3. ELIJAH PRAYS 1 Kings 18

4. 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. James 5:17 ELIJAH PRAYS WE MUST COME BOLDLY BEFORE THE THRONE OF GRACE

5. …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.“ The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea.”… 1 Kings 18:42b-44 ELIJAH PRAYS

6. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER (Elijah)… bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42 Prayer is about the posture of our heart ELIJAH PRAYS

7. "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men— robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 18:10-14 ELIJAH PRAYS

8. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER (Elijah)… bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42 Prayer is about the posture of our heart ELIJAH PRAYS O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts, You will cause Your ear to hear. Psalm 10:17

9. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER (Elijah)… bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42 Prayer is about the posture of our heart ELIJAH PRAYS …God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:6b,10

10. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said… 1 Kings 18:43 ELIJAH PRAYS …You do not have, because you do not ask God. James 4:2b 2. Effective prayers are specific prayers. Prayers cause things to happen that would not happen, if you didn’t pray.

11. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER "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." 1 Kings 18:43 ELIJAH PRAYS 2. Effective prayers are specific prayers. Don’t allow the outward circumstances of what’s going on to affect your inward assurance. 3. Effective prayers are persistent prayers.

12. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER "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." 1 Kings 18:43 ELIJAH PRAYS 2. Effective prayers are specific prayers. 3. Effective prayers are persistent prayers. …The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. James 5:16b

13. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER “Go and look toward the sea..” 1 Kings 18:43a ELIJAH PRAYS 2. Effective prayers are specific prayers. 3. Effective prayers are persistent prayers. And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." 1 Kings 18:41 4. Effective prayers are expectant prayers.

14. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER “Go and look toward the sea..” 1 Kings 18:43a ELIJAH PRAYS 2. Effective prayers are specific prayers. 3. Effective prayers are persistent prayers. 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.' 1 Kings 18:44 4. Effective prayers are expectant prayers.

15. 1. Effective prayers are humble prayers. FOUR QUALITIES OF EFFECTIVE PRAYER Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 ELIJAH PRAYS 2. Effective prayers are specific prayers. 3. Effective prayers are persistent prayers. Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:45-46a 4. Effective prayers are expectant prayers.