Let The Rain Fall

Antioch Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

Jerusalem Acts 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

A Man, A Good Man, God's Man - What God can do!

1 Kings 18:41-45 Let the Rain Fall

I. THE SOUND OF RAIN - blessing-

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

A. Elijah's Confidence in:- 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. Elijah's Continuance in:- The Work Of God - There had been :-

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

Revelation - 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice,

Retribution - 40 the prophets of Baal; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Now Restoration - 41 Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain

C. Elijah's Consciousness of The Will Of God - The God of Fire was the God of Flood

II. THE SEARCH FOR RAIN- prayer.

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. - He Excelled Himself. - James 5:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

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

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

3. The Answer was Determined. 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 knocking.

B. Hannah: Prayed until she felt the kicking.

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

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.

(a) What a Challenge! - a little cloud

(b) What a Chance! - For God To Work - God thrills in using small things:

The fishes and loaves to feed 5,000, One small stone to kill Goliath

1 Cors 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;

(c) What a Change! - Elijah's Response

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

IV. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF RAIN

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.

James 5:18 He prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

(a) UPON THE PLACE MATERIALLY:

"The heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit."

(b) UPON THE PEOPLE SPIRITUALLY: Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

(C) UPON THE PROPHET PERSONALLY: Elijah Saw:-

(a) The Sovereignty Of God Revealed

(b) The Sin Of Man Rebuked