WordOfGraceChurch

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Our Christian Calling | Lessons From The Early church

This message was shared by Sunith N at Word Of Grace via zoom on July 5th 2020. to listen to the audio please click here.

Acts 5:17-42

Our Christian Calling

This passage reminds us of our Christian calling and of the following:

· Commission to preach the gospel of repentance and forgiveness

Dealing with Worldly characteristics like jealousy, fear, outrage.

· Putting on Christ-like characteristics like boldness, obedience and zeal for God resulting in joy experiences.

Jealousy and fear gripped Sadducees and the Pharisees (v17-18):

As soon as they heard about the impact the Apostles are creating across Jerusalem, where people from neighbouring cities and towns are filling the streets of Jerusalem with sick people and people tormented by evil spirits are getting healed, they (Sadducees and Pharisees) were filled with JEALOUSY & FEAR. Fear, because the Apostles are outweighing the Sadducees and Pharisees' influence through the healing power of God.

Jealousy lowers one’s self-esteem.

Fear is from the evil one. God is full of love.

Gal 5:19-21 tells us that jealous people inherit the kingdom of God.

We need to deal with our Jealousy.

Unchecked Jealousy is not only a massive hindrance to our obedience but often lies beneath the worst kinds of injustice in the world. It often leads to sinful acts.

In the old testament, King Saul was jealous of David because the latter's fame is rising. He wanted to kill him.

Similarly, here, Sadducees & Pharisees arrested the apostles because of jealousy and fear.

(v19-28):

Commission: like in Matthew 28^th chapter, God has recommissioned the Apostles through an angel, to proclaim the full message of this new life.

God’s protection: God always is with the Church, protecting them to carry out his purpose of advancing the gospel, seeing captives free from darkness. Similarly, God rescued the Apostles from jail.

Obedience: The apostles are very quick to obey the message from God to proclaim the gospel. It is commendable.

Like in verse 28 the apostles had to choose between the just command of God or the unjust warning from the govt (Sanhedrin); we may have situations in life to choose God’s word over Govt’s. new unjust rules.

Example: Daniel had to make a choice between Praying and worshipping God over the king’s command to worship only him. It was a civil disobedience.

V29-32:

The apostles with the help of the outpouring of the holy spirit proclaimed the full gospel in condensed form. They explained each member of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit and also the crucifixion, resurrection, Ascension of Jesus with the holy spirit and the Apostles as witnesses.

When the receiving of the holy spirit is accompanied by the proclaiming of the gospel, it becomes an effective means of convicting and converting sinners & building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, into salvation.

Examples: Luke 4:18-19 & 2Pet 1:21

V33-42:

The persecution: the Apostles are flogged.

Throughout the Church's history, worst things have happened to Christians. An Open Door report says that India is ranked 15^th in 2016 globally for 'Dangerous place for Christians, compared to 31^st rank 4 years before.

Examples:

Luke 6:22 NIV Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Matthew 10:28-29 NIV 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Conclusion:

It’s every Christian’s calling to share the gospel of repentance and forgiveness.

• Does this calling grip you?

• Has the message of redemption so powerfully changed your life that you can’t help but share it with others?

With fresh wounds from the Sanhedrin, the apostles go directly to the temple to proclaim the gospel.

• Are you zealous for Jesus?

• Are you willing to serve Jesus no matter the cost?

What’s the price for your silence?

Word of Grace is an Evangelical (Born Again), Spirit-filled (Charismatic), Reformed, English speaking church in Pune that upholds the Bible as God's inspired Word for life. We are a church community that has people from every part of India and parts of the world. We are here to put the Great Command and the Great Commission into practice by equipping and releasing every member into works of service. Word of Grace is a part of a wider international family of Churches called RegionsBeyond.To know more about us please log onto www.wordofgracechurch.org.

When Persecution Strikes| Lessons From The Early Church

This message was shared by Shoma P at Word Of Grace via zoom on July 5th 2020. to listen to the audio please click here.

When persecution strikes

In our Christian walk, we will face different kinds of persecutions. We may be mocked by our friends, taunted by our own family, the promotion might be withheld etc because of our faith in Jesus. What should be our response in such circumstances?

Recently a man named Kanthe Mudu was attacked and murdered by a group of armed men for his faith in Jesus. He and his family had faced threats to their lives and had survived one violent attack on their home two years ago. After hearing the men at the front door, Mudu knew that their lives were in danger and that the men had bad intentions. Mudu then told his wife, that he might be killed but encouraged her to remain strong and never to give up her faith in Jesus even if they killed him.

