Connecting Belief to Life Through Prayer Elijah. Where We’ve Been Story of Elijah / Ahab / Jezebel...

Connecting Belief to Life Through

Prayer


Prayer

Elijah Elijah

Where We’ve BeenWhere We’ve Been

•Story of Elijah / Ahab / Jezebel / False Idols

•Week 1 – How God Shapes Our Lives

•Week 2 – Making Choices in a World of Choice

•Story of Elijah / Ahab / Jezebel / False Idols

•Week 1 – How God Shapes Our Lives

•Week 2 – Making Choices in a World of Choice

Where We’re GoingWhere We’re Going

•4 qualities of effective prayer

•4 obstacles to effective prayer

•Why a more effective prayer life is so important?

•4 qualities of effective prayer

•4 obstacles to effective prayer

•Why a more effective prayer life is so important?

James 5:17James 5:17 Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (NIV)

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. (NIV)

1 Kings 18:42b-441 Kings 18:42b-44

Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. “Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. “Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked.

1 Kings 18:42b-441 Kings 18:42b-44

"There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea."

"There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea."

1 Kings 18:42b-441 Kings 18:42b-44

So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' “(NIV)

So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' “(NIV)

4 Qualities of Effective Prayer

4 Qualities of Effective Prayer1. Humble1. Humble

1 Kings 18:421 Kings 18:42

Elijah … bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. (NIV)

Elijah … bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. (NIV)

James 4:6b, 10James 4:6b, 10

…God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (NIV)

…God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (NIV)

Humility in PrayerHumility in Prayer

•Serious and Sincere•Authentic and Honest•‘I don’t understand, but know that you do.’

•Acknowledge our inability and His ability.

•Serious and Sincere•Authentic and Honest•‘I don’t understand, but know that you do.’

•Acknowledge our inability and His ability.


4 Qualities of Effective Prayer1. Humble2. Specific

1. Humble2. Specific

I Kings 18:43I Kings 18:43

"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back.“ (NIV)

"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back.“ (NIV)

James 4:2James 4:2

You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. (NIV)

You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. (NIV)


4 Qualities of Effective Prayer1. Humble2. Specific3. Persistent

1. Humble2. Specific3. Persistent


"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." (NIV)

"Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." (NIV)

James 5:16bJames 5:16b

…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (NKJV)

…The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (NKJV)

Keys to PersistingKeys to Persisting

•trusting inward belief not outward circumstance

•accepting faith as knowing not seeing

•knowing God’s purpose

•trusting inward belief not outward circumstance

•accepting faith as knowing not seeing

•knowing God’s purpose



1. Humble2. Specific3. Persistent4. Expectant

1. Humble2. Specific3. Persistent4. Expectant


The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' " (NIV)

The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea." So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' " (NIV)

Mark 11:24Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (NIV)

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (NIV)

I Kings 18:45-46aI Kings 18:45-46a

Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the LORD came upon Elijah…(NIV)

Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the LORD came upon Elijah…(NIV)

Expect What?Expect What?

4 Obstacles to Effective Prayer4 Obstacles to

Effective Prayer•My purpose not God’s

purpose•My purpose not God’s

purpose



purpose•Habit, ritual or tradition

robs authenticity and intimacy

•My purpose not God’s purpose

•Habit, ritual or tradition robs authenticity and intimacy



purpose•Habit, ritual or tradition

robs authenticity and intimacy

•Too infrequent or inconsistent

•My purpose not God’s purpose

•Habit, ritual or tradition robs authenticity and intimacy

•Too infrequent or inconsistent


Effective Prayer•My purpose not God’s purpose•Habit, ritual or tradition robs

authenticity and intimacy•Too infrequent or inconsistent•Self-focused not others/purpose

focused

•My purpose not God’s purpose•Habit, ritual or tradition robs

authenticity and intimacy•Too infrequent or inconsistent•Self-focused not others/purpose

focused

Why a More Effective Prayer

Life

Why a More Effective Prayer

Life •What on earth are we here

for? • Incapable ‘rescued rescuers’

without dependence on God.•So we would care more

about what He cares about.•Life is too short.

•What on earth are we here for?

• Incapable ‘rescued rescuers’ without dependence on God.

•So we would care more about what He cares about.

•Life is too short.

Martin Luther King,

Jr. Martin Luther King,

Jr. “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.”

What Next?What Next?


Prayer


Prayer

Elijah Elijah

Connecting Belief to Life Through Prayer Elijah. Where We’ve Been Story of Elijah / Ahab / Jezebel...

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