A Hundred Proof - How to Pray With Confidence (Lesson 2)

1 Kings 18:17-22 NASB

(17)  When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is this you, you troubler of Israel?"

(18)  He said, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and you have followed the Baals.

(19)  "Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

(20)  So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

(21)  Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people did not answer him a word.

(22)  Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal's prophets are 450 men.

Pray for God’s Glory, Not Your Own.

Elijah is determined to prove to that God is the one true God and Baal is a false god.  He tells the crowd that they can no longer waffle between the two and need to make a choice.

Elijah challenges them in order to prove once and for all, who is the One True God.  Each will build an alter and pray to their God.  The God that answers with fire is the true God.   

The prophets of Baal pray all day and receive no answer.  When they are finished, Elijah carefully tears down their alter.  He then places 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel.  He digs a trench around the alter and places the wood upon the alter.  Elijah does all this with great care.  Any time we are doing something for God’s glory we should do it with care.

Here is what Elijah prayed:  "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.”

What hinders our prayers?

What gives us confidence in prayer?

How does praying for God’s glory instead of our own influence your outlook on trials?

Jesus tells us in Matthew Chapter 6 that our Father knows what we need before we ask Him.

This should have a huge influence on our prayer life. 

That is why Jesus teaches us to prayer for God’s will to be done in our lives.  God always has our best interest at heart.  We just need to get self out of the way so God can bless us.