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.”

 

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.”

 

1 Kings 18:1-16

 

Last week, we began this very important section in the book of 1 Kings.

It is this section that the writer has been driving towards.

 

He has taken us on a methodical journey thus far in the book.

He started us with the glory days of David and Solomon,

And has taken us to the lowest point of depravity.

 

HE HAS BEEN REVEALING:

When we seek God and obey His commands, all is well,

But when we begin to put God on the shelf, and seek other things,

We are in for disaster.

 

Solomon began this rapid descent

By giving preference to the religious desires of his many wives.

And really, it snowballed from there.

 

The glorious kingdom Solomon inherited from David is no more.

 

In fact, at this point that one kingdom has split into two.

SOUTH: Jehoshaphat reigns (Good heart, but lacks conviction)

NORTH: Ahab reigns (The most wicked King ever)

 

Ahab’s dad (Omri) introduced Baal worship into the land,

Ahab went one step further and replaced God with Baal.

 

And thus Israel is a mess.

 They are trapped in immorality,

 They are rapidly headed for judgment,

 They are in desperate need of revival.

 

In comes the hero of the book – Elijah.

 

We first saw Elijah last week,

He was seen as a picture of just how deprave Israel had become.

 

• Instead of seeking Elijah to pray for them, they refused his services and instead chose 3 ½ years worth of drought.

 

• Instead of turning to this man of God, they rejected him, and Elijah was forced to travel to a Gentile country to find one who would appreciate his services.

 

AND SO THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO DO FOR ISRAEL, BUT SUFFER

 

They are a nation in desperate need of revival,

And for now they don’t even realize it.

As we embark on our study from here through the end of the book, THE MAIN THEME WILL BE REVIVAL.

 

Many times today when we hear the term “Revival”

We think of some 4 day church program that carries the name.

• A preacher visits…

• Casserole’s are baked…

• Love offerings are taken…

And the whole affair is affectionately called “Revival”.

 

And while God can most certainly work during those events,

There is no guarantee that revival will occur.

 

You and I know that revival is not a flash in the pan.

• It cannot be scheduled or manipulated.

• It is very rarely quick, and is often painful.

• And it almost never begins corporately. (It can spread)

 

The Church cannot vote to be revived,

 

Individual members of the body must independently determine

To turn from sin and yield completely to God,

With the hope that others will do the same.

 

Revival is when a person who is pledged to walk with God determines to once again take that commitment seriously.

No more lip service…

No more complacency…

No more half-hearted obedience…

No more second best…

 

It may be a believer in immorality turning from their uncleanness…

It may be a believer who is stagnant determining to step out once again…

 

But the main objective is that after revival,

Everyone is a sold out and committed follower of the Lord.

 

Revival is what God is trying to accomplish in Israel

Through the prophet Elijah.

 

And this morning it begins.

And it doesn’t begin with the immoral, it begins with the righteous.

 

This morning we study a man you may have never heard of before.

He is a little mentioned figure in Scripture,

Yet when God starts to move for Revival in Israel,

This man is the first heart that God confronts.

His name is Obadiah. (“Servant of the Lord”)

And when God starts, Obadiah is the first one who is asked to respond.

He isn’t asked to turn from immorality, he is asked to step out for God.

 

This morning, I want you to see:

REVIVAL NOT ONLY REQUIRES THE WICKED TO REPENT,

BUT ALSO FOR THE RIGHTEOUS TO STEP OUT.

 

There are three main divisions to our text this morning.

#1 A CRITICAL FAMINE

1 Kings 18:1-6

 

After a period of 3 ½ years God is again about to move.

 

Previously Elijah has dwelt in Sidon, living with a widow,

While Elijah was waiting,

God was allowing the situation in Israel to grow extremely desperate.

 

Now the time has come.

“Now it happened after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.”

 

God is about to bring the judgment to an end.

Not that God has just gotten over His anger,

But rather that God is about to send revival,

And the people’s response will bring about God’s blessing of rain.

 

Rain was directly tied to the obedience of God’s people.

 

Moses listed rain as one of God’s BLESSINGS on an obedient people.

Deuteronomy 28:1-2,12 “Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God…(12) “The LORD will open for you His good storehouse, the heavens, to give rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hand; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.”

 

However the flip side is that if God’s people grew disobedient

Then the rain would be withheld.

 

Deuteronomy 28:15, 23-24 “But it shall come about, if you do not obey the LORD your God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes with which I charge you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you…(23)”The heaven which is over your head shall be bronze, and the earth which is under you, iron. “The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust; from heaven it shall come down on you until you are destroyed.”

