Elijah was a one-man army. He claimed to be the only surviving prophet of the Lord (1 Kgs 18:22). When taken up in the fiery chariot, Elisha was probably referring to Elijah when he exclaimed "My father! My father! Israel's chariots and drivers!" (2 Kgs 2:12)

Elijah was Israel's whole army, a spiritual army that brought the government and military system of his time to its knees. Elijah stopped the rain for three and a half years, thereby shutting down much of the evil works of Ahab, Jezebel, and their cohorts (1 Kgs 17:1). Elijah took on 850 false prophets, personally putting each to death by slitting his throat (1 Kgs 18:40). Elijah was a one-man wrecking crew who could "clean house" and shut down evil.

Yet Elijah was a human being just like ourselves (Jas 5:17). We as Christians have much more power than Elijah ever had. In fact, we can do greater by far than Jesus Himself (Jn 14:12). As we exercise our faith through almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, we enter into a new dimension of supernatural power. We are soldiers for Christ, an army, "Israel's chariots and drivers" (2 Kgs 2:12).

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 12, 2005

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