In Faith Believing

Text:

Matthew 21:21–22 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Elijah

Prayer in faith believing can accomplish incredible things. In the 890’s BC the Northern Kingdom of Israel was a mess. They were worshiping idols and ruled by a weak and waffling king Ahab who was controlled by his wife, the evil Jezebel. In the middle of this mess steps a man who makes the mess worse. Seemingly out of nowhere this man stands before Ahab and says “As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” Then he seemingly vanishes off the face of the earth.

How did Elijah know that it would not rain? We do not know. It is likely that God had delivered a message for him to give to Ahab. Yet we do not know for sure. It is likely perhaps that Elijah, as a holy man, had grown so frustrated with the nation that he had fallen on his face before God. Imagine this man pouring his heart out in frustration before the Lord. “How long O Lord will this evil go unpunished? How long shall Ahab lead your into such gross wickedness. Lord do something! Make us to remember you. Show us your power!” Often God had called His people back to Himself through some difficulty. Perhaps Elijah called out to God to stop the rain to prove himself. Baal after all was supposedly the god of sun and storms. I can see Elijah crying out to God to prove himself by proving that Baal had no power. Perhaps this Elijah had so much power that as he prayed God responded, “let it be as you have asked!” Elijah had asked nothing for himself, nothing selfish. In fact it was a prayer sure to bring trouble to Elijah. Yet he prayed it for God’s glory and for the restoration of Israel. This is the kind of prayer that God loves to answer.

If you notice the words of Elijah as he stood before Ahab. “There shall not be dew nor rain.... but according to MY word.” Perhaps it was as I see it. Elijah disturbed by the wickedness touched heaven knowing that God would answer. Based on his faith in God he delivered the message to Ahab and became known as the prophet Elijah. Likely we do not even know this man’s given name but rather his earned title. Elijah means “My God is the Lord.” This man Elijah showed up and declared to Ahab that the god baal that Ahab serves is not the Lord but rather Jehovah, the God that Elijah serves is Lord! He stands before the king in faith believing that his God is Lord and will keep the word that He has delivered.

Then the man who’s God is the Lord turns on his heel and walks out of the palace and out into the wilderness to sit by a brook and wait. He knows that His God is the Lord and he does not have to worry about anything. It is interesting that it is after he has delivered his message to Ahab that scripture tells us “The word of the Lord came unto him.” God let Elijah know that it was time to go and wait and hide. The ravens would feed him and he would drink out of the brook. so he obeyed in faith believing.

I’m sure that in the fairly dry climate of Israel Ahab was unconcerned by this crazy man. It did not rain for a week. That was normal. A month went by and I think that the message of Elijah came to mind with just a bit of questioning. Still this was normal. Another month passed. No rain. That crazy man’s voice is starting to echo in the back of Ahab’s mind. Still a dry summer had happened many times before. Another month of no rain. The harvest would be negligible now unless there was rain. A festival for baal was held. Somehow they must get the sun and storm god’s attention. They needed rain! A fourth month. The dry grain sat un-gathered in the sun-baked fields. There was nothing worth gathering in. Another festival for baal. No rain. The fifth month, then the sixth. The voice of that crazy Elijah grew loud in the back of Ahab’s mind. Was baal false? Was Jehovah Lord?

Jezebel let no such thought remain in Ahab’s mind for long. As spring approached a month long festival for baal was held. Perhaps this would bring rain. Yet no rain came.

As the months turned into years the voice of Elijah resounded in the mind of Ahab. “It shall not rain but according to my word!” Yet no one could find the one who said “My God is the Lord.” After stalking from the castle he disappeared into the wilderness and no one could find him. The search had begun many months ago but to no avail.

Yet at the brook things were not all sunshine and roses. Elijah’s prayers began once again to ask God to move. The ravens brought a steady supply of food, yet as the months dragged on the water in the brook began to dry up. It had slowed to a trickle. He did not doubt God’s provision but he prayed for the next step. In his mind I’m sure that step would have been the repentance of the king and the nation and a return to God. Yet as the brook went from a trickle to a a few disconnected pools no repentance was forthcoming. Rather God called him out of his hiding place in the wilderness into another hiding place. This time in plain sight in Zarephath. Though it was not the answer that Elijah imagined it would be he left his place of solitude and obeyed. In faith believing.

