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Loving God’s Word (Psalms 119:97-104)

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Loving God’s Word
Psalms 119:97-104
November 6, 2011

I have to say that tonight we look at my favorite stanza of this 119th Psalm.
We certainly find value in every line, but this one just jumps to me.

For here we find our Psalmist simply giving an account
Of his great love for the word of God.

If indeed these stanzas build upon one another,
It seems that the victory he experienced last week
Has spilled over into doxology this week.

You may remember that our Psalmist
Has been dealing quite a while now with affliction.

And we have seen him with almost every conceivable emotion.
He has questioned it…
He has fought it…
He has embraced it…
He has appreciated it…
He has asked for it to leave…
He has even reached despair over it…

But last week we finally saw him conquer it.
(92-93) “If Your law had not been my delight, Then I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me.”

That certainly was a rejuvenated man.
That certainly was a victorious man.

Now, as we noted, his affliction wasn’t gone.
(95) “The wicked wait for me to destroy me; I shall diligently consider Your testimonies.”

His affliction wasn’t gone, but he had found victory in the middle of it.

And he gave sole credit for that victory to the word of God.
It was God’s law that kept him from perishing.
It was God’s precepts that revived him.

And it is apparent that he is not yet finished
Testifying to his high esteem of God’s word.

For tonight we have a stanza purely devoted to his love for God’s Word.

And certainly loving the word of God is essential in our lives.

You may remember when we talked about the Anti-Christ
While studying 2 Thessalonians.
Listen to what Paul said about people who don’t love the truth.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 “Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”

There, love of God’s word is equated with salvation.

Jesus indicated the same:
John 8:31-32 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

And you may remember that love for God’s word
Was one of the chief distinctions of the early church.

Acts 2:41-42 “So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

It is easy to say that a chief characteristic of the children of God
Is that they love the word of God.

And in reality, this is obvious.
How can you claim to love God if you don’t care to listen to Him speak?

And so love of God’s Word is basic.
And that is precisely what our Psalmist is.
He has a tremendous love for God’s word.

In fact he begins by saying, “O how I love Your law!”

And that phrase is very insightful.

He doesn’t just say, “I love Your law”, but “O how I love Your law!”

It is almost as if “love” isn’t a strong enough word for him.
He loves it immensely.
He loves it exceedingly.
His love for it is immeasurable.

He can’t seem to put a limit on it,
Nor can he seem to be able to express it fully.
I just love it soooo much!

And that is a refreshing statement to us.
We live in a day where God’s word may or may not be loved.
But we certainly live in a day where if you talk about God’s “law”,
It most certainly is not.

Even in the church, people have grown
To attach a negative connotation to the “law” of God.

It sounds condemning.
It sounds judgmental.
And today everyone wants to put the emphasis on grace and blessing.

So talk about precepts all you want.
Talk about Scriptures if you must.
But if you talk about “law” that is most certainly negative.

BUT THAT IS REGRETTABLE.
Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”

Romans 7:12 “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”

God’s law is God’s word. It is good.
It is perfect.
It should be loved.

And that is precisely what we hear from our Psalmist.
And so tonight, let’s see what it looks like to love God’s Word.

The Psalmist will show you what it means to love the word of God.
#1 THE EXPRESSION OF HIS LOVE
Psalms 119:97

We already saw that the Psalmist loves the word of God,
But here he even shows us what it means to love God’s word.

HOW DO YOU EXPRESS LOVE FOR GOD’S WORD?
“It is my meditation all the day.”

This is actually one of my favorite words in regard to the word of God.

You can’t just read God’s word
And you can’t just listen to God’s Word being read.
If you want the full effect, you have to meditate on it.

Proverbs 2:1-6 “My son, if you will receive my words And treasure my commandments within you, Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding; For if you cry for discernment, Lift your voice for understanding; If you seek her as silver And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will discern the fear of the LORD And discover the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
I tend to believe that Proverbs 2:1-6 is the pinnacle passage
On how to study the Bible.

Notice all the words he uses in regard to the way we treat God’s word.
“RECEIVE my words”
“TREASURE my commandments”
“MAKE your ear attentive”
“INCLINE your heart”
“CRY for discernment”
“LIFT your voice for understanding”
“SEEK her as silver”
“SEARCH for her as for hidden treasures”

The writer of Proverbs is clear about
How the search for wisdom should be conducted.

He treats it as though it is a fine jewel.
I’ve always pictured it as a fine jewel buried beneath the earth.

If a miner is going to find it he will have devote himself to the process.
Not all nuggets just sit right out on the surface.
To find some, you have to dig for them.

It takes work, it takes diligence, but the reward is certainly worth it.

Well, reading the Bible requires the same kind of diligence.
In this book, not all the jewels just sit right out on the surface.
Some are buried deep within.

Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!”

And to begin to learn the things He would reveal
Requires extreme diligence.

You are all aware of the fact that the Scriptures are appraised.
1 Corinthians 2:11 “For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.”

And yet God gives us His Spirit that we can understand these things.
But we must work at it.

Paul told Timothy:
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

And so we know Bible understanding requires work and diligence,
Just like a miner extracting a precious jewel.

BUT HOW DO WE MINE?
The answer is meditation.
We read, read, and re-read.
We contemplate.
We listen

It is Read, Contemplate, Think, Pray, Question and Apply…
You roll it all up into one and we call it meditation.

There is so much depth to the word of God
And meditation is the key to begin to unearth some of that depth.

Psalms 27:4 “One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.”

Furthermore, meditation is an expression of love.

Remember when you met the love of your life?
• Some facts were on the surface (name, looks, etc.)
• Some facts required a little more digging.
• Some you are still trying to dig out.

BUT YOU DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE THEM
So it is with God’s word.
The Psalmist loves God’s word and he expresses that love by meditation.
He loves to fill his mind with what God has said.

The Expression of His Love
#2 THE EXPLANATION OF HIS LOVE
Psalms 119:98-100

We already know that the Psalmist has a great love for God’s Word,
A love so deep that he meditates upon it continually.

A GOOD QUESTION AT THIS POINT WOULD BE WHY?

You could say, “I love my wife”.
Someone could say, “Why?”

And you would have to give explanation as to why she is worth loving.

Well that Psalmist tells you here why he loves God’s Word.

And the simple answer is because it makes him wise.
And wisdom is of great value!

Proverbs 3:13-18 “How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; And nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast.”

Wisdom is vitally important in this life.
We desperately need it, and we greatly desire it.
And the Psalmist loves God’s word because that is where he finds it.

In fact he gives examples of what he means.
1) God’s Word makes me Craftier than the Enemy (98)

When we talk about being crafty or cunning,
The Scripture paints this to be the chief characteristic of the enemy.

He is slick, he is smooth, he is cunning, he is stealthy
Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”

Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.”

The enemy is crafty.
And yet “Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies.”

It is of tremendous value to be a step ahead of the enemy.
It is extremely important to know ahead of time his plan of attack.

When I know God’s Word, I am a step ahead of the game.
I am wise, and I am ready for the enemy.

“For they are ever mine.”
In other words, I am wiser than the enemy because I own God’s word.
I have not only received it, but there is a level of ownership to it.

MAYBE YOU HAVE A VERSE LIKE THAT,
THAT YOU HAVE PROVEN AND NOW CALL IT “YOURS”.

That is what the Psalmist said.
He has believed God’s Word and it makes him craftier than the enemy.

2) God’s Word makes me more Knowledgeable than the Scholars (99)

The chief example of craftiness is the enemy.
The chief example of knowledge is the scholar.

• They have devoted their lives to studying and learning and lecturing.
• They have degrees and awards and accomplishments.
• They have solved problems and answered riddles.
• They are revered as knowledgeable.
And yet the Psalmist says, “I have more insight than all my teachers”

I may not have a great education, like they do,
But I am not ignorant nor am I slow to understand.

There is a wisdom in me that is not of man.
There is an education in me that is beyond worldly.

Remember Paul?
Galatians 1:11-12 “For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”

Remember the Apostles?
Acts 4:13 “Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

Even Jesus
John 7:15-16 “The Jews then were astonished, saying, “How has this man become learned, having never been educated?” So Jesus answered them and said, “My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me.”

I am not knocking education,
But it does not equate with the wisdom found in God’s Word.

1 Corinthians 3:18-20 “Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS”; and again, “THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS.”

And the Psalmist understood that.

I can’t go and debate physics with a professor at Texas Tech,
But that does not mean I am not wise.

Man’s education may explain how laws of the universe affect us,
But man’s education has never answered who wrote those laws.

The best answers man has are an explosion and a monkey.

The Psalmist says God’s word gives him knowledge.

“I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.”
I get it because I meditate on it.
I don’t just sit on the surface.

