More Than The Promise......

More Than The Promise......

Come with me, let's peruse these few verses-1 Kings 18:1, 41-45

[1]And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

[41]And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

 [42]So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

 [43]And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

 [44]And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.

 [45]And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

I will send rain" was the sure promise of the Almighty.

In verse 41, "for there is a sound of abundance of rain" was the  true sense-perception of the prophet.

Yet the Showers of 'great rain' is the expected result not just the promise or its sense.

 Promise, its perception, nice, BUT NOT ENOUGH!

Thank God for the promise; blessed be the perception of it. Yet, both are but an antecedents to the Performance- "and there was a Great Rain"

So beyond the promise and its perception, what produces the performance?

What is the link? What's the bridge?

 The Prophet Understood!

And this is how he underscored it.

Take Verse 42;

The President went up to eat and drink; The Prophet -with the promise and its perception, went up rather to the top Carmel. 

Top of Carmel, where actual performance is precipitated.

Ah! He charted his course to Carmel to painstakingly engage the courts of heaven for performance!

Oh Elijah understand the charter of Persistent Prayers. Yes, He did!

At Carmel, he assumed a curvature for Prayers- cast himself down upon the earth, put his face between his knees. His right desperation, since no other acceptable choice.

Right in the posture, position, place of prayers- He started exercising his faith. 'Go again seven times' was his command to his servant until there was a tangible evidence of performance- behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. Then The Great Rain!

For tangible performance, Persistence in prayers-a prerequisite.

Consistency in prayers - a criterion.

Dearly beloved,

What promise has HE given You? 

What perception of it do You have?

Be at Carmel with Persistence in Prayers.

Persistence in Prayers, a potent action of faith is the path that links Promise and Prospect with Performance and Prosperity.

Persist until Performance!

Amen!