Sunday Sermon

Just Like Us Dave Shaner October 5, 2003

Introduction: Prayer is not reserved for the elite but for all the elect.

Text: James 5:17-18

Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.

I. Elijah understood that God wants to be asked to accomplish His will.

A. Jeremiah 29:10-13

This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

B. Daniel 9:1-3

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes (a Mede by descent), who was made ruler over the Babylonian kingdom-- in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the LORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.

C. Matthew 6:9-10

"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.'"

D. What is the aim of prayer?

E. I Kings 18:41-45

And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." So 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 came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

II. Elijah undertook a strategy to:

A. ... to pray ____________________.

1. How often does God get your undistracted, undivided attention?

2. Our culture will never make a time and place for us to pray.

B. ... to pray ____________________.

1. James 4:6

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

2. Deuteronomy 11:13-17

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today--to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul-- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the LORD'S anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you.

C. ... to pray ____________________.

"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." - Mark 10:51

D. ... to pray ____________________.

1. It was not Elijah's style to give up easily in prayer.

2. Jesus taught us to persevere in prayer.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.  - Luke 18:1

E. ... to pray ____________________.

1. Psalm 5:3

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

2. What made him powerful is what you can also imitate.

III. James undergirds the truth that God can accomplish the extraordinary through the ordinary.

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