The Book of first kings

Chapter 18c

[41] And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

The Sound of Abundance of Rain 1 Kings 18:41-46

1) A Promise to Proclaim (41)

Elijah stood on the Word of God (God’s promise) and challenged the prophets of Baal

“The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God”

Baal’s prophets tried but to no avial

Elijah called upon the name of the Lord God and God sent down fire

The people responded and Elijah had the 450 false prophets slain

Most people would rest or retire but not Elijah.

He saw thousands that had died in the famine, those still living were starving & the nation was desperate

There had been no rain because of idolatry but the people had repented and Baals prophets are dead

So Elijah remains busy

Now, Elijah stands again to proclaim God’s promise

“Get thee up eat and drink for there is a sound of abundance of rain”

* I remember hearing the rain before it ever came

But it is Elijah’s ear of faith hearing what the eye of flesh cannot see

Gen 45:25-28 Jacob so caught up in sorrow he couldn’t hear the wagons coming, then he saw them

Jn 20:29 Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed

A. The Perfect Will of God

1 Kings 17:1 Elijah stood and told Ahab drought was coming (Elijah believed God and preached)

B. The Prior Work of God

Elijah witnessed the faithful work of God during the time of famine

In a brook, in the barrel, with the boy and over Baal

Elijah has seen the miraculous power of God

Our God has not changed....He still works miracles today

C. The Precious Word of God

Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God

Elijah heard..... a sound of abundance of rain

Guess how? I Kings 18:1 God told Elijah rain was coming and Elijah believed God

[42] So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
[43] And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
[44] And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
[45] And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

2) A Persistence in Prayer (42-45)

King Ahab has no conviction of sin, no concern for the dead all Ahab cares about is Ahab

A. Ahab went to feast

Quickly, King Ahab took off to feed the flesh (can’t sit still for a 45 min message, got to eat)

Can sit still for hours for a ball game.............. Priorities

B. Elijah went to the Father

He had stood before the prophets of Baal, now he bows before the King of Glory

James 5:16-18 Elijah bowed and offered up fervent prayer

He said to his servant “Go up now and look toward the sea” “There is nothing” came the reply

Elijah kept praying expectantly and said “go again 7 times”

Elijah was not discouraged and remained persistent in prayer

The 7^th time the servant said “there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea like a mans hand”

Little is much when God is it

-In the Manna Ex 16:12-18 (supplies) -In the Meal I Kings 17:10-16 (put God first)

-In the Multitude Jn 6:5-13 (5000 fed) -In the Mites Mk 12:41-44 (Giving sacrificially)

-In the Ministry Mt 10:40-42 (Helps) -In the Mustard Seed Mt 17:20 (faith)

-In the Midst Mt 18:20 (He is w/ us) - In the Maids Testimony 2 Kings 5

Elijah was expecting Big Things Mk 11:24

God still answers prayer Jer 33:3, Is 65:24, 1 Jn 5:14,15

In faith, Elijah tells Ahab to get gone before the rain comes and the creeks rise

“Ahab prepare thy chariot that the rain stop thee not”

Been dry so long, when torrential rain comes, the iron wheels of his chariot bog down

Ahab went to Jezreel 18 mi

[46] And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

3) A Path to be Paced (46)

The Hand of the Lord was on Elijah....... he ran before Ahab to Jezreel

A. Progress

After a hard day, the man of God outran the chariot

While Ahab was bogged down, Elijah had strength because the hand of the Lord was on him

Phil 4:13 I can do all things thru Christ which strengtheneth me

The man of God was proceeding at God’s Pace on God’s Path

B. Preparation

The man of God “girded up his loins”

He wrapped his mantle around himself and tucked the end of his robe into his belt & ran

He was not tangled up in his garments or he would have fallen

Heb 12:1,2

C. Path

A runner always proceeded the entrance of the king

Elijah was saying “I hate sin & idolatry, however I respect your office and I submit to you

as king as you submit to God”

*Ahab did not offer Elijah a chariot ride only thought of himself, but Elijah was serving others

God’s appointments are not intended to lift you up but to grant opportunity for you to serve

Concl : Don’t Contemplate Quitting or Slowing up

We have promises to proclaim, prayers to persist in and a path to be paced!

Deut 32:2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain

Zech 10:1 Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain