Why It Rained When Elijah Prayed

Why It Rained When Elijah Prayed

I Kings 18:1-8, 41-46

Many times we become discouraged if things don’t go exactly our way. We become angry and bitter and often we blame God. Accusing Him of not answering our prayers.

But God is not at fault – we are.

We are the one’s who are out of focus – out of touch. But, we still expect answers

I. ELIJAH’S MESSAGE

In chapter 17 Elijah told Ahab there was to be a drought and God brought a famine upon the land. Now Elijah is returning to Ahab to tell him that rain will once again fall.

Now this wasn’t all there was to it.

When Elijah arrived in the land he found:

A. The condition of the land to be full of sin.

1. Idol worship, false gods.

B. Coldness of God’s people – secret followers

1. Didn’t worship Baal, but also didn’t proclaim God.

C. Also found a challenge before him – go to Ahab.

1. Ahab wasn’t his worry; it was his wife Jezebel.

2. Jezebel had many prophets killed – he didn’t want to be next.

3. There were 100 prophets hidden in the grove.

Things were in a poor condition.

II. HE FACED OTHER OBSTACLES

A. Severe Famine

1. The drought he had warned Ahab of had caused a great famine.

B. Fearfulness – direct confrontation

1. The fear of Jezebel taking his life.

C. Fence Straddling

1. Our problem today.

D. False prophets of Baal

1. 450 of them and only one of him.

2. He had God on his side, that was all that mattered.

With all these obstacles

III. ELIJAH FACED GREAT ODDS, SO WHAT DID HE DO?

He went on the offensive!

A. He put the people on the spot

1. He said, “If God be God then serve him.”

2. Shouldn’t beat around the bush as to where we stand

3. Too many idols in our lives.

B. He put the false prophets on the spot.

1. The God that answers by fire! Battle between good and evil.

C. Put himself on the spot.

1. One against 400+, get the sense he was showing off.

2. Not only dowsed the sacrifice once with water, but three times.

3. Probably said to himself, “Lord I’ve stepped out on a limb here so you have to help me.

But the fire fell!!!

IV. WHAT DID HE GAIN?

His intentions were to tell Ahab that rain would once again fall.

A. Devotion of his people.

B. Descending fire.

C. Destruction of false prophets

D. Down-pouring of rain

So why did it rain when Elijah prayed?