1 Kings 18 v 41 - 46 James 5:16-18 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 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 Proclamation Of Faith v 41 "Get thee up eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain." (a) The Reason for Such Faith His confidence was based on: A. The Word Of God - Ch 18 v 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. We serve a God Who is able to keep His promises - Rom. 4:21; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Matt. 5:18; For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Eph. 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 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. Now, the Baal prophets were dead, the people had repented and had returned to the Lord God. Elijah knew it was time for the rain to return. C. The Work Of God - Remember, Elijah had already witnessed the faithfulness of God at the brook, in the barrel, with the boy, in the bull and over Baal. Mal. 3:6; For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Heb. 13:8; Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. James 1:17. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Think of all the power He demonstrated in the past, (Noah, 3 Hebrews, Daniel, Manna, Red Sea, Water from Rock, Empty Tomb, etc.)
(b) The Result of Such Faith "Get thee up" God promised & could perform A. Ahab Went to His Feast B. Elijah Went To His Father (c) The Response of Such Faith v 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 HE FREQUENTED: 42 And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; Here in a place of Separation, of Supplication, of Seclusion, and of Solitude he holds uninterrupted fellowship with the living God. Matt 6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (b) THE POSTURE HE ADOPTED: 42 and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. Not only did he separate himself, but he humbled himself ! (c) THE PROMISE HE PLEADED:Ch 18 v 1 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. 2. The Prayer Of Faith v 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 Preparation of Such Prayer v 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. ie There was Consecration (b) The Privacy of Such Prayer v 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. ie There was Concentration Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (c) The Passion of Such Prayer v 42 and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees. ie There was Comprehension of God, of Self, of Sin, of Others (d) The Persistence of Such Prayer The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.v 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. ie There was Conviction Based on 1. The Will Of God 2. The Word Of God 3. The Work Of God
(e) The Power of Such Prayer v. 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. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. ie There was Consolation Mt 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Hudson Taylor sailing into China "I'll pray, if you set the sails" 3. The Power Of Faith v 46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. (a) The Sin Of Man was Rebuked (b) The Sovereignty Of God was Revealed (c) The Seeking Of Elijah was Rewarded (1)) The Source of His Power - 46a And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah;
(2)) The Secret of His Preparation - 46b and he girded up his loins
(3)) The Strategy of His Purpose - and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. Hoping that Ahab would stand against Jezebel.
