Revival Involves Powerful Praying
1 Kings 18:36-38
36. At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command.
37. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."
38. Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.’
Elijah calls the crowd to come to him. They watched while he repaired the altar of God dedicated and devoted for sacrifice to the Lord God Jehovah. Jezebel and Ahab and the prophets of Baal had torn it down and left it for ruin. The stones represented the whole nation of Israel and the sons of Jacob. An animal was sacrificed for the sins of the people.
Since now the nation was divided into two kingdoms, the one repaired altar helped them realize that they were brothers. God did not desire two Kingdoms, but one. Spiritual unity is found in the worship of the only God.
Elijah makes sure no one can accuse him of trickery. He had jars filled with water poured over the altar, animal sacrifice, and wood. Ironic, isn’t it that water was the very thing they were praying for and now it was used on the altar. It wasn’t just one dowsing it was done three times. Then Elijah came before God in powerful praying for power from on high.
When Hudson Taylor went to China as a missionary, he sailed between the southern Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra, when there was a knock on his cabin, “Mr. Taylor, we have no wind. We are drifting toward an island where the people are heathen and I fear they are cannibals….I understand that you believe in God. I want you to pray for wind.”
“All right Captain. I will, but you must set the sail.”
“Why that is ridiculous there is not even the slightest breeze. Besides the sailors will think I am crazy.” But he agreed.
45 minutes later he returned and found the missionary still on his knees. ‘You can stop praying now we’ve got more wind than what we know to do with.”
Confident praying also prepares for an answer. When God’s will is in it and it pleases Him, His power is seen even in miraculous ways.
Elijah’s prayer was to glorify God, not himself. He acknowledged himself as a servant, humble and obedient through whom God chooses to work. He pointed people to the reality of the true God and reminded them of the covenant made to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Notice that Jacob’s name was changed to Israel to match the name of the countrymen so they don’t miss it. He is their God, not some stone or wood, convincing them that God is alive and that he, Elijah responds in obedience to the command of God.
Compare the length of the prayers. Baal worshippers started in the morning. They danced, bellowing from morning until noon and continued even cutting themselves until evening. Nothing happened. But after things were in order, Elijah prepared for the power of God calmly. He got on his knees and prayed the simple prayer. It didn’t depend on length or the works of man, but prayed to the only God for the right reason.
The fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood and stones, even the soil. It also licked up the water in the trench. The dramatic power of the Lord was witnessed by all! It was as if the lightening bolt from heaven streamed down at the target.
The power of God was unleashed by the prayers of Elijah. The sacrifice was accepted. The true God was revealed.
We delight in seeing the extra ordinary power of God displayed. By God grace miracles happen.
Prayer- Dear God Almighty We pray for the power of your Holy Spirit revive our nation, our churches, our selves. Amen
