Gene Cunningham - September 11, 2000
Elijah #7
Jesus found the time an place to pray; He taught by example; "teach us to pray" not "how to pray" (Luk 11:1-4). It's more important we pray than how we. Jesus puts God's concerns first; He prays corporately. We need to awake as believers - revival of "sleeping" (Eph 5:14). Revival evidence: (1) restoration of obedience to God; (2) God's power is vindicated; 3) repentance among God's people (1Ki 18:39). A nation in crisis needs praying people (1Ki 18:41-46). Elijah is a standard of powerful prayer. "Prayer is not preparation for ministry, but the ministry itself "(Oswald Chambers). We should pray because of helpless dependence (2Ch 20:12). We need to pray because God urges us to pray (Psa 91:15) There's a time for effective prayer (Isa 55:6, Isa 30:18, Mat 7:7, Jam 4:3) . God has promised He'll answer prayer (Mat 7:11, Joh 15:16, Joh 16:23). The attitudes and actions of Elijah are instructive (1Ki 18:41-46): (1) Elijah sends Ahab to go eat while he goes to the mountain to pray. Elijah isolated himself to pray; Jesus also did (Mat 14:23, Mar 6:46, Mat 6:6). Prayer gets it power from the word of God (1Ki 18:41-42, Jam 5:18). Elijah prayed claiming God's promises 1(Ki 18:1). God controls the weather (Zec 12:1). We need to pray in obedience to His word(Joh 15:7, Joh 15:6). Before you pray get into God's word, and ask for guidance, then pray according to His word and will (1Jo 5:14-15). Prayer expresses humble dependence on God (1Pe 5:6, Jam 4:10, Pro 4:34).
Scripture References: James 4:10, Matthew 7:7, Mark 6:46, John 5:14-15, Isaiah 30:18, Matthew 14:23, John 15:6, Isaiah 55:6, John 16:23, John 15:7, Psalms 91:15, John 15:16, Zechariah 12:1, Ephesians 5:14, Matthew 7:11, James 5:18, Luke 11:1-4, Proverbs 4:3, James 4:3, Matthew 6:6
From Series: "Elijah"
Elijah's life shows us the keys to spiritual power: the power of God's Word faith prayer revival and failure.