The Prophet and His Prayers 1 Kings 17 05/18/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles

The Prophet and His Prayers Introduction The Prophet Elijah. Elijah had a true sense of values. He was a human being like the rest of us, and he faced discouragement and dismay.

The Prophet and His Prayers A prophet had to walk alone, for few persons wanted to walk with him. The prophets were not accredited by the religious systems of their day. They did not belong to those systems and did not seem to care that they were not endorsed by them.

The Prophet and His Prayers Very often the prophets were despised, persecuted and hated by religious leaders. Even though Elijah came from an obscure background, he was called of God to stand before a king.

The Prophet and His Prayers We must be at God’s disposal to do little things or big things, whatever He calls us to do. Our concern must be for the Lord and not for ourselves.

The Prophet and His Prayers 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” (1 Kings19:14, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers The Prayers of Elijah. Elijah knew the Word of God. 13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- (Deut 11:13, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. (Deut 11:14-15, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. (Deut 11:16, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 17 Then the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. (Deut 11:17)

The Prophet and His Prayers 1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” (1 Kings 17:1, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:45)

The Prophet and His Prayers We are told, “He prayed earnestly” (James 5:17) Elijah prayed for the best for Israel. 16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. (Deut 11:16, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 17 Then the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. (Deut 11:17)

The Prophet and His Prayers Its purpose was to bring God’s people back to Him. People need to know that God is the living God. Someone needed to demonstrate that God was alive and powerful on behalf of His people.

The Prophet and His Prayers 21 These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. (Psa 50:21, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 22 “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with none to rescue: (Psa 50:22, NIV) Elijah prayed that God might be proven to be God before the eyes of His people.

The Prophet and His Prayers Conclusion The Prayer of Faith 13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. (James 5:13, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. (James 5:15, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. (James 5:17-18, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 19 My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20, NIV)

The Prophet and His Prayers 1 Kings 17 05/18/2008 Dr. Dane Boyles