Send Down The Rain (1Kings 18:41-46)
(James 5:17-18) says, "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not upon the earth by the space of three and one half years. And he prayed again and the heavens gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
Read (1Kings 18:41-46)
Note the source of the trouble which had come upon the nation of Israel.
(A) Not in the messenger.
(B) But in the sins of the king.
(C) And the desertion of God by the nation of Israel
(1) Ahab had sought Elijah; Now he gets his wish.
(A) I picture the king in his royal attire, I see the royal escort of soldiers, horses and chariots before, beside, and behind the chariot of the king.
(B) Notice the contrast between Ahab dressed in his royal robe which commanded power and authority from his earthly kingdom with that of Elijah dressed with a mantle that commanded power from above.
(2) Elijah Prayed For A Specific Thing.
(A) He went to the top of Mt. Carmel to pray: a place of privacy
(a) It is often by the secret prayer that great manifestations of God’s power are demonstrated.
"Come! My people! enter into thy chambers, shut thy doors about thee".
(3) He cast himself down to the earth.
(a) In Reverence
(b) In Humility
(c) In Fervour: He prayed a hot fervent prayer "Cold prayer is no more prayer than a painted picture of a fire is a fire."
Someone wisely said, "A small vessel with a smart gale will sail faster than a large ship with small winds."
(4) After having prayed: Elijah sent his servant
(1) "Go up now and look toward the sea"
(a) He had prayed he now looks.
(2) The servants report
(3) Elijah was expecting to see something.
(Ill.) During a drought many years ago a preacher called his church together to pray for rain. On the day they gathered to pray, the preacher suddenly announced that they may as well go home. When asked why, he replied, " We gathered to ask of God for rain,however, I notice no one has brought an umbrella."
(5) The cloud was small:
(A)Just a speck. God takes small things and does big jobs.
(6) There is a great rain coming!
"For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, my blessing upon thy offspring." (Is.44:3).
(A)While many are content settle for lawn sprinkler sized outpourings of God’s power, I hear the sound of an abundance of rain.
