Who Can Get Answers to Prayer?
Posted by: biblenotes <biblenotes@...>
From: Martin M Overfield
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000
Who Can Get Answers to Prayer?
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Elias 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. And he prayed again, and the
heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
(James 5:16-18).
True it is that Elijah had received great answers to prayer. Who
could deny that a miraculous answer came when he asked God to
send fire down upon the sacrifice on Mount Carmel? Why the people,
who were there to see which god, the Lord Jehovah or Baal, would
answer by fire, proclaimed "Jehovah, He is the God!"
When God shut up the heavens so that there was no rain for three
years and six months in answer to Elijah's prayers, that was a great
answer to prayer! Then again, after the answer by fire on Mount
Carmel, Elijah "prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth
brought forth her fruit.". When Elijah prayed, he got answers from God.
Great answers to prayer! Why, Elijah must have been an unusual man!
He must have been a special pet of God. Maybe he was a special breed.
No, not at all! Hear these words: "a man subject to like
passions as we are" = "similarly affected" (Strong's), "of like
feelings or affections" (Vine's Dict. of N.T. Words).
You want great answers to prayer? Get ready for the down times
too! After having been mightily used of God and having received two
great answers to prayer in one day, Elijah became so discouraged that
he requested of God that He take his life.
Thank God that this prayer was NOT answered with a "Yes"! For
if it had been, we may never have heard of Elisha who requested of God
a double portion of Elijah's spirit, and who had seen twice as many
miracles done by God under his ministry than were done under Elijah's.
Part of Elijah's discouragement was no doubt because of physical
exhaustion. Part of it may have been because of the wicked queen
Jezebel's threat to have Elijah killed. Perhaps Elijah was hoping that
Ahab and Jezebel would repent, and when they didn't he felt like he
had failed.
It is obvious from his own words that Elijah felt like all his work for
the Lord had been useless. He said, "I, even I only, am left; and they
seek my life, to take it away." It seemed that "No one wanted to go
the old fashioned way" or no one was willing to serve the true God.
But, God answered him that He had 7,000 in Israel who were staying
true to God and had not bowed to Baal.
Now, think with me a moment. If God answered the prayers of
Elijah, an ordinary man who knew God, wouldn't he answer your
prayers and my prayers if WE know Him? Let us pray expecting
answers from the Almighty God of the universe, Who delights in
answering the prayers of His children.
Yours In Christ,
Martin Overfield
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