The radical purging of purity:1 Kings 18:40
20 But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’ Deuteronomy 18:20 (ESV)
13 . . . “Purge the evil person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:13 (ESV)
The confident pronunciation of faith: 1 Kings 18:41
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
8 He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; . . . Psalm 147:8 (ESV)
17 then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and he will shut up the heavens, so that there will be no rain, and the land will yield no fruit, and you will perish quickly off the good land that the Lord is giving you. Deuteronomy 11:17 (ESV)
The surprising picture of penitence:1 Kings 18:41–42
The humble posture of prayer:1 Kings 18:42
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (ESV)
27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. Genesis 18:27 (ESV)
35 “When heaven is shut up and there is no rain because they have sinned against you, if they pray toward this place and acknowledge your name and turn from their sin, when you afflict them, 36 then hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk, and grant rain upon your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance. 1 Kings 8:35–36 (ESV)
10 Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.
Zechariah 10:1 (ESV)
The petitioner’s persistence in prayer: 1 Kings 18:43
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart . . . 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18:1; 7–8 (ESV)
The divine provision to prayer: 1 Kings 18:44–45
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.
James 5:16-18 (ESV)
The hopeful portrayal of the ideal
46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:46 (ESV)