Stockton Prayer Meeting

This evening, as we prepare to seek the Lord, I want to look back at the Word Pastor Mike brought to us and pull from it our prayer points.

The timeliness of this Word is so incredibly significant for me and for what God has been laying on my heart for 2023. I believe God is calling us back to… the altar… I believe God is calling us back to a place of sacrifice… a place of commitment, surrender, and giving all.

When Elijah laid out his plan for the test, if you will, there is something that jumps off the page at me.

He challenges the prophets of Baal to prepare an altar, and Elijah would do the same. They would call on the name of their god… but look at what Elijah says again in 1 Kings 18:24

1 Kings 18:24 NIV

24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”

I love what Elijah says… and it is here where I feel God is calling us to pray this evening.

The prayer theme for the AG week of prayer is Awakening… and I believe God desires to awaken believers all across the heartland with His presence and power.

Other things have gotten in the way of people’s faith. Other “gods” have caused the body to become sleepy in their walk with God. I believe God is calling us, arousing us from this sleep and in response, as Elijah did in 1 Kings 18, we need to call on the name of the Lord, the name that is above ALL names!

Prayer Point One: Call on the Name of the Lord.

His Name is Jesus. He is our Savior, our deliverer. He is the One that gave His life for us. I want us to take several minutes simply calling on His name, humbling ourselves before our Lord tonight. Church, can we call on His name and praise His name for the next several minutes?

Secondly, Elijah says something very important. He identifies God as the God who answers.

You see, Elijah knew the false gods of the day would have no answer. How could they? They were false gods! And like many in our culture today, people are turning to things that really have no answer for what they are walking through. Our God IS the answer! And our God answers prayer!

Prayer Point Two: Lift up your need before the Lord.

God WILL answer. And maybe that need has distracted you. Maybe that need has got you down. Maybe that need has you wavering in your faith. Whatever that need is… God is the answer… and He has an answer for you.

He was the answer for the people then… and He is the answer for us this evening. He HEARS your prayer and He will ANSWER your prayer. So take a few moments to lift up the needs in this place tonight.

Lastly, Elijah goes on to describe how God will answer. He said that God answers by what? by fire. And then Elijah reemphasizes that God… IS God.

Not only does our God answer prayer… but His answer is power - an answer that can only come from Him. So this final prayer point is simple...

Prayer Point Three: Be Receptive to God’s answer of power and fire.

Open your hearts to what God wants to pour into you today. In Acts 2, we see a prophecy recited that states God will pour out His Spirit on ALL people… His Spirit of power and fire.

When the first baptism in the Holy Spirit took place, Acts 2 records that tongues of fire came to rest upon all who were praying. With this baptism came Spirit-empowered testimony. The original Greek word used here was dunamis… the same word from which we get our word for dynamite. It is used 120 in the NT and not just as an explosive power… but as miraculous power!

We are living in the last days. God wants to pour His power into our lives through Spirit Baptism… yet too often we are not ready or willing to receive.

His answer is fire - miraculous power from on high - an answer you won’t find in anything of this world. He wants to pour His Spirit on ALL people… do you desire to receive from Him tonight?

We have called on His name. We have lifted up our needs. And now it is time to receive His answer of fire. Receive it tonight in Jesus name!