1 Kings 17:1

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TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

Elijah Confronts Ahab: The Power of Prayer

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. The secret of public power is private prayer.

  2. God answers prayer that is in line with His word.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Let’s remember that we speak for the living God.

QUESTIONS

  1. Who was Elijah?

  2. Describe Elijah’s first confrontation with King Ahab.

  3. How was it that Elijah could claim such power from God?

  4. God answers prayer that is in line with His word. How did this apply in Elijah’s case?

  5. Let’s remember that we speak for the living God. What does this mean?

ANSWERS

  1. Elijah was one of the great early prophets of the Old Testament. He came as a spokesman for God. He was a Tishbite of the inhabitants of Gilead. He dressed in a simple way, in a garment of camel’s hair, with a big leather belt.

  2. He confronted wicked King Ahab with a short and direct message, “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” 1 Kings 17:1. Then he disappeared.

  3. Elijah could claim power from God because he made the statement in God’s name. Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and one-half years. The fervent, effective prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16-17). Elijah had been praying for six months before he confronted Ahab. There was private prayer before public power.

  4. Elijah knew from God’s word that if the people did not follow Him, He would not bless them or their lands. See Deuteronomy 11:11-17.

  5. Elijah stood before the living God and spoke for Him. We stand before the living God today, and we speak for Him (2 Corinthians 5:20), both by our lives and our words.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. Do you have public power because of private prayer? How effective are your prayers?

  2. Do you persevere in prayer, even when there seems to be no answer?

  3. Do you pray in line with God’s word? Give examples.

CHALLENGE

  1. See 2 Corinthians 5:20. Do you speak for the living God? Give examples.

KEY VERSES

  • “As the Lord God of Israel lives, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word” 1 Kings 17:1

1 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid1 KINGS 17:1