Abundance Of Rain

1 Kings 18 v 41 - 46 Abundance Of Rain

The prophets of Baal have been slain; what now? Judgment always prepares the way for blessing.

When the fire fell and judgment for sin has been offered, blessing will follow.

I. THE SOUND OF RAIN- blessing-

41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

His confidence was based on:

A. The Word Of God - In 1 Kings 18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

B. The Will Of God - In 1 Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

There had been :-

Rebellion - Drought was the result of Israel's Sin (Idolatry)

Revelation - 38 & 39 Then the fire of the LORD fell.

Retribution - 40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Now Restoration - 41

C. The Work Of God - 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

II. THE SEARCH FOR RAIN- watch and pray.

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

(a) THE PLACE - And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; He Separated Himself.

(b) THE POSTURE - and he cast himself down upon the earth, He Humbled Himself.

(c) THE PROMISE - 1 Kings 18:1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

He Encouraged Himself.

(d) THE PERSISTENCE - 43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward

the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times. 44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

The Answer was Delayed. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing

The Answer was Diminished. at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand

The Answer was Determined. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

PUSH- Pray Until Something Happens!

A. Church: Prayed until they heard the knock.

B. Hannah: Prayed until she felt the kicking.

C. Paul and Silas: Prayed until they felt the shaking.

D. Daniel: Prayed until he felt the touch.

E. Jonah: Prayed until his prayer came in.

III. THE SIGN OF RAIN - a little cloud

44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand.

God thrills in using small things:

The fishes and loaves to feed 5,000, and later, 4,000.

One small stone to kill Goliath

Gideon said, “I am the least in my father’s house.”

An empty barrel feeds a widow and her son.

A small amount of oil is stretched to pay a widows bills.

Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

IV. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RAIN

44 And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. 45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.