The apostle James claims that we can pray just as effectively as the prophet Elijah.
Elijah? The man who helped bring a dead child back to life? The man who called down God's fire on a water-soaked sacrifice to defeat the prophets of Baal? The man who brought three years of drought to Israel - and then prayed until a drenching rain came down?
Yes, that Elijah. We can pray like that.
But there are conditions. We'll get to them in a moment.
Elijah? The man who helped bring a dead child back to life? The man who called down God's fire on a water-soaked sacrifice to defeat the prophets of Baal? The man who brought three years of drought to Israel - and then prayed until a drenching rain came down?
Yes, that Elijah. We can pray like that.
But there are conditions. We'll get to them in a moment.
The apostle James was known by the nickname "camel-knees" during his lifetime because he spent so much time in prayer. So, his views on prayer carry weight - he was an experienced prayer warrior.
I think he chose Elijah to show what can be done if we pray as God wishes us to pray.
As some say, Elijah "prayed big". He gave himself completely to carrying the message of God to the people of Israel and its rulers, even if it put his own life in danger.
I'm sure he prayed about little things as we all do. After all, the apostle Paul urges us to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6).
But, the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19 describes a series of great events where the prophet fought to turn Israel back to worshiping God. He battled powerful forces led by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, a worshiper of the pagan god Baal. Jezebel tried to kill Elijah.
Like many western nations today, Israel had largely rejected God. Rather than abandoning his people, God sent Elijah to deliver messages to the authorities.
First, Elijah told Ahab that God would send a three-year drought. It happened as he foretold.
God provided for Elijah during this long drought through a series of miracles, including a regular supply of food and restoring to life the dead child of the widow who was caring for him.
Then, the Lord sent Elijah to Ahab with a message: Arrange a contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The winner would be the one who successfully set a sacrifice of bulls on fire without man-made aid. The purpose? To show which god - the Lord or Baal - was God.
As we know, Elijah triumphed. His sacrifice - drenched in water several times - was set alight by fire from God while the prophets of Baal failed.
"When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, 'The Lord - he is God! The Lord - he is God!'" (1 Kings 18:39)
Elijah followed that up by praying to the Lord for rain - he did so repeatedly until heavy rains poured down. The three-year drought was over.
These seem like superhuman deeds - something an ordinary man could not do.
But James says Elijah was a man just like us. And, indeed, Elijah showed he was human when Jezebel sought to kill him. He fled into the wilderness and God met him there to give him his final marching orders.
In James 5, the apostle mentions Elijah in the context of prayer. He makes several points which apply to us as much as to the great prophet.
He suggests there are several keys to powerful prayer:
I think he chose Elijah to show what can be done if we pray as God wishes us to pray.
As some say, Elijah "prayed big". He gave himself completely to carrying the message of God to the people of Israel and its rulers, even if it put his own life in danger.
I'm sure he prayed about little things as we all do. After all, the apostle Paul urges us to pray about everything (Philippians 4:6).
But, the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19 describes a series of great events where the prophet fought to turn Israel back to worshiping God. He battled powerful forces led by King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, a worshiper of the pagan god Baal. Jezebel tried to kill Elijah.
Like many western nations today, Israel had largely rejected God. Rather than abandoning his people, God sent Elijah to deliver messages to the authorities.
First, Elijah told Ahab that God would send a three-year drought. It happened as he foretold.
God provided for Elijah during this long drought through a series of miracles, including a regular supply of food and restoring to life the dead child of the widow who was caring for him.
Then, the Lord sent Elijah to Ahab with a message: Arrange a contest between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. The winner would be the one who successfully set a sacrifice of bulls on fire without man-made aid. The purpose? To show which god - the Lord or Baal - was God.
As we know, Elijah triumphed. His sacrifice - drenched in water several times - was set alight by fire from God while the prophets of Baal failed.
"When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, 'The Lord - he is God! The Lord - he is God!'" (1 Kings 18:39)
Elijah followed that up by praying to the Lord for rain - he did so repeatedly until heavy rains poured down. The three-year drought was over.
These seem like superhuman deeds - something an ordinary man could not do.
But James says Elijah was a man just like us. And, indeed, Elijah showed he was human when Jezebel sought to kill him. He fled into the wilderness and God met him there to give him his final marching orders.
In James 5, the apostle mentions Elijah in the context of prayer. He makes several points which apply to us as much as to the great prophet.
He suggests there are several keys to powerful prayer:
- We must pray with faith;
- We must be righteous;
- We should confess our sins; and
- We should pray earnestly.
We were given a measure of faith by God when we became followers of Christ. But we need to exercise that faith by praying for the things that God wants, no matter how big. If we do, we can be sure that God will move in response (1 John 5:14-15).
And finally, we must not give up when we know we are praying God's will. Elijah prayed earnestly and persisted when he knew what God wanted.
I have to decide whether I am willing to commit myself as Elijah did.
"Where are the Elijahs in the Church of the present day?" asked E.M Bounds in his book Prayer and Praying Men in the 1800s. "Where are the men of like passions as he, who can pray as he prayed?"
It's a question for me - and for all of us.
And finally, we must not give up when we know we are praying God's will. Elijah prayed earnestly and persisted when he knew what God wanted.
I have to decide whether I am willing to commit myself as Elijah did.
"Where are the Elijahs in the Church of the present day?" asked E.M Bounds in his book Prayer and Praying Men in the 1800s. "Where are the men of like passions as he, who can pray as he prayed?"
It's a question for me - and for all of us.
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