The Elijah Syndrome

Modern day Christianity seems to be suffering from, what I call, the Elijah Syndrome. We sing songs like, “These are the days of Elijah” and “God of Elijah, send the fire”. We pray for a double portion of the anointing that was upon Elijah, just like Elisha asked.

You may say, “What is wrong with singing such songs and praying such prayers?” I don’t mean to sound critical or sarcastic, but the truth needs to be pointed out that, unfortunately, much of Christianity is still living in the old covenant. We still have an old covenant mindset. It is as if the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus had no effect on our lives.

Dear brethren, someone greater than Elijah has already come and ushered in a new covenant!! These are not the days of Elijah, but these are the days of Jesus Christ. We don’t need a double portion of Elijah’s anointing; rather, the anointed one – Christ – is living inside of us and therefore we have the anointing (I John 2:20). Why ask for something less, when we have the anointed one ‘Himself’ living inside of us. The old covenant saints longed to see the day that we are in and yet we are praying for experiences they had.

Peter suffered from this syndrome on the Mount of Transfiguration. When he saw Elijah and Moses along with Jesus, he got excited and wanted to make a tent for all three of them. I believe that God must have rebuked Peter when He told him (and I paraphrase), “Forget Moses (Law) and Elijah (Prophets), listen to my Son Jesus” (Matt 17:5). It is His time now. The old is gone and the new has come.

Saints, the truth of the new covenant is that we have been given ‘Christ ‘ who is the power of God, inside of us, through the Holy Spirit of God (I Cor 1:24). In Him dwells all the fullness of the God (Col 2:9). Out of His fullness and power we have received everything needed for life and godliness (John 1:16; 2 Peter 1:3). The power that we have received in Christ through the Holy Spirit cannot even be compared to what Elijah and the Old Testament prophets had. The apostle Paul did not pray that the people should have more power or a double portion, but rather he prayed that their eyes would be opened to see the ‘exceeding greatness’ of this power that was in them and available for them. This power that is in us, is the same power of the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:19,20).

Beloved, it is time that we do not pitch any more tents for Elijah or pray for old covenant experiences. A greater and more powerful reality of Christ –the Anointed One – living in you by the Holy Spirit has been ushered in.