1st Kings chapter 17 verse 1 and Elijah the Tishbite who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, 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. Amen. We know the Lord will add his blessing to the reading of his word. When the Holy Spirit introduces Elijah, his story covers his service that follows salvation. We do not know much about Elijah but what we do know about Elijah is that he was a saved man, in a sense much about his life before. Because James chapter 5 verse 17 refers to the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man that feeleth much and in doing so he takes Elijah as the example of a righteous man who had power in prayer and on that basis we can say Elijah was a righteous man. He is that righteous man taken as the illustration. He is a man justified, pardoned by God through faith in Jesus Christ, the promised Redeemer. God justifies sinners for the purpose to glorify Him as they witness of Him by showing the transforming power of God in their life. We have noticed that Elijah was a sincere man. a man of like passions or feelings. Though he was unknown to others, and from an area unknown to others, yet the Lord knew where Elijah was. And the Lord was pleased to use this man, this ordinary man, to do great and mighty things for his own glory. Elijah was a separated man because he was separated unto the gospel. He worshipped Jehovah as the only true and living God. He would not bow down to the false idol of Baal. He was a sent man because God sent him to Ahab with a message. He was a standing man because he stood in the midst of Ahab. while he knew he was in the presence of God and he delivered a message to Ahab based on scripture. and Elijah give the word of God. And that brings us today to Elijah was a supplicating man because it follows through. A person who is saved will be a supplicating person. A person who is born again by the spirit of God will be a person of prayer. Is that not what happened to Paul in Acts chapter 9? As soon as he was saved, he entered into prayer because one said of him, behold, he prayeth. And that's why I encourage you, child of God, if you are a child of God, attend the prayer meetings in God's house. Attend the prayer meeting on Sunday morning. Seek God day by day in prayer because someone who is saved will be a child of prayer. We pray that God will raise up prayer warriors here in South Grove for the work in London, for the nation, that this nation again will seek God by his word, that God will give us power with man because we first have power with God. And as we look today at Elijah as a supplicating man, we read, nor rain these years, but according to my word." Mark those words, but according to my word. Don't miss the connection. Elijah could pray because of who he was praying to. His God was Jehovah. the eternal, unchanging God. Therefore what Elijah prayed was on the basis of what God had said recorded in his word. We looked at that last time when we looked at the words of Deuteronomy, but he brought God's word before him. Lord, this is what you said that you would do in a time like this. Lord, now it's a time like this. Do what you have said. Jehovah, the word God, you will never break your promise. Now, Lord, honor your word. And that's what Elijah does as he prays and as he stands before Ahab. He's basically saying, God, honor your word. Remember, David, whenever David prayed concerning the promises of God, we read in 2 Samuel 7, verse 25, Now, O Lord, The word that thou hast spoken concerning my servant, concerning this house, establish it forever, and do as thou hast said. Elijah could pray because he knew that God lived and God ruled over all. He prayed because God hears from heaven his dwelling place. He prayed because he believed God hears and God answers prayer. He prayed because he realized God is almighty and with him nothing is impossible. Elijah had all the ammunition he needed in prayer and therefore he got to pray regarding the situation in the land. He got to pray to prayer regarding the great falling away in the land. He's seen the rise of Baal worship and Jehovah being forsaken. as we brought that to the Lord. And notice, as we think then of Elijah's prayer, Elijah, a man of supplication, notice three simple thoughts. Elijah prayed earnestly. We learn from his prayer, it concerned the rain. James chapter five, verse 17. He prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not by the space of three years and six months. Now, do you see that there? He prayed earnestly that it might not rain. Elijah could pray such a prayer, because as we learned last week, he based his prayer upon Scripture, that if God's people did not walk in the ways of God, If God's people did not honour God, then God would shut heaven and there would be the blessings withheld, both physical and spiritual. And again, the rain was stopped at this time. But notice, James says he prayed earnestly. And if you have a margin in your Bible, the words he prayed earnestly read, He prayed in his prayer. Elijah prayed in his prayer. What does that mean? It means he did not go through the motions. He was not praying in mechanical or robotical mode. He was not just repeating prayers or linking phrases. Rather, he prayed in his prayer. He prayed with intensity. He prayed with passion. He prayed with zeal. He prayed based on the word of God. Like Jacob, he wrestled with God. And his prayer was that it might not rain. He believed the word of God and therefore he prayed on those grounds. And what a lesson we have in prayer. If you want to learn like the disciple who came and asked the Lord Jesus, Lord teach us to pray. Then learn that prayer must be on scriptural ground. Elijah supplicated. Elijah could pray that it might not rain. because he was quoting the Word of God. He knew the Word of God. Elijah didn't come with his own thoughts. or his own notions. He didn't come with empty stories, meaningless ideas. Rather, Elijah was praying over the ground off the Word of God. And I always encourage this congregation that whenever you pray in your house, whenever you pray privately, whenever you pray in public prayer meetings, Use the language of God. Use the language of scripture. Pray over his truth. Bring back his word before him, because God has not promised