Have you ever had just a wonderful victory in your life, only to have it followed by a true time of testing or trial? Probably we all have, but to fully understand what I intend to address this week, let’s see exactly what I mean by a “victory”? A victory can be anything from having led someone you know to the understanding of salvation in Jesus Christ, or perhaps you may have helped lead someone to a closer walk with the Lord; a victory can be overcoming some great and overwhelming obstacle, such as family or marital turmoil, joblessness, or even some illness or disease. Just so there is no misunderstanding, in the life of the Christian at least -- all of these victories come through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Victory comes in many forms and at many times in our lives, but all too likely there will also come a time of testing and trouble close on its heels. Why is this? Why do we have those terrible, dark valleys after such wonderful, glorious mountaintops? We’ll take a look at a few Old Testament and New Testament believers to see what they endured and overcame and how it may help us. First up? Elijah. Most of us are very familar with this Old Testament prophet, and most of us know what he did, and how he mysteriously “vanished” from before Elisha’s eyes, as he was caught up to heaven by a fiery chariot and horses. What I’d like to do is look at this man who was “subject to like passions as we” (James 5:17). As a matter of fact, let’s look at several verses in James...verses 15-20 -- all parentheses are mine (G. Crisp).

(15) “And the prayer of faith (a wish, expressed as a petition to God) shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise them up; and if they have committed sins, they shall be forgiven them. (16) Confess (acknowledge or be honest about) your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed (made whole and entire). The effectual (active, efficient, effective) fervent prayer of a righteous man (one who is equitable and just) avails much (produces and brings about a great abundance).”

(17) “Elijah was a man subject to similar passions as we are, (he was similarly affected and suffered just as we do) and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three and a half years. (18) Then he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. (19) Brothers, if any of you errs (roams from safety, truth, or virtue; goes astray, is deceived or seduced) from the truth, and one convert him (brings him or returns him to the Lord); (20) let him know, that he who converts the sinner from the error (deception and delusion) of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide (cover) a multitude of sins.”

James is speaking of prayer here, and specifically prayer of faith. Now this prayer here is not like most “faith prayers” we are all accustomed to; the prayer James mentions here (as well as in v. 16: “pray one for another”) is a simple type of prayer: almost as a wish. Now how can wishing get us anything in the Kingdom of God? I don’t know, to be honest, but the Greek word used for prayer in these two places is euche (yoo-khay), and it definitely means “to wish; by implication to pray to God; to pray, to will, to wish; a wish, expressed as a petition to God, or in votive obligation (performed as a vow); therefore, a prayer or vow.”

Next James talks about confessing our faults and being honest and open with one another; then he speaks of praying for one another so that we may be healed, made whole and entire. Just briefly, before we move to the Old Testament and take a closer look at Elijah’s life, let me say: It is extremely difficult to effectively and fervently pray for others if we are holding some grudge or some other “hidden thing” in our hearts. This is where confession to one another fits into God’s order of things. Keeping our hearts and our spirits clean and free of clutter will produce abundant results, just like Elijah.

To say that Elijah was similarly affected and suffered just as we do, is merely saying that he was human; he had weaknesses; he had faults. Let’s take a look at this great prophet of God and see just what he was made of...

We first meet Elijah in 1st Kings 17:1: “And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab (king of Israel)...”. This is how we meet this great prophet; out of nowhere he comes; into the heart and life of Israel he plunges. Matthew Henry, the great commentator, says this of our man Elijah (parentheses are mine -- G. Crisp):

“Never was Israel so blessed with a good prophet as when it was so plagued with a bad king (Ahab). Never was (a) king so bold to sin as Ahab; never was (a) prophet so bold to reprove and threaten as Elijah...other prophets prophesied and wrote; he prophesied and acted, but wrote nothing; but his actions cast more lustre on his name than their writings did on theirs.”

Now, remember... there was a famine (and little water) in the land; this woman was a widow and very likely poor, and he still asked for water? Was he (or God) testing her? Even as she went off to get him some water, he added, “While you’re at it, bring me something to eat, also.” What kind of prophet is this? Selfish...? Somewhat uncaring? No, he was just going about being Elijah, sent there from God, and he knew he would not die. He also knew that the Lord would take care of more than just himself. And this was the case...the next several verses tell us of her son getting ill, dying, then Elijah bringing the boy back to life with his effectual, fervent prayer. And at the end of it all, the woman says, “Now by this (all that Elijah had done for her, but especially the raising back to life of her son -- G. Crisp) I know that you are a man of God, and that the Word of the LORD in your mouth is Truth.” What had happened here? Not only did Elijah and His faith in His God save this poor woman’s son from death; he also brought her back to a place of acknowledging the One True God, the Lord God whom Elijah served.

