We have three portions of the book of James that we read together. They're all linked by one topic, and that's the topic of prayer. First of all, chapter 1, verses 5 through 8. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and abradeth not, and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. Now we turn to chapter 4 and begin reading at verse 3 through 6. Ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do you think that the Scripture saith in vain, The Spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore, he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman, that's the farmer, waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned. Behold, the judge standeth before the door. Take, my brethren, the prophets who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering, affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful, that is merciful, and of tender mercy. But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither any other oath, but let your yea be yea and your nay, nay, lest ye fall into condemnation. Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick. And the Lord shall raise him up. And if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. and confess your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are. And he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain. And the earth brought forth her fruit. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins. as far as God's precious word to us this morning. Dear congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, I think we all remember that cry, that earnest cry from Elisha when Elijah had just gone to heaven. What did he cry? Where is the God of Elijah? It was an earnest cry to the God of Elijah. Now, we all know God is in heaven, and we all know God is still the same yesterday, today, and forever. But a question comes this morning to all of us, and I ask it myself, too, to myself. Are we like Elijah by the grace of God? Are we like Elijah? A passage that we studied together this morning says that he was a man of like passion as we are. But when he prayed, mighty things happened. Glorious things happened. And, beloved, you don't need to be a pastor or a prophet like Elijah was to pray in that way. Not necessary. Our cry would be, also, as we start this service, start this message, rather, oh, that all the people were prophets. Do you remember that cry from Moses? Oh, that all the people would be prayer warriors in this church. And James is holding before us this morning an example of a prayer warrior. And he says to us very clearly in the chapter we've read, verse 10, he says, Take, my brethren, the prophets. Elijah is one of them. Take, my brethren, the prophets who've spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering and affliction. Yes, so He wants us to know how to live in a Christian way, yes, to suffer affliction and to endure and all that. But then he goes on and then he mentions Elijah specifically as an example, as one to follow, whom we should follow, as an example of someone who coped in the difficulties and trials of life. How did he cope? The breath of life was in him. The breath of God was in him. So we love it as we consider him this morning. It's not moralistic. It's not wrong because the word itself says we need to do it. It's an example for us but it's wise for us to remember before we think about Elijah and his life that what Paul said. He said, when He was stirring people up to love and good works, which is my desire this morning, to stir you up to love and good works, He said, Be ye followers of Me even as I am of Christ. That's our desire. So when we look to Elijah this morning, to his prayer life, when we look to what we can learn from his life, It is in so far He looks like Jesus that we study Him. Because the Spirit of Jesus was in the prophets. So may we do so prayerfully and thinking about how does this tell us anything of Jesus? Our text is James 5, verse 16b through 18. There he encourages and gives us an example of someone who prays. And great and mighty things happen for the Lord's glory. It says here, "...the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject of like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." So we are echoing the cry of Elijah, Elisha, who said, where is the God of Elijah? But we say, that God is still the same. So our theme is, where are our Elijahs? And we have four lessons from his life. Four lessons. First of all, our text tells us that his prayers were effectual and fervent. And that's what our prayers ought to be and can be by the power of the Spirit. Effectual and fervent, because it says, the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are and he prayed earnestly. What is prayer, beloved? Isn't it just pouring out your heart before God earnestly, urgently? so that we know God is in heaven and I'm needy, I'm poor, I'm weak, I need God. I need His help. And this passage then holds before us that we are to pray effectual and fervent