This was the response of Mudu when he was about to be persecuted. Even at the last minute of his life, he encouraged his family to hold on to their faith in Jesus. Now let us see how the apostles responded when they faced persecution.

Our Scripture for today is Acts 5:17-42

The high priest and the council became jealous of the apostles who did many mighty miracles in the name of Jesus and so got them arrested. The apostles were set free by the angel of the Lord and were instructed to continue to preach in the temple courts. In this passage, we see the response of apostles in the time of persecution.

1. Always Obey God

Acts 4:19

In every circumstance, we should obey God and not men.

Acts 5:20-21 NIV

20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people. When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles.

Acts 5:28-29 NIV

28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

The High priest had strictly commanded the apostles not to teach in the name of Jesus. But what did the apostles do? They obeyed God and not men.

Acts 4:19 NIV

But Peter and John replied, “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!

We should always obey our leaders, parents and people in authority. But not when they ask you to do something which is displeasing in the eyes of the Lord.

2. Always seek to preach the gospel

Acts 5:28 NIV

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

Even after being strictly warned not to preach, the apostles preached the gospel in the temple courts and filled Jerusalem with the true doctrine. They did so because they knew that this is their main purpose in life.

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Jesus before ascending instructed the apostles to preach the gospel and make disciples in His name. We too are supposed to seek every opportunity to preach His love to whoever we meet, to our colleagues, to our neighbours, relatives, milkman etc.

As a homemaker, I don't get to meet much people in the week but before going down for a walk I pray for an opportunity to preach and God has always been faithful and brought me, people, to whom I could share His love.

3. Always rejoice in the suffering for Christ.

Acts 5:40-41 NIV

40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.

The apostles after beaten up rejoiced for the suffering in the name of Jesus.

James 1:2 NIV

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

God's word says we should always rejoice in every circumstance.

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten with a rod and kept in jail with feet tied. But even under these challenging circumstances, they chose to pray and sing hymns to God as they counted it all joy to suffer for His name.

To conclude, in our Christian walk we will have many kinds of persecution. But we should always obey God and take every opportunity to preach the new life and rejoice in the suffering for His name.

A Church Indestructible | Lessons From The Early Church

This message was shared by Jo Kudalkar at Word Of Grace via zoom on July 5th 2020. to listen to the audio please click here.

A Church indestructible.

What does it take to have an 'indestructible church? Is it even possible? If the church is not a building but instead its people, then how do we get in on this in destruction?

Let’s look at Acts 5:17 – 25

What do we see?

- The leaders, those in authority, the High priest, the elders, those seen as the holiest of people were filled with jealousy and imprisoned the apostles.

- Angels showed up and freed them and gave them a command.

- Their response? Obedience. Instead of running they went back out and preached the gospel. Why?

- They were united with one goal and one purpose - to preach the gospel no matter the consequence

1. A Gospel centred people will always prevail

When we as a people have one goal, one purpose and that is the gospel and we are united in that. That the preaching of the gospel and the advancement of God’s kingdom is our highest priority, we can rest in one thing: that the gospel WILL prevail. If we are willing to hold our lives lightly and face any consequence as long as our purpose is fulfilled, this passage is proof, that we will succeed. When we are obedient to the call of God, we also rest in his supernatural protection.

Vs 26 - 39

- the apostles once seized did not fight or go by force, but when questioned spoke with authority and conviction. They preached the gospel to their persecutors!!!

- They decided where their obedience lied.

- when we know who and why we do what we do, we speak with freedom and boldness.

We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Acts 5:32 NIV

- They knew whose business they were about. The work of men could not prevail, but the work of God will never be stopped.

- we trust in God's supernatural protection.

- seen or unseen, his angels carry us through.

2. Speak with the authority we've been given

The commission to preach the gospel was given to us by THE HIGHEST authority there is. The Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, the one who formed life from dust, the one who has your days and my days numbered and knows EVERYTHING has given us authority. We are not minions following something aimlessly. No, we have been given a commission, we have been given authority and we have been given the Holy Spirit that has equipped us to perform our mission and just like the apostles when we rest and are confident in who’s business we are about, we know that we have the protection, the God of Heaven and Earth on our side.

Like this passage says, the work of the Lord can be stopped by no man, but the work of men will come to no end. We are about the work of the Lord, and we can operate with confidence that no man can put a stop to it.

vs 40-42

3. In all things rejoice

- The apostles considered themselves worthy of torture. They knew that they were bearing fruit and as a result a threat. Though they were flogged and instructed not to share the gospel, they continued to be obedient to God and carry out their mission.