And so meditation is not only an expression of love,
But is also a means of knowledge.
3) God’s Word makes me more Experienced than the Aged (100)

The Enemy is the pinnacle example of Craftiness.
The Scholars are the pinnacle example of Knowledge.

But if you want to see the pinnacle example of experience,
You go to the aged.

And there is tremendous value in talking with them.
Proverbs 20:29 “The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair.”

Leviticus 19:32 ‘You shall rise up before the grayheaded and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD.”

Job 12:12 “Wisdom is with aged men, With long life is understanding.”

Certainly there is a wealth of knowledge and experience there.

But notice what the Psalmist says: “I understand more than the aged,”

That is quite a statement.
• I am more crafty than the enemy.
• I am more knowledgeable than the scholar.
• I am more experienced than the aged.

HOW?
“Because I have observed Your precepts.”

A person used to say to me all the time, “Wisdom comes with age.”
I would respond, “It comes with fear of the Lord”.

Psalms 111:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”

The Psalmist knew that “fear of the LORD” (obedience)
Is what produces wisdom.

Certainly there is a manner of wisdom that comes from age,
Namely that which we know as experience.

But there is a wisdom even greater than that
Which only comes from God, through obedience to His word.

TURN TO: JOB 28

God has a wisdom that even experience cannot give you.
It is the wisdom of obedience.

And so now we see why he loves God’s Word so much.
It makes him wise.
His Expression of Love, His Explanation of Love
#3 THE ENDURANCE OF HIS LOVE
Psalms 119:101-102

I love the way he states this first phrase.
“I have restrained my feet from every evil way,”

WHY?
“That I may keep Your word.”

Notice also that he used the word “restrained”

That is to say that if given free reign
His feet would have naturally gravitated down the ways of evil.

The natural inclination of the human heart
Is to rush into sin and gravitate toward evil.

That is why Paul said:
1 Corinthians 9:27 “but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”

That is why the writer of Hebrews said:
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

And the Psalmist sees the need as well.
He has to restrain his feet, he has to overcome temptation
If he wants to be obedient.

And yet that is a struggle worth enduring because he loves to obey.

Furthermore we see an endurance in this struggle.
(102) “I have not turned aside from Your ordinances”

Regardless of the struggle…
Regardless of the temptation…
He has committed not to disregard God’s Word.

WHY?
“For You Yourself have taught me.”

AND THERE IS THE KEY TO IT ALL
He loves it because it is God’s Word
He endures because God said it

“You Yourself have taught me.”

John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

This is what makes God’s word worth the effort.
IT IS GOD’S WORD

• We don’t follow this book because it is fun – we are not pleasure seekers
• We don’t follow this book because others do – we are not men pleasers
• We don’t follow this book because it is history – we are not historians
• We don’t follow this book because it works – we are not pragmatists
• We don’t follow this book because it is easy – it is not

WE FOLLOW THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT IS WHAT GOD SAID!

The God who created the world…
The God who will judge the world…
THAT God said these things, and that makes them more valuable to us
Than any other written word known to man.

And for that reason we not only love it, but we meditate on it,
We obey it, and we keep obeying it no matter what.

That was the attitude of our Psalmist.
His love of God’s word had endurance.

And it must, for “love bears all things”

We know he loved God’s word because he refused to leave it.

The Expression of His Love, The Explanation of His Love, The Endurance of His Love
#4 THE ENJOYMENT OF HIS LOVE
Psalms 119:102-104

Don’t you love the imagery?
“How sweet are Your words to my taste!”

See, he does love God’s word.
And his love is a commitment.
But it is not as though God’s word is hard to love.

It is not like those who commit to love God’s word have a difficult task.
God’s Word is easy to love.
It is sweet to the taste.

“Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Proverbs 24:13-14 “My son, eat honey, for it is good, Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste; Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.”

That is good advice.
Here the Psalmist would say, God’s word is good, so read it.

1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.”

Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light”

Point being, it is not hard to love God’s word, just read it.
If you will meditate upon it, you will understand.

Someone could say, “I don’t know if I would like so & so”.
Well, get to know them and see. You do and find that they are great to get to know.

That is even more true with God’s word.
It is a blessing.
It is sweet to the taste.

The Psalmist loves loving God’s word.

(104) “From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.”

The point there is he loves the right way (God’s Word) so much
That he actually hates everything that opposes it.

It is a hate that is born out of his love.

• If you love life, you hate murder.
• If you love marriage, you hate divorce.
• If you love people, you hate gossip.
• If you love God, you hate idols.
• If you love truth, you hate error.

And that is what the Psalmist said.
I love God’s Word so much, it is impossible for me to love what is false.

He is in love with the truth of God’s Word.

And the point is that loving God’s word is not a burden to him.
It is not a difficult choice.
He tried it and he loves it.

• He loves it because it makes him wise.
• He shows that love through meditation and endurance.
• And if he were given the option to get out of the commitment, he would not do it.

HE LOVES IT

Let me encourage you to love God’s Word in the same way.

If you don’t know, but you would like to, the path is easy.

Do what the Psalmist did.
(97) He meditated on it
(98) He made it his
(99) He meditated some more
(100) He obeyed it

And that is what allowed him to say it tastes sweet.

Listen if you are truly a believer,
You already have an in born hunger for God’s Word,
It just may be you need to try it.

(it is like being hungry and not knowing it)

Trust me, it will satisfy you and make you love it too.
(I used to not want to read the gospels – until I did)

The same with God’s word.
Get into this book and see why the Psalmist loved it so much.

Psalms 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

The Gentle Blowing of God (1 Kings 20)

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1 Kings 20 (1-15)
 
Most recently in our study of the Kings we have talked about
The REVIVAL that God began through the prophet Elijah.
WE SAW FIRE FALL ON MT. CARMEL
 
But then Elijah made a critical miscalculation.
After the great victory,
Elijah was just certain that he knew where God was headed.
 
So much so that Elijah actually out ran God to Jezreel.
Elijah didn’t find the revival he expected, he found a death threat.
 
Then came a significant point of training for Elijah:
1 Kings 19:11-13 “So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
 
Although Elijah was looking for a literal “Fire-Fall” type of revival,
He learned that revival doesn’t commonly come that way.
 
The true revival of God is not best explained
By an explosion, or a storm, or even a “firefall”.
 
All that fire-fall produced where some Half-Hearted, Momentary Converts who departed as quickly as they converted.
 
A TRUE REVIVAL OF GOD IS MUCH MORE THOROUGH THAN THAT
 
I recently read an article by John MacArthur entitled: “Practical Thoughts on an Enduring Ministry”
“Humble patience with people may be the most important virtue you’ll every exercise. After all, your goal as a pastor should be to bring the convictions of your congregation into line with the full message of God’s Word, and their lives to spiritually maturity. And this is a process of sanctification that takes time (decades not just months or years). It only comes from trusting the Spirit’s power in using His Word as it is faithfully proclaimed week after week, year after year.”
 
The point is that the truest revivals of God
Don’t occur as a flash in a pan, but in a slow cooking oven.
 
God works continually and thoroughly over time
To completely change hearts and build the convictions of those
Who have genuinely chosen to follow Him.
 
We are certainly learning that here in 1 Kings.
 
Elijah’s “revival” on Mt. Carmel was certainly short-lived
BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN GOD IS NOT BRINGING REVIVAL
 
In fact, God promised Elijah that true revival was coming.
1 Kings 19:15-18 “The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. “It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
 
God was going to completely and thoroughly remove Baal from Israel.
God was going to bring revival, but not in one afternoon.
In fact, it wouldn’t even fully occur in Elijah’s lifetime.
 
God was bringing revival, but it is a thorough process
That could not be rushed.
 
It is that process that we see unfolding in our text this morning.
God is working in the heart of Ahab.
 
You and I know that God has already begun to work in Ahab’s life.
 
GOD GAVE HIM:
1) A Drought to Suffer Under (3 ½ years)
2) A Defeat to Acknowledge (Baal lost on Mt. Carmel)
 
This morning we see four more areas
In which God will “gently blow” to get Ahab’s attention.
 
WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE:
The subtle ways that God works in our lives in order to get our attention.
 
I believe God is working revival in our midst,
But I don’t want you to miss it
Simply because you are waiting for the fire to fall.
 
Let me show you what the “gentle blowing” of God looks like in a life,
So that you will recognize it in yours and turn to God as He desires.
 
You will see this morning 4 times that God gently blows in Ahab’s life.
They are the four times that God speaks in this chapter.
 
Coupled with the previous two, here are four more ways in which God was working to Get Ahab’s attention.
 
#1 A DELIVERANCE TO ENJOY
1 Kings 20:1-15
 
Allow me to paraphrase:
• Ben-hadad is king of Aram and he is an arrogant man.
• He is now seeking to grow his kingdom by destroying Israel.
• He is purposely trying to pick a fight by asking for more than Ahab would give.
 
