.

3 Cohen, B. Hezbollah Flags Fly at ‘Al Quds Day’ March in London as Islamist Agitators Blame Grenfell Tower Tragedy on ‘Zionists’. The Algemeiner, 18 June 2017.

4 Hezbollah flags fly in London on a Sunday afternoon anti-Israel march. World Israel News, 18 June 2017.

Even in the ashes, the Lord is at work.

We are delighted to feature a testimony this week from the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire. Sally Richardson, who co-ordinates London’s Israel and Prophecy Group, visited the area with a friend to pray; they were taken by surprise there as they discovered wonderful stories of God at work.

My visit to pray in the area near Grenfell Tower

Sally Richardson (Israel and Prophecy Group, London)

Dear friends,

After having attended the excellent Intercessors For Britain Prayer and Bible Day in Central London yesterday (Saturday 17 June), where prayer was made for the aftermath of the terrible tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire and the victims and their loved ones, my friend Ralph Brockman and I went to the area of the tower to pray there in person.

We walked there from White City station, near my home on the nearby White City Estate. From North Pole Road, we walked down Latimer Road towards the Westway flyover, and the Tower. We could see its blackened hulk coming nearer and nearer as we walked towards it.

Halfway down the road, we saw a church, the Tabernacle Christian Centre, where we could see people gathered inside and out. Ralph and I went over to them, and asked them if we could go into the church and pray for the victims of the fire.

We were welcomed with open arms and hugs and warmly invited in, where we were told we could pray wherever we wanted. We found two chairs near an open door, and prayed for the victims and for the aftermath of the fire.

The church itself was small and simple, with a large wooden cross centrally displayed, and nearby, a table with a menorah on it. We both really felt the presence of the Lord in this precious little church.

We both really felt the presence of the Lord in this precious little church.

After we had finished praying, members of the church, including the Pastor, Pastor Derrick, came to talk with us. They again thanked us for coming, and told us how they had opened the church at 2am on the night of the fire, and that people had almost immediately began to come in for refuge and shelter. Soon after that, donations of food and clothing, blankets, items of furniture, etc. began to arrive, so much so that the whole church, the rooms off it, the yard at the front and the garden, were full of donations. People had come from all over the country to give, and some had been divinely directed there; arriving in the area, and not knowing where to go, the Lord had then spoken to them and said, "Go to Tabernacle Christian Centre!". So they had done just that.

Pastor Derrick also told us that, on the Tuesday evening as they were praying and having their Bible study, the Lord broke in and gave a word, which was that they must be prepared, as the Lord was going to bring many people to the church. The fire broke out a few hours later; how this Word has been fulfilled, and still is being!

The church has seen a steady flow of victims and survivors of the fire, most very traumatised and in a state of shock. They have come alongside each one in love and compassion, giving them food, water, goods and money, and offering a listening ear and prayer, which some have accepted - including Muslims. We are praying that some of the victims will return to attend the services there and turn to the Lord and be saved; may He be their solace.

As we were speaking, Pastor Derrick pointed to the large wooden cross, so centrally displayed, and said, "The cross is central here; we preach Christ crucified." This is a church which really lives out the Gospel; they practice what they preach.

They also love Israel and the Jewish people and pray regularly for them, as Pastor Derrick told us when we asked him about the menorah. He also told us that their oldest member is a dear Welsh lady 100 years old, who is still very active in the service of the Lord.

Hours before the fire, the Lord warned the church that they were to prepare, for he was about to bring many people.

Family members of those still missing have also come to the church, asking for help in finding their loved ones, and leaving pictures of them on trees and lamp-posts all over the area, including at the church, asking if anyone has seen them and to contact them if so. Some of them also asked for prayer.

Later, as Ralph and I walked round the area, we saw the pictures of the missing, from the the young, including small children, to the elderly, whom, in all probability, have perished in the inferno. We prayed that they had cried out to the Lord as the flames consumed them. It was truly heart-wrenching seeing these pictures, and the tears were never far away.

We finished by going underneath the Westway flyover to a grassy knoll overlooking the tower to pray. As we began, we could see firemen on the roof, obviously conducting part of their investigation. We brought all the members of the emergency services who will be investigating the causes of the fire before the Lord; they will be undoubtedly be seeing some terrible sights in the next few days and weeks.