As Elijah arrived at the city gates he came across his provider. I’m sure he was stunned as she declared to him that she could not even feed him one meal, for the food had run out and she and her son were ready to die. Yet he knew from the Lord that she would provide for him. If she were to provide for him, surely the Lord would provide for her. With this confidence the man who’s God is the Lord told her “Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.”

Something about this haggard stranger from the wilderness convinced this widow woman that he was telling the truth. He did not think that God would provide, he KNEW. Indeed God did provide and until the famine ended there was always enough for the widow woman, her son, and the man who’s God is the Lord.

Yet before the famine ended trouble again came to this widow woman. Her son died. In her bitter anguish she accused Elijah of bringing this trouble upon her. Her son would have been long dead of starvation had Elijah not arrived. Yet in the face of this unreasonable accusation Elijah took no offence but the man of God went to prayer. In Faith Believing.

Elijah cried out to God for the life of the boy and God answered the prayers of his man. The boy was revived. Any lingering doubts about Elijah and about who the true God could be were vanquished in the mind of the widow woman of Zarephath. Though the people begged baal did nothing. The words of Elijah challenging the rule of baal and backing Jehovah as the true God held true. No rain had come and no once could find the man who’s God is the Lord.

3 years passed and no rain. People were dying. Few animals remained. No doubt Elijah begged God for word of rain and repentance. No rain could come until the people repented of their idolatry and turned to Jehovah, yet it seemed that they would not. Yet if rain did not come the people would perish. Elijah broke through to heaven and God let him know that the time for action was now. God would display His power before the people. Go and find Ahab and rain will come!

Back at the palace things were dire. Though he was king Ahab had run out of provision for his animals. The image of that prophet of Jehovah was burned in his mind. Baal had not answered their prayers and had not regarded their sacrifices. Yet Ahab knew nothing of this Jehovah. His worship had ended years ago and Jezebel had exiled and executed all of His prophets. All except Elijah, and no one could find him. In his doubts Ahab resolved himself to be strong and never waver.

Religious matters aside there were physical problems to deal with. All reports said that the streams and pools of water were all dried up. No grass remained and yet as king Ahab had horses and animals. They were dying for want of food. Ahab took it upon himself and his servant Obadiah to go and find some grass. Not long after they split up to cover more ground Obadiah runs back to Ahab. “The man who’s God is the Lord has returned! He wants to see you!”

What next occurs reminds me of a scene on an elementary playground. Ahab meets with Elijah with the words “Are you the one who caused all these problems!” And Elijah almost responds with “I know you are but what am I?” He says no, its not me but it is you and your fathers who have brought the judgement of God on the people.”

We do not know the extent of what God had told Elijah before his meeting with Ahab. All we know is that God told him to go and that God would send rain. Yet Elijah issued a challenge. God could not send rain without the people turning to Him. Yet here Ahab was and instead of acknowledging his own fault in the matter was blaming Elijah for God’s punishment. The challenge was issued. Call the priests of baal together and lets see who’s God is the Lord! The God who answers by fire is the Lord!

We don’t know if God had told Elijah to make this challenge or not. I would like to think this morning that maybe Elijah made it. This is not a challenge that will bring any special honor or position to Elijah. It is a challenge that will lift God up above false God’s! Elijah knows God will answer when he prays.

It goes exactly according to plan. The prophets of baal spend all day trying to bring an answer. I am sure that Ahab and the people gathered were tired of this quickly. Remember they had spent 3 years praying to the god of sun and storms for rain and he had remained silent. They expected nothing and nothing happened. Elijah continued his playground manners and taunted the prophets of baal incessantly. Finally it was his turn. He built the altar. He prepared the sacrifice. He soaked everything in water. Then he prayed in faith believing.