First he asks for Ahab’s wives
(which Ahab actually gives)
Next he asks for anything he or his servants want
 
Ahab realizes that he is only looking for trouble, and refuses.
 
This gave Ben-hadad the excuse he needed to declare war.
(10) “Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “May the gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”
 
In other words, you wouldn’t give my servants anything they want,
So I am about to give them handfuls of your dust.
 
I am about to pound Samaria into rubble.
 
Ahab responds
(11) “Then the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.’”
 
Two soldiers may put on their armor with the intention of winning,
But only the one who is able to take off his armor
Is the one who truly was victorious.
 
BUT YOU SEE AHAB’S PREDICAMENT.
He is faced with a battle that he cannot escape…
He is faced with a danger that he cannot defeat…
 
And it is at this point that God enters the scene
With a “gentle blowing” for Ahab.
 
(13) “Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'”
DOES THAT SEEM STRANGE TO YOU?
Ahab and God are not exactly allies.
 
Yet here God, without any prompting at all,
Just turns and freely offers deliverance to Ahab.
We call it mercy, and God is using it to try and get through to Ahab.
“and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
 
Sometimes God just does something inexplicably good in our lives
Simply to reveal to us that His plans for us are good.
 
• Maybe He heals a sickness…
• Maybe He provides financially…
• Maybe He allows a success…
 
He just does something good to show us that He loves us
And would like to play a bigger part in our lives.
 
The intention is that we would perceive and turn to Him completely
 
REMEMBER THIS ACCOUNT:
Matthew 20:29-34 “As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.
 
It was just an act of undeserved mercy,
And it caused the recipient to follow.
 
I WONDER IF YOU WOULD NOTICE GOD DOING THIS IN YOUR LIFE?
• Can you recognize the good that God has done for you?
• Can you see His provision, or His hand of healing in your life?
• Can you see that everything you have is because of Him?
 
The INTENTION is that you will see that He is good
And would determine to follow Him.
Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
Let the mercy of God in your life
Motivate you to serve Him whole-heartedly.
 
That is how God was working in Ahab’s life.
 
First, a deliverance to enjoy
#2 A DELIMMA TO PONDER
1 Kings 20:16-22
 
Now of course you will notice that God
Came through with the deliverance just as he promised.
 
Ahab was able to perform a great slaughter of Aram.
But there is no record of Ahab’s repentance, or worship
So God allows for another chance to get Ahab’s attention.
 
You notice in verse 20 that “Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.”
 
This prompted yet another visit from God’s messenger.
(22) “Then a prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.”
 
Here God allows for Ahab to see a coming dilemma
And then gives him time to sweat it out and ponder on it.
 
Certainly Ahab would have rejoiced in his victory,
But because he failed to worship God his rejoicing would be short lived.
 
GOD WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO ENJOY VICTORY FOR LONG
 
This is a “gentle blowing” from God to allow Ahab to worry
So he might turn to the God who has already delivered him once.
 
“see what you have to do”
This was a command for Ahab to recognize his need for God’s help
 
SOMETIMES GOD WORKS LIKE THIS IN OUR LIVES AS WELL.
 
He allows hardships to throw us into turmoil and anxiety
So that we will be motivated to turn to Him.
 
Last week we saw it as: “Wilderness University”
 
Elijah was a great example of one who took his dilemma to God.
Let me give you another example.
 
King Hezekiah, when Assyria sent a letter threatening to destroy them.
2 Kings 19:14-19 “Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. “Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. “Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. “Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”
 
He understood what to do with a dilemma, he turned back to God.
 
I WONDER IF YOU HAVE EVER RECOGNIZED THIS IN YOUR LIFE?
• God allows you to see a potential problem…
• God allows you to sweat something out a little…
 
He doesn’t do it to harm you,
He does it to cause you to depend upon Him.
 
1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”
 
This is certainly what God wanted from Ahab,
But as you can see, there was no such response.
 
So God continues to work.
First through a Deliverance to Enjoy
Second through a Dilemma to Ponder
#3 A DEMONSTRATION TO CONSIDER
1 Kings 20:23-30
 
You will notice that Ben-hadad is more serious this time.
This time he had exchanged his politicians for soldiers
And he has mustered an army of well over 120,000.
 
You know the odds are against Israel, for look at verse 27:
“The sons of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the country.”
 
Once again, defeat for Israel looks certain.
 
And then God’s prophet shows up
With another “gentle blowing” from the LORD.
 
(28) “Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The LORD is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'”
 
This time God is not delivering simply to show mercy to Ahab.
 
WHY IS GOD DELIVERING?
He is avenging His name on those who think
He is only a God of the mountains.
 
And He points that out to Ahab.
You would not turn and worship Me because I am merciful,
So maybe you will turn and worship Me because I am powerful.
God puts on a powerful display,
Which is also meant to get Ahab’s attention.
“and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
 
REMEMBER WHEN JESUS DID THIS?
Matthew 8:23-27 “When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
 
Remember what Jesus said to Nathanael?
John 1:50-51 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
 
Jesus also said:
John 5:36 “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works that I do — testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
 
They are all moments God uses to cause us to submit to Him
Because of His great power.
 
We are to see that He alone is God,
And that He alone is worthy of worship.
 
John 14:11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”
 
PERHAPS GOD HAS WORKED LIKE THIS IN YOUR LIFE
• A near death experience…
• A miraculous deliverance…
• Sometimes just a lightning storm, or a loud clasp of thunder…
 
Those times are meant by God to show you that He is God
And He is not to be messed with.
 
BUT AHAB STILL FAILED TO GET THE MESSAGE
 
First A Deliverance to Enjoy
Second A Dilemma to Ponder
Third A Demonstration to Consider
#4 A DISCIPLINE TO ANTICIPATE
1 Kings 20:31-43
 
Ahab obviously did not learn a thing,
For he turned loose the man God had delivered into his hand.
Verse 34 says, “he made a covenant with him and let him go.”
 
He should have been making a covenant with God,
Instead he is making it with the man who cursed God.
Ahab is not getting it.
 
This brings on a little dramatic parable,
The prophet pretends to be a man who has lost one given to his care.
 
Ahab reveals that his life should be given in exchange.
 
Then we hear the fourth time God speaks to Ahab in this chapter.
(42) “He said to him, “Thus says the LORD, Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.”
 
Here is another “gentle blowing” in Ahab’s life.
 
God is yet again trying to get Ahab’s attention,
By now promising Ahab of a coming destruction.
 
Sometimes God results to drastic measures to get a person’s attention
• It can be a promise of judgment in Scripture…
• It can actually be a hardship or tragedy…
• It can be a literal punishment with consequences…
 
God is forced to reveal to a person exactly where they are headed
So that they might turn to Him in repentance and worship.
 
Jesus did this at times:
Matthew 11:20-24 “Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. “Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. “Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”
 
Jesus threatened judgment to get us to fear Him and repent.
 
Remember this parable?
Luke 13:6-9 “And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ “And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'”
 
John the Baptist said:
Matthew 3:10 “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
 
When God threatens you with judgment (i.e. lays the axe at your root)
Then pay attention and start to please Him.
 
That is precisely what God is doing here to Ahab.
Unfortunately he still has not worked.
 
(43) “So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and vexed, and came to Samaria.”
Instead of repenting, he started pouting.
 
Now I know this was a long chapter,
But it was necessary to see it all in order to get the idea.
 
LOOK AT ALL THE WAYS GOD WAS “GENTLY BLOWING”
A Drought to Learn from
A Defeat to Acknowledge
A Deliverance to Enjoy
A Dilemma to Ponder
A Demonstration to Consider
A Discipline to Anticipate
 
And every time the King has turned a deaf ear,
And is only moving deeper into depravity.
 
BECAUSE OF HIS OBSTINANCE HE IS NOT ONLY DELAYING REVIVAL,
BUT IS HEAPING JUDGMENT UPON HIMSELF
 
HERE IS THE POINT:
I want you to open your eyes to see all the various ways
In which God has been at work in your life.
 
I want you to see the DROUGHTS He has allowed…
To cause you to RETURN to Him
I want you to see the DEFEATS He has allowed…
To cause you to TRUST only Him
I want you to see the DELIVERANCES He has performed…
To cause you to LOVE and SERVE Him
I want you to see the DILEMMAS He has brought your way…
To cause you to INQUIRE of Him
I want you to see the DEMONSTRATIONS of power He has shown you…
To cause you to BE IN AWE of Him
I want you to see the DISCIPLINES He promises for rejecting Him…
To cause you to FEAR Him
 
I want you to see the hand of God in your life.
GOD DESPERATELY WANTS FOR YOU TO TURN TO HIM
He wants from you what He wanted from Ahab,
For “you to know that I am the LORD.”
 
