Elijah’s Earnest Prayers…

The New Testament recorded two major prayers which Elijah prayed in the Old Testament. Hmm…

‘Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are,…and he PRAYED EARNESTLY that it might not rain: and it rained not….Hmm…and he PRAYED AGAIN, and the heaven gave rain…’!!! (James 5:17-18)

Wow! Take note how the Bible defined the prayers of Elijah at the 2 different scenarios. When Elijah wanted to stop rain from falling… the Bible said he PRAYED EARNESTLY! Hmm… But when he wanted to pray for rain to fall, the Bible said he PRAYED AGAIN (i.e. not earnestly)! Now we have 2 kinds of prayers:

1. EARNEST PRAYER

2. SIMPLE PRAYER

Hmmn…! Now let us visit the Old Testament to see ‘how’ Elijah actually prayed these 2 prayers. When Elijah wanted to stop rain from falling, see what he said:

‘…as the LORD God of Israel liveth, before WHOM I STAND, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but ACCORDING TO MY WORD’! (1kings 17:1)

Hmm…. When Elijah wanted to pray for God’s judgment…he was only DECLARING based on his STANDING before God! He did not go to a mountain to pray this prayer! He only declared it with full assurance that it must come to pass! This is what the New Testament called…EARNEST PRAYER!

‘…and he PRAYED EARNESTLY that it might not rain: and it rained not…’ (James 5:17)

Hmm… But when it was time to pray for God’s blessing that rain should fall, Elijah ‘forgot’ his standing before God! Hmm… The Bible said:

‘…Elijah went up to the top of (Mount) Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees…’ (1kings 18:42)

Aba!!! In fact, he retained this posture while he asked his servant to go and check if there is a sign of rain SEVEN times! Hmm….

Now listen carefully: The New Testament did not term this second prayer as an EARNEST prayer! Instead, it was simply termed ‘prayer’!

‘…and he PRAYED again, and the heaven gave rain…’!!! (James 5:18)

Hmm… Now listen carefully: under the Old Covenant, people had more faith in God’s judgment than in God’s blessing! They simply make declarations to enact God’s judgment but they pray ‘long’ prayers to call for God’s blessings!!!

Now listen carefully: you are no longer under the Old Covenant practice! (Romans 6:14). Start having more faith in God’s blessings than in God’s judgment! It is not “how long” you pray that guarantees answers to your prayer! Hmm…. It is WHO you are praying to…that guarantees answers to your prayer!

Elijah simply declared that …‘As the LORD God liveth…BEFORE WHOM I STAND…there shall be no rain’! And God honoured his words!

Listen: You are the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST and you are also STANDING before God…through the finished work of Christ!

‘…by faith into this Grace wherein we STAND…’! (Romans 5:2)

Hmm… So, when you pray…simply declare your STANDING before God via the blood of Jesus…and command that situation to change! This is what heaven calls…EARNEST PRAYER!!! You don’t need to go to a mountain before God will hear your prayer! You don’t need to take a punishing posture like Elijah before God can send you rain! Or else heaven will record that as ‘praying again’…instead of …’Earnest prayer’!

Simply declare what you want based on your STANDING in the finished work! What you have today…Elijah never had it then!!! You are standing in Jesus’ righteousness! Elijah was standing in his own righteousness! Elijah was a servant of God! You are a SON of God! (John 1:12) Hmm….

In conclusion: Please note that John the Baptist was ‘Elijah’ in the New Testament. (Matt 17:10-13) But the Bible says something very important about the status of a believer in Jesus!

‘Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding HE THAT IS LEAST IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (a believer) is GREATER THAN JOHN THE BAPTIST’! (Matt 11:11)

Wow! You are GREATER than John the Baptist!!! You are GREATER than Elijah!!! Stop begging God to send blessings to you! Rather, start declaring your STANDING before God….and place demands knowing you are the righteousness of God in Christ…and you are God’s beloved! This is what the New Testament refers to as EARNEST PRAYER!!! It works like fire! Hallelujah!

Never forget: ‘What you have today…..Elijah never had it then!!! Your hierarchy is greater than that of Elijah!

Therefore, DECLARE and watch God PERFORM!

Amen.