The Prevailing Power of Prayer

“And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain”. 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”. 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”. Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.  The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.”

Elijah warned King Ahab of the divine punishment that would be visited upon his land if he did not abolish idol worship and did not cause a general return of all Israel to God. Ahab scoffed at the idea, saying: “Didn’t Moses already warn u that the rain would cease and the land would not give forth its produce, if we should worship other gods? Yet, nothing happened as yet!”. Ahab did not realize that God had been patient with him till a severe drought plagued Israel for over three years.  The power of God had been put on full display in the contest between the prophets of Baal and the God of Israel.  Elijah prayed on Mount Camel and called on the people to come closer to God and for God to reveal himself. Nothing will change around you until something changes within you. Prayer hastens  change and the word of God effects it.

1 Kings 18:39. There is nothing more exciting to God than for his people to turn back to him.

In our Bible Text for today, God ordered Elijah to inform Ahab that he would send rain upon the earth. Those who pray correctly have the power to stop the devil in his tracks. Some people ask why Nigerians pray but nothing changes. The problem is that many do not pray correctly. In the place of real prayer, there must be a submission of the human will and the prayer must change and transform. Nothing will change around you until something changes within you.

Listen to the full sermon here https://youtu.be/0nvBu0y2hZ8