James 5:17 says Elijah was a man who was subject to like passion as we are. This means that he was just like us or had a nature like ours. James is teaching on the subject of prayer and brings up the great example of Elijah praying with fervency. James had just stated that the fervent prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Then he said Elijah prayed and it did not rain for three and a half years and he prayed again and it did rain. Well, you think that he was a great prophet of God and no wonder God answered his prayer. Actually the scripture is trying to get us to see that we can get our prayers answered just like Elijah because he was a normal person as we are. In fact, he ran scared when Jezebel said that she was going to kill him. He literally ran away to the desert to hide. He was a man not only of like feeling and but of similar suffering. Elijah knew all the frailties of human nature but “in prayer he prayed”, that is, he prayed earnestly and intensely and rain was withheld and later restored. Earnest and persistent prayer, of course, is essential, whereas halfhearted prayer is self-defeating. However great the results of his prayer, this great effect did not change his essential nature as a mere man, a simple believer.
God wants you to become a person of prayer, who sees specific events & specific people specifically changed in answer to your specific prayers. Powerful, specific praying brings powerful, specific results. Prayer is not getting man’s will done in heaven. It’s getting God’s will done on earth. Perhaps we should not pray "God bless what we are doing" but pray, "God help us to do what you are blessing." Lord, help us to find and discover your agenda for our lives and our church.
Join us tonight for a time of effective praying and study in His Word. We are praying for each of you that God would meet you at the point of your need. Bless each one of you.
Pastor Larry
No comments:
Post a Comment