 
I believe with all my heart
That God is working for revival in this church.
It is not occurring as a fire flash on a mountain side.
But it is occurring as a gentle blowing through our midst.
 
Some in our midst are responding to God
Some in our midst are not
 
And all the while God is calling, God is working, God is moving…
Quietly, softly, subtly, but continually and thoroughly
 
Now if God is not working in your life,
I am not asking for a thing from you.
 
But if He is, I am asking is that you recognize it, and submit to Him.
 
Don’t be like Ahab, stubborn and obstinate,
But be willing to acknowledge God at work, and turn to Him.
 
 
Revival is on it’s way.
 
Hebrews 3:7-11 “Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'”
 

The Showdown on Mt. Carmel – pt. 2 (1 Kings 18:34-46)

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1 Kings 18:34-46
 
You are well familiar now that we are in the middle of the focal incident
In the entire book of 1 Kings.
 
It is this event that the writer of Kings has been driving us to.
 
He wanted us to see the confrontation of Elijah,
This amazing showdown, and the repentance of the people.
 
We have used this section to talk about the various attributes of revival.
 
In Israel, God’s people had gravitated away from God,
And they needed to be revived.
 
Certainly we are not too arrogant
To assume that we are never in need of such a revival.
 
And so we are studying the elements of revival.
 
God first softened Israel up with a 3 ½ year drought
(while Elijah sought refuge with a Sidonian widow)
 
But after 3 ½ years, God began to move.
He sent Elijah back to Israel,
 
Elijah sent Obadiah to Ahab.
 
You may remember that Obadiah was not too keen on the idea.
1 Kings 18:13-14 “Has it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, that I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? “And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”‘; he will then kill me.”
 
Obadiah had been a faithful silent witness, but God wanted more.
And thus we learned our first principle of revival.
 
REVIVAL REQUIRES NOT ONLY THE WICKED TO REPENT,
BUT THE RIGHTEOUS TO STEP OUT.
 
God wants us all revived, not just those we label as immoral.
You may not consider yourself immoral, but is it possible,
That you can give more than what you’ve been giving.
 
Elijah had Ahab gather all Israel to Mt. Carmel, for a SERMON
(Sermon of Elijah)
1 Kings 18:21 “Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.”
 
They were a vacillating people and they needed to get off of the fence.
REVIVAL REQUIRES US TO MAKE A DECISION
ABOUT WHO WE ARE GOING TO SERVE.
 
Maybe we serve a foreign god…
Maybe we serve a way of life…
Maybe we serve our selves…
 
But revival will never occur
As long as we are hesitating in our convictions.
With God, you must be all in or all out, there is no “lukewarm” allowed.
 
After the sermon of Elijah, the showdown began. (Suggestion of Elijah)
The prophets of Baal were to prepare an ox and lay it on the altar,
But put no fire under it, and then call on the name of Baal to light the fire.
 
But despite their sincere devotion, the ox didn’t even get warm.
Nothing happened, and so Elijah took the opportunity
To publicly humiliate Baal and his prophets.
(Sarcasm of Elijah)
1 Kings 18:27 “It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”
 
AND YOU WILL REMEMBER THE PURPOSE.
Israel needed to see they were trusting in a false hope.
They were relying upon someone who could not save.
 
REVIVAL REQUIRES THAT WE REALIZE THE FALSE SECURITIES IN OUR LIVES THAT ARE STEALING GOD’S GLORY.
 
Before we can fully pledge allegiance to God,
We have to fully reject all other sources of hope and comfort.
 
Then, after Baal’s prophets finally came to a stopping point,
It was Elijah’s turn to do the same. (Sacrifice of Elijah)
Prepare an ox, lay it on the altar, and call on God to light the fire.
 
And last week we saw Elijah begin this process.
1 Kings 18:30-31 “Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.”So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
 
There had previously been an altar on that mountain,
But it had fallen into disarray. Elijah repaired the altar.
 
Israel had forgotten who they were.
 
REVIVAL REQUIRES THAT WE REBUILD GOD’S ALTAR IN OUR LIVES
(That is what revival really is) REBUILD – REMEMBER – RETURN
REVIVAL REQIRES:
• Both the wicked to repent and the righteous to step out…
• That we make a decision as to who we will serve…
• That we abandon all forms of false security in our lives…
• That we rebuild God’s altar in our lives…
 
That is what Elijah has taught us thus far,
But, Elijah did not stop there.
 
VERSES 32-35 “So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.”
 
Apparently it was not enough for Elijah to simply
Beat Baal in a heads up competition.
 
ELIJAH WENT FOR A DRAMATIC VICTORY.
• Not only are we on Baal’s mountain…
• Not only is he outnumbered 450 to 1…
• Not only is he calling for fire, which is supposedly Baal’s specialty…
 
But here Elijah does the unthinkable.
He actually soaks the sacrifice with water.
 
Scripture says that the trench would hold “two measures of seed”
Which is about 11 quarts.
 
So, after the water soaks the ox, and soaks into the wood a little,
The trench is holding a little under 4 gallons.
 
It reveals that Elijah has no tricks up his sleeve.
He has eliminated every possible advantage
And disproved every potential excuse.
 
If this sacrifice is burned, then it will have to happen by the hand of God.
 
And there we pick up with our story.
 
We have seen: The Suggestion of Elijah, The Sarcasm of Elijah, and The Sacrifice of Elijah
 
#1 THE SUPPLICATION OF ELIJAH
1 Kings 18:36-37
 
Here we have that infamous prayer of Elijah
That we actually referenced a couple of weeks ago.
 
If you had any doubts as to Elijah’s motives, they are satisfied here
• He doesn’t want fame…
• He doesn’t want tolerance…
• He doesn’t even want rain…
 
ELIJAH WANTS REVIVAL
 
He is tired of God not getting the glory that God deserves,
And he is tired of God’s people living like Baal is their deliverer.
 
He simply wants to see God’s people
Give God the glory He deserves.
That certainly is not too much to ask is it?
 
“O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known…”
 
And then Elijah lists four things.
1) REVEAL YOUR POWER
“that You are God in Israel”
 
Elijah wanted God to put Baal to shame.
It seems as though there has been some confusion.
 
Popular opinion actually believes that there could be 2 gods,
And that they are pretty close to equal.
(TODAY: Allah or Buddha or Jesus)
 
Elijah wants God to completely squash that notion.
Let it be known “that You are God in Israel”
 
2) REVEAL YOUR PROPHET
“and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.”
 
Certainly you can guess that Elijah would like a little vindication.
He was after all called the “trouble of Israel” by Ahab.
 
But vindication is not the main request here.
Elijah wants God to reveal
That nothing that has been done here is a simple coincidence.
 
• Don’t let them think that drought was just bad luck…
• Don’t let them think that rain was just inevitable…
• Don’t let them think this altar will burn by coincidence…
 
People continually try and explain away God’s wrath in their lives.
 
• If we experience drought or economic trials, surely it is not because God is angry, it’s bound to be because of someone else’s greed.
 
• If we are attacked by terrorists who blow up our buildings, it is not because God has removed His hand of protection, it is because someone made an executive mistake.
 
• If we suffer natural disasters meant to get our attention, people don’t think it is because God is angry, it is because of global warming.
 
Elijah wanted to make sure the people of Israel made no such excuse.
He wanted them to know that the drought, the showdown,
And the fire was all the calculated determined plan of God.
 
“let it be known…that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.”
 
Reveal Your Power Reveal Your Prophet
3) REVEAL YOUR PEOPLE
“Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God”
 
Now Elijah gets specific as to whom he is aiming at.
Israel had forgotten who her God was, Elijah wants them to remember.
 
REVIVAL IS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE
 
God doesn’t owe them any more proof, His Law is enough.
But Elijah wants God to answer by fire
To prove to these people that He cares enough to reveal Himself.
 
Elijah wants God to show up so “that this people may know”
 
Reveal Your Power Reveal Your Prophet Reveal Your People
4) REVEAL YOUR PURPOSE
“and that You have turned their heart back again.”
 
Make sure the people know why You are doing this.
 
• Make sure they don’t leave this place amazed…
• Make sure they don’t leave this place entertained…
• Make sure they don’t leave this place disturbed…
 
I WANT THEM TO LEAVE THIS PLACE REVIVED
 
Is that ever a prayer that we could echo.
And from Elijah we learn another real important principle about revival.
 
REVIVAL REQUIRES EARNEST PRAYER
TO THE GOD WHO CAN ANSWER
 
Revival is not solely up to you, nor is it up to me.
• I don’t have the ability to force open blind eyes…
• I don’t have the ability to speak into a dead heart…
• I don’t have the ability to make a person love Jesus…
 
REVIVAL IS THE WORK OF GOD, AND SO IN ORDER TO HAVE IT, WE MUST PRAY FOR IT.
 
