God's Wealth Test

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God responded to Elijah's requests immediately like Elijah responded to God's voice. 

James says that Elijah channeled his emotions into prayer (not chasing his unfulfilled desires).

In 1 Kings 18:36-37, the bases for Elijah's prayer was God's reputation.

And it didn’t rain on the land for three and a half years. 
18 Then he prayed again. 

That time it rained. 
God told Elijah when to pray for rain (I Kings 18:1). 
And the earth produced its crops. 

Praying like Elijah...

1. Train your spiritual ear to identify God's voice within you for God's specific will for you.

2. Compare God's voice within you with God's written word (the Bible) to verify alignment.

3. Obey God's voice immediately.

4. Pray to God as God's voice within you prompts you to pray.

5. As you respond to God's voice, expect God to respond to your request with the same urgency as you do to His.

6. Channel your passions into your prayers to drown out your circumstances and doubt.

7. Rely on prayer to fulfill desires not personal pursuits.  


8. Use God's reputation as the bases of your prayers.  
19 My brothers and sisters, suppose one of you wanders away from the truth. 
And suppose someone brings that person back. 
20 Then here is what I want you to remember.
Anyone who keeps a sinner from going astray will save them from death. 

If a person is a true believer, their salvation is not at stake, but a premature death is. (James 5:16,20).
God will erase many sins by forgiving them.

James's letter is not a call for judgement, but for a call for restoration and mercy.  

James 5 New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
KEY:
Highlighted in Red Means Command
Highlighted in Blue Means Explanation.
Highlighted in promise means a promise.

Highlighted in purple means a warning.

M. H. Dennis yellow highlights.

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