Persistent Prayer

1. Proclaiming Promises

1 Kings 18:41–42 CSB

41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.” 42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees.

Elijah remembered the promise that God gave when he was still Zarephath with the widow.

1 Kings 18:1 CSB

1 After a long time, the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year: “Go and present yourself to Ahab. I will send rain on the surface of the land.”

Even through everything that happened on Mount Carmel, Elijah did not forget God’s Words.

Elijah still had faith in the Words that God spoke.

Look at the faith of Elijah. Vv. 41.

1 Kings 18:41 CSB

41 Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.”

There was not the actual sound of a rainstorm. Elijah used this wording to show his faith in what God had already promised.

It had been over 3 years with no rain, but Elijah remembered what God said and had faith that it was true.

Elijah knew that rain was coming. He didn’t know exactly when, but he knew it was coming.

Look at King Ahab’s faith. Vv. 42

1 Kings 18:42 CSB

42 So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel. He bent down on the ground and put his face between his knees.

King Ahab did exactly as Elijah commanded him.

After he was silent during the entire showdown with the prophets of Baal, he recognized the power of the Lord.

The nation of Israel was so drastically changed in their acknowledge ment of the Lord, and their consent to the execution of the prophets of Baal that the Lord was going to bless them.

But, as King Ahab went to his home to get something to eat and drink, Elijah crawled up mount Carmel to pray.

Look at Elijah’s prayer.

2. Persistent Prayer

1 Kings 18:43 CSB

43 Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”

Look at the way that Elijah prays. He never gives up.

After Elijah prayed for a time, he told his servant to look at the sky over the sea.

When his servant replied, ‘there’s nothing’, Elijah didn’t give up, he just kept praying.

Elijah hear the news 7 times, ‘there’s nothing.’

He never quit. (Alot of us would have likely been defeated/quit praying because God hadn’t immediately answered our prayers.)

There are a few things that we need to remember when it comes to pray. (PLEASE LISTEN) (We are missing the mark on prayer)

If it is a promise of God, IT WILL HAPPEN!

If it aligns with God’s will, IT WILL HAPPEN.

IT WILL NOT HAPPEN ON OUR TIMELINE!

We can NOT STOP praying.

Elijah didn't stop. 7 times he was given news that God’s promise had not been fulfilled, but Elijah had no less faith the 7th time than he did when he climbed the mountain that God was going to send rain.

Elijah continued to return to honest prayer from faith even when God didn’t provide an answer.

Persistent prayer requires patience and faith.

3. Preparing for Provision

1 Kings 18:44–45 CSB

44 On the seventh time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming up from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ” 45 In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour. So Ahab got in his chariot and went to Jezreel.

Because of the persistance and the faith of Elijah, a small black cloud appeared.

It did NOT start out large, but it was an answer to prayer.

But look at the faith once again displayed by Elijah.

It was just a small cloud, but Elijah believed he knew what was coming.

He passed a message to King Ahab through his servant.

1 Kings 18:44 CSB

44 ..Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ”

Elijah believed it was going to rain so much that it could have kept him from from going anywhere.

What happened?

exactly as the Lord had said, the sky grew dark and the rain came.

Conclusion:

Take a look at the final verse here.

1 Kings 18:46 CSB

46 The power of the Lord was on Elijah, and he tucked his mantle under his belt and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Because of Elijah’s faith and persistant prayer, The power of the Lord was upon him.

That is a great position to be in.

Where you know that the power of the Lord is upon you, and you are step for step exactly where He wants you to be.

Elijah is there because he not only expected results because of God’s promises, but he also prepared for them.