Prayer

Many of us identify ourselves with certain people very closely.

point out someone with whom you have same wave length, 

that you can closely identify with?

Identify the person that matches your wave length.

and tell us why?

We all can identify ourselves with someone or other  because  the wavelength matches, because we think in the same way.

But there is one person in bible that all of us can identify.

Do you know who is that?

James 5:17,18

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.

James telling each one of us, 

Regardless of our background, Regardless of our profession, whatever you are, 

we all can identify with one person in bible, that is Elijah.

that Elijah was a man with a nature like ours.

We all should know what kind of man Elijah is?

Elijah credentials are very big.

Elijah was great man of God who did not see the death.

Elijah called fire from Heaven.

Elijah killed 450 baal prophets

Elijah did wonders in widows provision

Elijah raised widows son.

Elijah has openly rebuked the king of Israel - not a man pleaser

Elijah food was supplied by ravens

New testament, during Jesus time,  

When anybody has to reference a prophet they always refer to him as Elijah

when John the Baptist was asked , they asked him are you Elijah

In Lord Jesus Transifuration, he appeared along side Moses.

When Lord Jesus was on the Cross, Eli Eli, they said He might be calling Elijah.

Elijah's credentials are so big.

Elijah passed on his mantle to Elisha

Elijah was Chariots of Fire, but still not consumed.

Revaltion -> talks about 2 olive trees.

one who can shut the heavens

So, mind you that you are not talking about a normal person.

you are talking about a man who has more credentials than any living person today. 

He is equivalent to Moses.

But the James through the inspiration of the HolySpirit says, Elijah was man with a nature like ours.

you have zeal for God, same like Elijah

you have fears about people, same like Elijah( he ran away from jezebel)

you have think you are all alone, same like Elijah ( he thought he is alone of all prophets)

Whatever your nature is , you can compare yourself with Elijah.

What a great mystery that God is revealing here, 

Many times we step back in praying for country thinking nothing happens when  i pray. 

we step back in praying for ciites, praying for communites, praying for unsaved people, but a great encouragement today, Elijah is just like you and me.

Word says 

"and  he prayed earnestly"

If everyone in this room prays like Elijah, I tell you things will be different.

Everyone prays earnestly

Earnest prayer is not a long prayer.

Earnest prayer is not so much repetitive prayer.

Earnest prayer is not  a sweat inducing prayer.

But Earnest prayer is a declaration of faith in God.

1 Kings 17:1

1) And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word.”

Why Elijah can declare boldly like this,

As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand,

 the key is before whom I stand,

thats the difference between Elijah and todays believers.

Elijahs nature is like you and me only.

But regardless of his nature, he always goes to the presence of God

He can say boldly before whom I stand.

If you are the man/woman who always stands in the presence of God,   when you come out you will be declaring 

1 Kings 17:21

And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the Lord and said, “O Lord my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.

1 Kings 18:42-44

42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.”

So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.”

44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, [j]‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’ ”

Persistent: Then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees.

Earnest prayer is persistent prayer.

3 times to revive the boy

7 times to see the cloud

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What you pray matters.

1 Samuel 1:7

Prayer:

. 7 So it was, year by year, when she went up to the house of the Lord, that she provoked her; therefore she wept and did not eat.

Prayer : Year after Year , she wept before the Lord. 

Every year when she went up to the house of the Lord - what she might have prayed.

Hannh: God I need a child ?

God: Why

Hannah : Peninnah is provoking me, please remove this shame.

Year after year.

But this time she changed: 

Lord I give first;
There is a meeting point in prayer:

There might be things praying for a long time, but at one point you get to that meeting point.

There was difference in approach.

There is something difference in the result.

Your giving makes difference. your alignment to Gods ways makes difference.

God is ready to great and mighty things

Genesis 15: 1

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, [a]your exceedingly great reward.”

2 But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I [b]go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Then Abram said, “Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one[c] born in my house is my heir!”

Abrams thinking was about heir of the property. But Gods plan is bigger , to be a blessing for nations.

Genesis 17: 17-22

Covenant vs Blessing.

17 Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart, “Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?” 18 And Abraham said to God, “Oh, that Ishmael might live before You!”

19 Then God said: “No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. 21 But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year.” 22 Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.