prayers that avail much and that are earnest and that are like Elijah's prayers. So let's think about that for a moment. What does that mean? Effectual, fervent prayer that availeth much. You could say, well, that sounds like a cliché. Of course, prayer is effectual when it's heard and when it avails much. Isn't that double in this text? Everyone gets that, right? But the words effectual and fervent are just one word in Greek. And normally I don't like to use Greek words here, but energeo is the word. What do we hear, children? I think you hear the word, right? Energy. Literally it says here in this text, much strength in the energetic prayer of the righteous. Much power, much energy, much fervency in the prayer of a righteous man. Why? Because he is empowered by the Holy Spirit. And such people see answers to their prayers. And then our text also says, again, he says, Elijah prayed earnestly. And literally that means He prayed in his prayer. Or he prayed with prayer. That's a Hebrew expression. Basically saying, when he started praying, beloved, he meant business. It was not cold. It was not lethargic. It was not lifeless. It was not boring. He was earnest, sincere, and it came straight from his heart. And he persevered in it. And that's what we need. We sometimes say to one another, we need to pray until we pray. And that's exactly what is meant here. Now that confronts us with prayer that is not earnest, prayer that is not fervent, prayer that is not effectual, prayer that reveals nothing. Why is that? Well, some of us are just plain distracted when we pray. Our minds are wandering. Our phones are crying out for attention. And so we can be fervent. We can pray until we pray. What we need to do is put that phone away. If our minds wander, beloved, then write down what you want to think about later and put it away. And if you then still struggle with praying, beloved, then start praying aloud, even if it's whispering. But you need to pray. You need to pray. Now some of us lack fervor in prayer because we have learned those pious phrases. and we repeat them. Maybe we use them even in public. But we're covering up that our hearts are not needy and that our closets are empty. Is that pleasing to God? Some of us have prayers that are not fervently because we are too busy And busyness looks good, but it perfectly covers over, in the eyes of others, perhaps, the spiritual disease of prayerlessness. It looks part pious. But what does God say? If you really want to be useful for God's kingdom, can that be that you're not living close to God? Can it be? I don't think so. Now we talk about fervent prayer, but it also confronts this text and confronts those of us who are not praying at all. I hope there's none here this morning, but the reality is probably that there are. You don't pray. You're simply too busy with other things. The cares of the world take over and you don't pray and you think physical life is so important that your spiritual life can just wither away. Or you pray not because you don't believe God is listening. But, beloved, God is a living God and we are going to hear what God did for Elijah in a moment. But go to a person. If you doubt whether God is listening, I urge you to go to a godly person and say, what has God done for you when you prayed? And then listen. That God is alive. He is. They can tell you. He heard my cry. There might be someone here today who says, well, you know, I hope there's none, but I don't think the Lord hears me anyway because God has predetermined everything. What's the use of prayer? If He has done everything already in His mind, in His eternal mind, planned it out, what's the use for me to pray? But God is pleased to hear prayers. He has ordained prayer. He has ordained prayer so that He can bless us through that means. He ordains the means of prayer and the end, His glory, the salvation of sinners. Do you remember what happened on the day of Pentecost? They were waiting, waiting for God to do something. What was the cry on the day of Pentecost to those who were in distress? Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you're not saved here, this is what the Lord says to you. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. These are His promises. And He wants you to call. And at the same time, we read in that same chapter that God's purposes just continue. The Lord added, such as should be saved. Behind the scenes, God is working. That's how it works, beloved. But maybe there is someone not praying because you neglect it, because you don't think you need it. Let me be very straightforward with you. Then you're just proud. Self-sufficient. Beloved, we need fervent prayer. We need it more than ever in a time like this. We need it. We need Elijahs. We need people who come to the Lord with cries in their heart. Oh, that we would stop our heartless, mumbling prayers. Oh, that we would listen to what Jesus said when He quoted Isaiah. These three people draw an eye unto Me with their mouth, but their heart is far