As we have already read in James 5:19 & 20, “Brothers, if any of you errs from the truth, and one convert him (returns him to the Lord); let him know, that he who converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.” It appears that Elijah did more than just save her son from death...he brought this woman back to a relationship with the Lord. Oh, and also -- Elijah prayed and his faith kept the barrel of meal and the cruse of oil from failing, “according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Elijah” (1st Kings 17:16).

As we go to chapter 18 of 1st Kings, we see Elijah embarking on a more dangerous mission; that to rid Israel of all the false prophets of Baal, whom Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, served. There is so very much in these next few chapters (and into 2nd Kings) that we could look at, but time will not permit. Suffice it to say that Elijah’s great faith also got him into great trouble; and his great victories also brought him seemingly great defeats. In 1st Kings 18:17-40 (and please read this, for this is what being a prophet was and is all about), we see Elijah challenging the prophets of Baal to a sort of “spiritual contest”, with the Baal prophets greatly losing (even their lives).

Immediately following this, Elijah confronts Ahab, telling him to prepare for rain, for “there is a sound of the abundance of rain”. After more effectual, fervent prayer, there came rain; in fact, great rain. What happened next? 1st Kings 19:1-3 explains: “And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had slain all the prophets (of Baal) with the sword. Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, ‘So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of those dead prophets by tomorrow about this time’. And when Elijah heard that, he arose, and went (or ran) for his life, and came to Beersheba, near Judah, and left his servant there”.

Elijah ran for his life!

And I suppose I would, too, if I had an idol-worshipping, evil Jezebel after me! There is, as I said, so much more we could touch on here, but I will attempt to stay on this simple thought: Why such a defeat after such a victory? Looking at 1st Kings 19:4, the scripture tells us, “he went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree; here he requested for himself that he might die, praying, ‘It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers’”. The word “requested” that is used here...what does it mean? The Hebrew definition, among other things, is “to wish something would happen”. Elijah was simply praying, “I wish I were dead!”

How many of us have ever thought or wished that? Not to say that we would actually take our own lives, but we just felt so trapped or useless or unappreciated or even just plain tired and worn out. This is a type of depression, and I know it well. I spent the first part of my Christian life living in a depressed state, till I learned that He IS LORD of ALL! That’s basically what the Lord showed Elijah. But I am getting ahead of myself...As we read 1st Kings 19: 9 & 10, we hear this exchange of dialogue. “And he (Elijah) came near to a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the Word of the LORD came to him, and He asked him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ And he replied, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD God of Hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away’.”

Now, hadn’t Elijah just prayed for death? Didn’t he want to die? If he really had, he would have stayed in striking range of Jezebel, and she would have gladly granted him his request. But, like us, Elijah did not truly want to die; he was just depressed and frustrated and tired (and maybe a bit angry). And like Elijah, we also sometimes retreat and draw away from everyone...to sulk and feel sorry for ourselves; for this is what Elijah was really doing...feeling sorry for himself. To be sure, the Lord was about to show Elijah just how Great He really was, but I will save that for next week. For now, we will focus on the sorry state in which Elijah found himself.

A great victory had just been won; and I do not mean in some small, insignificant way. This victory had been a fiery, bloody victory. And still Elijah feared this evil woman. Why does this happen in the lives of God’s faithful children? Why do defeats seem to follow our victories? Next week we’ll look at 1st Kings 19:9-18 more closely, but for now let’s take a quick preview:

(9) “And he (Elijah) came near to a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the Word of the LORD came to him, and He asked him, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ And he replied, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD God of Hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away’. (11) And He said, ‘Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD’. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind; after the wind came an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake; (12) after the earthquake came a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire there was a still small Voice.

(13) And it was so, when Elijah heard the Voice, he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a Voice to him, asking, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ (14) And he said, ‘I have been very jealous for the LORD God of Hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and slain Your prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away’. (this is twice, now, that Elijah has answered this way, and he knows God is not forgetful) (15) And the LORD said to him, ‘Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you arrive, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria; (16) anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. (17) And it shall come to pass, that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay, and him that escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. (18) Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees of which have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth of which has not kissed him’.”

So, here was Elijah, alone and sulking in a cave; then the Lord shows Himself to Elijah. In a mighty Way He reveals His Greatness, and yet the Lord chose to manifest Himself in a still small voice. And so it is with us at times. Following some of our battles, some of our losses, some of our depressions...the Lord is still there with us; it may be that we cannot hear Him because His Voice is so quiet and still, but He is there, assuring us we are not alone. He is there, and so are the 7,00 other faithful ones, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal. But why do defeats sometimes seem to follow all our victories? Following are some reasons that I believe will help us see why.

