Suppression

Suppression is any force that hinders spiritual growth and the work of the Holy Spirit. Suppression means that lives and destinies of individuals are limited by a force that is stronger than they are. It means that the enemy has constructed stronghold to capture and cage many people, and one of the ways he does this is through deception. The spirit of suppression causes people to become powerless, and prayerless, it causes individuals to stay away from the things that will enlighten their spiritual man, it makes a person not to do what they should do. Suppression inhibits authentic spiritual expressions, silences individuals, and causes inactivity and disinterest for the need for spiritual growth.

Elijah was “suppressed” because he was being targeted by powerful political and religious forces, leading to his emotional distress.

Elijah was primarily suppressed by the religious force of Baal worship and the political power that enforced it, led by King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel.

The main opposition came from: The prophets of Baal and Asherah: Jezebel supported and housed 850 of these false prophets who promoted the worship of Canaanite deities, a practice that directly challenged the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

1 Kings 18:4– For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.

Elijah was also suppressed because of Queen Jezebel. Jezebel sent out a Death Warrant for Elijah

1 Kings 19:1-21 
And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.
Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers. And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head.

And he did eat and drink and laid him down again. And the angel of the LORD came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee. And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God. And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
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 brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:
And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that 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 unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?
And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.
And the LORD said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
And Jehu, the son of Nimshi, shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha, the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah, shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.
And it shall come to pass that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?
And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.

Because Elijah was suppressed, he felt as if he was the last remaining of the Prophets, so he lamented.

Because of constant opposition from Jezebel, this caused Elijah to suffer emotionally and to feel suppressed.

SERVANTS IN THE BIBLE WHO WERE SUPPRESSED

Mark 6:14–29 and Matthew 14:1–12

John the Baptist: Imprisoned and eventually beheaded.
Reason: For publicly rebuking King Herod Antipas for his unlawful marriage to Herodias.

1 Kings 22

Micaiah: Slapped in the face and imprisoned on a diet of bread and water.
Reason: For contradicting 400 false prophets and predicting King Ahab’s defeat in battle.

2 Chronicles 24:20-22

Zechariah (son of Jehoiada): Stoned to death in the temple court.
Reason: For rebuking the people and leaders for forsaking God and turning to idols.

Daniel 6:1-28

Daniel: Thrown into a lions’ den.
Reason: For refusing to stop praying to God despite a royal decree forbidding it.

There are many other servants of God that have been suppressed as children of God. Anything close to Jesus will received attack. As believers we should know that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. We must be aware spiritually of the enemy’s devices so that we can withstand the wiles of satan.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Oh Lord, forgive me of all my sins in Jesus name and wash me in your cleansing blood.

2. Oh Lord, let the power of the Holy spirit flow into my life in Jesus name.
3. Father Lord, grant me the grace to rise above suppression in Jesus Christ mighty name.
4. My Lord, stop the way of the wicked against my soul in Jesus name.
5. I refuse to be cast down by the oppressor and suppressor in Jesus name, I rise above the limitations of the enemy in Jesus Christ mighty name
6. Every wall of suppression in my life, I command you to fall in Jesus Christ mighty name.
7. I uproot every implantation of the suppressor in Jesus name.
8. Every spirit of suppression hindering me from greatness, I command you to fall down and die now! In Jesus Christ mighty name.
9. O Lord, deliver me from the clutches of suppression in Jesus name.
10. O Lord, destroy every force that hinders my spiritual growth and progress in Jesus name.
11. Oh Lord, break the backbone of the suppressor the hovers over my life and destiny in Jesus name.
12. Father Lord, let everything that the enemy says is impossible for me become possible in Jesus name.
13. I command every chain and rusty padlock of suppression to be broken in Jesus.
14. I refuse to be silenced by the spirit of suppression in Jesus name.
15. I reject suppression of all form in Jesus name.
16. O Lord, let the suppressor melt away as water that runs continually. Let their arrows be cut into pieces in Jesus Christ mighty name.
17. As a snail that melts, let all my suppressor, melt away in Jesus name.
18. I receive the grace to rise above suppression and oppression in Jesus Christ mighty name.