 

You may remember Isaiah’s pronouncement of judgment:

Isaiah 5:1-6 “Let me sing now for my well-beloved A song of my beloved concerning His vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard on a fertile hill. He dug it all around, removed its stones, And planted it with the choicest vine. And He built a tower in the middle of it And also hewed out a wine vat in it; Then He expected it to produce good grapes, But it produced only worthless ones. “And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge between Me and My vineyard. “What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones? “So now let Me tell you what I am going to do to My vineyard: I will remove its hedge and it will be consumed; I will break down its wall and it will become trampled ground. “I will lay it waste; It will not be pruned or hoed, But briars and thorns will come up. I will also charge the clouds to rain no rain on it.”

 

God and God alone is responsible for rain.

Man cannot generate it.

There is no generic substitute.

 

If God doesn’t send it, it doesn’t come.

Jeremiah 14:22 “Are there any among the idols of the nations who give rain? Or can the heavens grant showers? Is it not You, O LORD our God? Therefore we hope in You, For You are the one who has done all these things.”

 

Therefore rain became an accurate indicator

Of just how pleased God was with His people.

 

And the fact that it has not rained in Israel for 3 ½ years

Should have their attention.

 

God reveals to Elijah that He is about to send rain,

Which means that His people are about to repent.

 

God is about to start revival, so it is time for Elijah to go and meet Ahab.

 

And Scripture says that is what he did.

(2) “Elijah went to show himself to Ahab.”

 

“Now the famine was severe in Samaria.”

 

This is given just to show you the desperate scene in the land.

No rain, eventually means no food,

And that was certainly the case in Samaria.

 

Allow me for a moment to paint you a picture of a severe famine.

 

One indicator will be seen in a moment in verse 5, “Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.”

 

This is Ahab and his manager searching for their own personal livestock.

Even the Kings house has grown desperate.

If the King is in this poor of a state,

One can only imagine the state of the poor man in Israel.

 

There are other pictures of famine and drought in Scripture.

Jeremiah 14:1-6 “That which came as the word of the LORD to Jeremiah in regard to the drought: “Judah mourns And her gates languish; They sit on the ground in mourning, And the cry of Jerusalem has ascended. “Their nobles have sent their servants for water; They have come to the cisterns and found no water. They have returned with their vessels empty; They have been put to shame and humiliated, And they cover their heads. “Because the ground is cracked, For there has been no rain on the land; The farmers have been put to shame, They have covered their heads. “For even the doe in the field has given birth only to abandon her young, Because there is no grass. “The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights; They pant for air like jackals, Their eyes fail For there is no vegetation.”

 

Here is another

2 Kings 6:25-29 “There was a great famine in Samaria; and behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and a fourth of a kab of dove’s dung for five shekels of silver. As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” He said, “If the LORD does not help you, from where shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the wine press?” And the king said to her, “What is the matter with you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ “So we boiled my son and ate him; and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.”

 

That is what we call desperation.

There is absolutely no food.

 

This is the point God has been forced to drive His people to,

In order to bring about revival in the land.

 

Don’t ever underestimate the extreme God will go to

In order to make sure His people are devoted to Him.

 

He cares far more about your soul than He does about your comfort,

And if it means extreme physical distress to cause you to call upon Him,

Then get ready.

 

God has brought Israel to a point of hardship that is truly horrifying.

 

But obviously God knows that the people are ready for revival,

And so Elijah is sent back to Samaria, and he went.

 

MEANWHILE:

(3) “Ahab called Obadiah who was over the household.”

 

This means that Obadiah was in charge of all of Ahab’s possessions.

(Joseph was this to Pharaoh)

 

Obadiah is an important man.

The writer gives you a parenthetical statement

To reveal to you what kind of man Obadiah was.

“(Obadiah feared the LORD greatly; for when Jezebel destroyed the prophets of the LORD, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water.)”

 

It is obvious that the drought was blamed on God’s prophets.

 

When Elijah and Ahab finally meet, this is evident.

1 Kings 18:17 “When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is this you, you troubler of Israel?”

 

Ahab faulted God’s messengers (who pronounced the drought)

As the cause of it, and the killing began.

 

Jezebel tried to slaughter them all.

 

No doubt it was these men that the writer of Hebrews referred to

In the faith hall of fame.

Hebrews 11:38 “(men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.”

 

One reason they were in caves is because Obadiah hid them there.

 

THE POINT IS EASY TO SEE.

