Courageous Joy

Elijah

Preparing for Bible Study on Tuesday night and I’ve been thinking about Elijah.

James 5:16-18 tells us that Elijah was “a man with a nature like ours”. This is a great encouragement. Look what the prayers of a righteous (right standing; just without prejudice or partiality) man can accomplish. He prayed earnestly that the rain would stop and it stopped for THREE years and six months. He prayed again and it rained.

We can learn a lot about Elijah from I Kings 17 – 19. He ate and drank. He was at times terrified. He held great pity parties. He had tunnel vision. He indeed did have a nature like ours.

But James tells us that he prayed “earnestly” – fervently and persistently. In I Kings 17 we see him telling King Ahab that there will not be any rain or dew unless he gives the word (I Kings 17:1). Where does such faith and boldness come from???? I would like to suggest that Elijah knew the Books of Moses – he knew the Word.

In Joshua 6:26, Joshua declared a curse on anyone who rebuilt Jericho. The curse was fulfilled when King Ahab rebuilt Jericho. I Kings 16:29-34 gives us a glimpse into life during King Ahab’s reign. He was more evil than all who came before him. He built temples for and worshipped Baal. God had covenanted with Israel that he would bless them with rain (and much else) if they would obey His commands. If they disobeyed his commandments there would be no rain and no dew. Ahab had broken the commands and covenant of God. Elijah believed that God’s Word was true. He knew that if Israel repented the rain and dew would be sent again.

Elijah had a bold faith because he KNEW his God; he knew what his God had SAID and he BELIEVED what his God had said. Elijah simply took God at His word and prayed in line with God’s character and revealed will. And God responded.

The key point I’ve been considering is not that Elijah had great faith but that Elijah was a man who KNEW the Word. He knew His God. Are we to lazy today to take the time to know our God?

If we would have effective prayers as Elijah, we must KNOW the God of the WORD – not the God of pop culture, the God of Sunday morning, the God of church tradition…but the God of the Word. In the Word we see how God acts, we observe His character, we read the consequences of our actions, we find what He expects if we would be in relationship with Him. We simply can’t expect to see great things in prayer if we haphazardly claim the promises without understanding the conditions. To be effective prayer warriors we need to know the Word, and therefore know our God, so that we are praying in accordance with His will….and then the enemy will quake, the heavens will rejoice and we will see “effective prayer” in the church once again.

"The strength of our prayers begin in knowing our father who is in heaven” p 32 Lord Teach us to Pray.