- Prayer makes the person to confess his sins: If we have committed sins, confess before the Lord. Confess your sins committed against your brothers. The Lord would heal our sickness and heal us completely whatsoever. The rebuked the Corinthian members who were living in sin (1 Cor.6), they confessed of their sins and were restored to fellowship.
- Prayer is the first tool: Some people think that prayer is the last resort, if everything fails, they come to God with prayer. But it is not so. Because of God’s omnipotent, God can amazingly fulfill our
- Prayer of righteous person is powerful and effective: Through prayer, we have direct communication with God. The righteous person’s prayer is powerful.
Prayer has amazing power in healing the nation: (5:17-18):
Elijah was as human as we are. He was the prophet during the days of wicked King Ahab and queen Jezebel.
- Prayer has healed the nation from idolatry: Elijah challenged 450 priests of Baal and 400 priests of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table. God worked a great miracle through Elijah defeating 850 priests and Elijah killed them to rid the land of the from idolatry.
- Prayer brought showers of rain to land: Elijah had stopped the rain for 3 1/2 years because there was rampant sin and idolatry. When he prayed the showers of rain came heavily (1 Ki.17:1; 18:41-46).
But when Jezebel learned the slaughtering of Baal’s and Asherah priests, she threatened Elijah. Elijah was very much afraid and ran for his life. He forgot that his God is all powerful who could do such a great miracle at his prayer.
Prayer will add up souls: (5:19-20)
If someone is saved from wandering from the truth or the Word of God, he should be brought back gently. By doing so, we will be saving him/her from the death and covering his multitude of sins by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Any person born once (physical birth) and dies will have 2-deaths i.e. the first physical death and second eternal death. But whoever takes 2-births (one physical and another spiritual birth by repentance) will have only 1-death (i.e. one physical death or even may not be).
When we pray for backsliders, wanderers, we are literally rescuing them from the eternal fire. Their sins would be forgiven by God.
“Some like to live within the sound of Church bell, I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell” CT Studd.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
- NIV Life application Bible.
- ESV Study Bible
- Ryrie study Bible.
- NIV Study Bible.
- Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament.
- The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe
- Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary.
- Adam Clarke’s Commentary
- Wycliffe Bible commentary.
- Mathew Henry conscise
- Blue letter Bible by David Guzik.
- Unlocking the Bible by David Pawson.
- The outline Bible by Harold L Willmington.
Note: Please use this notes only as an outline, but spend more time studying the Word of God. For your questions, suggestions, and criticism, please contact me. Kati Ravikumar, Mob: +918986873994, Email: katiravikumar@gmail.com