5 Smooth Stones

spend forty days in the wilderness fasting in order to complete their calling. Each of them had their testings, as well as their anointing, increased through their time in the wilderness. The doubt that came upon Elijah is not unique to him. Many people who have stepped into ministry and stepped out to minister, to preach, to teach, to heal, have experienced the thoughts of self-doubt. You can a tt ribute the a tt ack of this spirit on the change in John the Baptizer. Here was a man who was the fi rst to boldly proclaim, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’” John further stated, “He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fi re.” Yet after Herodias convinced Herod Antipas to imprison John, he seemed to be under a spirit of doubt when he sent a message to Jesus ques tioning the things he had earlier prophesied boldly, asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” Paul the apostle had to learn a similar lesson. As a man of God and a man in authority he likewise had to deal with the spirits which are sent against such individuals. “..a messenger [angel] of Satan sent to bu ff et me” (2 Corinthians 12:7). Having the spirit of God in him, Paul was instructed to deal with this spirit with the grace of God. We have His authority in Christ. Before Christ, Elijah had to deal with the spirit in a di ff erent fashion, receiving anointing and instructions from the Lord which were carried out through dealing with natural men including the removal of Jezebel and her sorceries. Elijah was ministered to by angels and strengthened by God. He was given his assignment to defeat Jezebel. 1 Kings 19:15 “Then the Lord said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. 17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.” When Elijah came o ff the mountain of God he called Elisha to follow after him and be raised up. Elisha in his turn commissioned Hazael as king over Syria, and one of the sons of the prophets was sent by him to anoint Jehu as king over Israel. Many believe that Elijah did not ful fi ll his commission because he did not carry out the word of the Lord to him, personally. However, it has been pointed out that Elijah is called the spirit of fatherhood and “will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” (Malachi 4:6). Being the spirit of the 149