The Sound of Abundant Rain: Rev. Idowu Urges Christians to Rebuild the Altar of Prayer

The Sound of Abundant Rain: Rev. Idowu Urges Christians to Rebuild the Altar of Prayer

             Rev. Babatunde Idowu 

By Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon 

Rev. Babatunde Idowu, District Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse District Headquarters, Abuja, has called on Christians to remain steadfast in prayer, firm in faith and wholly committed to God, declaring that seasons of spiritual, personal and national drought can be reversed by divine intervention.

Delivering a sermon titled “There Is a Sound of Abundance of Rain,” Rev. Idowu drew from 1 Kings 18:41–46, where the Prophet Elijah announced the return of rain after more than three years of severe drought. “Elijah said to Ahab, ‘Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain,’” he quoted.

He explained that Elijah’s declaration was not based on visible clouds or favourable weather conditions. At the time, the sky remained clear and the land dry. Yet the prophet discerned that God was about to change the season. “Faith hears what the natural ear cannot hear and sees what the ordinary eye cannot yet see,” he said.

Rain as a Symbol of Renewal

He described rain as one of God’s essential provisions for life. Without it, drought, famine, disease and death may follow. Spiritually, rain represents renewal, fruitfulness, restoration and nourishment.

He coined the acronym RAIN to mean: Refreshing Atmosphere Introducing Nourishment.

“When rain falls, the atmosphere changes,” he said. “Dry ground becomes productive, dying plants revive and the possibility of harvest returns.”

Referring to James 5:7, he explained the importance of the early and latter rains. The early rain softens the ground for planting, while the latter rain helps crops mature.

“The early rain represents the grace to begin, while the latter rain represents the grace to complete,” he said. “It is not enough to start well; we need God’s sustaining power to finish well.”

The Drought and Israel’s Spiritual Decline:

Tracing the background of the drought, Rev. Idowu recalled that King Ahab had led Israel into idolatry. According to 1 Kings 16:30–33, Ahab did more evil than the kings before him.

Elijah therefore declared in 1 Kings 17:1 that there would be neither dew nor rain except at his word.

The drought, the he said, was more than an environmental crisis. It reflected the moral and spiritual decline of the nation.

“Where truth, justice and reverence for God are abandoned, society may experience another kind of drought, a drought of integrity, peace and responsible leadership,” he said.

During the famine, God instructed Elijah to remain by the Brook Cherith, where ravens brought him food morning and evening.

Idowu said the account showed that God can provide through unexpected channels. “The source is not the raven, the brook or any human helper. The true source is God,” he said.

A Call to Choose Clearly:

Before the rain returned, Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and challenged Israel’s divided loyalty. 

Quoting 1 Kings 18:21, he recalled Elijah’s words: “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”

He urged believers to know where they stand.

“You cannot continually remain between faith and unbelief, obedience and compromise,” he said. “You must know where you belong.”

The prophets of Baal cried out from morning until evening, but no fire came. Elijah then repaired the broken altar of the Lord, arranged the sacrifice and prayed. Fire fell from heaven, and the people declared, “The Lord, He is God!”

Rebuilding the Altar:

He emphasised that the altar had to be repaired before the fire fell and the rain returned.

“The altar of prayer, holiness and devotion must be restored,” he said. “Where the altar is neglected, spiritual dryness follows.”

He explained that a broken altar may represent abandoned prayer, neglected Bible study, compromised values or weakened family worship.

He urged Christians to go beyond church attendance by cultivating disciplined prayer and consistent study of Scripture.

“A generation that does not study the Word of God may inherit religious language without spiritual understanding,” he warned.

Declaration Must Be Followed by Prayer:

After announcing the sound of rain, Elijah climbed Mount Carmel, bowed to the ground and prayed.

While Ahab went to eat and drink, Elijah went to intercede.

Rev. Idowu said this demonstrated that prophetic declaration must be supported by persistent prayer.

“Faith does not make prayer unnecessary,” he said. “True faith drives a person to prayer.”

He referred to James 5:16:18, which presents Elijah as an example of effective and fervent prayer.

He added that Elijah’s authority did not come from social position but from his relationship with God and his understanding of divine purpose.

Persistence Until the Answer Comes:

Elijah sent his servant to look towards the sea for evidence of rain. Six times the servant returned with the report: “There is nothing.”

Elijah did not give up. He instructed him to return seven times.

