THE SECRET OF ANSWERED PRAYER (3)

Let us note the characteristics of this man whose prayers were so powerful: First, he was a man of faith. James says, “Ask in faith” (James 1:6). God had promised rain, and there was no doubt in Elijah’s mind. He was able to say, “There is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower” (v. 41). This reminds us of Jesus, who prayed before Lazarus was raised, “Father, I thank Thee that Thou heardest [i.e., You have heard] Me” (John 11:41). Second, he was a man who relied upon God. Think about this: God had promised rain. With the ear of faith, Elijah had heard the sound of rain. Then why did Elijah need to pray? We might reason, “Why pray for our daily bread when God has promised us the necessities of life?” (Matthew 6:33). Or, “Why pray for forgiveness if we repent of our sins, since God has promised to forgive us?” The answer is, God wanted him to pray—to impress upon him that the rain was a blessing from heaven—and Elijah was the kind of man to fit in with that plan. Even so, God wants it impressed on our minds that all blessings come from Him, that we must rely on Him.

Third, he was a man who took time to talk to God. This was a busy day, but Elijah still took time to talk to his God. We must take time to pray. One mother with a large family uses a walk-in closet as her “prayer closet” when she needs to get away for a moment with God. Fourth, he was a man of humility. This was the man who had just called down fire from heaven, who had swayed thousands; but there was no hint of pride. Rather, we find him on his knees with his head bowed in an attitude of total humility before the God of the universe. “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The psalmist wrote, “O Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble” (Psalms 10:17). Fifth, he was a man who thought of others; he was unselfish. He did not pray for himself, but for a suffering land. He did not pray for his crops, his animals, his family, but, in effect, for the crops, animals, and families of others. James warns, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures” (4:3).

Sixth, he was a man fervent in prayer. The KJV has “the . . . fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). James gives us this detail about Elijah’s prayer: “He prayed earnestly” (5:17). The literal Greek says, “He prayed with prayer.” This is a Hebraism to indicate intensity. We pray with words, with pet phrases, with ritualism. Elijah, however, prayed “with prayer.” He really prayed! Paul used the same expression. Ephesians 6:18 says, “With all prayer . . . pray at all times.” Seventh, he was persistent in prayer. Elijah prayed seven times that it would rain. Earlier he had prayed just three times, and a boy had been raised from the dead. He only had to pray once, and fire came from heaven. On this occasion, however, he prayed once, and nothing happened. He prayed three times—the number of times it took to raise the dead one—and nothing happened! I might have gotten discouraged; “I guess God is saying, ‘No,’ this time.” Elijah, however, was persistent, and his prayer was answered. Jesus encouraged His disciples to be persistent. He once told them a parable to illustrate “that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Paul said, “Devote yourselves to prayer” (Colossians 4:2).

Word Affirmation: “ Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength." - Joel 2:22 (Don't just say it, mean it!)

“ Persistent pays in prayer. "

MIND THIS