Title: Prayer That Works
Date: January 16, 2007
Text: James 5:16-18
- How would we like to have the power in prayer that Elijah had?
- Wouldn't it be great to be able to pray in faith, and to see the answers to your prayers?
- The book of James gives us instruction about some practical issues
- One of these is the question of praying in faith
- There was a prophet called Elijah, who under inspiration from God, told his king that there would be no more rain until Elijah said so
- This was done so that the king would see the power of God and repent
- This incident is described in 1 Kings 17 and 18, and is summarized in James 5
- James 5:16-18 "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit"
- Let us examine what James wrote in James 5
1. Elijah was a man just like us (verse 17)
- we have all kinds of things that hold us back
- one of the biggest things is that we feel inadequate and expect failure
- Elijah was a man just like us
- he experienced highs and lows
- he became so discouraged and depressed that he quit his job and became suicidal
- yet here is a man whom God used in a huge way
- no matter how inadequate we may feel, God can use us, and is looking for people to stand up and be obedient to his call
2. Elijah prayed with purpose (verse 16)
- Elijah had a reason for praying
- he was a prophet and had to get a lesson across to king Ahab
- so he tells Ahab there is going to be a drought
- there was a purpose for what he was doing - it was a part of God's work
- God responded and answered his prayer - it did not rain for 3 1/2 years
- then God told him, God was going to send rain, and to go tell Ahab
- Elijah was obedient - he also wanted to make the most of the event, so he invited all the priests of Baal to a challenge
- we know what happened - he prayed a very short prayer, and fire fell from heaven and burt the sacrifice
- Elijah was good at praying, he prayed very specific, very short prayers
3. Elijah prayed with fervency (verse 17)
- when Elijah prayed he did so earnestly
- not a sleepy-time prayer
- when Elijah prayed he was in conference with his God
- they walked closely together and he was able to have deep contact with him
- so he did not take his relationship for granted
- when he prayed, it was in deadly earnest
- Jesus also prayed with great intensity, particularly when he prayed just before his crucifixion
- he prayed so hard that he sweated blood
- we too can learn from this, and take our relationship with God, and our prayer time, seriously
- Elijah did so and received the answers he requested
4. Elijah expected an answer (verse 17-18)
- when he prayed, he expected something to happen
- he was walking in partnership with God
- he prayed to God to withhold the rain for a time and God did it, for 3-1/2 years
- then he prayed for the rain to come, and God responded
- in 1 Kings 18 it says he went to the top of Mount Carmel to see the rain coming
- he got on his knees and asked his servant 7 times to go see what was happening
- 6 times the servant said, nothing
- but the 7th time, he saw a tiny cloud appear
- that was enough for Elijah, it meant that the answer was on its way
- he sent the servant to tell Ahab to get out of there, lest the rain stop him from getting home
- sure enough, the rains came
- the lesson here is that Elijah expected an answer!
Conclusion
1. Elijah was a man just like us (verse 17)
2. Elijah prayed with purpose (verse 16)
3. Elijah prayed with fervency (verse 17)
4. Elijah expected an answer (verse 17-18)
- our prayers can be much more than just a litany of requests
- when we pray with purpose, in accordance with God's will, things will happen
- when we pray with fervency, God listens, and things change
- when we expect an answer God will not let us down
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