The Enemy
First (and very simply), the enemy gets mad at us from time to time, especially if and when we have just realized a victory over him. Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ has already won the victory, defeating the devil and his forces at Calvary, but as we reach and understand each of the victories won for us, it’s as if it has just been accomplished (it has become real to us). What does this mean to the devil? It means that daily he is subjected to humiliation and defeat. Let’s take a look at Colossians 1:18-23:

(18) “And He (Christ) is the Head of the Body, which is the Church; He is the Beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have preeminence. (19) For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell; (20) and, having made peace through the Blood of His Cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they are things in earth, or things in heaven. (21) And you, that were once alienated and enemies in your mind because of your wicked works, He has now reconciled (22) in the Body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight. But you need (23) to continue in the faith grounded and settled, and do not be moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

And further on, in chapter 2: (11) “In Whom also you are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. (12) You are buried with Him in baptism, wherein you are also risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, Who has raised Him from the dead. (13) And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all your trespasses; (14) blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and He took it out of the way, nailing it to His Cross; (15) and having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

We can see that Jesus Christ (because it pleased the Father) did some wonderful things on our behalf. The key words from these eleven verses are:

He Made Peace with Us
He Reconciled Our Lives
He Makes Us Holy, Unblameable, Unreproveable
We Are Circumcised Without Hands (without the law)
We Are Buried with Him in Baptism
We Are Risen with Him through Faith
His Life Quickens & Enlivens Us
We Have Forgiveness of All Our Trespasses
He Blotted Out the Handwriting of Ordinances
He Took Our Sins Out of the Way
He Nailed All Our Sins to His Cross
He Spoiled Principalities and Powers
He Openly Humiliated the Enemy
He Triumphed Over Them in His Cross, Our Victory

But we need to “continue in the faith grounded and settled, and we must not be moved away from the hope of the gospel, which we have heard...” Continuing in the faith means to “stand fast, abide in, and persevere”; if we are displaced or moved off of our firm foundation, our hope in Him will suffer. The enemy knows this, and this is why he attempts over and over and over to knock us off of our stance of faith in Christ. The above mentioned key words are all points of victory, and as we understand, acquire or incorporate each one of these points, the enemy takes another blow, suffering another defeat; remembering all too vividly what Christ did to him at Calvary. And he does not like it. This is one reason that we come under attack immediately following (or soon after) a victory in our life with the Lord. The enemy of our souls is simply riled up at our new-found place of victory.

The devil’s attacks are not always the same; nor does he approach every Christian with the same tactics, but we can rest assured that he will come against us at some point in our lives, striving (and delighting) to give us a “setback”. As we begin to understand the Peace of Christ in our lives, there will soon after come a test of that peace. As I mentioned, it will not be the same test for each person, but just know that all we learn, all we understand and all we “arrive at” will be tested; it is simply part of the learning and growing plan in the Body of Christ. This is true, no matter what we may think; no matter what men may say, else Paul would not have said “continue in the faith grounded and settled, and do not be moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard...” If we could not be dislodged from our foundation, Paul would not have warned that we needed to stay grounded; if we could not be moved from the hope of the gospel, he would not have told us to remain settled, which is to be steadfast and immovable.

So...the enemy will assault our lives, endeavoring to unsettle us and dislodge our faith in Christ and His Word. We must “therefore take the whole armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Eph 6:13). Now, at this point, let me try and make something perfectly clear: There are attacks, then there are attacks. Some attacks are subtle and not so easily seen or felt; others are head-on, full-blown assaults. Me...I’d much rather have the full-on attack; that way I know what’s going on. It’s the subtle, quiet ones that get me; when I’m not real sure if that was the enemy...or was that just my imagination? Is that my faith wavering or is that something else going on inside my head? Full-throttle assaults are much easier to defend, if you’ve learned they can be defended against. It’s the quiet, seductive, sneaky ones that are difficult to stand against. Those sneak attacks require wisdom, discernment and patience; the direct onslaught usually just requires spiritual stamina and faithful endurance. While all attacks of the enemy require faith, when they do come -- whatever the situation may be -- we all must learn how to stand in the times of these assaults against us, else we may very well run the risk of being moved away from the hope of the gospel.

This teaching is continued here, “Neither Have They Kissed...”, where we will look at the other two reasons for apparent defeat after victory, or the Setbacks in Our Lives. We will also look a little more closely at what is the Hope of the Gospel? And remember, if you are feeling lonely, fearful or even depressed...The Lord is there, assuring that you are not alone; He is there (though His Voice may be quiet and hard to detect), reminding you that there are the 7,000 other faithful ones, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal. We, dear brother or sister, are truly not alone -- even when we are fully convinced that God and all others have forsaken us.