Bold Faith
When Elijah prayed, he prayed with bold faith. In his first known prayer he asked the Lord to alter the normal course of nature in stopping the rain for years. He did not just pray for a momentary miracle but one that would be sustained for a period of 3 years and 6 months (Luke 4:25)!
In Elijah’s next recorded prayer we again see the bold faith of this prophet. He prays for the resurrection of a dead boy. It must be understood that although Abraham believed that God could raise the dead (Heb 11:19) there is no record in Scripture that anyone ever was resurrected prior to this event. The lack of precedence did not deter Elijah’s faith in God nor did it prevent him from requesting great things from God.
In one of the great dramatic events of the Old Testament, the showdown with the prophets of Baal, Elijah displayed perhaps his greatest example of bold faith. Here on Mount Carmel, in front of his nation, Elijah put his life on the line to show that Yahweh was the only true God. His very life depended on God answering with an emphatic “Yes!” to Elijah’s prayer that God display His glory and power right then and there on that mountain. Elijah knew that if there was no answer, he would be killed. Yet his faith in God was so strong that he had no fear.
Although we today do not have the direct special personal revelation that Elijah enjoyed, we have the written Word of God which instructs us that we “have boldness and confident access” to God through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph 3:12). Hebrews 4:16 also commands us to “draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Because of Jesus Christ we can and should have the same bold faith that Elijah displayed. We serve the same God.
by His grace,
for His glory
jrf
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