Jacob so prayed that his name was changed from Jacob to Israel. Moses was preeminently a man of prayer; he was sustained, guided, and transformed by prayer. (Google image, Elijah)
Daniel prayed habitually and continually, and his life was a romance of prayer. There were others, from Abraham to the last of the Old Testament prophets, including kings and priests, soldiers and reformers, widows and sufferers.
Why was Elijah chosen among them all?
A Mighty Man
Elijah occupies a larger place in the New Testament than in the Old, and it is always an advantage when the New Testament gives the interpretation of an Old Testament theme.
The Old Testament story offers no explanation of the prophet's power. His ministry consisted in a series of dramatic appearances, and the most sensational event in a sensational life was its dramatic end.
For the most part he dwelt in solitary places, and he was always a solitary figure. "I alone" was a plaint often on his lips. The Old Testament closes with a promise of his return, and the New Testament opens with the record of its fulfillment. He championed God, defied kings, and held the destiny of nations in his hand.
The New Testament explanation of the man and his work is that he was a man of prayer. On the face of the Old Testament story, prayer was an outstanding feature of this man, but according to the New Testament, prayer was the entire explanation of the man and his marvelous doings.
That he was a mountain of a man is plain for all men to see, but he was a man of like passions with other men, and whatever difference there was between him and others was due to prayer.
St. James says, "Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed" —that is what made him different. Prayer accounts for the man, as it accounts for Abraham and Jacob, David and Daniel, but there was something in Elijah's praying that gave distinction even among saints mighty in prayer.
What was it? Why did Jehovah come to be known as the Lord God of Elijah?
What was it? Why did Jehovah come to be known as the Lord God of Elijah?
(Be sure to check out the next post, Miracles of Power, to find out the answers to these questions).
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Let's pray-
Father, we see that there were several examples of men who prayed, but Elijah was specifically chosen in the New Testament as an example of prayer for us.
Many others prayed and prevailed and were mightily delivered, such as Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel. Moses was a preeminent man of prayer; he was sustained, guided and transformed by prayer.
The New Testament explanation of Elijah and his work is that he was a man of prayer. Though he was a mountain of a man for all to see, he was a man of like passions with other men, and whatever difference there was between him and others was due to prayer.
May we be inquisitive enough to keep learning about Elijah, and why it is that You came to be known as "the Lord God of Elijah."We continue this thought in the next posting of Mr. Chadwick's book, and ask that You will help us understand that prayer does make the difference in everything these men did, and will in our ministry efforts too!
In Jesus' name I ask this. Amen
Today's Bible verses-
2 Corinthians 12:9, (NIV) "But He said to me,
'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power
is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will
boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,
so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
Revelation 3:10 (NIV) "Since you have kept my
command to endure patiently, I will also keep
you from the hour of trial that is going to come
on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the
earth."
Isa 54:17 "No weapon that is formed against you will
prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment
you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of
the Lord, and their vindication is from Me," declares
the Lord."
Today's quotes-
~ Elisa Morgan- "Like my backyard bald eagle, how might God's eyes be roaming our world—even now—looking to find faithfulness in you and me? How might He provide the hope and help we need?" (Our Daily Bread, 4/26/19)
Darren Canning Ministries
Did you know?
~ God has purpose for a believer; we are set apart for the Lord Himself with a purpose for being alive and destiny.
~ God wants you to respect and follow Him, to love and serve Him with all your heart and soul.
Today's guest post-
Texting from Heaven
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| God's text Book |
Nicole O'Meara
“Mom, is there texting in heaven?” my seven-year old daughter asked as she munched on a snack.
Snack time tends to present the wildest questions. I wondered if she asked because I had recently been very sick. Was she thinking about mommy being in heaven? Or was this another one of those thoughts that enters her wild imagination?
“No, there’s no texting in heaven,” I told her. “But what if there were?”
“Jesus could text to me here on earth,” she exclaimed.
(Added emphasis)
(Added emphasis)
Upcoming posts-
#36 Miracles of Power
9th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick
Hard Places—in the Way of Faith
11th- Saturday's post by A. B. Simpson
#37 The Greatest Force on Earth
14th- Tuesday's post by Samuel Chadwick
#38 An Energized Intercessor
16th- Thursday's post by Samuel Chadwick
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