Abundance of Rain Part 3

2. Lessons from Mount Carmel

There are some important lessons for us to learn from the prayers of Elijah. First, public prayer, the prayer for fire, and private prayer, the prayer for rain, are often very different. Our public prayers can be short because our private prayers have been long. We must not be like the Pharisees who used their prayers to impress others with their spirituality.

Second, God ordains the ends but not necessarily the means. In both cases Elijah was certain of God’s promise but he knew that there is not a prescribed formula for prayer. Sometimes we are to step out in faith and other times we are to wait in faith. Sometimes we can claim the promise of God for the moment and other times we must wait upon the promise of God.

Third, it is not a lack of faith to plead with God or wrestle with God in prayer. Jacob wrestled with God all night and would not let go until God blessed him. Was Jacob changing God’s mind when he wrestled in prayer? No, God was changing Jacob. He was waiting for Jacob to submit to the authority of God and not to rely on his own strength.

Fourth, Elijah shows that we must never give up in our prayers. What would have been the outcome if Elijah quit after three times, or four times or even six times? Would he have continued if there was no confirmation after seven times? I believe that Elijah would have stayed in prayer as long as it took for God to answer. How long should we pray for that lost one, that sick friend, that financial need? We must pray until we have the answer. The answers to our prayers are as different as our prayers. God cannot be controlled by us. He is not in our debt. However, He wants us to come to Him in faith.

Finally, when God answers our prayers there is a temptation for us to revel in our success. God knows that our successes bring temptations so He separated Elijah from the others. Our natural tendency is to enjoy the accolades from others but God desires that we remain humble. We may think that the answer came because of us but God will not share His glory with anyone. He wants us to get out of the way so that He alone will receive the honour and glory.