The Days of Elijah Part 5

4. Our public prayers can have power if we have a private prayer life.

In the show down on Mount Carmel the prophets of Baal prayed for hours for fire to consume their offering. However, when it came time for Elijah to present his offering to the Lord his prayer was short and powerful. Jesus condemned those who prayed long prayers for show. Elijah did not pray so that those around him could see that he was a man of God. He prayed to show that the Lord God was the God of Israel and the only true God. Public prayers are not a time to show off our spirituality, remember Jesus condemned the Pharisees for doing that, but it is a time to acknowledge that God is God and Lord of Heaven and earth. Even though Elijah’s public prayer was short before he prayed he took time to prepare. First he called the people to come near. The invitation from our Saviour is always to come near. If we draw near to Him He will draw near to us. Elijah then took time to repair the altar of the Lord. Again, even though his prayer was short he did not come casually into the Lord’s presence. Everything had to be in order. He took twelve stones reminding the people that God was not just the God of Elijah but the God of the whole nation, all twelve tribes. In doing this Elijah acknowledged the covenant relationship that God had made with Jacob. The altar that he made was made in the name of the Lord God of Israel, not in the name of Elijah. He knew that God should receive the honour and glory for what was about to happen. After Elijah had flooded the altar and the sacrifice with water he then prayed. In his prayer he addressed God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. In doing this He acknowledged the covenant relationship that God had with His people. His prayer had two purposes. The first was to show to the nation of Israel that Yahweh was the only true God and second, to turn the hearts of the people back to Him.