It was a dangerous time to be a believer.

 

God’s prophets were being massacred,

A wicked man was on the throne,

In order to follow God, one risked their own life.

 

Certainly any obedience must be done secretly,

And that is precisely what Obadiah had done.

 

(5-6) “Then Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the valleys; perhaps we will find grass and keep the horses and mules alive, and not have to kill some of the cattle.” So they divided the land between them to survey it; Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way by himself.”

 

SO UNDERSTAND THE SETTING OF THE DAY:

• There is a terrible drought, and it has been blamed on God’s people.

• Not only is Baal worship popular, but obedience to God is deadly.

 

This is like a Christian living in a Muslim world.

This is like what the early Christians faced in Rome.

 

IT IS HARD TIME TO BE A CHRISTIAN

First a Critical Famine

#2 A CRISIS OF FAITH

1 Kings 18:7-15

 

(7) “Now as Obadiah was on the way, behold, Elijah met him, and he recognized him and fell on his face and said, “Is this you, Elijah my master?”

 

Obadiah can hardly believe his eyes.

Certainly Elijah could find grass, certainly Elijah could help.

 

But before another word is spoken Elijah rocks Obadiah’s world.

(8) “He said to him, “It is I. Go, saying to your master, ‘Behold, Elijah is here.’”

That may not seem like a big deal to you,

But it was a big deal to Obadiah.

“What sin have I committed?”

 

LOOK AT HIS RESPONSE:

READ 9-14

 

DID YOU CATCH WHAT HE WAS AFRAID OF?

(9) “to put me to death?”

(12) “he will kill me,”

(14) “he will then kill me.”

 

Obadiah realizes that obedience to this simple command

Could very easily result in death.

 

WHY?

READ (9-11)

 

Ahab has searched every country in the world for you,

And he made them swear that they didn’t have you.

If I show up and say, “Here he is”, he will think I have known all along.

 

Or worse yet:

READ 12

I’ll tell him I found you, then you will disappear,

And he will think I hid you again, and he will still kill me.

 

READ 13-14

 

What if Obadiah’s secret as a prophet hider becomes known?

 

Then certainly Ahab will think that I have been the one who is hiding you,

And he will kill me.

 

I HOPE YOU NOTICE OBADIAH’S CRISIS.

 

God was not about to allow this man to remain a silent believer.

God wanted Obadiah to now step out and step forward.

 

REVIVAL NOT ONLY REQUIRES THE WICKED TO REPENT,

BUT THE RIGHTEOUS TO STEP OUT.

 

In order for revival to occur, everyone has to get obedient.

 

Obadiah faced a crisis.

Obey God and be killed.

Disobey God and be judged.

 

His name means “Servant of the LORD”

His legacy is already one who “feared the LORD greatly.”

 

Would he be willing to risk his life in obedience if it meant bringing revival to Israel and glory to God?

 

MANY IN THIS ROOM HAVE BEEN IN THAT CRISIS.

No, you didn’t die when you obeyed,

But you didn’t know that when you made the choice.

 

Some have set in these January services in the past

And heard God whisper words like: “Africa” or “China” or “Guatemala”

 

And immediately the crisis began.

“God, Africa is not safe. There are lions, and snakes, and muslims in Africa.”

“God, It’s illegal to witness to people in China.”

“God, you have to fly on an airplane, across and ocean, to get there.”

“God, if I do that, I could die.”

 

We call it a crisis of faith.

What you do reveals what you really believe about God.

 

There could be some fighting that missions battle right now.

 

God wanted to bring revival,

It started with the obedience of one faithful but silent Christian,

Stepping out of his comfort zone and into a life of faith.

 

(15) “Elijah said, “As the LORD of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to him today.”

 

There was a promise.

WOULD OBADIAH BELIEVE IT?

A Critical Famine – A Crisis of Faith

#3 A CHOICE TO FOLLOW

1 Kings 18:16

 

You see Obadiah’s favorite verse in the Bible.

“So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him; and Ahab went to meet Elijah.”

 

It is Obadiah’s favorite verse, because now, watching from eternity,

It is that verse that brought Obadiah’s reward.

He overcame fear…

He pushed through the crisis…

He showed that God mattered more than his life…

 

His was the first life changed in the revival God brought to Israel.

 

HOW ABOUT YOU?

The word revival gets mentioned, and the immediate thought is,

“I don’t have any sin that I need to repent of.”

 

BUT IS IT POSSIBLE THAT YOU COULD STEP OUT MORE FOR GOD?

