A Biography of Prayer

Intro:

1 Kings 17:1

Today, we continue to study on the topic of prayer throughout Scripture, the title of my message is, [A Biography of Prayer].

A biography is a written account of a person’s life. Often, some of the best selling books are true stories about other people. There are many reasons.

We want to know what happened to others

We want to learn about their triumphs

We want to hear about their tragedies

However, there are different types of biographies. There are authorized and unauthorized biographies.

An authorized biography means that the individual gave permission for the author to write about their life. They will often give interviews and allow their family and friends to share with the author.

An unauthorized biography is written without the permission of the individual. Normally, an unauthorized biography will include details the individual wanted to ignore.

They often sell better, but also lead to legal trouble as the individual will sue the author for publishing details without their permission.

Presidents, doctors, actors, famous people, and ordinary individuals have had biographies written about them. Often, a biography will turn into a movie, or a bio-pic.

In my personal reading, and I read a lot, I find I love reading a biography. Studying theology is necessary, reading a book on leadership is helpful, but get me a biography, and I can read it fast.

For some reason, we just like to know about the lives of other people!

But what happens when the Holy Spirit becomes our biographer?

The Holy Spirit would have the authorized version, what we want everyone to know. However, He would also have the unauthorized version, what we do not want anyone to know!

The fact is, God has read and writes our personal biography. Thankfully, it does not get published or posted on Facebook.

However, when we read scripture, we read the biographical details of men and women who lived real lives. Though they lived in another era with a vastly different culture, they had thoughts, emotions, and feelings like we do.

I consistently find it amazing that of the billions of people who have lived since creation, around 3,000 have their names included in scripture.

Some of these names are mentioned once, with no other information given. Then we have narratives and biographies of others.

Many of the biographies are there to show us what we should do and how we should live.

Other biographies are included to show us what NOT to do and how NOT to live.

Today, we’ve read the biographical information of a man. He was not just any ordinary man. This man was a prophet. Should we read every verse about him, we will find that he was a prophet who consistently prayed.

The miracles, the signs, the wonders, and the words he spoke can trace back to his ability to make time for God in his schedule. Elijah was a man who prayed and God spoke to him as a result.

The Holy Spirit included his biography of prayer in scripture for our benefit. Remember, he was man like we are. If God accomplished what He did through Elijah’s prayer life, what can God do through us?

As we look at a part of his life this morning, I want us to remember, the Holy Spirit is also writing our biography. Heaven will record what we’ve accomplished for the Lord.

When its all said and done, who wants to be categorized as people of prayer?

Because of his prayer life, God used Elijah in a time of [Public Heresy], [Principled Honesty], and [Personal Hunger].

1. Public Heresy

1 Kings 16:30-31

To comprehend the importance of Elijah to Israel’s survival, we need to see a few biographical details about where Israel was when he entered the scene.

After King David died, his Solomon became king. Though he was the wisest man alive, he was not always that smart. He did not keep God number one.

So the Lord told him, when you die, I will split the Kingdom of Israel in two, with Israel in the north, and Judah in the south.

Israel had a history of turning from God

Judah stayed a little more faithful to God

Seven kings after the righteous and Godly King David, Ahab came on the scene. For twenty-two years he led Israel. He did what was evil in God’s sight.

In fact, if we were to combine all the evil of the kings before Ahab, it would not come close to his contempt and rebellion against God.

Instead of depending on God, he trusted political instincts to help Israel. To keep peace and increase his influence he married a woman named Jezebel.

She was the daughter of the king of Sidon. Not only did their marriage violate God’s law, with Jezebel came Baal worship. Ahab began a religious relationship with Jezebel’s god.

Ahab did not want to erase God from Israel, he just wanted him to coexist with Baal. He went so far as to build a temple to Baal that would serve as a place for the 850 prophets of Baal.

Ahab allowed Jezebel to bewitch him with her demonic ways. She brought int witchcraft and harlotry in Israel.

Ahab has a terrible biography. He led Israel into public heresy, instituting beliefs and practices that violated God’s law and word.

