Universal Utterings®
for May 22, 2024

A Godcast ® brought to you by

God First Ministries, Inc. 501c3

WWW.UNIVERSALUTTERINGS.COM

05-22-2024 Sirach 48 V0306 Elijah; you are awesome!

http://universalutterings.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/05-22-2024-Sirach-48-V0306-Elijah-you-are-awesome.mp3

The Book of Sirach Ch 48 v- Three thru Six

3 By God’s word he shut up the heavens and three times brought down fire. 4 How awesome are you, ELIJAH! Whose glory is equal to yours? 5 You brought a dead body back to life from Sheol, by the will of the LORD. 6 You sent kings down to destruction, and nobles, from their beds of sickness.

Elijah the Prophet is one of the most revered figures in the Hebrew Bible, also known as the Old Testament to Christians. His name in Hebrew, Eliyahu, means "My God is Yahweh," and he is remembered as a champion of the belief that there is only One True God, a true miracle worker, and a defender of the faith against the encroachment of idolatry during a time of great spiritual crisis in the history of the Israelites. Elijah's story is primarily found in the Books of 1 and 2 Kings, where his deeds and confrontations with the ruling authorities of his time are chronicled with great drama and intensity.

Elijah's prophetic ministry began in the northern kingdom of Israel during the reign of King Ahab and his infamous wife, Queen Jezebel. Ahab had allowed the worship of the Canaanite deity Baal to flourish in Israel, much to the dismay of the faithful to Yahweh. Elijah first appears in 1 Kings 17, where he boldly declares to Ahab that there will be a severe drought in the land as a consequence of the king's idolatry. This drought, which lasted for three years, was a sign of God’s displeasure and a challenge to the supposed power of Baal, who was worshiped as a god of rain and fertility.

One of the most famous stories of Elijah is the contest on Mount Carmel, where he challenged the prophets of Baal to a demonstration to prove whose god was real. Elijah and the prophets of Baal each prepared a bull for sacrifice on an altar, but they would not set fire to it themselves; instead, they would call upon their deity to send down fire. The prophets of Baal prayed and danced all day, but no fire came. When it was Elijah's turn, he drenched his altar with water to demonstrate the power of the Lord. After Elijah's prayer, fire fell from the sky, consuming the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the soil, and even the water in the trench around the altar. This miraculous event led to the slaughter of the prophets of Baal and a turning point in the struggle against idolatry in Israel.

Elijah is also known for his acts of compassion and miraculous assistance to those who were faithful to God. One such story involves a widow at Zarephath. Elijah's encounter with the widow of Zarephath is one of the most poignant miracles attributed to the prophet and underscores his role as a bringer of hope during times of despair. As recounted in 1 Kings 17, during the severe drought that Elijah had predicted, God instructed him to go to Zarephath, where a widow would provide for him.

Upon arrival, Elijah found the widow gathering sticks to prepare what she believed would be the final meal for herself and her son, as their supplies had dwindled to a handful of flour and a little oil. Elijah asked her to first make a small cake for him from her meager resources, promising that the flour and oil would not run out until the Lord sent rain upon the land. Acting in faith, the widow complied and, miraculously, her jar of flour and jug of oil remained replenished—just as Elijah had foretold. This enduring miracle provided sustenance for Elijah, the widow, and her household throughout the duration of the drought, illustrating the prophet's divine provision and the rewards of faithfulness amidst adversity.

To embody the spirit of Elijah, one can emulate his unwavering faith in God, his boldness in standing up for truth and righteousness, and his willingness to act with compassion and selflessness. Like Elijah, we can cultivate a deep relationship with the divine, trusting in God's guidance and provision even in the face of daunting challenges. We can speak out against injustice and idolatry in our own communities, advocating for what is right and just. Additionally, we can demonstrate kindness and generosity towards those in need, following Elijah's example of offering assistance and support to the vulnerable and marginalized. By embodying these qualities of faith, courage, and compassion, we can strive to be like Elijah in our own lives, making a positive impact on the world around us. Amen.

Join me as we pray our daily prayer of forgiveness. The Lord’s Prayer.

At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

I am sorry Lord. I believe You died and rose for me. Please forgive me as I forgive others. I share You as my Lord and Savior seeking to live your Will in all things. Prayers for wife Toni and my mother Betty pray for our children especially our two oldest Alexandra & Allen Son in Law Mark Stern; Julian, Gabriel and Jeffrey and our grandchildren Oliver, Julian and Elliott. We pray for those we’ve said we’d pray for and those who’ve asked us to pray for them. We pray for the dying as we do each day Lord give them peace in their last breath. We pray for Holy Mother Church. Our prayers for our niece Brittany. In Jesus Precious Blood by His Name we pray. Amen.

I am a poet obedient to Christ,
Catholic Evangelist Thomas Cruz†Wiggins

Practice. Pray. Proclaim. ®
†Spirit led God inspired Christ fed†®
Ephesians 6:17-20

05-22-2024 Sirach 47 v-0306

**Elijah the Prophet**

Upon a land parched and weary, Elijah stood bold,

Prophet of the Most High, in scriptures foretold.

Whose glory is equal to yours, O seer?

In famine and drought, God's voice you did hear.

A herald of truth in a world led astray,

You called down the fire, and the false idols gave way.

In confrontation on Carmel's vast height,

Against Baal's priests, you challenged their might.

Three times you did summon the heavens’ fierce blaze,

Confirming Jehovah's omnipotent haze.

The fire descended, your faith to reward,

A testament powerful, for our God is the Lord.

With prayers, you closed heaven, no rain did appear,

For years, till your word would release it, so clear.

Then down came the fire, not once but thrice told,

Consuming the offering, the altar, the bold.

A sign to the people, a divine decree,

That God was the master of all they could see.

To the widow at Zarephath, you were a guest,

Whose jar of flour and oil was blessed.

And when her son’s breath ceased, to the Lord you cried,

"Return this child’s life!" and death was defied.

Fire of a different kind you brought forth in love,

A miracle from the merciful Father above.

Elijah, O man of both tempest and calm,

Your journey concluded in chariot of psalm.

To heaven, you ascended in whirlwind and flame,

And Elisha, your pupil, would honor your name.

Your story, a testament, set in God’s Word,

Three times brought fire from heaven, and all hearts were stirred. Amen.

© Thomas Joe Cruz†Wiggins

May 22, 2024 @ 04:44 AM EST

® Universal Utterings is brought to you by;

**† God First Ministries, Inc. is a Roman Catholic Lay Ministry not sponsored by The Church but is accepted by the IRS as a Religious Charitable Org. and is exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations made through PayPal using [email protected], mailed to 1350 Aldo Rd. Babson Park, FL 33827, or given to GFM are tax deductible. †**