• Could you follow closer?

• Could you travel farther?

• Could you witness longer?

• Could you pray harder?

• Could you study deeper?

 

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE

TO SEE GOD DO SOMETHING AMAZING IN YOUR LIFE

AND IN THE LIVES OF THOSE AROUND YOU?

 

TURN TO: MATTHEW 10:16-31

 

Verses 16-25 admittedly paint a bleak picture.

 

(16-25)

Jesus promises hardship, persecution, and possibly even death.

AND AT THAT POINT, HE LEAVES YOU AT A CRISIS OF FAITH.

 

WHAT WILL YOU DO?

• Determine to be silent about your faith?

• Stay in the comfort and security of your own little world?

• Just try to be a silent, closet Christian?

 

Or will you push through the fear as Obadiah did

And determine to step out for God anyway?

I CAN TELL YOU WHAT JESUS EXPECTS:

 

(26-31)

Jesus expects you to GIRD up your loins, STRAP on your armor,

LISTEN for the voice and PROCLAIM to the world.

 

“But I’m afraid…”

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

ISN’T THAT WHAT THE MISSIONARY ON THE VIDEO SAID?

“I’m afraid not to do what God’s called me to do.”

 

That was the decision Obadiah made as well.

And revival began.

 

God is asking you to trust Him.

Isaiah 51:12-13 “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, That you have forgotten the LORD your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?”

 

Elijah got up and went…

Obadiah got up and went…

HOW ABOUT YOU?

Will you be willing to offer up your life to God for obedience?

Would you give Him a blank check that He can cash however He likes?

What if God wrote Africa or China or Iraq or Rio de Janeiro?

 

How will you respond to your crisis of faith?

 

Revival begins when the righteous step up and step out.

 

Isaiah 51:1-8 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug. “Look to Abraham your father And to Sarah who gave birth to you in pain; When he was but one I called him, Then I blessed him and multiplied him.” Indeed, the LORD will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places. And her wilderness He will make like Eden, And her desert like the garden of the LORD; Joy and gladness will be found in her, “Pay attention to Me, O My people, And give ear to Me, O My nation; For a law will go forth from Me, And I will set My justice for a light of the peoples. “My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly. “Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not wane. “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings. “For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation to all generations.”

 

 

1 Kings 17:1-24 (1-9)

 

This morning we begin a very important section of Scripture.

The writer of 1 Kings has been driving us to this section.

 

He started with Israel’s glorious past: (David & Solomon)

He has taken us through Israel’s pathetic fall (The Rapid Descent)

 

Through continuous wicked kings, not only has God been rejected,

But He is also being replaced by Baal.

To put it mildly, Israel has hit bottom.

 

THIS IS WHERE THE WRITER OF KINGS HAS BEEN TAKING US

Because this is where he will start making his theological points.

 

He introduces the main hero of the book.

His name is Elijah.

 

Elijah in 1 Kings & Elisha in 2 Kings,

They both serve a great purpose.

 

NOT JUST THAT THEY WERE PROPHETS

Israel has had many.

 

We have already seen Shemaiah, “The Man of God”, & Ahijah.

Soon Isaiah will show up, as will Amos, & Hosea.

The time period ends with Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

 

Rather, the writer focuses on Elijah

Because through him we see just how far Israel has fallen.

 

It takes light to reveal the degree of a person’s blindness.

It takes a straight line to gauge how crooked something is.

 

Elijah provides the contrast,

Through his ministry, we are allowed to see just how far Israel has fallen,

And how they reached such an awful point of depravity.

 

Through Elijah the writer will show us

That neglect of God’s word brings judgment,

And restorationonly comes by returning to God and His word.

 

IT BEGINS IN CHAPTER 17

Verses 1-8 reveal the DROUGHT and God’s provision through the ravens.

Verses 9-16 reveal the DEPARTURE as Elijah finds support from a Sidonian widow.

Verses 17-24 reveal DELIVERANCE as Elijah raises the widow’s son from the dead.

 

THIS CHAPTER PROVES TO BE THEOLOGICALLY SIGNIFICANT

For much of this chapter

Is referenced and explained in the New Testament.

 

James explains the drought to us in James 5:13-18

Jesus explains the departure to us in Luke 4:16-30

 

And once we understand those two points,

The deliverance will make perfect sense.

 

We are truly blessed to have so much information

Available to us to aid in our understanding.

 

BUT BECAUSE OF THIS, I NEED TO ASK YOU TO STICK CLOSE WITH ME.