Psalms 85:4-7 “Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD, And grant us Your salvation.”
 
Psalms 80:14-19 “O God of hosts, turn again now, we beseech You; Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine, Even the shoot which Your right hand has planted, And on the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. Then we shall not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. O LORD God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”
If you want revival, then you have to beg God for it,
And Elijah’s prayer is a great place to start.
 
• Beg God to show up and REVEAL THAT HE ALONE IS GOD.
• Beg God to REMOVE OUR EXCUSES and reveal that the hardships we face are a direct result of our disobedience to Him.
• Beg God to move FOR THE SAKE OF HIS PEOPLE.
• Beg God to move in such a WAY THAT REVIVAL IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCE.
 
If you and I want revival, then we have to pray for it.
 
Let’s see the answer
 
The Supplication of Elijah
#2 THE SUCCESS OF ELIJAH
1 Kings 18:38-40
 
A couple of weeks ago we learned from James:
James 5:16b “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
 
Once again we learn that it is true.
It is not just that we pray for revival,
But it matters what state our heart is in when we pray.
We cannot pray for others to be revived
If we have not given our all to God.
 
Be wholly devoted, be sincere to God, and pray for revival,
BECAUSE PRAYER TO THE ONE TRUE GOD WORKS.
 
• Baal’s prophets prayed for hours…
• Baal’s prophets jumped on the altar…
• Baal’s prophets cut themselves with lances…
And they got no answer.
 
This righteous man offers one prayer, and the response is instant.
(38) “Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”
God answered!
And He answered with fire.
 
Fire hot enough not only to burn flesh and wood,
But fire hot enough to incinerate stones, dirt and vaporize water.
 
GOD ANSWERED
Isaiah 44:6-9 “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'” Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.”
 
Isaiah 46:8-9 “Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,”
 
Psalms 135:5 “For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods.”
 
Isaiah 45:20-25 “Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; They have no knowledge, Who carry about their wooden idol And pray to a god who cannot save. “Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. “I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. “They will say of Me, ‘Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.’ Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. “In the LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be justified and will glory.”
 
And that is precisely what happened for Elijah
(39) “When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, he is God.”
 
All of a sudden this vacillating people display a little conviction.
 
Now they are off the fence.
 
HOW DO WE KNOW?
(40) “Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.”
 
The brook was formerly dry, and now it flowed
With the blood of those who deceived Israel.
 
Last week we read about idols:
Psalms 115:8 “Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them.”
 
And so it happened to those who prophesied for Baal.
 
And here we see revival.
REVIVAL HAS OCCURRED WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE WHOLLY DEVOTED TO GOD AS REVEALED BY OUR CONFESSION AND OUR ACTIONS.
 
When you publicly proclaim Christ…
When you publicly obey Christ…
Then we will know revival has come.
 
For centuries the church has had those who proclaim Christ but who never obey Him.
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
 
If you are hiding from the world, afraid to take Jesus to work, or afraid to take Jesus to your friends, you are in desperate need of revival.
 
On the other hand, we have those who try to obey without publicly confessing.
John 12:42-43 “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”
 
If you are publicly confessing Him, but then living a life inconsistent to your claim, you also are in desperate need of revival.
 
NEITHER DEMONSTATES THE SPIRIT OF REVIVAL THAT GOD DESIRES.
 
God desires those who will speak up and step out.
Until that is us, then revival has not occurred.
Elijah wanted these people wholly devoted,
As evidenced by their confession and their actions.
 
WHERE ARE YOU?
 
These people experienced revival, you could as well.
 
Now let me show you the blessing of revival
#3 THE SHOWER OF ELIJAH
1 Kings 18:41-46
 
As a side note, see that Elijah is a man of great faith.
• He predicts rain
• He prays for rain
• He doesn’t stop even after discouraging results
 
AND ELIJAH’S PRAYER WAS ANSWERED WITH A FLASH FLOOD
 
ELIJAH RUNS – to submit to Ahab and to lead the city to revival as well.
 
BUT THE MAIN PICTURE HERE IS THAT
As soon as God’s people turned their hearts toward Him,
The drought was lifted and the showers came.
 
It sort of reminds you of that often quoted seldom followed verse.
2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
 
For some reason people often fear the thought of revival.
 
They are afraid if they give God full control of their lives
And devote themselves only to Him
That it will immediately result in pain and suffering.
 
They are afraid to give God control,
For fear of Him saying, “Africa” or some other scary place.
 
And so, instead of exercising faith,
They remain in fear and keep revival far from themselves.
 
BUT SHOW ME ONE TIME IN SCRIPTURE
IN WHICH REVIVAL WASN’T WORTH IT FOR THE PEOPLE.
 
Show me one time in which their lives were not drastically better
After they fled from sin and wholly devoted themselves to God.
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
 
And such was certainly true here.
Their lives were instantly better after the returned to the LORD.
 
Many of you could give similar testimonies.
 
God asked something of you that you dreaded or feared,
But after you obeyed, it was extremely worth it.
 
THE SAME IS TRUE OF SALVATION.
People fight it, resist it, put it off, and neglect it.
But I have yet to see one person who submitted to it who didn’t immediately say, he wishes he had done it sooner.
 
But People often resist when God calls for revival.
• They hold on to their false securities…
• They respond like Israel to Elijah’s sermon (they do nothing)
 
And yet, when they finally give in, they find that they only wish they had done it sooner and saved themselves 3 ½ years of drought.
 
The same could be true for you today.
• The spiritual drought…
• The bitterness…
• The confusion…
• The doubt…
 
It could all go right away, and you could rejoice under a heavenly shower, But to do so, you must wholly devote yourselves to God like Israel did.
 
And I wonder today, if you would be willing
To let God bring revival in your heart.
 
In a moment we are going to have a time or response,
And if you are willing I just want you to offer up this prayer to God.
 
“Lord God, I know here today that I am not as close to You as I should be. I want that to change, and I am asking You to do whatever You desire to do in me, that I may experience revival.”
 
Give God full permission in your life, and see if life doesn’t turn out better.
 
2 Chronicles 7:14 “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
 

The Showdown on Mt. Carmel – pt. 1 (1 Kings 18:22-33)

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1 Kings 18:22-33
 
We are presently studying the climax of the book of 1 Kings.
 
The writer has carried us from Israel in her faithful state under David,
To Israel in her idolatrous state under Ahab.
 
And now he is showing how God is working
To draw His people back to Himself.
 
• It started with 3 ½ years of drought to soften them up.
• Now Elijah has been sent back, and all Israel is gathered.
 
Last week we saw Elijah’s sermon:
1 Kings 18:21 “Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.”
 
And from that we learn why Israel was in such need of revival.
They were “hesitating” they were “vacillating”
 
At times they sought the approval of Jehovah
At times they sought the approval of Jezebel
 
MUCH LIKE THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA:
 
Revelation 2:19-20 “I know your deeds, and your love and faith and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, and she teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.”
 
Thyatira was of course the worldly church.
They were devoted to “guilds” and were having to choose between faithfulness to God or faithfulness to their worldly securities.
 
God had a stiff warning for them:
Revelation 2:21-25 “I gave her time to repent, and she does not want to repent of her immorality. ‘Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of her deeds. ‘And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. ‘But I say to you, the rest who are in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not known the deep things of Satan, as they call them — I place no other burden on you. ‘Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come.”
 
Essentially Jesus told them the same thing that Elijah told Israel.
GET OFF THE FENCE, AND SERVE GOD ONLY.
 
That is why Elijah has come.
To tell God’s people to return to Him
But unfortunately, after the sermon:
(21) “But the people did not answer him a word.”
 
And so Elijah sets out to make their decision easier.
We know it as “The Showdown on Mt. Carmel”
 
Three things (as we study the first part of this contest)
#1 THE SUGGESTION OF ELIJAH
1 Kings 18:22-24
 
Elijah begins with a statement of reality.
“I alone am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.”
 
This is one of many advantages that Elijah yields to the prophets of Baal.
1) They are on Baal’s mountain
2) Elijah is outnumbered
3) They will call for fire (Baal is the storm god)
4) Elijah will actually pour water on his sacrifice
 
All of these incidents are meant by Elijah
To reveal to the people that he has nothing up his sleeve.
 
And then comes the suggestion.
(23-24) “Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it. “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”
 
It is a simple showdown.
We both make a sacrifice, and we just wait to see which God can light it.
(After all, Baal was supposed to be the storm god)
 
It was a clear test
And the people liked his suggestion.
 
“And all the people said, “That is a good idea.”
 
THE REASON WAS TO:
1) Identify the true God.
2) Lead Israel to FOLLOW the true God.
 
(21) “Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.”
 
And as we talked about last week, this is important for all mankind.
 
