We're continuing here, obviously, in a series of messages involving the prophet Elijah. Probably the most famous event in his life's history and in his ministry was the confrontation that took place with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. It was there at the altar, not a new altar, but the old altar that had been rebuilt. that Jehovah God proved himself to be indeed the true and the only living God. And at the same time, proving that Baal and the system of Balaam was but a false deity and list of deities. God sent the fire upon the sacrifice, the sacrifice that lay on the true altar, the separate altar. the old altar of the Lord that Elijah had repaired. In the land, false worship had supplanted the true, but now the false was again to be overthrown, and the true worship restored. Both could not be accepted. The truth must take the place of the lie. If I might just interject here, we've just passed the season of Reformation Day on the 31st of October. And it's interesting to note throughout history that there was the rise of false religion. And then when the gospel was in the ascendancy, that false religion was overthrown. Then, when there was backsliding and a turning away from the true religion once again, there was once again a reestablishment of the false worship in the land. This has been a repeated cycle over the centuries. And we're living in a day when false religion has again taken to the prominent place. But the Lord is able to revive His work even today. Notice again, and I must emphasize this, Elijah did not worship at Baal's altar, ever. He never shared the altar with false religionists. He was not an ecumenist. Elijah was separated in his worship of the Lord. And we discover as well, as I just mentioned, he did not make a new altar. The old altar was broken down, the stones were all in disarray, but he did not make a new altar. He repaired the old altar, put together that which had been forsaken. And in all of these things, we're taught lessons about the way that we ought to worship the true God today. But we're gonna go further, down to verse 36 and to 37 and 38. And we may learn there another great truth, and it's the importance of prayer for the church and the individual Christian in connection with true worship. Elijah is known in Scripture as a man of prayer. If you read James chapter 5, there's some extensive detail there about the prayer ministry of Elias or Elijah. Elijah was a praying man. And this is clearly illustrated in this chapter. And I want to glean from the prayer of Elijah some lessons for our own prayer lives and for the prayer life of the church. Notice very simply, first of all, his preparation for prayer. Verse 33 records, and he put the wood in order. Didn't just throw it on a big pile any which way would do. He put the wood in order and cut the bullock in pieces and laid him on the wood. Everything was done carefully. Everything was done in detail. And he said, fill four barrels with water, pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood. And he said, do it the second time, they did it the second time. He said, do it the third time, they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar and he filled the trench also with water. Before praying, preparation was made by the man of God. And this preparation was scriptural. If you go back in your Bible to the book of Leviticus chapter one, you'll see how the sacrifice was to be ordered when it was brought to the priest. The burnt sacrifice, that is. Leviticus chapter one, from verse six. And he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into his pieces. And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar and lay the wood in order upon the fire. "'and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, "'the head and the fat, in order upon the wood "'that is on the fire which is upon the altar.'" This is what Elijah did. He did things in accordance with the Word of God. Things were done decently and in order, and there's obviously a spiritual truth here. We can't just live any old way we want and still enjoy the blessing of the Lord, and we cannot worship any old way we want and expect the blessing of the Lord. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me, Psalm 66, 18 tells me. If you live in outright disobedience to Scripture, it's actually going to keep your prayers from getting through to the Lord. It's as simple as that. How do I know that? Well, because of what Psalm 66, 18 says, if I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. But also, that's followed up by Isaiah 59, verse 2. But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. Sin is a barrier to God regarding prayer. Again, the book of Lamentations, the Lamentations of Jeremiah, it says something in chapter three about this. Verses 42 and 44. Lamentations three, 42 and 44. We have transgressed and have rebelled. Thou hast not pardoned. Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud that our prayer should not pass through. Maybe we need to put the wood in order in some respects on the altar of our souls today, because there is a very real connection between obedience to scripture and answers to prayer. I know there are times when the Lord will answer in spite of us, but most of the time, we have to understand that if we know that he hear us, as 1 John 3 puts it, and let me just get this correct, because I want you to see the connection with what I'm saying here. It's 1 John 3. Verse 22, "'And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, "'because we keep his commandments "'and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.'" Not perfectly, of course not. But there is that ongoing desire to do what God wants us to do. Our praying then will be scriptural. Elijah's preparation for prayer, furthermore, was sacrificial. You see mention made of the 12 barrels of water. Some commentators have conjectured about this and thought, well, there was a big body of salt water nearby. They must have gone down there and filled the barrels with that water. And, of course, it would be just as easily a miracle, viewed as a miracle, if the Lord were to send the fire even upon salt water. But what if, as some believe, The water was fresh water. It had been gathered for the drinking of the people. There was a drought, and they needed water. What if, as I believe it could well have been, they had set aside the most precious commodity at that time, 12 barrels of fresh water, and they poured it out on the altar for God? That would be a real sacrifice, wouldn't it? That would be really, as we say today, putting your money where your mouth is. The Lord is looking for sacrificial obedience, and he tells us that to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. When famine was at its height, there was a severe drought. Elijah poured 12 barrels of water on the altar. And if I'm correct in this conjecture, then that speaks to us of sacrificial Christianity. