The Man Who Prayed for Fire and Rain

Today’s Verse:

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, ~1 Kings 18:42

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What is the greatest answer to prayer that you have been blessed with? Have you experienced one or more real, miraculous answers to prayer? For the majority of Christians, one miraculous answer to prayer during our lifetime would be extraordinary. However, to experience two in one day is incredibly extraordinary. Yet, it is possible! Let us see, this morning, how one man prayed for God to send fire and rain from heaven on the same day.

We see that he was common.

Elijah was a man subject to like passions as you and me. He was a common, ordinary man. He hungered and thirsted. He became anxious at times and had fears. He got discouraged. He was impulsive and appeared abrupt at times. He was a man who had limitations and shortcomings. We must remember there is nothing great about any of us. We have our idiosyncrasies and nuances. These things remind us that we are ordinary people in need of extraordinary things from an awesome God.

We see that he was consecrated.

Elijah was effective because he was a righteous man. It was not a self-righteousness that he possessed. God told Elijah, “Hide thyself by the brook Cherith.” There at Cherith, Elijah developed faith and learned to wait on God. God sustained him by a withering brook and bread that the ravens brought him twice a day. After Cherith dried up, God sent him to Zarephath to be sustained by a widow woman whose resources were near depleted. For three years, God developed Elijah in faith, in obedience, in the Word, in prayer, in vision, in theology, and in power. He became holy, heroic, and honorable because God consecrated him.

We see his confidence.

Elijah’s confidence was his faith. God developed his faith by way of a drying brook, a handful of meal, a cruse of oil, and the raising back to life of the widow’s son. He had faith that God would answer by fire: God did! He prayed for the fire of God to come down from heaven to demonstrate that God is alive, God answers prayer, and God is awesome. He had faith on that same mountain to pray for God to stop a three-year drought by sending rain in abundance: God did! He prayed seven times on that mountain, but he knew that rain would come. He prayed for the supernatural power of God to show that there is nothing He cannot do.

We see that he was consumed.

Elijah was fervent in his praying. Fervent praying gets a hold of God. It wrestles with God in prayer. It is praying that does not let go of God. It is praying that calls on God to glorify His name through a demonstration of His power. His praying proved that God is real. His praying proved that there is nothing that God will not do for the servant who obeys Him and comes to Him in total dependence and trust. If we do not mean business with God, God does not do business with us. Fervent praying earnestly desires God to do great and mighty things.

We see that he was copious.

James says that Elijah’s praying availed much. This means that it resulted in more than he asked for. His praying was fruitful and productive. His praying brought back someone who was dead. His praying brought back abundant harvests. His praying demonstrated that there is only one God, and that is Jehovah God! Great praying changes circumstances, homes, families, churches, and even nations. God is glorified when our praying results in much fruit. Consider Elijah this morning, and remember that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Have an abundant God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Leviticus 5-7

#1Kings #Elijah #Faith #Prayer