In what ways can you prepare for God's blessings like Elijah did? Hearing the Promise “Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.’ ” (1 Kings 18:41) • The drought was still visible, yet Elijah treated God’s spoken word as an accomplished fact. • Romans 10:17 reminds us, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Recognize God’s promise first; preparation begins with listening. Acting Before You See • Elijah spoke of rain while the sky was cloudless. • Hebrews 11:1 calls faith “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Ways to imitate him: – Speak in agreement with God’s promise rather than the current drought. – Arrange your life now for the answer you believe is coming (Mark 11:24). Positioning Yourself in Humility “Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down on the ground, and put his face between his knees.” (1 Kings 18:42) • Physically bowing illustrated inward surrender. • James 4:10: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.” Practical parallels: – Acknowledge God’s sovereignty in prayer. – Submit plans and timelines to Him rather than demanding your own. Persistent Prayer and Watchfulness “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. Seven times the servant returned, “There is nothing.” The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.” (vv. 43-44) • Elijah didn’t waver after six apparent failures. • James 5:17-18 highlights this perseverance: “He prayed earnestly… and it rained.” Put it into practice: – Schedule regular check-ins with God’s Word and prayer until the answer manifests. – Keep spiritual “eyes” on the horizon; small beginnings often herald great downpours (Zechariah 4:10). Removing Distractions Elijah told Ahab to eat and drink—sending the king away cleared space on the mountain. • Create an environment conducive to hearing and obeying God. Ideas: – Turn off media that drowns out the “still, small voice.” – Step away from voices of doubt or discouragement (Psalm 1:1). Cultivating Expectancy “Elijah said, ‘Go tell Ahab, “Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.” ’ ” (v. 44) • He planned for a downpour so heavy it could bog down a royal chariot. • 2 Kings 3:16-17 shows the same mindset: “Make this valley full of trenches… the valley will be filled with water.” Modern parallels: – Prepare storage for the blessing—budget for provision, set aside time for ministry growth, enlarge relational “tents” (Isaiah 54:2). – Speak of future fruitfulness as certain, not hypothetical (Luke 1:45). Obedience Opens the Floodgates • After the cloud appeared, “the sky grew dark with clouds, and the wind blew, and a heavy rain fell” (v. 45). • Immediate obedience (Elijah’s command, Ahab’s departure) aligned with God’s timing. Steps to follow: – Promptly act on the next instruction God gives. – Refuse partial obedience; the full blessing accompanies full submission (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). Putting It All Together To prepare for God’s blessings like Elijah: 1. Hear and believe God’s promise. 2. Speak and act as though it is already on the way. 3. Bow low in humble dependence. 4. Pray persistently and watch expectantly. 5. Clear distractions that could muffle God’s voice. 6. Enlarge capacity for the coming rain. 7. Obey swiftly when direction comes. Following these steps positions you, as Elijah was positioned, to move from drought to downpour in God’s perfect time. |
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