James Chapter 5 – You Have What it Takes!

I guess the next time I challenge myself with a BLOG series I need to set completion dates (goal setting 101).  I’ve got one more chapter in the book of James to complete my bible study BLOG series.  Seriously, you must read this book if you haven’t.  It’s so practical.

A few of the verses that jumped out to me in this chapter happen to be a theme that my pastor preached on a few weeks ago!  Isn’t it cool when God repeats His messages to you through different mediums?!?  He is always speaking…we just have to slow down and listen. 

James 5:  17 – 18 “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours; yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land.  Then he prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land produced its fruit.”

Elijah was an incredible prophet who had a deep relationship with God (you can find a lot of his story in the book of 1 Kings in the Old Testament).  We can often hold such biblical pillars to a higher standard of being able to do the work of God.  However, this verse is clear in that he was a man with a nature like ours.  He didn’t have a special “in” with God that the rest of us have to view from the sidelines.  He had an “in” with God because he spent time with Him, he knew God’s character and believed that God would act on his behalf.  So when Israel was once again in complete darkness, Elijah spoke with boldness to King Ahab that “As the Lord God of Israel lives, I stand before Him, and there will be no dew or rain during these years except by my command!” (1 Kings 17:1).  Can you imagine the boldness to tell a king that it is not going to rain for 3.5 years?!?  Not only did God answer his prayer, but He told Elijah where to go for shelter so the ravens could provide food and water for him during this drought.  This kind of faith is inspiring and it came from a man whose very nature is the same as ours.  God wants us to read these stories to make us bold in our faith and to ask for His will to be done with the confidence that He will answer.  Now God may not be asking us to proclaim drought on the land for 3.5 years, but He’s asking us all to do something in order to advance His kingdom.  Ask Him what that is, pray in agreement with heaven for this to be done and then watch God deliver on His promises.  Risk it!  Take the adventure!  I dare you!