We can thank God for all the local churches that have opened their doors, day and night, to the victims of the tragedy. They have provided a listening ear, comfort both spiritual and practical, and have fed, clothed, and watered all those who have come to them; what a contrast to the local Council and TMO, whom, according to the victims, have done absolutely nothing and were seemingly deaf to their oft-expressed concerns as to the safety of Grenfell Tower. In the rich borough of Kensington and Chelsea, it seems that North Kensington, where the tower is situated, is very much the poor relative whom everyone ignores.

I also want to mention another church in the area, which I visited for a meeting a few weeks before the tragedy, and which has also been open 24/7 to victims, family members and friends of those missing and which has given continuously and unstintingly. That church is Latimer Christian Centre.

We thank God for the local churches that have opened their doors to the victims of the tragedy, providing a listening ear and both spiritual and practical comfort to all who have come to them.

We also prayed that people's very understandable anger at the lack of response and action by Kensington and Chelsea council, and the TMO, which is real and palpable, would not turn to rioting and civil disobedience such as we saw in Tottenham and other areas following the shooting of Mark Duggan nearly six years ago in 2011. "Lord, contain their anger", we prayed.
I am reminded of the words of the Oxford martyr Latimer, whom, as they burned at the stake, turned to his fellow martyr Ridley, and said, "Play the man, Master Ridley; we shall this day light such a candle, by God's grace, in England, as I trust shall never be put out."

Grenfell Tower has burned, but let us pray that a candle will burn in North Kensington that will NEVER be put out.

May the surviving victims of the tower tragedy find Him to be THEIR tower of refuge and strength (Proverbs 18:10).

In Him,

Sally Richardson
18/06/17

In the first of a series on the non-writing prophets, Chris Hill looks at Elijah.

Ahab was without doubt the most evil king to rule the northern kingdom of Israel. Nearly one third of I and 2 Kings is devoted to his reign and that of his two sons. A period of 34 years.

Prompted by the influence of his pagan wife, Jezebel, Ahab had led God's people into grotesque idolatry. The Canaanite gods of Baal and Asherah had been installed and were being worshipped as Israel's redeemer.

Yet, strangely, vestiges of the old faith were still around. Ahab had named two of his sons Ahaziah (which means ‘the Lord grasps hold of’) and Joram (‘the Lord is exalted’). The confusion in his own mind had had a knock-on effect in the nation. King and people alike were in a terrible state of indecision (not unlike our own leaders and people today), limping between several opinions as to who was the true God.

The Lord has always hated such syncretism — the ’blending’ of false religion and biblical revelation. He still hates it. Syncretism invites his wrath just the same now as it did then.

The Lord has always hated syncretism — the ’blending’ of false religion and biblical revelation. He still hates it.

To look at Israel in the ninth century BC, you could be forgiven for thinking that Jezebel’s annihilation of the Lord’s prophets and servants had been so thorough that there was no voice of protest left in the land. That would be a mistake. 1 Kings 18:4 indicates that one man alone, Obadiah, had sheltered a hundred of the Lord's prophets from these purges. The Lord himself later says that there were seven thousand people in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18).

These are extraordinary statistics. To see the state of the nation, you would never have dreamt these anonymous people existed. They must have been active at some level, in spite of the prevailing conditions, but their impact upon society was nil. No-one heard the word of the Lord because the Lord's people refused to speak it out.

It took a man of singular faith to change things. That man was Elijah from Tishbe on the eastern side of the Jordan river.

The Representative Prophet

EIijah was more than ‘an average prophet’. It is significant that when our Lord was being prepared for his passion (Luke 9:31), he was ministered to by Moses (representing the law) and Elijah (representing the prophets). It was not Isaiah or Jeremiah, Ezekiel or Joel, but Elijah. This would seem to be confirmed by the attitude of the angel towards John the Baptist, who came "in the spirit and power of Elijah" (Luke 1:17). A view later reflected in our Lord's own words (Matt 11:14).

Thousands of the Lord’s people remained in pagan Israel – but no-one heard the word of the Lord because they refused to speak it out.

It is important, at this point, to note that there is no biblical warrant for saying that the ministry of prophecy in the New Testament is any different from that in the Old Testament. Consequently, the ministry of Elijah, who we may regard as the 'representative prophet’, should act as an indicator of the nature of prophecy today.

In common with his fellow prophets, Elijah was a communicator of the mind, will and heart of God. He was, we might say, a ’law enforcement officer’ and a ‘guardian of the covenant’. He spoke forth the word of the Lord to his people, and his heart beat with the heart-beat of the Lord for his people.

We see this demonstrated in three ways.

