Just Like Us

Who is Just Like Us?

James 5:17 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth.”

What Elijah means?

“my God is Yahweh [the Lord]” (eli = “my God”; yah = “Yah[weh]”).

Which is fitting since most of his efforts are aimed at proving that the Lord, Yahweh, is superior to the local storm deity, Baal. 

What “like us” mean?

Hungry and Thristy:

And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Ki 17:6.

Raises Widow’s Son 1 Ki 17:17-24

Confront King Ahab 1 Ki 18:19

Challenge the prophets of Baal 1 Ki 18:20-40

Mock the prophets of Baal 1 Ki 18:27

Kill the prophets of Baal 1 Ki 18::40

Afraid of Jezebel 1 Ki 19:3

Run for his life 1 Ki 19:3

Wanted to die 1 Ki 19::4

Tired 1 Ki 19:8

Now what’s the point of saying, “Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves”?

The point is to block the objection that says he was somehow extraordinary and cannot serve as a model for our praying.

The point is just the opposite of those who say Elijah and Elisha experienced miracles because they were unique spokesmen for God.

The point is: Elijah was just like you so that you can be encouraged that YOUR prayers will have great effect—like stopping the rain for three and a half years.

11 John Piper, Sermons from John Piper (1990–1999) (Minneapolis, MN: Desiring God, 2007).

Lesson 1: God used ordinary men to accomplish His Will.

What is “pray fervently”?

Fervently: adverb very enthusiastically or passionately.

simply, a daily, determined prayer.11 Croft M. Pentz, Outlines for Growing Christians, Sermon Outline Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1978), 45.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

pray without ceasing,

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.

3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ”

6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?

8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Lk 18:1–8.

Philippians 4:6 NIV

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Petition: noun a formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority in respect of a particular cause.

Supplication: noun the action of asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly.

Lesson 2: God wants us to pray fervently, formally, earnestly, persistently to accomplish His will

Application

1 Kings 19:10 ESV

He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.”

Elijah was the only one left to stand up for God

Are you the only one left to stand for God?

What are the issues you are praying fervently that we can join with you to pray ?