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies. This is a volunteer thing, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. There's a hymn which says, as you're all on the altar of sacrifice laid, your life does the spirit control. Preparation for prayer. Secondly, notice his plea in prayer. 1 Kings 18.36 tells us that Elijah came near. He came near. It reminds us of Abraham so long ago, in Genesis 18, where the Bible says he drew near to the Lord. Doesn't the book of James say to us as believers, draw nigh to God and he will draw nigh to you? Draw near to the Lord. This is what we do when we pray. And Elijah came near, not on any other basis, but on the ground of sacrifice. Look again at verse 33. He put the wood in order, he cut the bullock in pieces, laid him on the wood and said, fill four barrels with water and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood. The token of his approach, a bullock cut in pieces. This again, if you study Leviticus chapter one, was the scriptural method. This is what God had outlined should be done. The bullock would be cut into pieces. This slain animal, you see, was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Its blood was shed. This pictured the death of the Saviour as a substitute and a sacrifice for sinners at the cross. Elijah, therefore, drew near to God upon the ground of the shed blood and on the ground of sacrifice. And this is how we come to God in prayer. You will often hear myself and other preachers, perhaps, quoting the words of Hebrews chapter 10. From verse 19, "'Having therefore, brethren, boldness "'to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, "'by a new and living way which he hath consecrated for us, "'through the veil, let us to say, his flesh, "'and having an high priest over the house of God, "'let us draw near with a true heart, "'in full assurance of faith, "'having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, "'and our bodies washed with pure water.'" This is all tabernacle language. Our only plea in prayer is the blood of Christ. We come near by the blood of Jesus, shed for us. This is the token of our approach. But notice as well with Elijah, the time of his approach. And this is very significant. There are no details in the Bible that are not important. And certainly in this passage, there's a detail given that we need to really take note of. And that is the time when Elijah approached the altar to worship. Verse 36, notice this. And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. This was a regular thing done every day in Israel, the morning and evening sacrifice, and the one used to be referred to as being offered between the two evenings. Between the two evenings. And if you study it out, you'll find that that's exactly the time of day when Jesus was crucified in darkness. This is when Elijah approached You see, at that very moment in the southern kingdom of Judah, in the temple at Jerusalem, the daily evening sacrifice was being offered right at that very moment, that which was typical of Calvary that was yet to come. And Elijah knew that. And he was drawing near to God at that altar at the very same time, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. He knew the significance of it. The Holy Spirit knew the significance of it. That's why He has not recorded the words of verse 36 for nothing. Again, let me just say, the evening sacrifice was offered at the ninth hour of the day, which was about 3 p.m. in the afternoon. And if you study it out, you go to the New Testament, to Matthew chapter 27, and verse 46, something really important happened. And about the ninth hour... That's the afternoon, 3 p.m., the time when the evening sacrifice was being offered in the temple. About the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' which is to say, "'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' What are we saying? At the same time that the fire of God's judgment fell on the altar with Elijah, the fire of God's judgment fell on the Lord Jesus at Calvary, centuries later. What was Elijah's plea in prayer? It's obvious, it's the atoning sacrifice. It's the shed blood, the token of his approach. the bullet cut in pieces, typical of Christ, the time of his approach at the very moment of the evening sacrifice, the time when Jesus would die on the cross in the time of darkness and make that great cry, "'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' Notice as well the title used in Elijah's approach. How did he pray? How did he address God? Well, the Bible tells us there in verse 36, that he came near and said, middle of the verse, "'Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel.'" Jehovah, God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel. He is speaking about and speaking to the covenant God. When we draw near to God in prayer, it is to one who has a covenant relationship with his people. We are in covenant with Him. Again, 2 Kings 13, and verse 23 makes reference to this. 2 Kings 13, verse 23. And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet." He's the covenant-keeping God. What is the blood of Jesus described as? It's described in Hebrews 13, 20 as the blood of the everlasting covenant. The covenant relationship that we enjoy is grounded upon the bloodshedding of our Saviour. Therefore, our only plea before God at the throne of grace is the work of Christ. No works of merit now I plead, but Jesus take for all my