 

A preaching professor told me not to use cross-references

“Most people in Church can’t handle it.”

 

What he was saying is that “Most church members are too shallow and immature to feast on the meat of the word.”

 

It sounds just like Paul when he told the Corinthians,

1 Corinthians 3:2 “I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,”

 

It sounds like the writer of Hebrews when he said:

Hebrews 5:11-12 “Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”

 

This morning I am going to ask you to prove him wrong.

I need you to stay with me and really focus,

I am going to dump a lot of information in your lap.

 

As I told you, there are three divisions.

#1 THE DROUGHT

1 Kings 17:1-8

 

It begins with Elijah the settler turned prophet

Actually confronting the King of Israel.

 

And the message is a stiff one.

“there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

 

As we saw two weeks ago,

Israel has fallen far from God,

And God is bringing judgment for their defection.

 

THIS JUDGMENT IS ALSO SYMBOLIC.

The drought is not just for water, but is also a drought of spiritual things.

Because the drought is bad, God sends Elijah away,

And promises to supernaturally provide for his needs.

 

(3-4) “Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. “It shall be that you will drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there.”

 

And so Elijah left, and God did just as He promised.

(6) “The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook.”

 

And so we see

• God’s prophet deliver a message,

• God’s hand of judgment on a nation,

• God’s supernatural provision for the man who is faithful.

 

NONE OF THOSE ARE THE REASON FOR THIS PASSAGE

(The drought and the ravens make a nice children’s story, but the point is much more)

 

THIS PASSAGE IS ABOUT THE STUBBORNNESS OF ISRAEL.

We might not see that, were it not for the explanation

We get in the New Testament from James

 

TURN TO: James 5:13-18

 

James actually references this event in the history of Israel.

The fact that he references it, and why he references it

Helps us gain much insight into what the text is meant to show us.

 

So bear with me as we untangle an important passage from James.

(This particular passage is given to much confusion)

 

CONTEXT OF JAMES: James’ letter is all about spiritual weakness.

Some are PERSECUTED, some are SINFUL, some are DISCOURAGED

 

THIS LETTER IS CONFRONTATIONAL AND CONVICTING

As James tells the spiritually immature to “grow up”

 

THE SECTION WE ARE READING SERVES AS THE INVITATION

 

Supposing you are under conviction from what James has written,

This is what you need to do.

 

Then James lists 3 CATEGORIES that you could fall under.

(13-14) “Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

 

THOSE WHO ARE SUFFERING – being poorly treated in the world.

THOSE WHO ARE SAINTLY – they were confirmed by James’ letter, not convicted.

THOSE WHO ARE SICK – they need to be restored

 

I believe this verse to be victim of some poor translation,

The effect is that people have missed the point of what James intended.

 

The word “sick” translates ASTHENEO

And it can mean physically sick. But that is not it’s only meaning.

 

14 times in Scripture it does not refer to physical sickness at all,

But rather spiritual weakness.

 

Romans 14:1-2 “Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.”

 

CONTEXT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE:

James has not mentioned physical sickness

James has not mentioned spiritual gifts

JAMES IS TALKING ABOUT SPIRITUAL IMMATURITY OR WEAKNESS

 

WHAT JAMES IS SAYING:

After reading this letter, if it is revealed

That you have fallen into one of the sins that I have written about,

Then here is what you need to do.

 

James is writing about being spiritually restored from falling into sin.

 

It is very similar to what Paul wrote to the Galatians.

Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”

 

There Paul tells mature to help a weaker brother.

HERE: James tells the weak to seek out a stronger brother.

 

(14) “Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”

 

NOT SOME MYSTICAL FORMULA FOR HEALING

The word “anointing” here never refers to

A ceremonial anointing in the New Testament.

 

James is speaking metaphorically,

Similar to the way David did in Psalms 23.

 

Psalms 23:5 “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.”

Psalms 133:1-2 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes.”

 

The anointing of oil was a picture of refreshing,

And that is what James refers to.

 

The prayer of your elder will be refreshing to you.

 

No only that:

(15) “and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick [weak], and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.”

 

SO HERE IS JAMES’ POINT:

If you are spiritually weak, then go to one of the elders (pastors)

Ask them to pray for your condition.

God will honor it and you will be restored.

 

And that is James application:

(16) “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

 

If you are weak – seek the prayer of the strong. (People do at times)

If you are strong – be faithful to pray for the weak. (Peter affirmed)

 

SO WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE DROUGHT?

 

It is at this point in James’ letter

That he draws us back to that very event.

