“ORDINARY PEOPLE – EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS”
PASTOR MARK JOHNSON
JANUARY 8, 2012



INTRO: Last Sunday we saw that Jesus wants His house to be a house of prayer (Matt. 21:12-15), a challenge we have accepted. In this message, we’re going to look at how ordinary people can facilitate extraordinary results through fervent prayer.

I. THE EXAMPLE OF ELIJAH

A. James 5:13-18
1. The suffering are to pray (v. 13a).
2. The sick are to call for the elders to pray (vv. 14-15).
3. We’re to pray for one another (v. 16a).
4. The fervent prayers of the righteous avail much (v. 16b).
5. The example of Elijah’s prayers (vv. 17-18).
   a. Elijah was just like us (v. 17a).
   b. Elijah prayed earnestly that it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t rain for 3 ½ years (v. 17b).
   c. Elijah prayed that it would rain and it did (v. 18).

B. 1Kings 17:1; 18:1-2, 12-46
1. Elijah told Ahab that it wasn’t going to rain until he said so (1Ki. 17:1; Ja. 5:17).
2. God told Elijah to go talk to Ahab, because He was going to send rain (1Ki. 18:1), which Elijah did (v. 2).
3. Elijah’s prayer challenge to Baal’s prophets (vv. 17-40).
4. Elijah prayed for it to rain (vv. 41-46).
   a. Elijah’s humility (v. 42) – he bowed on the ground.
   b. Elijah’s faith (vv. 43-44). He kept asking expectantly.
5. The rain came (vv. 45-46), and Elijah outran Ahab’s chariot (about 20 miles or so)!

II. THE EXAMPLE OF BEVINGTON [One soul saved tonight]

III. THE EXAMPLE OF JEREMIAH LAMPHERE (The Revival of 1857 spread to Ireland

CONCLUSION: Ordinary people – extraordinary results…through fervent prayer! Why not the same kind of thing happening through you/us? Will you pray like Elijah? Can you hear the sound of abundance of rain?