Follow Along with the Message

Rain Check

Pastor Tom Lundeen

We’re in a series where we’re learning what it means to stand for God and His truth and embrace His mission when everyone and  around us is standing for anything and everything else but God and His truth.

 is something we know is vitally important...but it can also seem  as a reality in our own lives.

Too often we can view prayer as a guilt-producer instead of an anxiety-reliever...as a dreaded obligation instead of a wonderful privilege.

Notes James 5:17-18

Elijah shows us that  prayer begins with:

1.  

A great misconception about prayer is that it demands some kind of  from us (note Matthew 6:5).

Prayer isn’t a way to impress other people or to impress  

(note 1 Kings 18:25-29).

Note 1 Kings 18:36-38

2. Power and Effectiveness in Prayer Comes From God’s  

Note 1 Kings 18:38, 45a

Note 1 Kings 18:1

Note 1 Kings 8:35-36, 18:39, 41

Elijah’s  was not based on how well he prayed, how long he prayed, or what words he used in his prayer.

It was because he prayed for God’s  will to be done.

3.  in Prayer Comes Because of God’s Character (note 1 Kings 18:42-44a)

Way too often, we think of (and practice) prayer as if it’s up to us to  God to do what we want Him to do.

Prayer throughout the Bible...is to be primarily understood as asking God to come  on what He already promised. (Millar)

Prayer isn’t getting God to change His purposes and plans, but it is about changing my desires to  God’s plans and purposes.

Note 1 Timothy 1:15-16; 2:3-4; and 2 Peter 3:9

Elijah knew God’s promises; but he also had to  in God’s character as he prayed for the drought to end and the rain to fall (note 1 Kings 18:42-43).

Note Luke 11:5-10

 asking...seeking...knocking...

So who’s got this in your life?:

• Prayer only becomes  when we say ‘YES!’ to Jesus as Lord and have a personal relationship with the God we’re talking to.
• Elijah has been on quite a run of amazing miracles and answered prayers (note 1 Kings 18:44b-46)…
• Next Sunday we are going to see one prayer of Elijah that was not answered and what can happen when we come down from “the mountain-top”.

Tell someone about the next step you took today in your spiritual journey!

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