- Famous saying by Joanne Clancy

Be the kind of woman who, when your feet hit the floor each morning, the devil says "Oh, no! She's up.

- If we're not a threat to anyone, we need to consider if we're being fruitful.

- We are called to be legacy builders, salt, light, atmosphere shifters.

- Persecution will come, that’s why the bible says in Hebrews

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1- 3NIV

we shouldn't be surprised by persecution or trials, instead look at it as a test of our perseverance and endurance, and remain in an attitude of rejoicing, for it is him who carries us through. Do we rejoice at being persecuted? No. But we rejoice because we know that even in times of persecution and trial, our purpose, our goal, our highest calling, is still going to be fulfilled.

God is in the business of building his church.

fun facts:

• 19 of the top 20 countries where the church is growing the fastest are in Asia and Africa.

• Several reports of explosive church growth in Iran and other Middle Eastern countries. Operation World reports that due to prayer, increased Bible distribution, disillusionment with Islam, use of media, along with persecution, the church in Iran is the “fastest growing in the world.”

• There are an estimated 100 million followers of Christ in China. Some church growth experts estimate there are more Christians in China than in the United States

These are some of the most persecuted nations in the world. But Gods Kingdom is advancing.

Conclusion:

Matt 16:18

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.

Matthew 16:18 NIV

Jesus himself says, he is the builder of the church and any evil plans of the enemy cannot and will not prevail.

That is our hope - that we belong to an indestructible, heavily protected, absolutely loved body. We need to choose whether we want in or out.

Let's be a people who are united with one purpose - spread the gospel and expand the church.

Action time: Write down the names of 3 people you meet or speak to on a regular basis. Now lay your hands on that piece of paper, pray for opportunities to share the gospel with them.

Monday, July 6, 2020

Fear Faith, Freedom - Lesson From The Early Church

This message at Word of Grace was preached on July 5th, 2020 via zoom by Tara. To listen to the audio please click here.

Acts 5:17-42 “Fear, Faith, and Freedom”

Questions to consider before reading the passage:

1) What or who did the high priest and council fear? Why? What about Gamaliel?

2) What did the apostles fear and who did they trust and obey?

3) What does fear have to do with obedience to God? What do you learn from this story?

Read Acts 5:17-42

Now let’s look at the questions for this passage:

1) What or who did the high priest and council fear? In v17 it says they were “filled with jealousy” and in v28 they said, “you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching” (people were coming even from towns outside Jerusalem to be healed) and “you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us”, so it seems they were very concerned with how the crowds were favourably responding to the apostles and that they were afraid of what the people thought about them.

Why? Perhaps they were afraid to be seen as guilty of the blood of Jesus, perhaps a revolt or riot could happen with the people turning against them? We don’t know for sure.

What about Gamaliel? In v38 he said, “if this is a plan of man it will fail,” … “but if it is of God you may be found opposing God”. He seemed to have a different opinion and more reverence for God and to trust that God could handle the outcome of the current situation with the people following this movement started by Jesus.

2) What did the apostles fear and who did they trust and obey?

In v20, they were told by the angel of the Lord, “Go, stand in the temple, and teach” and they obeyed what they were told. Furthermore they “rejoiced to be counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name of Jesus, the Christ”, showing that they trusted in God and were not afraid of men.

3) What does fear have to do with obedience to God? What do we learn from this story?

To help us answer this last question, let’s look at some points to highlight below

“Fear, Faith, & Freedom”

1) Fear of man vs fear of God

Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 29:25 - The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.

Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Many times, in the scriptures God commands his people “do not fear” and to take courage, see the beginning of the book of Joshua for an example of this. Also, see 2 Chronicles chapter 20 in which King Jehoshaphat, when faced with a vast army coming against the people, prayed, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” He was told he would not need to fight that the “battle is the Lord’s”.

Paul was facing a group of Jewish Christians who opposed him as a leader and also were instructing the Galatians to be circumcised. Even Peter who had been spending time and eating with the Galatians suddenly stopped when those Jews came to town, hypocritically submitting to them. Paul himself also faced this conflict of his call to preach the good news of the blessing of God coming to gentiles with opponents.

