The Corporate Elijah
Part One: The Voice — The Preparation — The Glory
“Yah is God.” The very name of Elijah was a public assertion of the ruler-ship of the one true God and His absolute right to reign in the earth. In ancient Hebrew culture, a name represented the nature of the bearer. Therefore, whenever Elijah moved, he was a walking declaration of the eternal nature of Yahweh.
Today, that same declaration is being entrusted to a people—a Corporate Elijah.
The Voice Cries Out
The mandate begins with a sound. It is an anonymous “Voice” in the wilderness, but this is not the voice of a single individual; it is the unified, cumulative message of a company of people preparing the way for the King.
“Thunder in the desert! ‘Prepare for GOD’s arrival! Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then GOD’s bright glory will shine and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as GOD has said.’” — Isaiah 40:3-5 (The Message)
This voice is the precursor to the sudden arrival of the Lord.
“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the LORD Almighty. — Malachi 3:1-2 (NLT)
“Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the LORD arrives. His preaching will turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the hearts of children to their parents. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.” — Malachi 4:5-6 (NLT)
The Work of Preparation: Building the Highway
The “Elijah Task” is one of preparation. To prepare for the arrival of the King, we must rebuild the road. In the natural world, a road becomes impassable when it is neglected—ruts form, rocks slide onto the path, and hills obstruct the view. Spiritually, these obstructions are the consequences of sin and the neglect of God’s presence.
The Corporate Elijah is called to remove these stumbling blocks so that the people of God can return from their captivities.
“God says, ‘Rebuild the road! Clear away the rocks and stones so my people can return from captivity.’” — Isaiah 57:14 (NLT)
The Promise of Greater Glory
When Israel returned from Babylon, they built a temple that seemed small and insignificant compared to the former glory of Solomon’s temple. Yet, God spoke a promise through Haggai that transcends the natural structure. He promised a “Latter Glory” that would exceed anything seen in the past.
“For this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies... The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” — Haggai 2:6-9 (NLT)
This shaking is happening now. God is shaking the nations to bring forth the “desire of nations,” and the Corporate Elijah is the company that announces this shift.
The Manifestation: Arise and Shine
The goal of this preparation is the public manifestation of God’s glory. This glory is not meant to be hidden; everyone sees it—the rescued and the onlooker alike.
The Hidden Life Revealed: “Your real life is with Christ and from God. He is your life, and when he appears, then you too will appear with him and share his glory!” (Colossians 3:3-4 TEV)
The Beacon of Light: “Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all to see. For the glory of the LORD rises to shine on you. Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the LORD rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light; mighty kings will come to see your radiance.” (Isaiah 60:1-3 NLT)
The Road of Holiness
As the desert of our world begins to rejoice and blossom like the Lebanon mountains, a specific path emerges. This is the culmination of the Elijah task—the establishment of The Road of Holiness.
“There will be a highway there, called ‘The Road of Holiness.’ No sinner will ever travel that road; no fools will mislead those who follow it. No lions will be there; no fierce animals will pass that way. Those whom the LORD has rescued will travel home by that road. They will reach Jerusalem with gladness, singing and shouting for joy. They will be happy forever, forever free from sorrow and grief.” — Isaiah 35:8-10 (TEV)
The glory of the former house shall not compare to the glory that is to be seen on His people at His coming in the “Day of the Lord.”
Bishop G To be continued...