Elijah and Effective Prayer

Obadiah was the chief in the household of King Ahab (1Kings 18:3). Amid great spiritual wickedness he maintained his loyalty to God, and protected God's prophets, in total one hundred, he hid at great personal risk in two caves (1Kings 18:4, 13).

Obadiah was a good upright man who protected God's prophets in hard times, even at great personal cost to himself.

How do you feed and water a 100 people in a time of famine?

For very understandable reasons Obadiah did not go shouting about the living God whom he served. So I wonder how we would counsel Obadiah if he came and asked for your advice. Should he be a secret Christian and protect Gods prophets?

The good is the enemy of the best

Who can criticise Obadiah for what he did saving 100 of the Lords prophets? But what would have happened in those early days when Ahab was king if Obadiah had spoken out the word of the Lord? Maybe he could have helped change the direction of the nation.

Prophetic lifestyle

For Elijah it is the prophetic lifestyle that makes a difference how he lived his life and allowed God's word to be clearly demonstrated in all he did. Elijah was both salt and light (Mt 5:14-16). The prophetic lifestyle that God calls us to live is one that is on the edge and brings change into peoples lives and situations.

Elijah the Confronter (1Kings 18:17)

Elijah was alone in his confrontation with Ahab and Jezebel. Jezebel was an idolater and had turned Ahab away from God. Jezebel's agenda was to enthrone Baal as national god of Israel. To achieve this she was busy killing off all the prophets of God

Three long hot dry years

Ahab might have at first ridiculed Elijah's announcement but when the early March rain did not come or the later rains in October rains did not arrive Ahab started to get angry with Elijah. It wasn't that there was just no rain but there was neither rain nor dew for three long hot dry years – it was completely dry.

Last time we read from Deut 11:16-17 where God promise to shut up the heavens if the people turn from him. The severest drought did not cause Ahab to change his heart and turn to God.

Note the financial troubles we face today will in themselves not turn people to God. Weston society has trusted in their god of the market and they worshiped in their cathedral of materialism. What will cuase people to turn again to God?

In Romans 10 Paul outlines for us how we are saved.

With your heart you believe and are justified with your mouth you confess and are saved.

Paul goes on to say that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Then he asks these series of questions in Romans 10:14 (NIV)

• How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
• And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
• And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

It was the same for Ahab, he would not hear the word of God. And it's the same for our families" friends and neighbours without hearing the word of God they will not be saved by the precious blood of Jesus.

Obadiah was a good upright man he projected God people at risk to his life but he did not live a prophetic lifestyle he did not want to associate himself with Elijah the man of God as this would have meant king Ahab would kill him.

NB Actions alone are not enough

Elijah the Confident (1Kings 18:18-19)

I'm sure the meeting between Ahab and Elijah was not over a nice cup of tea. More likely there was a violent display from Ahab trying to beat Elijah into submission by calling him the old troublemaker of Israel. Elijah stood his ground and boldly told the king that it was he and his family that have caused trouble for Israel by practicing idolatry. At the same time Elijah respected the kings" high rank and asked him to assemble the people and the prophets of Baal and Asherah.

The pagan prophets came to match wits and power with Elijah many of the pagan prophets would have spoken up and made claims of what their god could do but Elijah showed the people that speaking a prophecy wasn't enough. One needed the power of the living God to fulfill it and to live a prophetic lifestyle.

NB Words alone are not enough

Elijah in Command (1Kings 18:21)

Elijah challenged the people to take a stand—to follow whoever was the true God.

Why did so many people waver between the two choices?

Perhaps some were not sure. Many knew that the Lord was God, but they enjoyed the sinful pleasures and other benefits that came with following Ahab in his idolatrous worship.

James 1:6-8

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

Who is the God of fire?

Only God has power to pardon sin, the greatest sacrifice was given - his Son Jesus Christ

Elijah the Condemner

Elijah suggests four activities for Baal: thinking, busy, travelling and sleeping. Though Elijah's words are meant to condemn Baal but they are not unrealistic illustration. The prophets of Baal would not have viewed his suggestions as ridiculous or unworthy of deity. These four activities can be compared to some of the activities in which Baal is engaged in the Ugaritic texts. When the goddess Anat comes to look for Baal. She is told he has gone hunting. Ugaritic literature also portrays the death of Baal features the repeated strain that he needs to be awakened.

Elijah the Constructor

Building the alter

'Then Elijah put the alter back together for by now it was in ruins"

Why did the alter need repairing?

• May be Jezebel had been around and pull the alter down and erected a place of worship to Baal
• May the people had just stopped using it

Does the alter need repairing in your life?

Have you allowed your worship to the true and living God be pushed to one side by the pressures of what is going on in your life?

Using 12 stones to build the altar took courage. Why? In the nation of Israel there had been a split and the 12 stones would have been a silent reminder of all that God had planned for them. This would have angered some of the people looking on. Not only is Elijah having a go at the evil god Baal he is also reminding the people of their basic errors in falling out with their brothers

What a waste of water!

Some have thought that the pouring of water on the altar would have seemed a great waste to those who were languishing through a third year of drought. It must be remembered, however, that there is no suggestion that this was fresh water. The nearby Mediterranean was full of water—it was just undrinkable.

God flashed fire from heaven for Elijah, and he will help us accomplish what he commands us to do. The proof may not be as dramatic in our lives as in Elijah's, but God will make resources available to us in creative ways to accomplish his purposes. He will give us the wisdom to raise a family, the courage to take a stand for truth, or the means to provide help for someone in need. Like Elijah, we can have faith that whatever God commands us to do, he will provide what we need to carry it through.

If you get one thing from this morning this is what I want you to go away with:

The message of Elijah is not only that he was a human being just like us, but that we can be just like Elijah, demonstrating the "strength of the Lord" that empowers us with the message of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