Prayer About What You Cant See

Intro:

Prayer is our time to be in conversation with God. In Philippians 4:6–7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” , He asks us to make our requests known to him. so what does that mean to us? Really, what does that mean? Do we then go to him only with simple prayer or do we have a Deeper Prayer that will make God stand up?

Deeper prayer is deeper than simple prayer.

Scripture:

1 Kings 18:41–46 NLT

Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’ ” And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel. Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.

Title, Prayer:

Prayer About What You Cant See

Application:

This story of Elijah praying about rain has more to teach than powerful prayer. It teaches us more than knowing that the prayers of a righteous man avails much.

It is also teaching us about the level of prayer that is more than just, “now I lay me down to sleep”… Its showing us when you pray about whats in your spirit. No one sees it, sometimes not even you. But you pray it anyway. Even when its not there. Even after you check a few times. But you still pray it.

Then you gotta watch for it.

Verse 41 - it had not rained for three years and the drought was severe. You ever have a time where it seemed like the drought was just too much to handle? But Elijah heard relief… He heard it, he said it, then he prayed it.

We often pray for what we see, or at least the things we have a glimpse of. (But God can provide more than we can imagine) people hear that and can rally around a viable prayer. (Oh yeah, I can see that happening! Thats a good prayer!) But how many people do you get to buy into a prayer that doesnt make sense? We serve a God that operates in the space that we think doesnt make sense!

Imagine if Elijah’s servant said, “Are you sure God told you this in your prayers? You know how much work I am going to have to do?” But we cant let that stop us from praying about what we cant see. Cause you know how we do…Sometimes we get the benefit of the doubt on the first time..sometimes. But, after the second time?! The murmuring starts. The whispering begins. The crazy looks start happening. Talking bout, I know God aint say THAT, I dont even see no clouds! I aint going out there to look no more!

But look, the servant went back seven times. We cant even get started with the first! Do we put in the effort? God will send us the idea of a blessing, but then we gotta work for it. Even when the blessing seems far fetched.

Thats how our blessings get blocked. We discount what God says, we discount the vision of someone else cause we dont see it. But we cant let that stop us from praying about what we cant see. Then the blessing will come that looks like a storm (you ever have a blessing that starts as a storm?) Them we get stuck in the rain, getting soaked and drowning, and blown to and fro saying, Lord why is this happening to me?!

But God is calling us to pray about the things we dont see. He is in the business of doing the impossible. He is trying to tell us that we dont have to only pray for the things that seem believable. He wants to include us in the opportunity to prove that he is God!

Go back and read how God proved himself with Jezebels profits! Same chapter...

Exegesis:

Think Big

Ephesians 3:20 “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”

Often times we think too small for God

We think too much about the obstacles. why we cant, what we dont wanna do, how much work its gonna be.

Pray Big

Acts 16:25–26 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”

Can our prayer cause God to shake a foundation?

What kinda prayer do we take to God? Do we not even think to pray for the big stuff?

Believe Big (Remember the father of the boy who was possessed and he asked Jesus to help IF he could?

Mark 9:23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.””

Is our belief bigger than what we see? (hold my communion…)

Sometimes we don't think we should even ask for the impossible. I think we believe that God can do the impossible, but for some reason, we don't think that includes us?!

Benediction:

Do you have the kind of deeper prayer that will make God stand up? The kind of prayer that will make God turn to everyone else in heaven and say, “did you hear what he just prayed for!?”