Wednesday: Models of Prayer
Read James 5:17-18. What do we learn about prayer from Elijah’s example? How is it connected with healing, forgiveness, and restoration?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
These verses illustrate the assurance given at the end of James 5:16: the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much
(NASB). Elijah was a righteous
man and even translated to heaven, but he was not superhuman. He had the same passions and feelings that we have. The fact that God heard his prayer should encourage us that our prayers will be heard too. James says Elijah prayed earnestly
that it might not rain (a detail not mentioned in the Old Testament), petitioning apparently for the fulfillment of Deuteronomy 11:13-17 (alluded to in James 5:18).
Israel’s worship of Baal, the god of storm and lightning, could not go unchallenged on the basis of this prophecy in Deuteronomy. Though we do not know how long Elijah prayed before his prayers were answered, his petitions were based on careful study of, and reflection upon, God’s Word in light of his present circumstances. It may be that he quoted Deuteronomy’s prophecy as part of his prayer, just as Daniel’s prayer for Jerusalem is based on his study of Jeremiah’s prophecy (see Dan. 9:2-3). Our prayers, too, will be more effective when they spring from thoughtful consideration of our circumstances in light of God’s Word.
The period of no rain lasting three and a half years (also mentioned in Luke 4:25) is a significant time of probation in Scripture (like the prophetic period of half a week,
or three and a half years of Jesus’ ministry in Daniel 9:27, and the three and a half times
of apostasy in Christianity in Daniel 7:25 and Revelation 12:14). At the end of this period, God used Elijah to begin a work of revival and reformation to wake up Israel so that the people would recognize the depths of their apostasy. It was a work that typified both the work John the Baptist would do for first-century Israel in order to prepare the way for Christ’s first advent and the work that God has entrusted to His remnant church today to prepare people for the Second Advent(see Mal. 4:5-6; Matt. 11:13-14).
As a church, we are seeking revival and reformation. But it must begin in our own lives, our own selves, on a personal and daily basis. What choices can only you, yourself, make that will determine the direction and, ultimately, the destiny of your life?
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Revival is something so crucial in a christian's life. well it may be not tramandous as many may think, it's a gradual thing that happens daily when the Holy spirit speaks to us. unfortunatley we have not harkened to this swwet voice.
2 Timothy 2:15 - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is so true that it is we as individuals who make up God's true church and if we are not true to ourselves how can we be a prepared church for the last days.
If the people with whom we live with day-in day-out can see the change in our lives, as well as those whom we see once a week, or who we meet outside of our homes, then we are being true to ourselves and are not living a double life. May God be constant in our lives wherever we are, or with whoever we are with.
James 5:17-18
17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Clearly, we all are welcome to trust God and to serve Him. Elijah was a man of like passions as we are, he even was scared for his life at one point. It's an example to us that it's not about us but about what God is capable in us, for His own glory!
Elijah's request was so that God's name be glorified. 1 Kings 18: 37 "Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again."
Ellijah depended on God's word 1 Kings 18:1 "And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. "
God is still with us and a prayer of faith He hears. Elijah had faith, he was so sure rain was to come because God Himself had said it no wonder he kept sending his servant 7 times to check for the rain cloud 1 Kings 18:43. It calls for patience while trusting.
Let's read, know, claim and trust God's word
Today's lesson bought out that God had already promised to withhold rain from idolatrous Israel, yet Elijah prayed for the promise to be fulfilled. What does this say about prayer? If God's promises are always "yea and amen" why should we have to pray for their fulfillment?
Prayer has to be really important to the Christian's life.
I have been praying for 32yrs the same prayer...in reference to the text found in James 5:7, "Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord's return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen."
Our part is to receive God’s word and to hold steady, surrendering the "self/old nature" fully to its control. Through the gift of "acceptance" we garner its purpose in us and receive a new heart/nature, co-operating within Gods will for the completed result in His "...destiny of your life", and this glorious daily death/rebirth we receive via Patience!
Shall we consider this from the studies in the life of Elijah
Do you want a pattern for your prayer life? Do you want to effectively change your life and increase the effectiveness of your prayer life and your impact? Then, absorb the details of this passage and claim the promise of James 5. James, the Lord’s half brother, was nicknamed “Camel Knees” because of the calluses that developed on his knees from long hours in prayer. Well, who do you suppose God used to turn James into such a man of prayer? It was probably none other than Elijah.
For the size of the epistle, James says more about prayer than any other New Testament book. Over 14 verses in James are devoted specifically to prayer or principles of prayer. Compare 1:5-8, 3:9-10, 4:2-3 (actually everything in between is related), and 5:13-18. This is equivalent to about 15 percent of the book.
I love the writings of Paul in the first chapter of Hebrews when talking about the pride of God the Father for His Son Jesus Christ when he said; "You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1: 9). What sets Jesus Christ apart from all flesh is the fact that, "He loved righteousness and hated wickedness." This was the foundation of all great Bible characters; they chose to love and do only the Will of God, and they detests and hated works of evil. But this glorious character is not mans', it belonged only to God, and therefore Only God can place it on us. So how do we inherit these most precious character of God? "But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation." (Colossians 1: 22). This is God's gift and His holy desire; that we are to desire and longed only His Life, so He may replace ours with His. "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s SEED remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God." (1John 3: 9). When Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, this is what He was teaching Him. In His sermon on the Mount, "The Beatitudes", Jesus' emphasis is on this holy character of God. In order for us to be accounted among the chosen of God, we must love righteousness, and we must in all aspects hate any work of wickedness. Elijah demonstrated this throughout his godly life; he established his whole life on God. He knows God and God embraced all his requests. Likewise, when we are born of God, we truly are the very heart and joy of God.
May God help us to pray like Elijah, with a heart set on His will and His glory.