It doesn’t matter if God fits your requirements…
It doesn’t matter if God fulfills your expectations…
It doesn’t matter if you think He is right or wrong…
YOU HAD JUST BETTER FIND OUT WHO IS GOD AND FOLLOW HIM
 
WHY?
Because if there is a God, then you will stand before Him,
And the God you stand before
Better be the God you’ve been serving.
 
This is what Paul said to the city of Athens.
They were worshiping every imaginable god.
 
Acts 17:23-31 “For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. “The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
 
Paul said, you had better quit worshiping many gods,
And determine to worship only the true God,
For He is the one you will answer to.
 
That is precisely why Elijah is holding the showdown.
He wants them to see who is the true God,
And then he expects them to follow Him.
 
You and I must make the same decision.
 
The Suggestion of Elijah
#2 THE SARCASM OF ELIJAH
1 Kings 18:25-29
 
Elijah actually lets Baal’s prophets go first
(Another part of the advantage they supposedly had).
 
(25) “So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
They are to pick the ox, (presumably the one that looks the most flammable), cut it up, place it on the altar and then cry out to Baal to light the fire.
 
And that is what they do.
In fact they do it OVER and OVER and OVER
 
(26) “Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made.”
 
All morning long, it is the same chant:
“O Baal answer us.”
 
In fact, they repeated it on purpose.
For it was their assumption that their repetition
Made their prayer more likely to be heard.
 
The same thing happened to Paul at Ephesus:
Acts 19:34-35 “But when they recognized that he was a Jew, a single outcry arose from them all as they shouted for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
 
It was just a senseless, mind numbing, chant,
Intended to cause the deity to show up.
 
This prompted Jesus to say:
Matthew 6:7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.”
 
But that is what they were doing.
They cried “from morning until noon”
 
At the end, you see ANOTHER TACTIC they were using.
“And they leaped about the altar which they had made.”
 
“Here I’ll get on the altar as well,
And you can have me too, if you will just light the fire”
 
AS FAR AS COMMITTED PRAYER IS CONCERNED,
THESE GUYS WERE SOLD OUT.
 
“But there was no voice and no one answered.”
 
There is actually a very good reason why their prayers were not answered.
THEIR GOD WAS NOT REAL
 
Psalms 115:4-8 “Their idols are silver and gold, The work of man’s hands. They have mouths, but they cannot speak; They have eyes, but they cannot see; They have ears, but they cannot hear; They have noses, but they cannot smell; They have hands, but they cannot feel; They have feet, but they cannot walk; They cannot make a sound with their throat. Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them.”
 
Jeremiah 10:5 “Like a scarecrow in a cucumber field are they, And they cannot speak; They must be carried, Because they cannot walk! Do not fear them, For they can do no harm, Nor can they do any good.”
 
The reason Baal did not answer is because he could not answer.
He is not real, he is a figment of the imagination.
He is some man’s invention.
 
And as strange as it may sound,
This is a theological truth that even
Christians of late seem to have forgotten.
 
FALSE GODS CANNOT RESPOND
 
Every time you turn around,
You get some new poll out that says even among evangelical Christians, that there is an increasing majority among us who believe that there is MORE than one way of salvation.
 
People grow sympathetic to Muslims and say,
“Well if they are sincere in their faith, then I believe they will be saved.”
 
Or the same about Buddhists,
“If they are sincere in their faith, then I think they will go to heaven.”
 
Look at these prophets of Baal,
It doesn’t matter how sincerely devoted you are to a false god,
Your sincerity will not cause him to be alive and able to save.
 
If you cry out to a false god, you get no response.
They may have eyes, but they cannot see.
They may have ears, but they cannot hear.
They may have a mouth, but they cannot talk.
 
Crying out to them is absolutely useless.
BUT IT DOESN’T STOP THEM FROM CRYING OUT
 
But Elijah apparently picks up on the difficult time they are having.
And what he does would today be considered un-Christian.
 
(27) “It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied (i.e. meditating) or gone aside (lit. “relieving himself”), or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”
Elijah literally mocks them and their god.
 
Today, people would get mad at Elijah for such a thing.
 
In 2002 Jerry Vines was preaching at Pastor’s Conference in St. Louis and he called Muhammad “A demon-possessed pedophile” (because his last wife was a 9 year old girl)
And the outcry began.
Sure some by Muslim followers, but mostly from evangelicals:
 
Rev. Dick McEuen of Orange Park Presbyterian church said:
“It’s the inflammatory words that are bad … ‘pedophile’ and the other…I think Jerry probably used the wrong words, and it sure doesn’t help relationships in the day … This is a pluralistic society. It showed a lack of perspective.”
 
I suppose he would really take offense to Elijah
Insinuating that Baal was stuck in the bathroom.
 
Rev. Davette Turk, an Episcopalian priest
“I’m saddened. We can’t go on like this. We can’t think like that, I’m sure [Vines] will be shown by the Lord how these remarks do not help the unity God desires for his family.”
 
Rev. Paul Hooker, executive presbyter for the Presbytery of St. Augustine.
“We find regrettable the comments attributed to Rev. Vines because they appear to represent an ungenerous spirit, which we find out of character with the Christian faith, I would think that [this] will make interfaith dialogue between Christians and Muslims in our community more difficult in a time when such conversations should be taking place.”
 
Monsignor Daniel Logan
“It is far better to affirm the good in every religion than it is to condemn the bad, we can radically disagree, yet affirm the things we have in common. That’s what we should do to try and make the world a better place to live.”
(All quotes from: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/061302/met_9655580.html)
 
Today, that is the mindset of religion.
They would run Elijah out of town.
 
“I can’t believe Elijah was so degrading to Baal.”
“Elijah’s remarks will make it so difficult to reach Baal worshipers now”
 
DO THEY SUPPOSE THAT BY GIVING CREDIBILITY TO FALSE GODS THAT IT WILL BE EASIER TO DRAW PEOPLE AWAY?
 
There is no cause to offer any courtesy to any false deity.
They are guilty not only of deceiving millions,
But also of stealing God’s glory.
 
Isaiah 42:8 “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, Nor My praise to graven images.”
 
If a false god is false…
If a dead god is dead…
If a mythical god is a myth…
If a powerless god is powerless…
LET THEM BE LABELED AS SUCH!
 
God Himself certainly doesn’t pull any punches about these false gods.
Isaiah 41:21-24 “Present your case,” the LORD says. “Bring forward your strong arguments,” The King of Jacob says. Let them bring forth and declare to us what is going to take place; As for the former events, declare what they were, That we may consider them and know their outcome. Or announce to us what is coming; Declare the things that are going to come afterward, That we may know that you are gods; Indeed, do good or evil, that we may anxiously look about us and fear together. Behold, you are of no account, And your work amounts to nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination.”
 
Jeremiah 10:8 “But they are altogether stupid and foolish In their discipline of delusion — their idol is wood!”
 
Jeremiah 10:14-15 “Every man is stupid, devoid of knowledge; Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols; For his molten images are deceitful, And there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of mockery; In the time of their punishment they will perish.”
 
I suppose Jerry Vines could have said: “Behold, Allah is of no account and all who choose him are an abomination. Indeed they are stupid devoid of knowledge, their god isn’t even real!”
 
Baal was guilty of deceiving people, condemning people,
And Elijah reveals that he is a false hope.
 
BUT THEY CONTINUE
(28-29) “So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them. When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.”
Despite their desperation…
Despite offering their own blood…
Despite their endless chants…
 
“there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.”
(x3 = magnify the point)
 
AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW, ELIJAH DID THIS ON PURPOSE.
He could have just shown up on Mt. Carmel and asked God for rain,
And left the others out of it. BUT HE DIDN’T
 
Elijah first made sure he publicly humiliated Baal,
Before he asked God to deliver.
 
These people had been trusting in Baal,
And before they could fully trust in God,
They had to have all the other things pulled away.
 
HAS GOD EVER DONE THIS IN YOUR LIFE?
Maybe He allowed something you trusted in to fail
In order to remind you that He alone is your deliverance.
 
You trust too much in a job – so God allows you to lose it to see that He is your provider.
 
You trust too much in a relationship – so God allows you to lose it to see that He is all you need.
 
You trust too much in a drug – so God allows you to lose it to see that He is your healer.
 
You trust too much in a program – so God allows it to fail to prove that He alone can change your life.
 
If you have any other thing in your life that you can’t live without,
You are guilty of idolatry, and are dependent on something other than God
 
Before He reveals Himself,
He first allows our false hopes to fail.
That is to make sure no one but Him gets the gory.
 
In order for revival to occur, we must realize that God alone
Is worthy to receive glory in our lives.
 
Jeremiah 9:23-24 “Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”
 
The sarcasm of Elijah is to make sure that all Israel
Sees just how foolish it is to trust in things that cannot save.
 
