Little Clouds

BIG RAIN

HOW TO TRANSFORM A LITTLE CLOUD IN A BIG RAIN

AN EVENT WITH DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

THE PROPHET & HIS SERVANT

1 Kings 18:41-46

1 Kings 18:41-46•  41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain." 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.  43 "Go and look toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked.  "There is nothing there," he said.  Seven times Elijah said, "Go back." 

•  44 The seventh time the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea.“ So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' “  45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the LORD came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.

THE PROPHET

• The prophet is ELIJAH• The land of Israel was under God’s judgment because of the sins of idolatry, disobedience, and injustice committed against God.  

• He prayed that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land of Israel for three and a half years.

THE SERVANT• Elijah’s servant served him during his ministry in Israel

• He was there when God used the prophet to bring fire from heaven and to kill the 900 false prophets. 

• He was used to see great things done by God.• He was probably there when Elijah prayed and prophesied that there would not been rain for 3 years and a half.

THAT TIME THE SITUATION WAS TOO DRY

PERHAPS EVEN TO A SERVANT OF A GREAT PROPHET

• TROUBLES?• DEPRESSION?• SICKNESS? ADICTION?• UNEMPLOYMENT?• FINANCIAL DEBT?• FAMILY DEVASTATION?• ECONOMIC DEPRESSION?• EMOTIONAL PAIN?• UNFORGIVENESS?• ANGER?• BITTERNESS?• HOPELESSNESS?

THE PROPHET & THE KING• 41 And Elijah said to Ahab, "Go, eat and drink,

for there is the sound of a heavy rain." 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink,

• EVEN BEFORE PRAYING, ELIJAH COULD ALREADY HEAR THE SOUND OF A HEAVY RAIN AND INSTRUCTED THE KING TO EAT AND DRINK BECAUSE OF THAT FORECAST.

THE PROPHET & THE KING• 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but

Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.

• WHILE THE KING EAT AND DRINK, ELIJAH CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF CARMEL, BENT DOWN TO THE GROUND AND PUT HIS FACE BETWEEN HIS KNEES.

ELIJAH’S METHOD OF PRAYER

• HEBENT DOWN TO THE GROUND: HUMBLED HIMSELF BEFORE GOD

• PUT HIS FACE BETWEEN HIS KNEES: TO NOT LOOK AT THE CIRCUMSTANCE AND AT THE DRY LAND.

ELIJA’S PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER 43 "Go and look

toward the sea," he told his servant. And he went up and looked. "There is nothing there," he said. Seven times Elijah said, "Go back."

THE SERVANT’S PERSPECTIVE 44 The seventh time

the servant reported, "A cloud as small as a man's hand is rising from the sea.“

Because of His small perspective and lack of knowledge of GOD he could only see the small cloud.

THE PROPHET’S PERSPECTIVE

• So Elijah said, "Go and tell Ahab, 'Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.' “

• BECAUSE OF HIS KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND HIS POWER, HE INTERPRETED THE SMALL CLOUD AS A HEAVY RAIN CLOUD

FAITH IN GOD DOES JUST THAT!• IT HELPS US TO SEE CLEARLY AS THINGS ARE IN GOD’S EYES

• IT HELPS US TO INTERPRET BAD SITUATIONS WITH GOD’S POWER

• IT HELPS US TO HAVE HOPE WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE ENTERS IN DISPAIR AND FEAR

• IT HELPS US TO SEE A WINDOW IN HEAVEN WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE CAN ONLY SEE THE DRY LAND 

• IT GIVE US THE ADVANTAGE OF SEEING THE SUPERNATURAL WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE CAN ONLY SEE THE NATURAL

FAITH IN GOD DOES JUST THAT!

45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel.

•     ELIJAH’S PRAYER AND FAITH CHANGED THE SITUATION OF THE SKY

•     THE SMALL CLOUD GREW TO INVADE THE SKY AND BROUGHT A HEAVY RAIN

James 5:13-19            17Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. 19My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back.

PERSEVERE

Hebrews 10:35-36      35So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

James 5:13-16

• 13Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. 14Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

PRAY IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

• In trouble? PRAY.• Sick? CALL THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH TO PRAY AND ANOINT YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

• Has sinned? CONFESS YOUR SINS TO EACH OTHER AND PRAY. 

PRAY WITH FAITH• 15And the prayer offered in 

faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. 

• If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

• The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.