Theme 2014: Experiencing God, Embracing People!
James 5:17-18
James 5:17-18….
“17 Elijah was a human being,
even as we are. He prayed
earnestly that it would not rain,
and it did not rain on the land
for three and a half years.
8 Again he prayed, and the
heavens gave rain, and the
earth produced its crops.” [TNIV]
1 Kings 18:20-40
Great man
of prayer…
accomplished
great things for
God!
understood the
power of God!
A secret about
Elijah….
James 5:17-18….
“17 Elijah was a human being,
even as we are. He prayed
earnestly that it would not rain,
and it did not rain on the land
for three and a half years.
8 Again he prayed, and the
heavens gave rain, and the
earth produced its crops.” [TNIV]
James 5:17a….
“Elijah was a human being,
even as we are….” [TNIV]
Elijah was just
an ordinary man
who was a servant of
the most extraordinary
God!
James 5:13-16….
“13 Is anyone among you in
trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone
happy? Let them sing songs of
praise. 14 Is anyone among you
sick? Let them call the elders of
the church to pray over them
and anoint them with oil in
the name of the Lord. .…
…. 15 And the prayer offered in
faith will make them well; the
Lord will raise them up. If they
have sinned, they will be
forgiven. 16 Therefore confess
your sins to each other and pray
for each other so that you may be
healed. The prayer of a righteous
person is powerful and effective.”
[TNIV]
Nothing inherently special about
Elijah.
He was just as human
as the rest of us!
There are
we
can glean from the life of
Elijah.
THE POWER that Elijah
experienced through prayer was
for a “purpose.”
God does not give us His power
for our own benefit.
Although sometimes He does use
His power for our benefit,
like when He heals us.
He gives us HIS POWER
to be His witnesses!
Acts 1:8….
“But you will receive power
when the Holy Spirit comes on
you; and you will be my
witnesses in Jerusalem, and in
all Judea and Samaria, and to
the ends of the earth.”
[TNIV]
Matthew 17:20….
“He replied, ‘Because you have so
little faith. Truly I tell you, if you
have faith as small as a mustard
seed, you can say to this mountain,
'Move from here to there,' and it
will move. Nothing will be
impossible for you.’”
[TNIV]
Elijah stood for God
when nobody else did!
James 5:16b….
“… The (earnest) prayer of a
righteous person is (has)
powerful (great power) and
effective (wonderful results).”
[TNIV]
The greatest miracle of all is the
NEW LIFE that we live
in Jesus Christ!
Psalm 103:12….
“He has removed our rebellious
acts as far away from us as
the east is from the west.”
[TNIV]
1 John 1:9….
“If we confess our sins (to him),
he is faithful and just and will
forgive us our sins and purify
(cleanse) us from all
unrighteousness (every wrong).”
[TNIV]
How do we get the results?
• Elijah’s life
• the rest of Scripture
• historical proof
… is just one word –
The reason why we see less
of the power of God is that we
pray less
for the power of God!
1 Kings 18:41-45….
“41 And Elijah said to Ahab,
‘Go, eat and drink, for there is
the sound of a heavy rain.’
So Ahab went off to eat and
drink, but Elijah climbed to the
top of Carmel, bent down to the
ground and put his face
between his knees. ….
42
…. 43 ‘Go and look toward the
sea,’ he told his servant. And he
went up and looked. ‘There is
nothing there,’ he said. Seven
times Elijah said, ‘Go back.’
44 The seventh time the servant
reported, ‘A cloud as small as
a man's hand is rising from
the sea.’ So Elijah said, ….
…. ‘Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch
up your chariot and go down
before the rain stops you.’
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew
black with clouds, the wind
rose, a heavy rain came on
and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.”
[TNIV]
Elijah kept praying
until
the results came!
Elijah
prayed again!
And again!
And again!
Elijah prayed until
the answer came!
When people persisted
in bringing their
requests before God,
they got results!
Daniel 10:12-13….
“12 Then he continued, ‘Do not be
afraid, Daniel. Since the first day
that you set your mind to gain
understanding and to humble
yourself before your God, your
words were heard, and I have
come in response to them …..
…. 13 But the prince of the
Persian kingdom resisted me
twenty-one days. Then Michael,
one of the chief princes, came
to help me, because I was
detained there with
the king of Persia.’ ”
[TNIV]
had prayed to God for
understanding (21 days)
– the reason for the delay.
Things may not come easy. But IF
we persist in seeking before God,
we will prevail!
Matthew 17:18-21….
“18 And Jesus rebuked the demon,
and it came out of him; and the
child was cured from that very
hour. 19 Then the disciples came
to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why
could we not cast it out?’ 20 So
Jesus said to them, ‘Because of
your unbelief; for assuredly, ….
…. I say to you, if you have faith
as a mustard seed, you will say
to this mountain,’ Move from
here to there,’ and it will move;
and nothing will be impossible
for you. 21 However, this kind
does not go out except by
prayer and fasting.” [NKJV]
How many of you desire to see the
POWER of God manifest in your
life?
Take note of the 3 principles we
learn from Elijah’s life!
You must be yourself, be
You must be willing
to stand for God, be
You must be