Morning Service 23 August 2009
I doubt that there is one of us here who know the Lord who would say that prayer is unimportant. The very beginning of our Christian faith is marked by prayer as we turn to God for forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ. Prayer to us is not merely the means of finding help in times of extreme trouble; we understand that it is very much at the core of our relationship with God, indeed it is the expression of our communion with God. The Word and Prayer are two key elements that both express and sustain the Christian life before God.
But that doesn’t mean that we are masters in prayer, or that we don’t need to study the nature and purpose of prayer. Like the disciples we find ourselves crying unto the Lord to teach us to pray; and the further we go on in the Christian life the more frequently we lift that cry. The sweeter prayer becomes the more we hunger after it.
In seeking to develop and even deepen our prayer life we rightly search the Scriptures and we contemplate from time to time models for prayer. Who is your favourite model for prayer? Who do you turn to in order to understand prayer.
Obviously the answer ought to be the lord Jesus Christ, but let me ask you again. Who among frail humanity, who among the believers of the Bible would you hold up as a model of prayer? Who would you turn to in order to not only as an inspired and divinely approved standard to guide you in prayer but also to assess the reality and quality of your praying?
As you ponder that for a moment let me remind of James’ choice. James has much to say in his letter about prayer. Indeed it is reported that as an individual he was so constant in prayer that he is called ‘camel knees’. Now in James 5:17-18 as he places a specific focus on prayer that we find who was his pattern – Elijah.
Yet I doubt that even few of us would choose Elijah as our pattern for prayer. Somehow he seems to be in another league, a mighty prophet of God and a mighty worker of miracle, while I am not. But this is not how the NT remembers him.
Elijah is the very pattern he holds out for all believers in the practice of prayer, identifying him as “a man of like passions as we are…” He had problems, perplexities, fears, doubts, frustrations, but he prayed! That’s what made him different – and that is what should be seen in our lives too.
The praying Elijah has already be set before us in the record of 1 Kings, and in the passage before us today Elijah is found once again in prayer – prayer for the rain God in v.1 had said He would send.
As we consider Elijah’s praying there is much we can learn about the practice of prayer. So as we look at vv.41-46 let us see some of the secrets of his prayer life.
1. The Necessity of prayer
It is clear that Elijah regarded it as of the utmost importance. He had already shown this hadn’t he at the beginning of the record of His ministry when he prayed for the stopping of rain, and for the widow’s son, and for God’s fire.
Here again he is seen praying. He had been told by God that rain would come, but he does not stand back and watch the sky. No he prays. Indeed he says he hears “the sound of abundance of rain” – he knew that the fulfilment of the promise of God was on its way. Yet he prays. He does not presume but immediately pleads God’s promises to God.
Though God has promised He still requires us to ask for blessing. Indeed He makes this explicit with respect to the new covenant in Ezekiel 36:24-36 which spells out all that God was prepared and determined to do for His people. Then follows “Thus says the Lord God, I will also let the house of Israel inquire of Me to do this for them” (v.37). James himself points out “You have not because you ask not” (4:2). So we are reminded that we do not come to a reluctant God but One who includes our prayers in His purposes to bless His people.
Elijah says he heard the sound of abundant rain (v.41) yet he still knew he had to pray for it. What a lesson for us. ‘Prayer is the hand of faith that translates promise into performance.’ (Howard Hendricks)
Yet will not fully understand this passage, and indeed appreciate what Jesus does for us as our High Priest, if we do not see this praying in relation to the covenant.
In the response of the people “The Lord, He is God” and their destruction of the false prophets we see the return of the people to the covenant. The drought had been the curse of God upon covenant-breakers – having forsaken God they learnt what it was to be forsaken by God. But now the people returned to God, at least outwardly restoring the covenant, but will God return to them?
As he began the challenge on Mt Carmel Elijah was concerned not only for the honour of God but also for the restoration of the covenant relationship with God. Now as he returns to the summit in prayer his concern is for the restoration of covenant blessing. It is in this that Elijah’s prayer finds its proper place.
‘His prayer forms a chain between the return of the people and the covenant blessings. Just as punishment had followed covenant breaking when Elijah prayed, the covenant restoration now leads to renewed covenant blessings only through the prophet’s prayer.’ (Van’t Veer)
Yet it is Elijah who prays. The people had recognised the Lord and rejected Baal, but we read nothing of their humbling themselves and seeking God’s face, no expression of remorse and contrition for all the horrible sins of so many years, no confession, no seeking the lord of whom they shouted “He is God!” Yet in 2 Chron 7:13-14 God says that this is what He looks for. Sadly this people still lived loosely to sin – and toward God. Sadly Ahab is not much better.
When the people fail, the leaders need to lead in seeking the restoration of covenant blessings through prayer. It was inherent to both offices to engage in intercessory prayer for the Lord’s blessing upon the people.
The prophet was ready, but the king needs to be lead. He speaks to the King not out of compassion for him who must’ve felt gutted by all that had transpired, but as a prophet confronting the king. It suggests that Elijah understood that tis king had no heart for prayer, a reality confirmed by the absence of any protest from Ahab. Indeed it appears he knows that Ahab is not as convinced as the people that the Lord is God for he mentions the coming rain, as if to say that this too would be a sign to him of the truth. In any case Elijah found no place for this king, despite his office, on the mount of prayer. So Elijah sends him on his way to dinner, and then personally goes up the mount to intercede for the people– in an action so reminiscent of Moses!