For myself, simply following Christ and submitting my decisions to his leading and leadership in my life also puts me at odds with those close to me who have other desires or plans. The main example of this has been my dad who like a good father, wants the best for me, however often according to his own plan of what is best. I have learned and am still learning to honour and respect him and yet to fear God and trust God in obeying what God is calling me to do.

2) Faith is obedience to Jesus despite persecution

Jesus warned of persecution to come but also described it as a blessing:

Matt 5:11-12 - “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

John 15:18-27

18“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19“If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. 20“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21“But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake because they do not know the One who sent Me. 22“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23“He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24“If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have both seen and hated Me and My Father as well. 25“But they have done this to fulfil the word that is written in their Law, ‘THEY HATED ME WITHOUT A CAUSE.’

26“When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, 27and you will testify also because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

Jesus as commanded us to be his witnesses, with a promise of being with us. Will we obey?

Matt 28:19-20

19“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

3) Freedom through Spirit is to obey God and to serve others out of love, by the power of the Spirit

Gal 5:1, 13, 22-23,

“For freedom, Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery…. For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. …

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.”

The freedom we have in Christ is so that we can use the opportunity he gives us to love one another and serve one another. This motivation of love sets us free of fear to live by faith.

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

In closing, we have seen how the apostles were continued to be trained as witnesses through the persecution they experienced, being imprisoned again and yet being commanded to keep teaching. God used a leader among the high priests to speak wisdom at a critical moment, and allow the apostles to continue and not to stop teaching and preaching about life in Christ. The priests felt threatened by them and were afraid of the people yet the apostles continued to live freely obeying God and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Should We Pursue Signs & Wonders

This message was preached by Colin D on the 28th of June 2020 via zoom for Word of Grace. For the audio please click here. To listen to the worship click here

Pursuing Signs and WondersActs 5 Message 12-16 -

12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.

INTRODUCTION

What an amazing time it must have been. 1000's coming to faith. Mighty signs and wonders - that Peter's shadow falling on a sick person was enough to heal them. Those tormented by evil spirit are delivered.

The world has not changed much in the area of sickness since 2000 years. We still have people being afflicted with all kinds of diseases.

What I would like to put forward is that the early church advanced thru the preaching of the gospel with signs and wonders. We too must desire for the same.

• Acts is a HISTORY (of what happened in the first century) but it is also a BLUEPRINT (for what God wants to see happen in the church today).

THE BIG IDEA: We will consider today: Why does God want us to contend for signs and wonders and healings and miracles in the church, and how do we see more of them in our lives?

• “Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1-2).

• “And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease… And as you go, preach, saying, ’The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (Matt. 10:1,7-8).

WHY SHOULD WE PURSUE SIGNS AND WONDERS?

1 . GOD IS GLORIFIED WHEN PEOPLE ARE HEALED

Luke 7:11-1611 Soon afterwards, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.16 They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.” 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.Matt 15:30-3130 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. 31 The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.32 Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.Acts 3: 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

2 . PEOPLE ARE SAVED WHEN WHEN MIRACLES ARE PRESENT

On the day of Pentecost - 3000Peter and John heal the lame man - 2000 Acts 5 - v14 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.Book of Acts 17 instances when signs and wonders take place and people are saved.In Act 5 - Peters shadow, crowds gathered from around Jerusalem. All of them were healed.However, there is a vast difference between our experience and theirs. We are not seeing the kinds of signs and wonders that the early church saw. However, we are seeing some healings happening in some places and at some times. You may have met people who had a sickness where doctors had given up hope and medicines were not working. But they came for prayer and in Jesus name the person was healed and the whole family came to faith.

That would be wonderful if it happened today again on a much larger scale.
What we must not do is make our experience of not seeing signs and wonders and say this is normal. The normal is what Jesus says it is.

QUOTE: “It is perfectly clear that in New Testament times, the gospel was authenticated in this way by signs, wonders and miracles. . . Was it only meant to be true of the early church? . . . The Scriptures never anywhere say that these things were only temporary—never! There is no such statement anywhere.” (Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, The Sovereign Spirit).

The signs and wonders open the door for the gospel to be preached.Mark 16:20 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

3, YOU CAN BE USED BY GOD

(1) Spend time with JesusJohn 15:5, 7 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.v7 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

(2) Ask for Signs and WondersActs 4 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
John 14:12 New International Version (NIV)12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.

(3) Ask for Jesus to help you to be compassionate“And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” (Matt. 14:14).When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick. (Matt. 14:14 NASB)

(4) Look for an opportunity to pray for the sickJam 5:1313 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.