More Effective Prayers Pacific Church Pastors JF & Ashley Wilkerson
More Effective Prayers
January 12, 2025
Pastors JF & Ashley Wilkerson
James 5:16-18 NIV
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. 17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
1. Elijah Knew That God Is Listening.
1 John 5:14-15 NIV
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
1 Kings 17:22a NASB
22 The Lord listened to the voice of Elijah...
1. Elijah Knew That God Is Listening.
2. Elijah Understood Others Are Listening.
Ephesians 3:8-11 NIV
8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Kings 18:39 NIV
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
1 Kings 18:41 NIV
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.”
1. Elijah Knew That God Is Listening.
2. Elijah Understood Others Are Listening.
3. Elijah’s Listening Directed His Prayers.
1 Kings 18:42-43 NIV
42 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. 43 “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.”
1 Kings 18:44-45a NIV
44 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.’” 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling ….
1 Kings 18:45b-46 NIV
Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Isaiah 40:30-31 NIV
30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary…
1. Elijah Knew That God Is Listening.
2. Elijah Understood Others Are Listening.
3. Elijah’s Listening Directed His Prayers.