to honour your stories or your opinions, but he has promised to honour his word. He has promised that his word will not return unto him void. Therefore, when you come to pray, pray over scripture, use scripture, and say, Lord, do as you have said, because God will honour his word. Pray over the word. That's why many get discouraged in prayer, because they don't pray in their praying. How frequently are those words true? In James chapter four, verse three, ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss. that ye might consume it upon your lusts. The words ask amiss literally read to ask wrongly. And the idea is this, whenever you come to pray, you're not thinking right. You're not praying in a right manner. You're just praying vain repetitions that are not according to the word of God. You're just telling stories. You're just waffling. The Word of God is not used in prayer. Instead, such people report, they advertise, they chastise to get at one another. They pray to get their point across. They pray to preach a sermon in their prayer. They pray to let people know what they have done and how much they've done. And that is asking amiss. That is asking wrongly. In fact, that's not even asking anything. That's simply just telling what you've done. Prayer should lead to the throne of grace. Prayer should lead into the presence of God to know that when I'm praying, I'm in the presence of God. Elijah, he prayed earnestly. Elijah, as it reads, prayed in his prayer. The effectual. fervent prayer of a righteous man, or if you like, for the ladies, a righteous woman, afealeth much. The word afealeth, it means to plead, it means to accomplish, it means to have power. Elijah prayed in a deep need and God through Elijah Through his praying, accomplished great things, God used Elijah as a man of prayer, for him to pray on the ground of God's word, and then for God to bless on that basis. Again, scripture records for our encouragement that his prayer was answered. James chapter five, verse 17 and 18. And it rained not. on the earth for the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit." That was, as you read in 1 Kings 18, the sound of abundance of rain. God answered prayer. Elijah prayed, and heaven was shut. He prayed again, and the heaven gave rain. I say unto you, men and women, I say unto you, young people, plead the promises of the book. When you pray at home, learn to pray scripture. Take a passage and pray over that passage and use it in your prayer language. When you pray scripture, learn from the word of God, and that will keep you right and biblical in your praying. That will help you not to go into bypass meadow. That will help you not to go into a trail somewhere else. It'll help you not to get sidetracked. Rather, you come and pray as God has said in his word. Notice secondly, Elijah prayed exclusively. When Elijah prayed this prayer, he knew what he was asking God. He didn't beat around the bush. He did not pray generally or in general terms. Rather, his prayer was exclusive. It was direct. It was specific. It was right to the point. Elijah said to Ahab there shall not be dew nor rain these years but according to my word James chapter 5 verse 17 says and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain Elijah said these years In chapter 18, verse 1, it came to pass many days that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go show thyself unto Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth. Maybe you would say such a prayer should not be prayed. It seems so harsh, no rain, the crops being affected. It would bring much suffering. Surely he should just be praying more compassionate, more loving, praying for prosperity, not praying for the rain to stop. Surely that's not a prayer for a righteous man. He should be praying, Lord, just bless the nation. Lord, just strengthen us again. But no, Elijah was praying, Lord, that it might not rain, because you've said in your word that if my people turn from you, that if my people backslide, that if my people reject your word, that you will shut up heaven. Lord, that time has come. Honor your word. I'm praying, Lord, that it might not rain. and God honoured his word and it did not rain for three years and six months. How many people today would say such praying is terrible? People would say that God is to blame for these things. People would say, when such things happen, don't speak to me about God. Oh, if there was a God, he would not allow this to happen. But scripture reminds us, as I said, in Elijah's day, God withheld the rain because of the people's sin. God had promised to bless them. but they refused his blessing. They turned back on his word. They worshipped Baal and they forsook him. On every side God was openly insulted and defied by Baal worshippers. And today our land is under spiritual drought. The nation has taken God out of schools, out of courts. Sodomy and abortion and much more have been legalised. King Solomon said this in Proverbs 14 verse 31, Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Elijah was very jealous for the honour of God. He wanted to see God's name exalted in the land again. And so whenever he prayed, he prayed in his prayer. Oh may God give us men and women in this church who will pray in their prayer. Not weary prayers, not droopy prayers, but praying in our prayers that you can see here's one in touch with God. two things that go together, scripture and supplication, precepts and prayer. The Lord Jesus, in order to teach his disciples about praying, got straight to the point and encouraged them to pray for the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Luke chapter 11, verse 11 to 13, if a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asked a fish, will he give a fish for a servant? If he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion? If then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children. How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? And that's praying specific. Lord, fill me with the Holy Ghost. That's why we encourage in the prayer meeting on Monday night. And in the prayer meeting on Sunday morning, to pray exclusively, specifically, Lord, bring sinners in. Lord, bring people in to God's house. Lord, save sinners today. Lord, move in great power