from Me. They honor Me with their lips, that that would not be found among any of us. Because, beloved, that shows a dead spirit. Prayer is the breath of life in us that shows that we are made alive by the grace of God. So if you're not praying, beloved, then you are spiritually dead. And I urge you to call upon the Lord and ask Him. He says it. Call upon Me. And call upon Him and say, Lord, teach me to pray. Teach me to pray. So the problem is not with God, the God of Elijah. Absolutely not. The problem is with us, beloved, and that's why I say to you and to myself, where are the Elijahs of our day, who pray fervently, who pray effectually, and who through prayer, secondly, are led to do spiritual deeds, spiritual good deeds, spirit-led good deeds? Because let's go to Elijah for a moment, and let's take a closer look at his life. Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. Now, children, if you read 1 Kings 17, then suddenly out of nowhere, there you have Elijah. It seems. And the first thing we hear about Elijah is that he comes to King Ahab, a godless king who didn't care about the Lord, and what does he do? He boldly announces to Ahab, he says, there's not going to be rain for a long time. He says this, literally, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand there shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word. How did he know? He knew because he was in contact with the living God. He knew because he was a man of fervent prayer. The secrets of the Lord are with those that fear him, beloved. Now, before the king Ahab, the godless king, could say anything good or bad, the Lord told Elijah already, go hide yourself at the brook Cherith. And Elijah obeys. And then, children, you remember how God fed him there and cared for him. And then the brook dries up, right? And then that word of promise, the Lord keeps his promise with regard to the rain not falling. then God sends him to a different place, to a widow in Zarephath. And God cares for him there. And there, what is he doing there? He's doing what James calls pure and undefiled religion, and he is there visiting the widows in her affliction, helping her. Kept by the Lord, unspotted of the world. Elijah's fervent prayer closed the heavens, beloved, no rain. It made him bold to stand before Ahab, who hated him to the very hair of his head. And through fervent prayer, Spirit-empowered prayer, he had opportunities to minister to the needy. He knew what to do, where to go, what to say, only because of prayer. How about you and me? Do we have such opportunities? Such opportunities that please the Lord? Are we so led by the Spirit forward to minister to others, to show our love for them, to serve the Lord in these ways? Those opportunities, beloved, are often the fruit of fervent prayer, of a life lived in obedience before the Lord. He knew where he stood. Elijah knew where he stood. Remember what he said to Ahab, Lord, I stand before... I said to Ahab, brother, I stand before the Lord whom I serve. When was the last time that you prayed and the Lord gave you these opportunities that James talked about? But perhaps you say, well, I'm not as bold as Elijah. But listen what happened after three and a half years. The Lord says to Elijah, come out of hiding. And he presents himself again to Ahab. And in the Lord's providence, he meets another servant of the Lord. Obadiah is his name. Someone who trusted the Lord from his youth. Obadiah was undoubtedly a child of God. But then he shows that he is fearful. When Elijah says to him, well, I'm going to show myself today to Ahab. He says, well, but what if you suddenly disappear? Now, Obadiah was a child of God too. We know it also that he did what was pleasing in the Lord's eyes. He hid 50 prophets in a cave and provided bread and water for them. He was a God-fearing person and does a lot of good for others. Why, we wonder, was he so fearful? Could it be, beloved, that his prayer life was not characterized by what it said about Elijah, that it was fervent? Could it be that Elijah was fearful because he was one of those people who were so busy? King's palace, important task, fifty prophets, yes, doing a lot of good, but little communion. with the living God who emboldens us, who empowers us. Or maybe you say, well, you know, in the church of God we all have different functions. We don't need to be all Elijahs. We all have different gifts. Absolutely, I grant that to you. That's biblical to say that. True. But prayerfulness is not optional for Christians. It's our lifeline. It's how the Lord blesses us. It's how we connect with the God whom we love, the God of the universe who is rich in mercy, abounding in loving kindness. And the more time we spend there on our knees in heavenly places with Jesus Christ, the more we commune with God, the more we become bold and the more we become fearless, equipped to do even difficult tasks. That's how it works in God's kingdom. As I said, this is not moralism. This is God's grace on display, beloved, in