1) Elijah was jealous for the Lord (1 Kings 19:10)

The Hebrew word may be translated as ‘zealous’ or ‘jealous’. Both were true of the genuine prophet. To be filled with zeal for the Lord is to be wholeheartedly for Him. Elijah was jealous for the Lord. Jealousy is a virtue and not a sin. Otherwise, the Lord could not reveal himself as "a jealous God" (Ex 20:5).

To be ‘envious’ is to want what belongs to someone else, but to be ‘jealous’ is to want something back that is truly mine, but which has been taken away from me. Elijah felt what God felt. His heart beat with God’s heart-beat. He put God’s interests above his own, even though it would threaten his very life.

The true prophet of the Lord is not interested in his own reputation or the popularity of his message because he values God above all else. He is the messenger of the Lord and in consequence communicates the heart of God as well as his word. When God's prophet brings a blistering tirade to God's people, he does so with tears - tears for the people and tears for God. God's prophet longs to see repentance and reconciliation where there is rebellion and estrangement.

Elijah felt what God felt. His heart beat with God’s heart-beat and he put God’s interests above his own.

2) There was a reason for Elijah's confident prophesying (1 Kings 17:1)

It takes a remarkable kind of faith to enable a man to stride into the audience chamber of a pagan king and state unequivocally that it will not rain for the next few years. We can but wonder at the profound certainty (or folly) of such a move. It seems to leave Ahab speechless. The question is: how did Elijah know that God was actually saying this? How did he know he had a prophetic word to give?

ln these ‘enlightened’ times we might suppose that Elijah had an 'inner witness’, a nervous twitch, or maybe a sudden sense of warmth and an increase in heart-beat. Perhaps he had an uncontrollable urge to rush into the king‘s presence and say the first thing that came into his mouth.

None of these is correct. There is only one reason why Elijah spoke those fateful words. It may be found in Deuteronomy 11:16-17, which states:

Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them [an apt description of Israel under Ahab and Jezebel]. Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you.
(emphasis added)

Elijah’s confident announcement was made on the basis that he was thoroughly familiar with his Bible (or rather those parts God's word which had been committed to writing in his day). He knew that the secret of prophecy is simply this: if the conditions fit the situation, God is saying now what God has always said in his word.

Elijah knew the secret of prophecy: that if the conditions fit the situation, God is saying now what God has always said in his word.

True prophets have a deep understanding of Scripture. They understand that to test what they believe God is wanting them to say, they must be entirely convinced that this is in complete accord with his word. They understand that without a profound grasp of the scriptures they must not dare to speak out as it they have a word from him.

The prophet recognises with holy awe that if any part of his (or her) utterance is not in accordance with the Bible then to that extent he is prophesying falsely. Such a challenging matter should not deter but rather drive him to read the word.

3) Elijah prayed earnestly (James 5:17)

It is inconceivable that a true prophet could be anything less than a 'prayer warrior’. The question is how did Elijah pray?

James 5:17 says that in consequence of his praying it did not run for “three and a half years”. The reference in 1 Kings 18:1, however, appears to indicate only three years of drought. There is a six-month difference. What are we to make of this?

It looks as if there was already a six-month drought before Elijah prayed that it would not rain. In other words, Elijah prayed that the situation in the land would get worse.

This is odd. Most of the modern ’prophets’ prophesy nice things, and this is what we are used to. Any ‘prophet’ prophesying and praying that things in the nation (or church) might get worse would be considered in most Christian circles as unloving, insensitive, and not communicating God's word, let alone his heart!

The truth is that Elijah prayed the way he did because he loved the people and wanted to see them brought back to the Lord. It broke his heart to see the estrangement between God and Israel. He prayed that the drought would continue in order to bring the people back to their faithful God.

Most modern ’prophets’ prophesy nice things - any who prophesy that things might get worse would be considered in most Christian circles as unloving or insensitive.

What does the Lord think about us? What does he feel about us? What does he want of us and how does he want us to be? These are the matters which Elijah dealt in, the essence of the prophetic ministry.

The well-known prophecy of Joel 2:28-32, quoted in Acts 2:17-18, indicates that the last days will see a release of the prophetic ministry. As surely as John the Baptist spoke the word of the Lord at his first coming, so we shall see the release of the 'spirit and power of Elijah’ as his return approaches. Many believe we are well into those days. Jesus is coming soon. The mantle of Elijah will cost us what it cost him — complete faithfulness to God because we love him and complete faithfulness to his people because we love them. Courage to tell it like it is — in love, integrity and vibrant faith — come what may.

First published in Prophecy Today, 1997, Volume 13(4).