1 Kings 18:39-45 Let the Rain Fall
1. The Person in 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,
James 5:16 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.
Elijah was an ordinary man.
Sin hinders prayer - Ps 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:
2. The Place in Prayer
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel;
He didn’t pray to be seen of people.
Luke 5:15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
More important than miracles, more important than healing, more important than preaching to the multitudes was getting alone by Himself.
Elijah like Jesus, and Jesus like Elijah, got alone.
Mark 1:35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
3. The Posture in Prayer. - He was a man, a humble man.
42 and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
“the man who can kneel before God can stand before kings”
1 Peter 5: 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you
4. The Passion in Prayer. - 42 and he cast himself down upon the earth,
James said, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
“Pray, preacher. You ain’t praying.”
“God does business with those that mean business.”
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
5. The Persistence of Prayer.
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.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Isaiah 30:18 And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.
Have faith in God.
6. The Power of Prayer.
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. 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.