“Many people stop praying because the first report says there is nothing,” He said. “But Elijah continued because he knew what God had promised.”

The seventh time, the servant saw a small cloud rising from the sea, as small as a man’s hand.

Rev. Idowu explained that persistence is not empty repetition, but sustained confidence in God’s promise.

“Delay is not always denial,” he said. “Sometimes the waiting period strengthens faith, refines character and prepares the believer for the answer.”

Do Not Despise the Small Cloud:

Although the cloud appeared insignificant, Elijah understood that it carried the evidence of an approaching storm.

“A small cloud can announce a great rain,” he said. “A small opportunity, a restored conversation or a modest improvement may be the beginning of a major transformation.”

He linked the lesson to Zechariah 4:10, which warns against despising small beginnings.

He said God often begins with a seed, a jar, a cloud or a simple instruction. Faith must therefore recognise possibility before it becomes abundance.

Prepare for What You Have Prayed For:

Once the cloud appeared, Elijah told Ahab to prepare his chariot and leave before the rain stopped him.

According to Rev. Idowu, genuine faith requires practical preparation.

“A person praying for employment should develop the necessary competence,” he said. “A business seeking expansion should strengthen its systems. A family praying for restoration must be willing to forgive and communicate.”

He added: “When you believe that rain is coming, you prepare to receive it.”

From Small Cloud to Heavy Rain:

Soon, the sky became dark with clouds and wind, and heavy rain fell across the land.

He said the sudden change demonstrated God’s power to end even a prolonged drought.

“God is not limited by the length of the dry season,” he declared. “Whether the difficulty has lasted three months, three years or longer, God can still change the season.”

He cautioned, however, that biblical abundance should not be reduced to material wealth. It also includes wisdom, peace, spiritual maturity, influence and the ability to fulfil divine purpose.

The Hand of God Gives Uncommon Speed:

In 1 Kings 18:46, the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah, enabling him to outrun Ahab’s chariot to Jezreel.

He described the incident as an illustration of supernatural empowerment.

“Ahab had a chariot, but Elijah had the hand of God upon him,” he said.

He explained that divine grace can enable a person to overcome apparent disadvantage and recover lost ground.

“You may appear to be behind, but when the hand of God comes upon your life, you can move beyond natural limitations,” he said.

Creating Capacity for Abundance:

Drawing from 2 Kings 4:1–7, He recalled the widow who was instructed by the Prophet Elisha to borrow empty jars.

The miraculous oil continued to flow until there were no more vessels.

“The number of jars determined the measure of the abundance,” he said. “The question is: how much capacity have you created for the blessing you are asking for?”

The jars, he explained, may represent faith, knowledge, discipline, preparation, competence and character.

“Abundance without capacity may be wasted, and opportunity without preparation may be lost,” he warned.

Grace to Abound in Every Good Work:

Referring to 2 Corinthians 9:8, He said God is able to make all grace abound towards believers so that they may have sufficiency in all things and abound in every good work.

He stressed that biblical abundance carries responsibility.

“The rain does not fall for one tree alone,” he said. “It refreshes the wider environment.”

Wealth, knowledge, influence and opportunity, he added, should be used to nourish others and advance good works.

Repentance Before Petition:

As the service moved into prayer, Rev. Idowu cited Psalm 66:18: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”

He explained that prayer must be accompanied by sincerity, repentance and a willingness to turn away from wrongdoing.

“Prayer is not only about asking God to change our circumstances,” he said. “Sometimes it must begin by asking God to change us.”

He invited worshippers to examine their hearts, renounce divided loyalty and seek reconciliation with God.

A Call to Faith:

Concluding the message, he urged Christians not to surrender to fear or discouragement when circumstances appear impossible.

He called on believers to rebuild their altars, study the Bible, pray persistently, prepare responsibly and refuse to despise small beginnings.

“There was an Elijah who knew how to connect with God in prayer and refused to give up until something happened,” he said. “That is the kind of Christian God is looking for.”

The service ended with prayers for spiritual renewal, healing, family restoration, provision and divine empowerment.

The central message was unmistakable: when faith is anchored in God’s Word, when broken altars are repaired and when prayer persists beyond discouraging reports, even a small cloud may become the sound of an abundance of rain.

Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon is a freelance writer and Christian educator based in Abuja, Nigeria, with a passion for documenting faith-based initiatives and their impact on communities.