This is the very thing that Christ did as He prayed for His people that night before His death upon the cross (John 17), and what he continues to do under the new covenant (Hebrews 7:25). Indeed it helps us understand the importance of Christ’s praying for us.
He intercedes for His people that their sin will not be held against them and that they might enter more fully into the covenant blessings. The blessings secured by the blood of the covenant are brought to us by the Mediator of the covenant who intercedes for us. How dependent we are on His continuing intercession, and how thankful we should be.
But also we should be encouraged to be intercessors ourselves, and particularly for the church – for into our hands He has placed the task to strengthen the saints and to evangelise sinners. His activity should stimulate our activity too. Remember, you may not be able to stand on a street corner, go overseas or give large sums of money for the needs of church and the gospel – but you can pray! You may not even be able to get out visit or even to go church, but you can pray!
2. The Manner of prayer
As we look at Elijah’s praying we notice that it was abundantly answered. By this we see something of the sort of prayer that God desires. However, as we look at the manner of his praying let us note this warning: there is always a danger when we analyse the manner of prayer to overemphasis one or more of these elements over against the rest, and then to complain against God when no answer comes. So let us seek to be balanced in their application to our praying. (Al Marin)
1. It ought to be based on the promise of God. This prayer is obviously connected to v.1. From this we learn that the various promises of God given in the Bible should motivate us to pray, and indeed direct what we ask, and the extent to which we may expect an answer. Such prayer is saying, ‘Do as You have said.’ This is to truly honour God. A toddler often asks for things wholly incompatible with the parent’s nature and its own welfare. But as years go by increasing understanding and experience shape the child’s requests into forms suggested by its parents. In the same way as we know more of God through His promises we are stopped from asking what He cannot give, and are led to set our hearts upon things He delights to give to us.
2. It ought to be definite. James points out that Elijah was praying for rain. It was specific, definite in its object. I would suggest that this is why many prayers fail.
3. It ought to be earnest. James tells us that Elijah prayed “earnestly” – literally it could be ‘prayed in his prayer’. Certainly he prayed 7 times, but we also see that each negative response from his servant stimulates him to not only pray again but according to this testimony of the Holy Spirit he prayed more intensely. Though he knew God’s promise, he didn’t prayer mechanically or half-heartedly, nor was the apparent delay draining enthusiasm from him. No he was earnest and maintained that earnestness in prayer. This illustrates what it is said of Christ that he “offered up prayers and supplications with strong cries and tears” (Heb 5:7). What can be said of our prayers?
4. It ought to be humble. What a contrast we see in Elijah as he prayed. As a representative of God he stood bold, erect as an oak. But as a representative of man he bowed low in great humility. His head went between his knees. Humility should always characterise our prayers. We must ever in prayer remember who we come before and how we do so, remember that we come before the majesty, might and power of God. Yes we come boldly in Christ, yet humbly recognising that it is only in Christ that we can and do come before the thrice-holy God. Let us imitate Moses in that we take our spiritual shoes off!
5. It ought to be full of expectant faith. While his servant kept coming back with no news Elijah just kept on sending him to look. Elijah believed that God would keep His promise.
6. It ought to be persevering. This is the most notable feature of Elijah’s prayer. Let us note with an encouragement to our perseverance that even Elijah was not heard immediately, but above all let us learn to pray perseveringly. Let us not be guilty of stopping to pray when the news returns that no answer is seen. Elijah prayed till he saw the answer coming. A prayer is never complete until God has answered! May we be so constant in our prayer so that we will hear the Lord say to us “Great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire (Matt 15:28).
7. It ought to embrace the answer. In faith Elijah recognised the answer of God. He stopped praying ad went via the king on his way upon hearing the news of the “cloud as small as a man’s hand rising out of the sea”. The cloud was not something to fill him with hope that stimulated further prayer – rather it was proof that prayer was answered and that he could end his prayer. Once the answer comes submission as well as gratitude ought to be evident. Faith begins, continues and also knows when to end prayer. Faith’s next call is to embrace and respond to God’s answer.
2. The Danger of prayer
As Al Martin reveals the effect of Elijah’s prayer was two-fold
1. Upon the land – v.45, “a heavy rain”. This was no light shower, enough to moisten the land but not break the drought. This rain broke the prolonged drought. It was so heavy that we see Elijah told Ahab go as quickly as he can. The absence of grass and resulting loose clay and dirt would be a recipe for sticky mud, as well as the Kishon River becoming a raging torrent.
2. Upon Elijah – notice v.46, “the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah”. He also had to flee from the rain, so the Lord took hold of him. Elijah emerges from the experience with a new dynamic: the hand of the Lord was upon him. What a great privilege this was. He got involved not only in the praying but in the answer.
This highlights that it is in a sense dangerous to pray. Elijah had already tasted this. When he prayed the brook dried up! The disciples also discovered this truth. Did you ever notice the humour of Matt 9:37, 38? Jesus said to them “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into His harvest.” Then in the very next chapter the very ones He asked to pray about it were the very ones He pressed into service as He sends them on an evangelistic mission!
Don’t pray unless you want to get involved! Don’t every pray unless you are personally committed, because the answer to your prayer may demand a beginning with you. Yet we are to pray – so pray willing to be involved saying ‘Lord use me in Your answer and work out Your answer in me’. Let us pray.