Breath of Power - Week 27/04

Week 27: June 28 - July 4, 2004

The Great Power of Prayer Part II

Key Passage: 1 Kings 18: 42 - 45

So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’" Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain.

Some have wrongly thought that all Prophet Elijah did to shut the heavens was to walk up to King Ahab and announce, “O King, there shall be no more rains,” and walked away. What he rather did was that he prayed an earnest, heartfelt, deep, passionate, fervent, continued, insistent, persistent, resilient and outlasting prayer (Jam 5: 16-17). James 5 verse 18 reads, “And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain.”

Today’s key passage helps us to understand the manner of prayer Elijah made to shut and to open the heavens. After he announced the abundance of rain (1 Kg 18:41), Elijah did not go to feast with Ahab, he rather went up the mountain, cast himself on the ground and travailed in prayer like a woman in labor. He wrestled, was persistent, and did not give up, till he prayed through. Six times he sent out his servant to look out for the sign of answer. He was expectant, knocking at the walls that had sealed up the heavens. At the seventh time, the walls came down, and the praying man knew the battle was over.

How wonderful it would be if we will learn to take our battles to conclusive ends in prayer. There are times we are praying and we notice strongholds begin to break. These are the times many of us quit praying. However, these should be the times we ought to increase our prayer tempo and press for decisive victory. When you are praying and you sense the anointing, that reveals that God has began to work. Then is the time to knock harder at the walls until you receive the release in your soul that signals the final victory.

Many men and women of prayer in Bible times turned the tide of events in their lives, communities and nations through earnest prayers. Hannah’s desperate action of prayer opened her barren womb (1 Sam 1:9-20). Hezekiah turned to the wall, prayed and wept bitterly, and the verdict of death was cancelled over his life (12 Kg 20:1-5). Jehoshaphat sought the Lord, declared a national fast and called a solemn assembly and God took over their battle; they only needed to sing praises to God while their enemies exterminated themselves (2 Chron 20:3-23). For all these people, their prayers took desperate acts of faith that revealed earnestness of pursuit and the results were miraculous.

Pray, Lord help me not to relent in prayer, but to press harder till all the walls of the enemy around me fall down flat. Let the rain of Your blessings fall on me.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi



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	Week 27: June 28 - July 4, 2004 The Great Power of Prayer Part II Key Passage: 1 Kings 18: 42 - 45 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, and said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." So he went up and looked, and said, "There is nothing." And seven times he said, "Go again." Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, "There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!" So he said, "Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’" Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. Some have wrongly thought that all Prophet Elijah did to shut the heavens was to walk up to King Ahab and announce, “O King, there shall be no more rains,” and walked away. What he rather did was that he prayed an earnest, heartfelt, deep, passionate, fervent, continued, insistent, persistent, resilient and outlasting prayer (Jam 5: 16-17). James 5 verse 18 reads, “And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain.” Today’s key passage helps us to understand the manner of prayer Elijah made to shut and to open the heavens. After he announced the abundance of rain (1 Kg 18:41), Elijah did not go to feast with Ahab, he rather went up the mountain, cast himself on the ground and travailed in prayer like a woman in labor. He wrestled, was persistent, and did not give up, till he prayed through. Six times he sent out his servant to look out for the sign of answer. He was expectant, knocking at the walls that had sealed up the heavens. At the seventh time, the walls came down, and the praying man knew the battle was over. How wonderful it would be if we will learn to take our battles to conclusive ends in prayer. There are times we are praying and we notice strongholds begin to break. These are the times many of us quit praying. However, these should be the times we ought to increase our prayer tempo and press for decisive victory. When you are praying and you sense the anointing, that reveals that God has began to work. Then is the time to knock harder at the walls until you receive the release in your soul that signals the final victory. Many men and women of prayer in Bible times turned the tide of events in their lives, communities and nations through earnest prayers. Hannah’s desperate action of prayer opened her barren womb (1 Sam 1:9-20). Hezekiah turned to the wall, prayed and wept bitterly, and the verdict of death was cancelled over his life (12 Kg 20:1-5). Jehoshaphat sought the Lord, declared a national fast and called a solemn assembly and God took over their battle; they only needed to sing praises to God while their enemies exterminated themselves (2 Chron 20:3-23). For all these people, their prayers took desperate acts of faith that revealed earnestness of pursuit and the results were miraculous. Pray, Lord help me not to relent in prayer, but to press harder till all the walls of the enemy around me fall down flat. Let the rain of Your blessings fall on me. Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi

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