(17-18) “Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. Then he prayed again, and the sky poured forth rain and the earth produced its fruit.”

 

We knew there was a drought, but it wasn’t until reading James

That we learned that the drought was the result of Elijah’s prayer.

 

Certainly James is illustrating

How powerful one man’s prayer can be.

But we also find a troubling reality about Israel in Elijah’s day.

 

• They WERE SPIRITUALLY WEAK, they needed restoration.

• They SHOULD HAVE HUMBLED THEMSELVES before Elijah and sought his prayer.

• But THEY REFUSED and instead it took 3 ½ years of drought to bring any repentance.

 

THE DROUGHT IN 1 KINGS IS MEANT TO SHOW YOU

THE EXTREME STUBBORNNESS OF ISRAEL.

 

• They were weak and would not admit it,

• They had fallen and would not humble themselves.

• They clung to their sin,

• They were content in the immorality,

• Their lives were characterized by drought.

 

OUR APPLICATION THERE IS EASY

It is one thing to fall away from God into sin.

It is one thing to get on the down-grade.

 

But once it is revealed that you have fallen away from God,

Do not be too proud to confess your sin, & seek spiritual renewal.

 

God has appointed the spiritually mature who are able to pray for you

And bring about restoration in your life.

 

Don’t be too proud to seek them.

Israel was, and instead of Deliverance, they got a Drought.

 

So back in 1 Kings, the first thing we see is a drought.

#2 THE DEPARTURE

1 Kings 17:8-16

 

God now sends Elijah out of Israel into Sidon.

(Not for drought relief, the drought covered the earth)

 

But God was doing something important.

(9) “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”

 

Earlier God commanded a raven,

Now God commands a widow, and so Elijah goes.

 

And you are familiar with the story.

• He asks for water (in a drought) and she consents.

• Then he asks for food, and it really is not possible.

 

He calls her to believe, she does, and God supernaturally provides again.

 

BUT WE CAN LEARN MORE:

TURN TO: Luke 4:16-30

This text is when Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth

To reveal to them who He really was.

 

He entered the synagogue and made an amazing announcement.

He reads Isaiah 61:1

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.”

And then makes a startling statement:

(21) “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

 

If someone comes and says

“I have come to set you free and to open your eyes”,

It automatically insinuates that you must be blind and in bondage.

 

That is what Jesus was saying to His hometown.

You are blind, you are in bondage, and I have come to set you free.

 

That is why, as the insinuation began to sink in,

They began to reject it.

 

(22) “And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, ” Is this not Joseph’s son?”

At first they were intrigued,

Then they grew insulted, and were given not to believe Him.

 

(23) “And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’”

 

You will say to Me, “Physician, heal yourself!”

 

That is to say,

“Quit worrying about my sin, you worry about your own problems.”

 

In Jesus day it was the equivalent to today when people say,

“Get the log out of your own eye” or “Judge not”.

 

DON’T YOU PREACH AT ME,

IF YOU WANT TO PREACH, YOU GO LOOK IN THE MIRROR.

 

Instead, “Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.”

 

We don’t want You coming here confronting our sin,

We want You coming here to meet our needs.

 

They didn’t want preachers of truth.

They want chaplains who would visit the sick and bury the dead.

NO PREACHERS – JUST PASTORS

 

And to that Jesus said:

(24) “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.”

 

That statement reads more like a proverb than a prophecy,

But we do know what Jesus meant to those people.

 

Jesus condemned the people of Nazareth for rejecting God’s Word

They rejected God’s word simply because they did not like the fact

That God’s Word insinuated that they were sinners.

 

THAT CERTAINLY APPLIES TODAY

 

And then Jesus gives the illustration.

(25-26) “But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land; and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.”

 

NOW DON’T MISUNDERSTAND.

You are not supposed to read what Jesus said, and say,

• “Oh, those poor widows under God’s judgment.”

• “Oh, why did God reject all those widows in Israel?”

• “Oh, why didn’t God send Elijah to one of them instead?”

 

I’ll tell you why.

BECAUSE THOSE HARD-HEARTED WIDOWS IN ISRAEL

WOULD NOT HAVE FED ELIJAH IF HE HAD COME.

 

God wasn’t trying to be mean to the widows in Israel,

God was just simply revealing that the widows in Israel

Were too hard-hearted to do what a Gentile widow did.

 

Jesus then tells of the leper Naaman from Aram that Elisha heals.

Again the insinuation is not that God refused to heal the lepers in Israel. But that none of the lepers in Israel sought out God to heal them.

