Get Out of That Cave!!

Elijah was a mighty man of God who demonstrated rare dimensions of the Spirit. His approach to attracting the fire of God, rooted in the word of God, followed a clear pattern: He called the people to draw near, repaired the broken altar of the Lord, built the altar, arranged the wood in order, and then placed the sacrifice upon it. Notably, the sacrifice was cut into pieces, allowing the fire of God to permeate every part.

Friends, many sacrifices today fail to produce their full effect because they are not fully broken before the Lord. I often hear people say, “I sacrifice my time, my money, my car, my food, my house…” As good as these may sound, they are not the sacrifices that truly appeal to God. These are burners—the wood that must be put in order. Your time, your home, your marriage, your character, and your emotions must be aligned; they are the fuel that sustains the fire. But the true sacrifices that God requires are clearly stated in Psalm 51:17: The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

Sacrifices must be broken and fully surrendered. And yes, as Romans 12:1 reminds us, we must present our bodies as a living sacrifice. So, among the many sacrifices that may exist, three stand out: a broken spirit, a contrite heart, and a body preserved unto the Lord. When the sacrifice is properly placed on the altar according to God's word, the unquenchable fire will fall.

Be careful, because once you attract the fire of God, the enemy will come against you. As soon as the fire fell and judgment was executed, Jezebel rose against Elijah, and he fled into a cave. No amount of heavenly food delivered to him by an angel in 1 Kings 19 could keep him from running. Elijah's retreat into the cave surprised even Heaven—God Himself questioned him:

"And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him and said, 'What doest thou here, Elijah?'" (1 Kings 19:13).

Yes, the cave can represent a place of preparation in some contexts, but in this case, it symbolized a refuge for the distressed, troubled, pained, and attacked—those who run to hide. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 describes how David also fled to a cave, and those in distress, debt, and discontent gathered there with him.

But God could not speak to Elijah in the cave—He called him out and summoned him to the mountain:

"And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord..." (1 Kings 19:11).

It was there, on the mountain, that Elijah received the instruction to anoint Elisha in his place. Those who will fulfill God's mandate cannot remain in the cave, for the cave can lead to the grave. Elijah’s replacement was already on active duty when he was anointed.

In the name of Jesus, I shift you out of that cave! Out of that place of pain, shame, sorrow, and sadness! You are coming out of depression, unforgiveness, sin! I call you out of that place of discouragement over your marriage, your children, your future! I declare in Jesus' name that you are moved from fear and anxiety to the mountain top, where you belong—to fulfill your divine mandate. Get out of the cave! The mountain top is your place!