today. Fill us, Lord, revive us. Such praying is to pray exclusively. But notice, finally, Elijah prayed effectually. James 5, verse 17 and 18, Elijah prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not by the space of three years and six months. Remember, in Luke 4, verse 25, the Lord Jesus Christ, he quoted from the life of Elijah, and he said this in Luke 4, verse 25, I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land. And remember, that famine was the result of sin. But here the Lord uses the thought three years, the third year, three and a half years. Now, there's many people who would seek to try and find error with the Bible or try to find contradictions. But remember, God's Word is inspired and errant, that means it has no errors, and it is infallible. The answer is clear. There had already been six months of drought when Elijah visited Ahab. When Elijah appeared to Ahab in 1 Kings chapter 18, it was the third year of the famine. Therefore, six months before Elijah appeared to Ahab, in 1st Kings 17, he was in private prayer, praying over God's truth. Because after three years and six months, James 5, verse 18 teaches that he prayed again. In the third year, he prayed again. So, if he prayed in the third year, and the rain came again, But it didn't rain for three years and six months. That means that for six months, Ahab had been in private prayer, spending time alone with God, bringing God's truth before him. And then when he had prayed, God sent them to Ahab. And then there was no rain for the next three years. And when he prayed again, the heaven gave rain. The earth brought forth her fruit. And we read that in 1 Kings 18, whenever, after the fire fell upon the sacrifice, that Elijah said, there is a sound of abundance of rain. The rain was coming this way. What you are in private prayer, will be reflected in public prayer. Some struggle with public prayer because they struggle with private prayer, but one thing we must never do, never use, and this is a bad habit for Christians all over Christendom, many use public prayer to make up for private prayer, and they must never do that. Never do that because what happens is this, you find then people will just pray for half an hour, 40 minutes in a public pyramid to make up time for not praying in public. And that is a case that was a lesson that was always taught to us in our young days. Never use public prayer as an excuse to make up for private prayer. Rather, you come to pray in public because you're so used to praying privately, that whenever you're speaking to God in prayer, there's not this awkward conversation as if I haven't spoken to you in weeks, in months, in days. You don't know what to say. I've lost touch. What was the last thing we spoke about? Rather, You're seeking God every day in prayer, and that flows out during public prayer. Elijah prayed privately, and then on Mount Carmel, he prayed publicly. What did the Lord teach his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount? Matthew chapter six, verse six, but thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou shut thy door, pray to thy father which seeth in secret, and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Can I ask, are you spending time alone with God in prayer? Have you entered into the closet, the secret chamber? That means a time set aside where you seek God in prayer. The Saviour set the example because he prayed privately and he prayed publicly. Mark 1, verse 35, in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out and departed into a solitary place, that means an isolated place, and there prayed. And so I'm not saying you have to get up first thing in the morning. I'm not saying you have to set the clock for five o'clock in the morning and get up and pray. I'm simply saying, do you have a quiet time where you can seek God in prayer? Do you have a time set aside where you can come before God and pray for yourself, pray for your family, pray for the work in South Grove? But the Saviour, in closing, not only prayed privately, but he also prayed publicly. Again, Luke 24, verse 34. known as his sayings on the cross. What did he pray? Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. That was praying publicly. And he prayed for the forgiveness of sinners he came to die for. He was praying for them that their sin would be forgiven by his cleansing power. Christ petitioned the Father to forgive sinners on the basis of what he was doing at that moment making atonement for their sin. He was that sacrifice prepared for them. And I want you to see that his prayer was answered because on that day when there was a thief either side of Christ, one man on his right, one man on his left, while one man rejected, Yet Christ had prayed for the salvation of all given to him. And right on his side, one of those thieves cried, Lord, remember me. Remember me. Christ's prayer was answered. Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. And yet one of these blasphemers, one of these criminals, were wonderfully and gloriously saved. Again, Acts chapter 2, verse 23 to 26, when Peter preached the gospel to those who were there that day, they were pricked in their heart, the Bible says. They were guilty of their sin. And we understand in verse 41, 3,000 were saved. Can I just say to you, believer, seek God in prayer because God hears and God answers prayer. He's the true and living God of heaven. Come before him, bring his word before him for this nation, for this congregation, and see God do great and mighty things. He is the true and the living God. Sinner, you come and ask Him for salvation. Ask Him to save you, for He hears and He answers prayer. Look to Him and be saved, and He will receive you, because whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. And we've looked at these opening remarks of the characteristics of Elijah. And there's many more that we'll go through in our study. But I trust as we go through this study, and we see a man who is just like ourselves, a man ordinary, a man of self-like feelings, of passions, ups and downs, one minute on fire for God, and next minute coldness setting in, we will learn from this man. And we pray that we'll be drawn closer to the Savior, to stay close to him. May the Lord write his word upon