However, in the darkest times in society, God will shine that much brighter.

1 Kings 17:1

Out of nowhere, we read about a man named Elijah. We know nothing about his parents. His hometown is not on the map today. But we know something about his name.

Elijah literally means— My God is the Lord.

As Israel turns from God to Baal, there mention of Elijah’s name makes them declare that God is the Lord. Elijah went to King Ahab with a message.

Because of your public heresy, a drought will come to Israel that will last for three years. Israel was used to weeks and months of droughts, but the wells and streams did not run dry.

But three years without rain will wreak havoc on their livestock, their vegetation, and their livelihood. And that was the point.

In the false Canaanite religion, Baal was the god in charge of fertility and storms. The believed that every year he would send the winter rains that would bring a fertile spring harvest. Then another false god would vanquish Baal until it was time for the winter rains.

Isn’t God amazing and so smart. Elijah, which means, the Lord is God, looks at Ahab. It’s as though he declared:

Ahab, the ONE TRUE God of Israel has a message. You’re not flirting with Baal, you’re in bed with this false god. Now watch, you think he controls water and fertility.

But I have given my prophet power to stop both rain and dew for three years. Now you and Israel will know that I AM GOD.

God begins Elijah’s biography on prayer with his entrance into society at a time of public heresy. But as a man of prayer, he also spoke with...

2. Principled Honesty

1 Kings 17:8-11

After some time, God spoke to Elijah, leave Israel and go to the land of Zarephath, in Sidon, I have instructed a widow to feed you. There is a lot to unpack in that one verse.

Notice where God sent Elijah, a city in the land of Sidon. Who was from Sidon? Jezebel. Her dad was king there. God sent him straight into enemy territory.

If Ahab wanted Elijah dead, Jezebel wanted him dead dead. But Elijah obeyed God. He was principled enough to know, if in prayer God tells us to do something, He has a reason.

Upon arriving to the town, he meets the widow gathering sticks. He requested a glass of water and a bite of bread.

Elijah should have noticed a few things about this woman, first she was a widow. Her gathering sticks shows us that she had very few resources.

The widow looked at him and explained, I do not have bread. I have just a little bit of oil and flour. I am going home to make my son and me a cake. We will it and then die.

Isn’t God’s instructions confusing at times. But remember, He uses the foolish things of earth to confound the wise. Elijah might have expected a wealthy widow to care for him, instead, he found an impoverished woman knocking at death’s door.

But here is the principle in this biography, people of prayer trust God and they speak the truth. Listen to what Elijah explained to the widow:

1 Kings 17:13-14

The prophet was honest with her. God spoke to him to tell her to give all she had and the Lord would multiply. One principle is on obedience.

1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV

22 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

God ALWAYS wants OBEDIENCE! For people who obey God set themselves up for God’s supernatural provision and abundance. She obeyed the prophet and the Lord provided for her family, hence, another principle.

Proverbs 10:22 NKJV

22 The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it.

What a fascinating chapter in Elijah’s biography on prayer. He obeyed God as he prayed and the Lord told him to go to Zarephath.

Then he was honest with the widow about what God could do and God came through for her and blessed her family. Whenever God reveals Himself, it should inspire within us...

3. Personal Hunger

1 Kings 17:17-18

Elijah stayed with the widow and her son for some time. I would say that the woman began to have a hunger to know more about the God of Elijah.

Baal never provided for her like Elijah’s God did. They walked in the blessings of the Lord, and remember His blessings make us rich and add no sorrow.

But notice what happened, the widow was overcome with sorrow. She lost her husband and now her son died. She started adding it all up and decided that the problem originated with Elijah’s God.

Everything was “fine” until the prophet came around. Isn’t that how the enemy works. We can walk in God’s blessing, praising and thanking Him, until something bad happens.

I have noticed that people often take the credit for the good that happens, but they are quick to blame God when something bad happens.

Elijah could have allowed the widow’s obvious distress to shift his faith. But in the biography of prayer, nothing could convince Elijah that God was unable or powerless.