Fire fell. It consumed the sacrifice. It consumed the altar. It evaporated the water. Elijah’s God is Lord! The prophets of baal are destroyed and the people rejoice. Yet Elijah is not yet satisfied. He had told Ahab to eat for rain was coming. As he finished with the prophets of baal the dryness still reigned. No rain had come. So Elijah went to prayer in faith believing.

7 times he sent out his servant before the the cloud was seen on the 7th. God’s promise was fulfilled and Elijah’s prayers were answered. Rain would come again on the people of God.

While this does not end the story of Elijah, nor of Ahab this is where we will leave them.

This morning I want to talk about praying in faith believing that God will answer. I think in Elijah’s life 2 things were at work that made him so effective. Firstly the spirit of God came upon him and enabled him. Secondly he prayed in faith believing. We today have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. He dwell within His saints. Nor have God’s promises expired. We too can pray in faith believing and God will act!

I have already talked about a recipe for revival and how it hinges as far as I know upon the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous.

I admit I am not by any means an expert on prayer. Growing in my prayer life has been a focus of mine for a few years now but I cannot claim to be a great knowledgeable person on prayer. Yet there are a few things we can learn from scripture.

From a Righteous Heart

Prayer must first be from a righteous heart. I spent time talking about that recently so I will not speak long on this. Your prayers will not be effective if you are not already obeying has told you. A priority to effective prayer is to be sure that nothing is standing between you and God. Effective prayer must first be “Search me O God” then we can pray for God to act.

Fervent Prayer

It also must be fervent prayer. If we do not care enough about whatever we are praying about, if we do not care enough about revival to exercise fervent prayer how can we expect God do answer. It is not through careless prayers, it is through fervent prayer.

Another passage also helps us to understand how to pray and what kind of prayers God answers and what kind of prayers God does not answer.

James 4:2–3 say“Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”

We Must Ask

First from this passage we realize we must ask. I do not always understand how prayer works, yet we are told that it is the key to God working! The difficulty and confusion that I run across is that God’s will will ultimately be fulfilled, yet God responds to the prayers of His children. Things that otherwise would not have happened do happen when God’s people pray. Things are changed by our prayers. The prayers of Moses kept God from annihilating his people and restarting with the seed of Moses. I am afraid that we do ask because so often we do not believe that it changes things. Yet scripture tells us it does. Let us ask of God those things which are according to His will.

We Receive Not Because We Pray Selfishly

Yet often we do ask and we do not receive. Why? Because we ask selfishly. It is easy to ask according to our will and not according to God’s. It is sometimes difficult to know God’s will in many situations. I think that is why it is so important to begin with prayer for ourselves. We must let our will be lost in His and then we can begin to pray for Him to move. If we are praying with a divided heart, if we are not entirely surrendered to Him, if we have to crucified our own will and desires it is difficult to know if we are praying according to His will. Yet I think that great prayer warriors like George Mueller could pray so confidently because they had crucified themselves to God. Nothing of their own will interfered with the will of God. Their own will entirely lost in His. In Mueller’s case God had called him to care for orphans, So when his orphanages lacked provision he could pray in faith believing a prayer of thanks for the provision that he knew would come. He had no doubt that God would provide for his heart was one with God’s, his life was in obedience to God, and God had called and therefore would provide.

It is God’s will that we have revival. Yet it is still possible for us to pray selfishly, to ask amiss. Why are we praying for revival? Why do we want God to work? To lift up the church? To make us look good? or to make God look good? Are we concerned about the souls or are we concerned with our attendance? For me am I praying for revival to look successful or because it is not God’s will that any should perish?

Elijah was a man through whom God worked. Elijah was not superhuman. All that he did was because of the same God who Is Lord. The one who we serve today. Not the God who was Lord back in Bible times, but the God who is Lord. Let us be sure that nothing is clogging channel between us and God. That our own selfish will has been crucified and lost in His perfect will. Let us then pray fervently for revival to come so that God may receive glory, so that His kingdom is enlarged and that some perishing soul might be saved.