a life. lived for the Lord. The Lord is saying to some of us, no, all of us, spend time with me. Spend time with me. And you will be more of a blessing to others also. But we are tempted, beloved, and I include myself, we are tempted to run around, do lots of things, without prayer. It looks active. It looks good. But oh, that we all would be filled with fervent prayer, effective fervent prayer. And therefore, I ask again, where are our Elijahs today? Through that prayer, such prayer, we can do a world of good. Do you remember what was said about the first Christians? They said about these, these are the men that turn the world upside down. The day of Pentecost, how did it come? A mighty work of the Spirit, the rushing of the Spirit upon the church, how did it come? They were steadfastly up there in that upper room praying together. How many of us are coming to prayer meetings because we feel this urgency? Where are our Elijahs today? Our text says, Elijah prayed, stopped raining. Our text says, Elijah prayed again, and it started raining. Children, what do you think? After that three and a half years in hiding, he prayed just twice? Do you think he prayed just twice? when it started and when it finished? No, I don't think that's what it's saying, right? It's saying He was fervent. That means He prayed without ceasing. He had often been in prayer, and the Lord was going to do great things through that. For when you and I are burdened with the souls of other people around us, it cannot be that our prayers just weaken and die down. They intensify. We need an answer from the Lord. We need opportunities for the gospel, for God, and for His glory. And I trust that's what it was with Elijah. He comes face to face with Ahab, that ungodly king, and it would be shocking to us when people would say something like that to us. Are you the one that is troubling Israel? But through prayer, Elijah had an answer. He said, no, no, no. I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your family. You have forsaken God's commandment. You have followed Baal. You see that? Head on collision. Fearless, bold. What's the secret? Fervent prayer, beloved. That's not all. Instead of the king now commanding Elijah what to do, Elijah begins to command the king. secret, fervent prayer. He says, gather all those people from Israel on the Mount Carmel, gather all those prophets of Baal, all 450, gather all the prophets of the groves, all 400, and we meet soon at the Mount Carmel. There they are. There they stand. The people, the king, and the false prophets, and the priests, and those idolaters. And there he comes again, fearless. How long will you hold between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him. If He's not, then follow Baal. Literally, he says, how long will you continue to walk with two wooden crutches? How long, beloved, will we love our idols too much and therefore not pray? We need to make up our minds. Who are we going to serve? And if we serve Him, let's serve Him wholeheartedly, not with half-hearted devotion, not like the Laodiceans, lukewarm, So the Lord comes to some of us today and says to you, how long will ye hold upon two opinions? How long will you be undecided? How long will you be unstable? How long will you be uncommitted and prayerless? In the day of Elijah, there was no answer from the people. There was deadly silence. What are you saying? Now what's next? The priests of Baal accept this challenge, right? Because of Elijah, a man of prayer. What is the challenge all about? Again, prayer. Who is the God that is able to give fire upon the altar without igniting it? That's the challenge. Who is the God in heaven that answers prayer? Is it the Lord or is it your idols? Baal. Who is the one who is in control of this whole universe? Who can give fire? Children, you know the answer, right? You know what happened, right? There the priests of Baal were just leaping upon the altar. They were wailing and cutting themselves and nothing happened. That's what happens when we serve idols. That happens when you and I are not in contact with the living God and when we don't fervently pray. and the power of the Spirit. But then, when was it again, children? At the time of the evening sacrifice, Elijah has just rebuilt that altar, 12 stones. He poured a lot of salt water on it because there was water there, yes, even though it was dry there in those days, but there was a sea right at the foot of Mount Carmel. Took all water, poured it out, and then he prays. He prays. Simple. Pointed. Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or Israel rather, let it be known this day that Thou art God in Israel and that I am Thy servant and that I have done all these things at Thy word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me. that this people may know that thou art the Lord God and that thou hast turned their heart back again." So there's a public prayer. It's short but fervent. He addresses the Lord. He confesses his obedience. He knows he has been obedient. Can we say that too? He asks the Lord to hear with urgency. Hear me! Hear me! And he pleads. Why? That these people may know that there is a God in heaven and that their hearts would be turned back to Him. That's His desire. That's the Spirit-filled fervent prayer that accomplishes much for the Lord. It's for His glory. It's because God is worthy. It's because He wants people to repent and trust in the Lord. Is that your and my desire, beloved? You see, Elijah's desire was God's kingdom to prosper. He wasn't seeking his own glory. He was seeking the glory of the Lord. How often are we seeking to pray and then we focus only on ourselves, our wants, our needs. That's not how Elijah prayed. That's not why the Lord answered. The Lord ignited the altar, beloved. Perhaps you wonder, does God answer prayers like Elijah? With fire? Today? Does He give fire from heaven? Does He give fire at the time of the evening sacrifice? Yes, He did. He gave. Jesus Christ at the time of the evening sacrifice. He was consumed by the wrath of God. And that's the one we plead. And that's the one why we know that we can have answered prayer. That's the one we plead. His blood, His righteousness on the altar of Golgotha at the time of the evening sacrifice. That's why our prayers can be fervent. Nothing else. Prayers are acceptable because of the work of Christ. So are we pleading on His blood? Are we pleading the name of Jesus Christ? Are we pleading His sacrificial love? That it would flow to more people. That we would see people converted and changed. That we would see His love and His glory flow to people who were dead in trespasses and sins. How are we fervent? How long will you hold between two opinions? Elijah said. He fearlessly confronted idolatry. And James does the same thing. What we read, remember? Chapter 1. I paraphrase. Don't think that the Lord looks down on you when you lack wisdom. Ask in faith. That is, ask, pleading the blood and merit of Jesus Christ. and ask, trusting that He will answer. If you don't ask in faith, you will be like a wave tossed to and fro. Don't think that such a person will receive anything from the Lord, James says to us, because he's double-minded, unstable in all his ways. He's limping on two opinions. James, tell us, what's the problem with those people? when they are asking not in faith. Chapter 4. The problem is that these people want to be friends with the world. They are driven by their sinful desires. They don't receive because they are asking amiss, because they want their own desires. They want to consume it upon their own lusts. They are not kingdom-focused. They are self-focused. That's the problem. That's why they don't pray like Elijah. Beloved, what about us? What about me? What about you? Are we kingdom-focused or are we self-focused? What do our prayers show? So let me repeat that question again. Where are our Elijahs? Elijah stood before the Lord and he could say, I have been obedient. I've been obedient. That's why our text says the fervent, effectual prayer of a righteous man avails much. Righteous man. How is he righteous before God? In Jesus Christ. If we are hiding in Jesus Christ, we are righteous before God. But double-minded prayer can do anything. But such prayer, beloved, is also attacking idolatry people around us, but is first attacking idolatry right here. Because you and I then know our motives are not pure, but Christ's are. Christ's are. And so you rest there. And from that rest, you receive power from on high. So fervent prayer, first of all, prayer that seeks blessing for others, prayer that confronts idolatry. And finally, where are our Elijahs? We say it's prayer that perseveres until the end, until the blessings come pouring down from heaven. Heavens were closed for three and a half years just because Elijah prayed fervently. The fire fell down from heaven just because Elijah prayed fervently. The people's idols were exposed just because Elijah prayed fervently. They fell on their knees and they said, The Lord, He is God. The Lord, He is God. But you would say, well, Elijah, go home and take a rest. Go lie in your bed for a moment because you might be exhausted. But Elijah was not done praying yet. He still looks for another answer from heaven. He says to Ab, the Lord has promised rain. He has promised. It's coming. It's coming. And we would say, Elijah, why don't you go to your lazy boy chair and kick back for a moment. Elijah says to us, I can't. The Lord has promised, so I need to pray. He seeks a quiet spot with his servant and he prays there. He kneels, he humbles himself, his head between his knees. One time he prays and says, servant, you go, have a look. Is the rain coming? Nothing. Second time, is the rain coming? Nothing. Third, is the rain coming? Nothing. 