He sent rain on the land.Įlijah prayed through until he received an answer. ![]() He knew a small cloud indicated God was moving in response to his prayers. Even just a small indication that God had heard his prayer was enough. He prayed expecting an answer.įinally, after seven times, a small cloud began to form. Seven times he asked and sent his servant to look for an answer. Not a little rain, but enough rain to quench the thirst of the land. He began to petition the God of the universe for rain. 1 Kings 18:42b-45Įlijah had prayed the drought into existence. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’” And soon the sky was black with clouds. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. And, he was committed for the long haul.Įlijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. He knew that we must pray until we see the breakthrough. Elijah knew that sometimes an answer doesn’t come immediately. Elijah’s prayers were about pointing the world back to God.Įlijah prayed fervently until he saw the answer. Yes, Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume the water and the sacrifices not for his own glory, but so others would know that Yahweh is God and there is no other God in heaven or earth. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.” 1 Kings 18:37 The drought? A reminder that even the winds and the storms are subject to His control. Raising the widow’s son from the dead? A reminder that he cares about our deepest hurts. The widow’s flour and oil never running out? A reminder that God sees our needs and provides. ![]() And, his prayers pointed the world back to God. He prayed in agreement with what God asked of him. He listened for Yahweh’s voice, and he walked in obedience ( 1 Kings 18:36). He poured out His power repeatedly, giving Elijah opportunity to proclaim God’s greatness.Įlijah’s prayers pointed the world back to God. He called on God with enough faith to believe God would answer even the most audacious prayer.Īnd, without fail, God answered those audacious prayers. He believed that God was faithful, that He answers prayers. He asked with incredible faith, believing that God was able. It even licked up all the water in the trench! 1 Kings 18:36, 38Įlijah was bold. Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. Prove that I have done all this at your command. Call down fire from heaven to consume the offering on Mount Carmel.Īt the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Elijah didn’t mess around with small requests for God. 1 Kings 17:5-6Įlijah prayed boldly for God-sized miracles. The ravens brought him bread and meat each morning and evening, and he drank from the brook. So Elijah did as the Lord told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan. It was there, with everything stripped away, that God sent ravens to bring him food. ![]() There Elijah sat, no food, no provisions. After Elijah’s first confrontation with King Ahab, God sent him to the Kerith Brook. What was it about Elijah that made his prayers, his life, so powerful and effective? What can we learn from the life of Elijah to help our own prayer lives?Įlijah learned to be completely dependent on God. And he faced down the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel. He saw the widow’s supply of oil and flour miraculously never run out. And yet, his life was so powerful!Įlijah lived an amazing life. ![]() But as I read through the stories of his life yet again, I began to reflect on the biblical truth that Elijah was a man just like us. Over the last few years, Elijah has become one of my favorite biblical characters. James 5:17-18I’ve been reading through the Old Testament, and I came upon the stories of Elijah. Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |