The Wonderful Results of Powerful Prayer
1 Kings 18:41–46 (ESV)
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.”
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.
43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times.
44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”
45 And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain.
46 Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
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Faith hears the inaudible, sees the invisible, and does the impossible.
James 5:17 (ESV)
Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently [pray, prayed; proseuche, proseuchhomai; in his place of prayer, he prayed] that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.
1 Kings 18:1 (NIV)
After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.”
1 John 5:14–15 (NIV)
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15 And if we know that he hears us — whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him.
Matthew 6:10 (NIV)
...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
God’s will is that whatever is not in Heaven would not be on earth and whatever is in Heaven would be on earth.
James 5:16 (NLT)
The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
1. Prayer hears the inaudible
1 Kings 18:41 (ESV)
And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rushing of rain.”
God speaks only to those who take time to listen. It is the man who cares who communes with the Most High and learns the secrets of the Lord.
- A. W. Tozer
2. Prayer understands the principle of humility
James 4:6b–7a (NLT)
As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” So humble yourselves before God.
1 Kings 18:42 (ESV)
So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Mount Carmel. And he bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.
3. Prayer sees the invisible
1 Kings 18:43–44 (ESV)
43 And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go again,” seven times.
44 And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”
Mark 8:22–23 (NIV)
22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him.
23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”
Mark 8:25 (NIV)
25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.
1 Kings 18:44 (ESV)
And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little cloud like a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop you.’”
4. Prayer leads to the impossible
1 Kings 18:46 (NLT)
Then the LORD gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
1 Kings 18:46 (NLT)
Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah...
Isaiah 40:31 (MSG)
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.
