Elijah Prays

Sermon Notes | November 2, 2025

"Elijah was a man just like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months."

James 5:17 (NIV)

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

1 John 5:14 (NIV)

"Elijah said to Ahab, 'Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.' So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 'Go and look toward the sea,' he told a servant. And he went up and looked,

'There is nothing there,' he said. Seven times Elijah said, 'Go back.' The seventh time, the servant reported, 'A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea...

1 Kings 18:41-44a (NIV)

FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER

1. Effective prayers are HUMBLE PRAYERS

"..[Elijah] bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees."

1 Kings 18:42b (NIV)

"...God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

1 Peter 5:5 (NIV)

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up."

James 4:10 (NIV)

. Humbling and humility PRECEDES the miraculous in our lives.

2. Effective prayers are SPECIFIC PRAYERS

"Go and look toward the sea,' he told his servant. And he went up and looked. 'There is nothing there,' he said...

1 Kings 18:43 (N/V)

3. Effective prayers are PERSISTENT PRAYERS

""Go and look toward the sea,' he told his servant. And he went up and looked. 'There is nothing there,' he said...

1 Kings 18:43 (NIV)

"Pray without ceasing."

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV)

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

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

. Elijah doesn't allow the outward CIRCUMSTANCES of what's going on affect his inward ASSURANCE.

"...the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."

James 5:16b (NKJV)

4. Effective prayers are EXPECTANT PRAYERS

"The seventh time, the servant reported, 'A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea.' So Elijah said, 'Go and tell Ahab, "Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you."

1 Kings 18:44 (NIV)

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."

Mark 11:24 (NIV)

"Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. The power of the LORD came upon Elijah...

1 Kings 18:45-46a (NIV)

"The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel."

1 Kings 18:46 (NIV)

. Prayer is not PASSIVE

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