In the Spirit and Power of Elijah

The Eternal One through His anointed prophets told of a time when the there will be a day of His visitation. When the Sun of Righteousness would descend from heaven down to earth. He would come from the East with healing in His wings. 

But before God coming to earth, there would be one who would be in the spirit and power of Elijah. He himself would not be the light. But he would testify of the divine light and prepare the way of His coming.  As you listen be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

There had been many prophecies over the course of human history. The word of the Eternal One was given to those who were chosen to speak for Him. As the Ancient Israelites and surrounding nations had turned their hearts and minds away from the Eternal One. Yet as the Eternal One’s desire for them had never changed, He continued to send His glorious light of truth into the darkness of their hearts. To reveal the deceptions of evil and self, so that anyone who was willing, would change their thinking, and turn their hearts back to the one true God.

The Eternal One through His anointed prophets told of a time when the there will be a day of His visitation. When the Sun of Righteousness would descend from heaven down to earth. The Sun of Righteousness being the brightest light of the Eternal One. That is the divine light, God Himself would come. He would come from the East with healing in His wings. 

But before God coming to earth, there would be one who would be in the spirit and power of Elijah. He himself would not be the light. But he would testify of the divine light and prepare the way of His coming. 

Let us go to the last recorded words of the Eternal One through His anointed prophets In the Old Testament.

Malachi 4:5-6 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

Time passed. Hundreds of years came and went. 

Then the word of the Eternal One came to a certain priest. He was anointed to burn incense and minister to the Eternal One. He was from the tribe of priests, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of Aaron. His name was Zacharias. Whose name means, remembered of the Eternal One.

Outside of the temple, at the hour of incense, all the people were praying. Let us go to that moment in human history.

Luke 1:5-17 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the division of Abijah. His wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well advanced in years.

So it was, that while he was serving as priest before God in the order of his division, according to the custom of the priesthood, his lot fell to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people was praying outside at the hour of incense. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. He will also 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 a people prepared for the Lord.”

This was one incredible moment. The angel of the Lord was standing at the right side of the altar. The right side represented the place of honour, power and authority. A position and place of intimacy. Standing in the presence of the Eternal One was a position of a ministering servant. One who is used to being in God’s presence. Just like a High Priest standing in the temple, ministering to God on behalf of the people. 

The angel of the Lord was an anointed messenger of the Most High, the Lord God Almighty. 

Yet the first response of Zacharias to this visitation was fear. However in the beautiful character of God, the angel of the Lord immediately responded, ‘Do not be afraid Zacharias...’

The Eternal One speaks peace into the fear. Through his anointed messenger, the Eternal One reveals Himself to Zacharias in a way he would understand. He calls Zacharias by name, which literally means, ‘remembered of the Eternal One.’  

The word of the Eternal One continued to come through His anointed messenger. …your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

Again this is a beautiful depiction of the heart of the Eternal One. He listens. 

Every prayer is sweet communion with the Eternal One. He treasures them in the depths of His heart. All of heaven is aware of how much the Eternal One delights in our prayers of sweet communion. 

The Eternal One had chosen both Zacharias and his beloved Elizabeth to bear a son. A son who would be an anointed messenger of the Eternal One. Someone who would come in the Spirit and power of Elijah. The Eternal One even gave him his name. A name that means, the Eternal One is a gracious giver. 

So from his mother’s womb, John would be filled with the Holy Spirit. This word that has been translated as filled is not just a once off moment but also means completed. Revealing that the the Eternal One will not only fill the baby John with His Spirit, but complete the work in and through Him He declares will happen.

John will go before the Eternal One’s coming in the spirit and power of Elijah. For the sole purpose of turning the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and make ready a people for the Eternal One. 

Let us look at the three purposes that the Eternal One will fulfil in John, who became known as John the Baptist. 

First purpose of coming in the spirit and power of Elijah is, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children.

This is a direct part quote of Malachi 4:6 which we read earlier. The full sentence in Malachi states that the Eternal One through the prophet Elijah will also turn the hearts of the children to their fathers. 

In Luke the Eternal One through his anointed messenger, the angel Gabriel, is talking to Zacharias, a priest of the Eternal One. Zacharias knows the scriptures and would know that the spirit and power of Elijah is to come before the great and dreadful day of the Eternal One. To a person of Jewish lineage that meant that before the coming of the Messiah, king of the Jews,  there will be a unique prophet is voice. One who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah. He will be a true witness of the Eternal One’s coming. Testifying that the Eternal One will come and judge evil and all those who have aligned themselves with evil, as evil. 

So the heart, that is both the will and emotions of both the parents and the children will be reconciled unto the Eternal One. Families who align themselves with the Eternal One will be reconciled and healed in receiving the Messiah. No longer will they be torn apart, dysfunctional, selfish or abusive.

The anointed witness of the Eternal One, in the spirit and power of Elijah testifies that the Eternal One is a relational God who brings reconciliation and eternal healing.

The second aspect of the mission of the one who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah is to turn the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just.

Disobedient in this context is to be stubborn and unpersuadable in receiving God and His right to rule reign. That is to wilfully reject the Eternal One and as a result choose to align oneself with evil. The anointed witness of the Eternal One, in the spirit and power of Elijah will testify of this truth. That is to reject the Eternal One is to effectively align oneself with evil and the destiny of evil. Which is judgement as evil and eternity in the fire of torment.

Testifying of the Eternal One and this truth is so that all those who are willing, may turn to receive the Eternal One and His right to rule and reign. Giving total allegiance to Him and worshipping only Him. That is turning to the wisdom of the just. 

Just in this context is equitable, that is each one is equal. No power in-balances or abuses will be able to exist. By receiving the Eternal One and His right to rule and reign, each one becomes innocent and holy before Him. 

The Eternal One gives freely His true justice of equality and respect. He brings His honour to our shame and His justice into our injustices of this world. The Eternal One gives to each one equally. Everyone is invited and given free choice. 

The anointed witness of the Eternal One, in the spirit and power of Elijah testifies that the Eternal One is a relational God who brings equality and eternal justice.

The third aspect of the mission of the one who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah is to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

That is a people who become the bride for the coming Messiah, the Holy One, the Son of God, the king of kings and saviour of the world. The bride of the king are all those who have said yes to the Eternal One. In receiving His right to rule and reign and worship only Him, the people are made ready.

The anointed witness of the Eternal One who comes in the spirit and power of Elijah prepares the way for the coming of the king in testifying of Him. Testifying that the king os Jesus. The only one who gives light to those who sit in darkness, in the shadow of death. 

In the spirit and power of Elijah, the anointed witness guides ones feet into the way of peace. Sharing the knowledge of salvation for all people is through receiving the Eternal One in Jesus. 

The anointed witness of the Eternal One, in the spirit and power of Elijah testifies that the Eternal One is a relational God who brings identity and eternal salvation.

The Eternal One anointed John to be filled with the Holy Spirit, even in his mother’s womb. In the spirit and power of Elijah, John testified that Jesus is the Holy One, the Son of God, the saviour of the world. The Eternal One testified of John, who became known as John the Baptist. His testimony is true. His truth eternal.

Matthew 17:11-13 Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

Jesus, the Holy One, the Son of God, the saviour of the world, came down to earth. He lived, died and rose again on high. Jesus is coming back. We the church are God’s anointed witness in the spirit and power of Elijah. 

Together we testify that Jesus is the one. He is coming back for His bride. His bride are all those who have said yes to the Eternal One, yes to Jesus. In receiving the Eternal One’s right to rule and reign and worship only Him, we are made ready.

He adorns us with His royal robe of rightness, makes us innocent and holy before Him. The Eternal One honours us with His true justice of equality and respect. 

He is a relational God, who brings reconciliation and eternal healing. The Eternal One is the only one who brings equality and eternal justice. The Eternal One is a relational God who brings identity and eternal salvation. 

Praise His mighty name!

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!