“And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word”
-1 Kings 17:1.
Growing up as a baby in Christ, the first time I read the above Scripture, I thought that Prophet Elijah just showed up and and prophesied that absence of rain for three and half years. And if you read the above chapter, it appears to be as though Elijah just showed up and declared the Word just like that. The way Elijah was introduced to us in the Bible is mysterious; none of his parents or family members, occupation, account of birth, friends, etc. He just showed up. But of course he had a life that he lived as a man.
Through a thorough study and listening to God's Word over the years, I realized that Prophet Elijah didn't just get up from blues and declare abstractly like that. The Book of James gives us a better explanation of what transpired before he prophesied to the king concerning the absence of rain. James chapter 5:16-17 says,
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
The Word of God tells that Elijah prayed earnestly that it will not rain for three and half-years. It was in the place of earnest prayer that he got the Word from God to prophesy to the king. And before the rain came at the end of those years, he prayed earnestly again until there was a change. The Bible tells us that he prayed seven times, [only God knows how long were those seven times] putting his head between his knees [try that and see] before abundant rain came (1 Kings 18:41-46).
This is a very serious lesson we must learn. Yesterday I said we have so many prophecies, visions, revelations from God concerning us, situations and circumstances and yet these appear to be not forth-coming. Why? The reason is because we didn't water them with our prayers. Prophecies are like seeds and they must be relentlessly watered through prayers till they come to pass. The Bible tells us that the earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of righteous man makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working (James 5:16 Amp). This is the key to realizing Prophecies. Prophet Elijah knew this secret.
What are those things prophesied concerning you, your family, your ministry, your business, carrier, academics, marriage, etc? Exert continued prayer to establish them in the physical. You declare that they're are real and coming to pass. You don't stop until there is a change. So pick up those Words of prophecies that you've thrown away and materialize them through prayer. Praise God!
PRAYER
I declare that God's Word concerning me is forever sure and settled. All that God said concerning me comes to pass and nothing or no one can hinder it. I speak to situations and circumstances to align themselves for the manifestations of God in all that concerns me. In the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
Image Credit: jewsforjesus.org