Power Shortage Prayers

1 KINGS 18:17-22, 26-30, 36–40

SUBJECT: AUTHORITY IN PRAYER

                                                                                                                       

THEME: regularly engaging the Lord in prayer becomes more inviting when we review our God-given privileges, authority, and power in the light of our Lord’s cross. This is how we begin to appreciate the power we have with God and a satisfying relationship with Him.

INTRODUCTION:

Many believers find it hard to develop intimacy with God because they are not sure they belong in His presence. They are uncomfortable talking with and approaching God; they wonder and even doubt if He really accepts them. You see, not realizing that we are privileged to access God as priests can greatly hinder any hope of true openness and boldness for approaching the throne of grace.  Beloved, it is imperative that we understand we are not merely tolerated in God’s presence, but we are ushered in by Jesus Christ. Without overstating the facts, we have a right to be there because of Christ’s cross and blood sacrifice. Consider how Scripture portrays this glorious reality.

Hebrews 10:19, Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

James 5:16, 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.

  

Therefore, without any reservations we should freely come to our heavenly Father with complete confidence in the finish work of Christ. This is not coming into the area of some earthly temple or worship structure, but into the very inner throne room of the Almighty. This is not merely an appeal to St. Peter, St, Paul, or some other ‘saint’, but a direct appeal to the Most High! You and I need no one else to cry out to God except the Lord Jesus! Remember, it is not our merits that afford us access to God, but Christ’s cross! 

The truth of praying boldly with great power and mind-blowing results is wonderfully illustrated in the events on Mt. Carmel during the lifetime of the prophet Elijah. Certainly Elijah was accomplishing extraordinary exploits through prayer!  Unfortunately, the exact opposite is unveiled at the same biblical event—gross powerlessness in godless praying resulting in absolutely nothing. That is correct...though hundreds of 'priests' prayed for hours, cried out loudly, danced to the point of exhaustion, and bleed profusely as a part of their prayer ritual, it still achieved absolutely nothing. It had zero impact on the Most High God. How could this be when they were so sincere and fervent? 

LESSON:

God’s prophet Elijah and King Ahab had been in conflict for some time over idolatry and false worship in Israel before Elijah declared a showdown. Elijah commanded the king to call the Israelites to Mount Carmel, as well as the prophets of Baal and Asherah who were supported strongly by Queen Jezebel. When all parties were assembled, Elijah said to the people, “… How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21). The people did not respond, so Elijah challenged the prophets to a duel of sorts. In the outcome we witness a mind-blowing answer to prayer, and in contrast, we see a massive shameful failure.

CONSIDER AN EXAMPLE OF PRAYING WITHOUT ANY POWER

The prophets of Baal and the prophet Elijah were each given a bull to sacrifice. Elijah said, “And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.” (1 Kings 18:24).

And the showdown begins….

   1.  The Scene at Carmel is Extremely Revealing in Relation to Prayer.

Imagine the scene.  The prophets of Baal agreed to this plan and they spent all day—from morning until the time of the evening sacrifice—crying out to Baal, leaping about the altar, and cutting themselves with knives, all without any result whatsoever. In these passages, we witness one of the greatest expressions of powerless prayer in the entire Bible.   

      A.  The Fervor of the Prophets.

Great fervor, great length, and great energy in prayer are not necessarily keys to praying power.  They have not even addressed the one and true God, nor do they have a relationship with Him.

           1.  They Cried Out Loudly! 

Four hundred and fifty men "called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon" (vs. 26); but they achieved nothing. They shouted at the top of their voices! In verse 28, we find more details of their fruitless antics: “and they cried loud” exerting incredible energy all the while.

           2.  They Danced Feverishly!   (Vs. 26) “and the leaped upon the altar which was made.”

This was the sacrificial dance performed by these priests round about and upon the altar.

           3.  They Prayed Bloodily!

The first record informs us that they prayed or “called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon” (vs. 26).

Later in the day, they became so frustrated that they "cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.” (v.28)

           4.  They Performed Extendedly!

All day long they cried out to Baal! We read that "they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice," (vs. 29).

All of this effort, but none of it availed even a holy grunt from their gods! Beloved, we must approach the throne of grace by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He gives us the right to approach God. It is not our long prayers, religious antics, or fleshly fervor that gains us access to God. No nothing but a relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ can afford that!

      B.  The Failure of Their Prayers.

The children of Israel waited expectantly—no doubt growing restless as the day wore on. The heavens matched their own silence when they had refused to respond to Elijah's initial challenge. Baal, who supposedly was in charge of the weather, did not respond. There was no thunder, no lightning, and no fire! We simply read that “there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” (v.29)  

Likewise, our prayers will only be effective as we operate from the context of a relationship with the true and living God. That means trusting Jesus Christ as Savior for the forgiveness of sins, and as a believer-priest engaging God through intercession and prayer. Beloved, our confidence is in the Lord Jesus’ ability to afford us access to God’s ear. No matter how long, how loudly, how fervently, or how eloquently we cry out, God will only hear if we have a right relationship with Him and we approach Him in Jesus’ name. The power that gains the ear of God must essentially be spiritual in its nature and not carnal expressions or powerless rituals.

   2.  The Sarcasm at Carmel Was Extremely Revealing in Relation to Prayer.

1 Kings 18:27, And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. 

For Elijah, this was an electrifying moment!

      A.  Elijah’s Silence.

Initially, Elijah stood by silently. However, by noontime he could restrain himself no longer. He began to taunt the prophets of Baal.