1 Kings 17:20-24

Elijah took the boy to his room and he began to pray. He was honest with God. He had faith, but he needed God’s help. He identified the tragedy and asked God for help.

Then he PRAYED for God to return breath to his body. He said amen and nothing changed.

He PRAYED again for God to return breath to his body, and once again nothing happened.

But Elijah had a personal hunger for God. He wanted God to show His power and might over Baal, so he prayed once again, and immediately breath returned and the bow revived.

Never before had something like this happened in this town. The demon parading as the false god Baal had its grip on that community. They made their sacrifices to a god who was unable to answer.

The women was desparate when Elijah met her. But this man of God, this prophet of prayer, introduced her to the ONE TRUE God. The only one capable and able to overcome any demon in hell.

The woman identified Elijah was a man of God. Imagine what the neighbors thought, the boy who died now played with his friends and walked about the village.

Close:

Ahab tried to stop God’s influence in Israel. But God goes wherever His people take Him. Elijah, being a man of prayer has a biography.

A good biography, a true best seller will discuss how hope or help can come from hardships and adversity.

Elijah came on the scene at a time of public heresy. But he stood on principle, and spoke honestly to Ahab and the widow, and as a result his hunger for God changed the widow and her son’s life.

How famous was Elijah? Who all knew about his biography?

Hundreds of years later, Israel once again was facing heresy. The religious leaders had cozied up to the Roman Empire. Then an unconventional prophet stood in a synagogue and read:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me.

The answer to their prayers stood before them, but everyone was confused. Isn’t this man, Joseph’s Son? We’ve known Jesus since he was a boy, there is no way he could be the answer to our prayers.

Jesus explained:

Luke 4:24-26

Prophets are not always honored in their hometown. His proof? Remember Elijah, he had to go to Zarephath. Did God send Elijah to Zarephath because all of the widows in Israel had everything they needed?

No, the widows in Israel struggled too, there was a drought. The problem was, they were so consumed with heresy, selfishness, and idolatry.

Therefore, God sent the prophet to someone who would actually listen and receive from the Lord.

Now, Jesus came, but people would not accept Him. HIs point was this, God will go where people will accept Him. He will not force Himself, His blessings, or His favor on people.

But wherever there are people who will stand on principled honest, GOD WE NEED YOU and develop a personal hunger, God will come through for them.

When Elijah came on the scene, the Holy Spirit used him to meet the widows needs and raise her son from the dead.

When Jesus came on the scened, the Holy Spirit wanted to use Him to:

preach the gospel to the poor

heal the brokenhearted

proclaim liberty to the captives

give sight to the blind

set the captives free

and preach the year of God’s favor

Many people experienced the ministry of Jesus while many did not, and it all went back to their honesty and their hunger.

Those who honestly said, I need you Jesus, He came to help them.

Then they developed a personal hunger for more of God.

But sadly, many missed out on what God had for them.

Today is a pivotal time in our spiritual biography. We live in a time of public heresy. The false teaching is the same as it was in Elijah’s time.

Many people believe God will SHARE first place with their idols. While we do not have little statues in our homes, many have built idols.

Relationships

Extracurricular activities

Jobs

Anytime we have something or someone competing with our time with God and time in God’s house, we have an idol beginning to form.

When we allow idols to pop up in our lives and stay there, the heavens will close up over us until we put God back in the place of prominence where He needs to reside!

God wants to write a new chapter in our biography. Will 2021 become a chapter on being prayerful or prayer-less?

Because the fact is this, God WANTS to and WILL dwell and reside with His people! It is up to us if we will let Him do it in our lives.

There are plenty of Christians, will we be among those who experience what God has for us?

There are plenty of churches, will we allow God to do what HE wants in Vulcan Assembly of God?

I want my biography to mirror Elijah’s, I want to be a person of prayer.

God help us if our biography reflect Ahab’s, knowing the truth, but allowing idols to consume our thoughts, time, and affection for God.