They were too stubborn to do what Naaman did.

 

The widows and the lepers are pictures of those who are weak

Both should have done what James said and humbled themselves

And sought out someone to pray for them and restore them.

 

But both were too stinking arrogant to do so,

Therefore Elijah was forced to depart to those who would seek God.

 

And Jesus’ insinuation is that the people in Nazareth

Were just as hard-hearted as the widows and lepers in Israel.

 

BUT YOU SEE THE POINT TO 1 KINGS.

It is not just a story of a drought and hard-times.

 

The point of the story is to reveal that Israel had reached

A drastic point of stubbornness, rebellion and arrogance.

 

They would rather have DROUGHT than DELIVERANCE.

They would rather SUFFER than HUMBLE THEMSELVES.

 

AND AGAIN OUR APPLICATION IS EASY.

 

When you fall away from God and fall into sin, it is a bad thing.

But you do not have to stay there.

 

But if you insist upon remaining in your fallen state,

And are too stubborn to obey the command of the Lord,

Then judgment is your only alternative.

 

Israel had fallen far from God and was too stubborn to repent.

That is why we see Drought, and Departure.

 

#3 THE DELIVERANCE

1 Kings 17:17-24

 

This passage DOES NOT reveal the deliverance of Israel,

They still have not repented.

 

This passage reveals the deliverance that Israel could have had

But was forfeiting because of their stubbornness.

 

 

And here we see it in a drastic setting.

It begins with the unexpected death of her son.

 

But the point of the passage is what she does in response.

 

She doesn’t get mad at God, she doesn’t get rid of the man of God, INSTEAD SHE ADMITS HER SIN AND ASKS FOR HIS HELP.

 

(18) “What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance and to put my son to death!”

 

She actually blames the death of her son on her own sin.

 

She came to the one who could deliver.

 

AND HE DELIVERED

(21-22) “Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray You, let this child’s life return to him.” The LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived.”

 

IS THAT NOT WHAT JAMES SAID WOULD HAPPEN?

Go to one who can help, confess your sins and seek his prayer.

“And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is weak”

 

God heard Elijah’s prayer and God restored the weak one.

 

And the end result was the glory of God.

(23-24) “Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, “See, your son is alive.” Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth.”

 

That is a physical story with spiritual significance.

Israel could have had what this woman had,

But they would not do what this woman did.

 

HOW ABOUT YOU TODAY?

Is it possible that like Israel you have fallen away from God?

• Maybe you have gotten discouraged and are stagnant…

• Maybe you have actually been snared by a sin and you can’t get free…

 

James told us how to get free.

Seek the prayer of the elders,

And God will honor both your humility and their prayer.

 

But don’t do like the people of Israel

Who were angered at the very insinuation that they were in bondage or that they were blind.

 

They didn’t even like Jesus mentioning that they might have a problem,

And so they remained in their sin.

 

This morning you can leave the drought behind.

This morning you can find restoration like the Sidonian widow.

 

Simply humble yourself before God,

Confess your sins to one another,

And let God bring victory in your life.

 

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

 

1 Kings 15:25-16:34 (16:31-34)

 

In March of 1887 a controversy started in England known as

“The Downgrade Controversy”

 

Charles Spurgeon published the first of two articles called

“The Downgrade”

 

Due to neglect and disrespect of the Word of God,

Spurgeon assessed that the Churches in England

Had began to slide away from Truth and into error.

 

In reference to the downgrade, John MacArthur wrote:

“Biblical truth is like the pinnacle of a steep, slippery mountain, Spurgeon suggested. One step away, and you find yourself on the down-grade. Once a church or individual Christian gets on the down-grade, Spurgeon said, momentum takes over. Recover is unusual and occurs only when Christians get on the “up-line” through spiritual revival.”

(MacArthur, John “Ashamed of the Gospel” [Crossway Books, Wheaton, Ill; 1993] pg. 21-22)

 

The idea is simple to understand.

It is always easier to follow the way of the world, than the way of God.

When a person makes a decision to drift away from God,

He is very likely drift further than expected.

 

We have seen that Spurgeon’s warning to England was warranted.

Their evangelical churches traveled down the slippery slope and to this day have not recovered.

 

MacArthur sited the controversy to warn the American church

As he has seen worldliness and pragmatism chip away at the gospel.

 

This morning, I REMIND YOU of the down-grade,

Because that is what we see taking place in the nation of Israel.

 

The decent began in the latter years of the reign of Solomon.