need. No righteousness in me is found except upon redemption ground. So we've looked at his preparation for prayer. We've looked at his plea in prayer. Look at his purpose in prayer. And verses 36 and 37 make this abundantly clear that when Elijah prayed, he had a twofold aim and object, a twofold purpose. The first one, he desired the glory of God. This is really important. When he prayed, he said, "'Let it be known, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, "'let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel.'" That's his great desire. This was paramount in his thinking, the glory of God. He wanted God's name to be uplifted And of course then, as we will notice, he wanted God to vindicate the ministry of his servant as well. But God's glory must come first. If we want things to happen in the work of God, what's the reason? Do we want our own name to prosper? Do we want people to think that we're great, that there's something wonderful about us or what we're doing? No, we want to do it for the glory of God, that the Lord might receive the praise. God's glory must come first, must come first. Do we have that zeal for the glory of the Lord? Think about your praying, when you're praying for things. What's your motivation? What's your main desire when you pray? Is it God's glory, or is it your own selfish interests? Remember when we were studying John 17, one of the very first things I mentioned was in Christ's prayer, in John 17, verse 1, "'Father, the hour has come. Glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee.'" His prayer was for the glory of God. Again, in John 14 and verse 13. The Lord said, Whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Are we praying for the glory of God? In all our praying, it doesn't matter what the subject is, let our aim be His glory in it. If we're praying for souls to be saved, obviously that's a great thing. But it's a great thing because it brings glory to God first and foremost, and then benefit to the sinner. Oh, let our aim always be the glory of God. Lord, let thy name be glorified, even if my name perishes. But then, God will vindicate his own servants before the eyes of men. And these people who were there at the altar knew that Elijah was God's servant, when the fire fell. And so, not only was his purpose and prayer the glory of God, but the good of the people. The restoration of the people was Elijah's desire, and he expressed this. Look at it again. Not only did he say, "'Let it be known that thou art God in Israel, "'but also, and that I am thy servant, and that I've done all these things at thy word." This is in connection with the glory of God, is the name of his people, their reputation. Then, "'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.'" The good of the people. This was the aim of Elijah. Their restoration. the blessing of God on their lives, and every true man of God will have this same objective. He will love the souls of men. He will want to see people getting right with God. He will want to see people saved. And we ought to be praying for that. We ought to be praying for souls to be saved in our church and outside of our church, and for God's cause to be advanced among sinners. You know, it does you good when you hear about somebody getting saved. And it does you even more good when you see, several years later, they're still going on with God. It's a wonderful thing. There's several examples of that in the work that I was just in, in the Czech Republic. It's thrilling to see. But notice as well, not only should we be praying for God's glory and for the good of the people, And this, of course, was his purpose in prayer. But the final thought that I have here is his power in prayer. The answer was given. That's the bottom line. 1 Kings 18, verse 38 and 39. Then, Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces, and they said, the Lord, he is the God. The Lord, he is the God. The answer was given because fire fell on the altar. By sending the fire, God was letting all the people there know that He was God and Israel. And then the response of the people revealed that God had indeed turned their hearts back to Himself. Oh, what power with God Elijah had. Because the answer came. And people may look at Elijah and think, well, he was a mighty man of God, he's a powerful man of God, but I'm not Elijah. Well, of course you're not Elijah, but listen to what the Bible says about Elijah. James chapter 5, verse 16, the latter part. We might just stop there. Elias was a man. He was not an angel. He was not superhuman. He wasn't somebody that was transported in from outer space. He was a man, an ordinary man. And the Bible says this, subject to like passions as we are. In other words, he was just like you and me. Had the same discouragements, had the same problems, had the same things to deal with in his life. It 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. He is an example of the truth of that statement just before. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. If you're a child of God, you can pray. You can see answers coming. And this answer, when it did come, it was conclusive. No one could argue with such a mighty demonstration of God's power as what happened that day when the fire fell. God proved that he was God, and nobody dared deny it. We need to see that today. We need to see such a move of God that people, they may not like it, but they'll have to admit, that's God. That can't be explained any other way but the hand of the Lord. That's what we need to see. Revival, spiritual awakening, a God-glorifying, soul-saving, life-changing move of the Holy Spirit. God is able. And even as we say these things, the devil's whispering into our ears, it can't be. It's not gonna happen. but he's a liar. The promises of God are yea and amen in Christ. Listen to Psalm 126. The first three verses. When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter and our tongue with singing. Then said they among the heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Then he prays, turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves. with Him. May God answer prayer in our day for the glory and honor of His own name. Amen.