Confrontational Prayers - Offensive, challenging, stimulating, encounter (conflict between ideals, beliefs, or opinions, or between the people who hold them) 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear. Matthew 11:12 NIV PASSIONATE PRAYERS 1.John the Baptist was not the resurrected Elijah, but took on Elijah’s prophetic role- boldly confronting sin and pointing people to God. 2.Kingdom of heaven- refers to God sovereign rule in the universe. Jesus set up a powerful movement or reign among men. 3.Forcefully advancing & forcefully lay hold of it. “fervency of spirit, passion, intensity and great force of feelings” 4.Heaven is move by and responds to, and acts in accordance with passion and intensity – along the lines of John the Baptist’s behavior 5.Jesus said- from the day of John the Baptist until - After John A CHANGE HAS TAKEN PLACE - A TURNING POINT - A MILESTONE “VICTORY, PROTECTION, BREAKTHROUGH, DELIVERANCE, FAVOR” 15 He who has ears, let him hear -1-

Confrontational Prayers - Offensive, challenging, stimulating, encounter (conflict between ideals, beliefs, or opinions, or between the people who hold them) The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. James 5:16b 1717Elijah was a man (HUMAN) 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. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops James 5:16a -18 NIV18 Powerful Prayers 1.Christian most powerful is communion with God through prayer. 2.The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man/woman makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. 5: 16b AMP (Story of Policewomen – who put her had up and stopped a big truck) Prayer is direct communication with God. *** Prayer is love in action. Prayer is the key to the kingdom and it is your faith that unlocks the door. ** Prayer is the greatest talent that God gives us. Prayer is the way God shapes the world.* Prayer is the force that activates God’s will on earth. Prayer is the vehicle that connects us with the source of all power, knowledge and wisdom. Prayer is not merely a religious duty, but rather can be compared to heavy spiritual warfare. Prayer is the force that protects unborn generations against the desolating waves of sin and evil. -2-

Confrontational Prayers - Offensive, challenging, stimulating, encounter (conflict between ideals, beliefs, or opinions, or between the people who hold them) Passionate and Powerful Prayers The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. James 5:16b AMP Profile of a Praying Man of Faith - Elijah 1717Elijah 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. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops James 5:17-18 NIV 18 Elijah single handedly commitment to God shocks and challenges us. He was sent to confront not comfort, and he spoke God’s words to a king often rejected his message just because he brought it. (LIKE THAT COUSIN – THAT DAUGHTER – THAT FRIEND All that happen in Elijah life began with the same miracle available for us. – He responded to the miracle to being able to know God. - 1 Kings 17: 1 and 18:

Confrontational Prayers - Offensive, challenging, stimulating, encounter (conflict between ideals, beliefs, or opinions, or between the people who hold them) Profile of a Praying Man of Faith - Elijah 1 Kings 17: 1 and 18: “ As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but 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.“There is nothing there,” he said. Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” 44The 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.’” Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezebel. The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezebel. 1 Kings 17: 1 and 18:

Profile of Faith – Elijah Elijah like us, struggle with his feelings even after miracle upon miracle. He felt afraid, depressed and abandoned. We are never closer to defeat than our moments of greatest victory (Pray without ceasing) Elijah Flees to Horeb 11Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “ Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9There he went into a cave and spent the night. The And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”89 God presented Elijah with an “audio-display” and a message he needed to hear. Elijah witnessed a windstorm, an earthquake and a fire. But the Lord was not in any of those powerful things. Instead God displayed his presence in a gentle whisper. God speaks more frequently in persistent whisper as than in shouts. We are never alone as we may feel; God is always there -5.

Confrontational Prayers James 5: I Kings 19: 1-7 Profile of Faith – Elijah – Elijah like us, struggle with his feelings even after miracle upon miracle. He felt afraid, depressed and abandoned. Elijah Flees to Horeb 1Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9There he went into a cave and spent the night. 789 The And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?”