The Suggestion of Elijah The Sarcasm of Elijah
#3 THE SACRIFICE OF ELIJAH
1 Kings 18:30-33
 
Now obviously we don’t see the full effect of Elijah’s sacrifice here,
 
What I want you to see is the necessary next step
In the progression of the people if they are to be revived.
 
Not only do they need to see that what they are trusting in is foolish,
They also need to see how far they have fallen away from God.
 
DID YOU CATCH WHAT ELIJAH DID?
“And he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down.”
 
That is often overlooked.
Apparently God had an altar on that mountain already.
Years earlier it had been built, but at some point, they had torn it down.
 
That altar was a picture of the spiritual state of Israel.
Once a nation of worship, not a nation of apostasy.
 
(31) “Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”
 
He is reminding the people of WHO THEY REALLY ARE.
 
For the last decade or so, they had forgotten who they were.
• They were the children of Israel.
• They were God’s chosen people.
• They were objects of God’s compassion.
• They were the ones God had delivered from Egypt.
• They were the ones God had given this land to.
 
And yet somehow in their pursuit of worldliness,
They had forgotten who they were.
 
Elijah is reminding them.
 
THIS IS ALL PIVOTAL TO REVIVAL.
If you are to experience revival in your life,
Not only do you have to let go of all the false idols
But it is imperative that you remember who you are.
 
Acts 11:26 “…and the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.”
 
1 Peter 4:16 “but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”
 
• Was it not for you that Jesus Christ bled and died?
• Did God not spend the precious blood of His Son for you?
• And did you not pledge your life to Him?
 
To become a Christian, do you remember what you did?
Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;”
 
The Bible says that if you really are a Christian,
At some point you fully surrendered everything about you to Him.
 
Have you forgotten the vows you took?
 
That’s what Israel had done.
Jeremiah 2:32 “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, Or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me Days without number.”
 
Israel had forgotten that she was the wife of God.
Today, many in the Church seem to have forgotten
That they are the bride of Christ. (we are betrothed to Him)
 
That is why Jesus told two of the churches in the Revelation:
Revelation 2:5 “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place — unless you repent.”
 
Revelation 3:3 “So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.”
 
The point is that if revival is to occur in your life,
You must remember who you are.
You are not a teacher…
You are not a worker for the telephone company…
You are not a lineman for the electric company…
You are not a secretary…
 
That is what you do, but it is not who you are.
YOU ARE A BLOOD PURCHASED CHILD OF GOD
AND HE DESERVES YOUR WORSHIP.
 
Does the altar of God need to be rebuilt in your life?
 
THAT IS WHAT REVIVAL IS.
It is rebuilding God’s altar in your life.
 
This morning I want to ask you to do that.
• Put everything else aside,
• Return to the God who saved you from sin.
• Remember what He did for you,
• Renew your vows to Him.
 
Psalms 50:7-15 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak; O Israel, I will testify against you; I am God, your God. “I do not reprove you for your sacrifices, And your burnt offerings are continually before Me. “I shall take no young bull out of your house Nor male goats out of your folds. “For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. “I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. “If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains. “Shall I eat the flesh of bulls Or drink the blood of male goats? “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.”
 

The Sermon of Elijah (1 Kings 18:17-21)

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1 Kings 18:17-21
 
We are now in a fascinating section in the Word of God.
It is really the climax of the book of 1 Kings.
 
We have seen the nation Israel go from glory to the pit of depravity
As they worship Baal and have begun to walk away from God.
 
However, God is not one who readily allows His people to stray from Him,
And therefore God is at work to call His people back.
 
God started this work 3 ½ years earlier when he sent drought on the land.
(interesting since Baal was the “storm god”)
Since that time Israel has been suffering
While God is getting their attention.
 
And now, the time has come.
 
We’ve begun to study that famous story of Elijah on Mt. Carmel.
It is Elijah vs. the 450 prophets of Baal, in a winner take all contest.
 
And although it is a cool story.
And although we are mesmerized by the supernatural.
THE REASON ELIJAH MADE THE CHALLENGE IS THE HOPE OF REVIVAL
 
This is seen most clearly in the prayer that Elijah will pray
 
(36-37) “At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”
 
Notice Elijah gave four very specific requests.
“today let it be known”
 
And then these four statements:
1) “that You are God in Israel”
 
The people are in a state of confusion they can’t seem to tell who God is,
Elijah wants that to become clear.
 
2) “that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.”
 
This drought is not coincidental.
The drought is the direct judgment of the one true God
BECAUSE HE IS ANGRY THAT YOU HAVE REJECTED HIM
 
3) “Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God”
 
In a very personal sense, Elijah wants God to show up,
And the people to know who He is.
 
4) “and that You have turned their heart back again.”
 
Elijah prays for God to win the battle of Mt. Carmel
In order to woo His people back to Himself.
 
ELIJAH’S PRAYER IS FOR REVIVAL
 
You and I then understand the main purpose of chapter 18.
It is far more than just a cool story to tell our children.
1 Kings 18 is all about revival.
 
Last week we actually saw God’s first step in bringing the revival.
God started the revival by asking the righteous to step out.
God asked Elijah to go to Ahab.
Elijah asked Obadiah to go to Ahab.
 
Certainly Obadiah was hesitant, but obedience won the day, and he went.
 
And just as we saw Obadiah respond in faithfulness,
Now Elijah does the same.
 
He confronts a man who has searched for him.
He rebukes a man who wants to kill him.
 
1 Kings 18:17 “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?”
 
It is obvious that Ahab had thought hard on what he would say to Elijah.
For Ahab’s accusation is both calculated and sharp.
 
In fact Ahab calls Elijah “you troubler of Israel”
 
That is a name with a history.
There has been one other man in history who carried that title.
 
1 Chronicles 2:7 “The son of Carmi was Achar (Achan), the troubler of Israel, who violated the ban.”
 
That brings to mind a very interesting incident.
 
God was very clear to the children of Israel
Upon conquering Jericho.
 
Joshua 6:17-19 “The city shall be under the ban, it and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; only Rahab the harlot and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent. “But as for you, only keep yourselves from the things under the ban, so that you do not covet them and take some of the things under the ban, and make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it. “But all the silver and gold and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD; they shall go into the treasury of the LORD.”
 
The spoil of Jericho was “under the ban”.
In other words, it is absolutely off limits to you.
 
Of course not everyone obeyed that command.
Joshua 7:1 “But the sons of Israel acted unfaithfully in regard to the things under the ban, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things under the ban, therefore the anger of the LORD burned against the sons of Israel.”
 
Achan disregarded the warning of the LORD and he took some spoil
And the Bible says God was angry.
 
THE RESULT OF GOD’S ANGER IS STAGGERING
Joshua 7:2-5 “Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. They returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not let all the people go up; only about two or three thousand men need go up to Ai; do not make all the people toil up there, for they are few.” So about three thousand men from the people went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai. The men of Ai struck down about thirty-six of their men, and pursued them from the gate as far as Shebarim and struck them down on the descent, so the hearts of the people melted and became as water.”
 
God removed His hand from the armies of Israel,
And they weren’t even able to defeat a very vulnerable foe.
 
• Joshua sought God.
• God revealed that someone had violated the ban.
• Joshua cast lots and it fell to Achan.
• Joshua confronted Achan and he confessed.
 
And notice Joshua’s response to Achan for this sin.
Joshua 7:25 “Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day.” And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.”
 
That is how Achan became known as the “troubler of Israel”.
He committed one sin that caused the entire nation to be judged severely.
 
That is exactly what Ahab has in mind when he confronts Elijah.
“Is this you, you troubler of Israel?”
 
Ahab pins the drought, the famine, and all other judgments
Onto the back of Elijah.
 
And then notice the boldness of Elijah in his response.
1 Kings 18:18 “He said, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and you have followed the Baals.”
 
This was the man who had searched for him.
This was the man who wanted to kill him.
AND YET ELIJAH SPEAKS WITH BOLDNESS
 
“I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have because you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and you have followed the Baals.”
 
That is what God expects from His missionary.
Go where He sends, and say what He reveals
 
Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are bold as a lion.”
 
That was certainly Elijah.
God sent the drought because Ahab had led Israel
Away from the true God, and the only God who can send rain.
And Elijah made sure he knew it.
 
No doubt at this point he has Ahab a little shell-shocked.
I seriously doubt Ahab expected such a bold response from Elijah.
 
And so Elijah takes control and actually gives and order to Ahab.
1 Kings 18:19-20 “Now then send and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, together with 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.(not hard to find the allegiance of the king’s wife)” So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.”
 
The tables have been completely turned.
Ahab is taking orders, and Elijah is giving them.
 
And so the people gather, and the prophets gather,
And we are about to find out who is really god.
 
