Power of Prayer

 Ineffective prayer

 … from priests of Baal

 accompanied by frenzied religious ecstasy

 Unanswered

 … because it was misdirected

 Public prayer

 … from Elijah

 simple. concise, measured

 Answered

 … because it was directed to the living God

 … because it was prompted by the Spirit of God

 … because it was directed into the purposes of God

 Private prayer

 … from Elijah

 quiet, persistent, confident

 Answered

 … because it was directed to the living God

 … because it was prompted by the Spirit of God

 … because it was directed into the purposes of God

 Lessons for our prayer life

 Pray to the living God

 Pray by the Spirit of God

 Pray into the purposes of God

 cf. James 5:16 "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective"