Rain at Last: Elijah, the Man of Prayer

Bible Text: I Kings 18:41-46 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 1 Kings, 2006

Northwest Bible Church – July 23, 2006 – 1&2 Kings Series – Worship Service – Alan Conner

1 Kings 18:41-46

“Rain, at last!” – Elijah, the man of prayer

 

Intro

The fire has miraculously fallen on Mt. Carmel at the bidding of the prophet Elijah and Yahweh has demonstrated beyond a shadow of a doubt that He alone is God and Baal is nothing but a fake god. But now as a climax to this great event, God shows that as He is the only One that can send down fire, He also is the only One that can send down rain.

 

 

Repentance before Rain (18:39-40).

 

The fire on Mt. Carmel was not an end in itself. It was a necessary stepping stone for God to return His blessing of rain to the land.

 

But as often is the case, God uses the prayer of His people to bring down His blessing. Let’s look at Elijah’s prayers to see the kind of prayers that open wide the doors of heaven’s blessings.

 

 

Elijah – the man of prayer (18:41-45).

 

Elijah prayed in faith (vv. 33-35, 41).

 

a) Elijah commands the king to eat and drink (v. 41).

 

What incredible words of comfort.

 

b) The “sound of the roar of a heavy shower” is heard by faith.

 

Elijah believes God’s promises (18:1).   Heb. 11:1; Mk. 11:24.

 

 

 

Elijah prayed with humility (v. 42).

 

a) Crouching? What was Elijah doing? Jas. 5:18 gives us the answer.

 

James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

James 5:18 And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

 

 

b) Crouching, a posture of humility. The best prayers are humble prayers. Isa. 66:2; 57:15.

 

 

Elijah prayed earnestly (v. 42).

 

James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

James 5:18 And he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

 

 

 

Elijah prayed persistently (vv. 43-45).

 

Elijah did not immediately get his answer. It took 7 trips before the cloud appeared.

 

1 Thess. 5:17; Lk. 18:7; Mt. 7:7.

 

Prayer is often a marathon, not a sprint. God trains us in this way to wait, trust, and persevere.

 

 

 

Elijah prayed out of an obedient life (18:36).

 

“The prayer of the upright is His delight” (Prov. 15:8). “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16). John 15:7 “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. 1John 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.

 

 

 

Elijah prayed for God’s glory to be revealed (vv. 36-37).

 

 

 

“Rain, at last!”

 

Once the dry hearts of the people were mended, so was the dry land.   Elijah’s prayers were the key.

 

 

 

Conclusion