      B.  Elijah’s Statements. 

Elijah used the opportunity to contrast what they unfortunately believed with what was actually happening. If Baal is the god they thought he was why hadn't he responded to all of this frantic noise and motion? After all, there were four hundred and fifty men shouting and dancing! How could any god sleep through that?

The Lord Jesus emphasizes that it is a sin to pray to be seen and heard by others (Matt. 6:5-15). Prayer is secret fellowship with God, although public prayer is certainly authorized in the Bible. However, nobody should pray in public who does not pray in private; for that would be hypocrisy. Jesus points out three common errors concerning prayer: (1) praying to be heard by others (vv. 5-6); (2) praying mere words, empty repetition (vv. 7-8); and (3) praying with sin in the heart (vv. 14-15).

So many people pray as if they are preaching a sermon; instead of talking to God it is obvious they are talking to fellow believers. Some literally use the same words when they are called on to pray in public, and they do the same when praying alone. The mind is not even engaged in such pointless rituals. They devote themselves to nothing and no one; they “say their prayers,” but fail to address God. This is pure powerless ritual! Then some have pet sins they hold in higher regard than God; they actually value their sinful practice more then their relationship to God. How can God possibly listen to prayers from hearts that are really more devoted to sinful habits and practices then to Himself? 

Furthermore, the Bible mentions a number of hindrances to effective prayer. Among them is an unforgiving spirit. God does not forgive us because we forgive others but on the basis of the blood of Christ (1 John 1:9). Please allow me to hasten and say an unforgiving spirit will hinder our prayer life. Such godless attitudes demonstrate that a person has no understanding of the grace of God. God cannot forgive sin that has not been repented of and confessed. Harboring an unforgiving spirit is a gross violation of God's expectations for all His children. If we understand anything about how much God has forgiven our mess, we will forgive others their offenses against us far more readily. Beware, the more we feel justified for withholding forgiveness, the more difficult it will be to forgive. I encourage anyone in such a condition to run back to Calvary and think long and hard about how much God has forgiven them. Since God has dealt graciously with us, we must give grace to other undeserving souls. Our prayers will be powerless until we make this right with God. 

      C.  Elijah’s Strategy. 

The plan of God’s prophet worked! This is largely because the plan came from God originally. Praise the Lord for such courageous servants!

             1.  He Was Not Promoting Pride.

Do not misunderstand me. Elijah did not intend for his sarcasm to be a display of pride and arrogance. Rather, he was teaching Israel an important lesson. The wonderful reality is his strategy worked. Once Elijah challenged them, they shouted louder. Specifically, the Scriptures say, “And they cried aloud”!  They even injured themselves. Perhaps they understood their lives were at stake. If Elijah won this battle, they would be in deep trouble not only with King Ahab but with all of Israel.

             2.  He Was Presenting a Point. 

You see, carnal and fleshly efforts applied to holy matters will not result in spiritual power and effectiveness in prayer. Beloved, the flesh will never equal the Spirit! Going about holy disciplines and practices our own way will not prove to be effective from God’s perspective. Popular innovations in spiritual disciplines like prayer, meditation, Bible reading, worship, and self-examination are not effective if they are executed in fleshly and carnal energy. God requires that we pray in the Spirit (Jude 20), and the Spirit aids our prayers in a tremendous way in spite of our weaknesses (Rom. 8:27). Carnal shortcuts to spiritual maturity encouraged in certain "movements" will never yield genuine spiritual fruit!

Praying in the Holy Spirit is not speaking in tongues, but is “praying out of hearts and souls that are indwelt, illuminated, and filled with the Holy Spirit” (George Lawrence Lawlor, Translation and Exposition of the Epistle of Jude, p. 127). It is praying in the power of the Holy Spirit (cf. Eph. 6:18). –J. Walvoord

We are to pray as guided by the Spirit. That is in accordance with the will of God as revealed in the Bible or as privately revealed by the Spirit in a subjective way to the believer. If the guidance is from the Spirit of Grace it will be in agreement with the Bible. God is not confused, beloved. Prayer led by the Spirit is in contrast to prayers which are recited mechanically or spun off without any real spiritual involvement. God is not obligated to respond favorably to mindless and heartless rituals. 

CONCLUSION:

The power for building the Christian life comes from prayer: “praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20). The Word of God and prayer go together in spiritual growth. If all we do is read and study the Bible, we will have a great deal of light, but not much power. However, if we concentrate on prayer and ignore the Bible, we may be guilty of zeal without knowledge. We read the Word to grow in faith (Rom. 10:17), then we use that faith to ask God for what we need and what His Word tells us we may have.—Wiersbe

Regularly communicating with the Lord is an awesome privilege! God-given authority and power in the light of our Lord’s cross is the source of our power. As we explore this wonderful reality, we begin to appreciate the power we have with God. Furthermore, a deepening and roundly satisfying relationship with Him takes shape to our edification.

We do not need to be among the many believers experiencing difficulty developing intimacy with God. We can know with great certainty that we are welcome in the very presence of the Almighty of the universe. Though we should always be reverent, we can be comfortable talking with and approaching God with confidence that He really does accept us. The blood of Christ is key!

Our Lord Jesus and the blessed Holy Spirit aid our prayer efforts and empower us and them to make effective appeals to our heavenly Father. Not understanding these privileges can greatly hinder any hope of true openness and boldness in the Lord.  God does not simply endure our entering His mighty presence; no, we are escorted in by Jesus Christ himself! Through Christ we have every right to be there because of His cross and blood sacrifice.  Therefore, without any reservations freely come to our heavenly Father with complete confidence in the finish work of Christ.  It’s not our merits that afford us access to God, but Christ’s cross! Beloved, the source of our power is not carnal but deeply and wonderfully spiritual.