This morning I want us to see the sermon of Elijah.
We’ve briefly seen the SUPPLICATION of Elijah… (praying for revival)
Later we will see the STRATEGY of Elijah… (the showdown was Elijah’s idea)
Later we will see the SARCASM of Elijah… (as he mocks the prophets of Baal)
Later we will see the SLAUGHTER of Elijah… (as he kills Baal’s prophets)
 
This morning I just want us to hear his sermon.
It is brief (20 words), but it is directly to the point.
1 Kings 18:21 “Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.”
 
You could actually divide this sermon into two points.
#1 THE ACCUSATION
1 Kings 18:21a
 
“How long will you hesitate between two opinions?”
KJV (“how long halt ye between two opinions?”)
 
It paints the picture of a person frozen unable to decide.
They are given two options, and can’t seem to determine which is best.
 
It reveals this people have a tremendous lack of knowledge
And an even greater lack of conviction.
 
Psalms 119:113 “I hate those who are double-minded, But I love Your law.”
 
James 1:6 “…the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”
 
That was certainly the people of Israel.
They had no clue what they really believed.
 
• They were tossed here and there by the most convincing argument.
• They were given to emotion, to fear, and to manipulation.
• They succumbed to peer pressure and quickly followed the whim of the day.
 
And the consequence of their hesitation was PLURALISM
 
That’s really what PLURALISM is.
IT IS THE RELIGION OF THOSE WITH NO CONVICTION
If you can serve more than one god,
You obviously aren’t too afraid of any of them.
 
THAT WAS THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL
They found a comfortable life simply worshiping both Gods.
 
They were a people who vacillated back and forth
And could not make up their mind.
 
They lacked the conviction that we so often admire,
And the conviction that is required of one of God’s children.
 
Paul told Timothy:
2 Timothy 1:8 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God,”
 
He later said:
2 Timothy 1:12-13 “For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”
 
There is a constant call for conviction from God’s people.
Joshua said:
Joshua 24:14-16 “Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.”If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” The people answered and said, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods;”
 
ISRAEL HAD NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH
They couldn’t make up their mind.
One day they served God, and the next they served Baal.
 
AND BY THE WAY, THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
 
Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
 
Jesus spoke of people who were vacillating financially.
They proclaimed allegiance to God, but gave allegiance to wealth.
Their lips spoke of God, their actions spoke of greed.
 
The Corinthians were no better.
1 Corinthians 10:21-22 “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we?”
 
One day taking the Lord’s Supper, and the next eating in an idol’s temple
By watching them, you would have been hard pressed
To tell what they really believed.
 
Perhaps you remember the famous church in the Revelation:
Revelation 3:15-16 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”
 
This was the church that proclaimed allegiance,
But who really served themselves.
They said they loved God until they were too tired to serve…
Or until they were too broke to give…
Or until something better was on television…
 
THEY ALL LACKED CONVICTION
 
ISRAEL WAS JUST LIKE THEM
They were characterized as those who hesitated “between two opinions”
 
They needed to get their act straight,
Which is the second part of Elijah’s sermon.
The Accusation
#2 THE EXPECTATION
1 Kings 18:21b
 
And please notice the ONE THING Elijah wants them to evaluate.
 
He doesn’t say:
• “Pick the god you like the best and follow him…”
• “He doesn’t say pick the god your friends like and follow him…”
• “He doesn’t say pick the god that is the coolest and follow him…”
 
Elijah says, “FIND OUT WHO REALLY IS GOD AND FOLLOW HIM”
 
Carrie and I were at a graveside this past Thursday in Joy, TX.
(Preacher said “Jesus wept” because others were weeping)
 
He then said, “I can worship a Savior like that”.
 
I wanted to say,
“Well, that’s certainly good to know.
After all, we were waiting for your approval.”
 
• What if Jesus had laughed at their grief?
• What if Jesus had gotten angry and sent them home?
• What if Jesus had told them to get over it?
(Could you worship Him?)
 
IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU LIKE HIM OR NOT.
IT DOESN’T MATTER IF HE IS ACCEPTABLE OR NOT.
IT DOESN’T MATTER IF HIS ACTIONS MAKE SENSE OR NOT.
HE IS THE ONLY SAVIOR, YOU WORSHIP HIM OR GO TO HELL.
 
That is in essence what Elijah is saying.
Someday your life will end,
You will actually stand before the true God.
It would serve you well to figure out who He is.
 
Don’t use any other criteria by which to measure
The worthiness of God, other than whether or not He really is God.
 
If He is God, you will answer to Him.
So you had better figure out who He is.
“If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.”
 
In other words, the way you are living will tick both of them off.
Neither will accept you with this sort of half-hearted commitment.
 
You had better decide who really is God
And then sell out for Him.
 
AND THAT IS THE KEY TO REVIVAL
 
REVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT DECIDING WHO TO SERVE
Elijah says to identify the true God and then “follow Him”.
 
Don’t just acknowledge Him…
Don’t just give lip service…
If He really is God, then put your money where your mouth is.
Stop serving Self
Stop serving your Occupation
Stop serving your Possessions
Stop serving your Passions
Stop serving your Pleasures
START SERVING THE LORD.
 
When you make that decision, revival is sure to follow.
 
Later, in 2 Kings, we will study the Josianic revival.
King Josiah found the book of the Law, and realized that Israel was living in sin.
 
He called the people to do the same thing Elijah said here.
2 Kings 23:1-3 “Then the king sent, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. The king went up to the house of the LORD and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the LORD. The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to carry out the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people entered into the covenant.”
After that event, revival came to Israel.
 
Remember after the incident of the golden calf?
 
After Moses came down he gave a command:
Exodus 32:26 “then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him.”
 
The Levites chose God, and it was God who also chose the Levites
To be the ones who were able to come near to Him as priests.
 
Revival is all about a decision to deny self and follow God.
 
• Obadiah had to choose to speak to Ahab.
• Esther had to choose to enter the kings court to save her people.
• Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, chose not to bow.
• Paul chose to enter Jerusalem, after being warned of the danger.
• Matthew chose to leave his tax booth after the Savior came by.
• Peter, Andrew, James & John chose to leave their nets and.
 
And all of these found not only revival,
But new life on the other side.
 
Contrast them to those who would not choose.
• The Rich Young Ruler who chose not to forsake his wealth
• The children of Israel who chose not to enter the Promised Land
• The Pharisees continually chose not to repent
 
They forsook not only revival,
But ultimately the new life that God had for them.
 
REVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT A CHOICE TO FOLLOW GOD FULLY
If there is to be revival in your life, or in this church,
Then you must decide to get off of the fence.
 
You cannot serve God and mammon,
You must not hesitate between two opinions.
 
Jesus is either Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.
 
Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
 
Matthew 12:30 “He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”
 
You are either all in, or all out.
 
That is precisely what Elijah wants from the people of Israel.
 
EITHER SELL OUT FOR THE LORD, OR GET OUT OF HERE.
 
I suppose a similar charge would be appropriate in the church.
Either sell out for Jesus,
Or get out of here and go be devoted to the world.
 
But the last thing we need is a bunch of half-hearted Christians
Claiming to love Jesus, while drinking up the world.
 
“If the LORD is God, follow Him;”
BUT YOU WILL NOTICE A DISCOURAGING REALITY.
“But the people did not answer him a word.”
 
They sat back, like the faithless generation
Who isn’t going to do anything, until they get more proof.
 
John 4:48 “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”
 
Let me say to you, that is not the way to approach revival.
 
John 20:29 “Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
 
The Lord Jesus is looking for those who would say:
“You don’t have to prove a thing to me.
I believe you really are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
And because you are the Christ, I will follow You and You alone.”
 
I’M WONDERING IF YOU WOULD BE THAT PERSON TODAY
• Quit vacillating about what you believe.
• Quit doing things that are inconsistent with your confession.
• Quit lagging behind in diligence.
 
Stand up and determine that nothing in this life
Is going to come before your decision to follow Jesus.
 
Jesus, I believe You are God,
That alone deserves my total surrender.
As for me, I will serve the Lord.”
 
If you will, you will find revival.
 
IF NOT,
You might as well go and totally yield yourself to the world,
Because you are of no use to God.
 
Revelation 3:15-21 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. ‘So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. ‘Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. ‘Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ‘He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
 

About Us

It is nearly impossible to give a complete run down as to who we are in one section of a website. To really get to know us you will just have to hang around us, but I can give you a few ideas as to what really makes us tick. A LOVE FOR THE WORD All of our services are planned around an exposition of the Word of God. We place high emphasis on studying God's Word through expository book by book studies of the Bible. The Word of God is active … Learn more >>

 

 

Sunday Schedule

9:30am – Sunday School
10:30am – Morning Worship
6:00pm – Evening Worship

Pastor

1 Timothy 4:13-16 "Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation … learn more >>

Worship Leader

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with … learn more >>

Secretary

Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Amy Harris … learn more >>