4, 5, 6, finally, the seventh time, a little cloud. It must have rejoiced his heart, a little cloud, just the size of a man's hand. Beloved, fervent prayer will persevere until the blessings and the promises of God come pouring down. It's agonizing prayer at times. But such prayers, beloved, opens the heavens and God comes and shines His glory and it appears to all men, the rain came pouring down. Not just physical rain, beloved. We are longing. I hope you're longing with me. We are longing for reviving reign. Spiritual reign. Converted people here today and those who are listening in. Sinners saved. Sinners repenting. Sinners looking to Jesus and saying, He, I need Him. Is that the focus of our prayers for our loved ones, for our church community, for the community around us? Such fervent prayer, beloved, is that we realize there are souls that will die forever. The next verse right after our text says this, that if any that has heard from the truth and converts him, he converts a sinner from the error of his ways and shall save his soul from death. It's the terror of the Lord, the terror of death, eternal death that pushes us forward. Have you tried such prayer? Have you found it not easy? It will be hard at times, but it's worth it. Why is it so hard? Because all true love, beloved, is costly. It costs Jesus his own life to love a sinful, prayerless people, to make them prayerful. Love is costly. C.S. Lewis said, Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with hobbies and little luxuries. Avoid all entanglement. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken. It will become unbreakable. It will become impenetrable. So what do we want? A hard, hard, Or do you cry out today, Lord, give me a soft heart. And let us pray until we pray. Let us be fervent, beloved. And it might be that sometime you are just like Elijah, exhausted, laying there at the foot of the juniper tree. But don't give up. Don't give up. Souls need to be saved. And God has said, I'm going to save souls by fervent prayer. Just as as a farmer, James four, verse seven says, Be patient, therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord until he comes. Be patient. Endure. Endure. Go on. Pray. Behold, a husbandman, the farmer, waiteth earnestly or patiently for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it until it receive the early and the latter rain. He knows the rain must come down from heaven. The Spirit of God must come. So let us not be weary in well-doing. In due season, God has promised, we will reap. And in due season, therefore, we can trust that He will pour out His Spirit upon us. And so as I conclude with this question, where are our Elijahs? I'm going to rephrase it for you. Where is our Elijah? Where is Jesus? The effectiveness of our prayers depends on Him. It depends on Him. Well, we know where He is. He's at the right hand of God. He's the greater prophet than Elijah. He's always fervent. His prayers are always effectual. On earth, He often prayed through nights even. He knew what agonizing prayer was. He knew weakness of the flesh. He cried out, I'm a worm and no man. It cost Him everything. to save sinful people, even to the point of death. He prayed, we read in Hebrews, with strong cryings and tears. And His prayers, beloved, are always heard. Bless the Lord, O my soul. His prayers are heard. He is more than an example. He is the High Priest who is in heaven for us. He makes intercession for His people. And therefore, you can come boldly to the throne of grace and He can help you in your time of need. What do you need? What do you need? He can help you. He was a human like you and me. He knows weaknesses. He knows what it means to cry. He knows tears. He was human, like you and me. And He prayed. He prayed like Elijah, fervently. And because of His sacrifice, there is now a way into the most holy place. You can come into the heavenly throne room and lay all your petitions before Him. And there he sits on the throne and he is claiming what belongs to him. And we may do so too. The Father has promised him. The Father has said to him, Ask and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance. Saul's saved. Ask. He said it to Jesus, His Son. He says it to us. Ask, come, claim. The Lord has promised to hear, always. That's why your and my prayers can be more fervent, should be more fervent than Elijah's. Because Christ's work is finished, and secondly, we have the full revelation of this blessed Savior. We know all about Him through the Word of God. And so Jesus is inviting us today. He calls you and me and says, Come, participate in bringing blessings down from heaven. He wants to encourage you and He says, I promise you, if you ask anything in My name, I will do it. Come, claim souls for My glory. Jesus has written a blank check for us, and he says, bring it to the bank of faith. What are you going to do? Are you going to bring the check back and cash it for his kingdom and for his glory, or are you going to waste it? because you find your newest toys and your pleasures far more interesting than prayer, than communion with the living God. Choose you today whom you will serve. If the Lord is God, serve him. If Baal is God, then serve him. Amen.