Regular Folk / Super Prayer
Intro: James 5:16-18 & I Kings 17-18
Ever felt like what difference can I make? What can I do….look at me in this situation….I can’t do much
Often think of the Bible heroes as super people…not in the same league as us………different from us…super righteous….super spiritual…..they weren’t …
James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours….
Had his bad times…..had his good times…..not a super human….was like us! Is comforting to recognize God uses ordinary people in extra-ordinary ways
Need praying people today!
Pray James 5:17
· Elijah had his weaknesses---got scared…..ran away…hid in a cave
· Found it hard to pray ….but he did it
· Don’t make excuses…..just do it
· When we need wisdom….when suffering…..when tempted….before we speak…..before we act….do we live this way?
· Prayer should be our first choice…..our lifestyle…..not a last resort
Pray with a clean Heart James 5:16
· Elijah was a righteous man….his prayers were powerful and effective
· Does not mean he was sinless or perfect…there can be only One Christ Jesus
· Righteous….a right relationship with Father God
· Recalling, reflecting, repenting
· Place our faith and trust in Jesus.HIS perfect righteous gets transferred to us…..PTL …Then Father will hear us
Prayer earnestly James 5:17
· Elijah prayed in prayer! Wrestled with God much like Jacob
· Prayed against King Ahab and Baal
o Thought he controlled the rain.
o Prayed it would not rain
o Hoped to turn the people back to the TRUE God
·
Pray Specifically James 5:17-18
· Elijah prayed for dought …it came
· He prayed for rain….it came
· Didn’t pray bless the weather …. Was specific
· Be detailed….worst that can happen is God will say NO, but He could say wait----or even YES this leads to ………….
Pray in accordance with Gods will I Kings 17:2 18:1
· God spoke to Elijah about the drought and the rain
· Elijah prayed that back to God as it was Gods will anyway
· How do we know Gods will……..its in the Bible….its in the Book…..how to: overcome tempatation, be bold in our witness….be patient in trials
o Get a new job……be physically whole…..may or may not be in Gods will for us
o Sometimes YES, sometimes NO, sometimes WAIT but ALWAYS does He answer according to HIS will not OURS
Lastly the main reason for prayer…………
Pray with GODS honor in view I Kings 18:36-37
· Elijah prayed that God would be glorified and honored…NOT Elijah
· For God to be glorified in the midst of all the sin around him….like today….in our world…not much different…the false gods are different but Sin is still Sin!
· Don’t use prayer as a substitute for doing nothing
o Cant do more than pray BEFORE we pray but can do more than pray AFTER we PRAYED
o What can you do …hand out a Gospel?.....talk to someone……listen to another?.......
· Psalms 115:1 83:18 that God be glorified in our society…..in this nursing home and in the world
Concl: are you ordinary---good God can use you…maybe all you can do is pray….God will answer that and you will see His glory magnified around you.
Prayer chains….alter at your bedside….just pray….then watch God work!