03. EATING LOCUSTS ... in an Olive Generation

03. EATING LOCUSTS ... in an Olive Generation

Luke 1:17 (NASB)

"It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

The Elijah Spirit... that's the spirit we all have as the church in these Last and Final Days before the return of Christ.  Elijah will come.  The spirit and power of Elijah is on us now as we prepare the way of the Lord for Messiah.  Amen. Come Lord Jesus!

Malachi 4:1-4

 "Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire," says the LORD Almighty. "Not a root or a branch will be left to them.

But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 

Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things," says the LORD Almighty.

"Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.   "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."

The First Locust-eater, John the Baptist

Mark 1:2-5

It is written in Isaiah the prophet:  "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"

"a voice of one calling in the desert,  'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' "

 And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

John the Baptist was a weird guy - I mean he ate locusts, dressed in sackcloth and lived in the wilderness.  He was counterculture in His thinking and really heard God clearly.  His interests were purely in the Kingdom of God.   Jesus called him the greatest man born of a woman! (Mtt 11:11)  Oh that we could be so culturally independent in our thinking!  Jesus said John the Baptist embodies the spirit and power of Elijah. 

Matthew 11:13-15 

"For all the prophets and the Law prophesied until John.

 "And if you are willing to accept it, John himself is Elijah who was to come.

 "He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

In our civilized, rational mindset, accepting the fact of demonic activity may be as difficult as eating bugs, but it is the truth,  ancient truth that needs to be brought to the forefront of modern christian living. Yoga philosophies, practices and religions are a pathway of demonic activity and though Christians are covered by the blood of Jesus as Christians, we can still give demons an opening to attack us.   (Read the chapter entitled, "Demons in the Upstairs")

We need a retrospective mindset in this generation because we need the spirit of Prophecy in this generation.  The future's view will be influenced by our perspective on the past. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus when He called the people of his generation to repent.  Jesus said that John functioned in a sense, as the coming of Elijah to prepare the way for the Kingdom.  The Spirit of Elijah is prophesied in the Bible to be an influence in the Last Days.  We are to function in this attitude and prepare the way for the physical return of Jesus to rule and reign.  It is a spiritual battle.

Ephesians 6:12, 13

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Cultural Independence

God has certainly made us to live in community and care about others, but there is a point at which we can care way too much about what others think of us.  We are so dependent on how others view us that it's very difficult to see how God sees us sometimes.  We need to ask for His Spirit of Truth.  Acting in a way that is counter culture may look wierd to others in our time, in our culture, in our city.  Yoga is very in style.  Opposing yoga in our day is like eating locusts, but we are in good company.

Olive Generation

We are part of a distinct generation with a specific calling.  The spirit (attitude, calling) of Elijah is still at work calling our hearts back to God and especially now in our time.  We are in the generation of Olive Tree.   Jesus referred to the Olive tree as Isreal (Luke 23:26-31)  Jesus said that when we see the Olive Tree bloom we will know the time in near.  (Matthew 24:31-33)

Israel became a nation in 1948 which was the fulfillment of that prophecy.  It's branches became tender and put forth it's leaves.  The second coming is nearer now than ever before.  In addition, there are no other prophecies that need to be fulfilled before Jesus comes back.  The great news is that these are the days when God promises to give us His Spirit in a special abundance.  Prophecy and healing and miracles are supposed to get more common in the Last Days. This too is like the spiritual Isreal, the church, blooming like never before.

Joel 2:28, (Acts 2:17)

In the Last Days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and daughters will prophecy, your young man shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.  

The Watchers 

It is His will that we watch, be alert and be ready, staying in the presence of God.  Even now the spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Elijah, is saying "Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand".  What we used to do in another generation, we just can't do now in this generation of the "Watch".  We need to whole heartedly return.  We need to protect the Bride - prepare the Bride in holiness and righteousness for the coming of the Bridegroom.  If we listen we will hear the Kingdom purposes of God in our generation, in our culture, in our jobs, in our families, communities, in our ministries.  

Isaiah 52:6

On your walls, Oh Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen.  All day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind the Lord take no rest for yourselves; 

Meditation Points:

What are some root reasons I am so averse to going against the cultural norm even when it means following God?

What is God trying to show me as a watchman?

What are some ways I can become a locust eater?