 

Solomon had been given a solid Kingdom by David,

And for many years Solomon carried on in the tradition of David.

 

But toward the end, he took a slight step onto the down-grade.

 

1 Kings 11:7-8 “Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable idol of Moab, on the mountain which is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the detestable idol of the sons of Ammon. Thus also he did for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.”

 

ONCE THE BALL STARTED ROLING, IT NEVER STOPPED

• Rehoboam split the Kingdom

• And then Jeroboam built the golden calves

 

1 Kings 12:28-30 “So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt.” He set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship before the one as far as Dan.”

 

What Spurgeon said is about to come true.

Gravity is about to take over, and by the time we are finished today,

You will see that Israel is a nation running out of control.

 

With each new King, their dissent will merely pick up speed,

And their apostasy will become that much more incredible.

 

We pick up today with the death of Jeroboam and cover the next 36 years in the nation of Israel. A span that will see 7 different kings.

 

1 KINGS 15:25-26

 

There you learn that Jeroboam’s son became king,

And he was chip off of the old block.

 

He just kept right on traveling the path that was marked out before him.

 

You will also notice that his reign only lasted “two years”

 

1 KINGS 15:27

 

God had promised he would sweep Jeroboam off the face of the earth,

And Baasha was the man God used to do it.

 

NOW BAASHA WILL BE KING

1 KINGS 15:33-34

 

His kingdom did last longer, but the results were still the same.

Even though he knew of God’s judgment on Jeroboam and Nadab,

Baasha didn’t change a thing.

 

Because of Baasha’s rebellion, God sent a prophet to rebuke him

And to reveal that Baasha’s fate would be just like Jeroboam’s.

 

And then Baasha died.

 

THEN BAASHA’S SON – NADAB

1 KINGS 16:8-13

 

Baasha was Jeroboam’s servant,

And he killed Jeroboam’s son, in order to reign in his place.

 

“Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap”

Now Baasha’s servant kills his son, and reigns in his place.

 

Elah reigned only two years, but he also followed in the sin of Jeroboam,

Only now it is called by a different name.

 

(13) “provoking the LORD God of Israel to anger with their idols.”

 

What Jeroboam started has begun to spread.

 

NOW ZIMRI BEGINS TO REIGN

1 KINGS 16:15-19

 

So Zimri gets to reign 7 days, but even in that brief time (19) “he sinned, doing evil in the sight of the LORD, walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which h did, making Israel sin.”

 

THEN WE SEE JOCKEYING FOR THE THRONE

1 KINGS 16:21-22

 

NOW WE GET TO THE 7TH KING, AND IT IS OMRI

 

• Omri is popular outside of Israel’s history.

• Assyria called Israel – “The Land of Omri”

 

In a political sense, he was quite successful, but as far as the down-grade is concerned, he only followed suit.

In fact, he took the dissent to a whole new level.

 

1 KINGS 16:23-26

 

Omri led the people even further away from the LORD.

 

BUT OMRI WOULD DIE, AND HIS SON WOULD BECOME KING.

 

And his son holds a unique description.

His son would be the absolute most wicked king

To ever rule on the throne of Israel.

 

HIS NAME WAS AHAB.

1 KINGS 16:29-30

 

Ahab did more evil than even his father Omri had done.

In fact, at the end of his life, this summary is given:

 

1 Kings 21:25-26 “Surely there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do evil in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife incited him. He acted very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the sons of Israel.”

By the time Ahab would finish his reign,

Israel would be considered just as immoral

As the godless nations that were driven out of the promised land

By Joshua over 500 years prior.

 

Solomon took the first step, and it snowballed.

They hit the down grade, and with each King, the picked up speed.

(And in a period of 57 years, Israel no longer resembled God’s people)

 

It is the danger of the down-grade.

• It happened in Israel…

• It happened in England…

• It can most certainly happen in America…

AND IT CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE

 

So this morning, we are going to look at Scripture

To see what the indicators of being on the down-grade are.

 

• If we are taking the wrong step, what does it look like?

• If we are in danger of sliding, what are the symptoms?

 

That is precisely what I want you to see this morning.

 

I want you to see the 3 symptoms of life on the down-grade.

And at the end, if this is you, I will show you how to fix it.

 

You can know you are on the down-grade:

#1 WHEN SIN BECOMES TRIVIAL

1 Kings 16:31a “It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat,”

 

“trivial” translates in the Hebrew QALAL

It means “insignificant”

 

Ezekiel 8:16-17 “Then He brought me into the inner court of the LORD’S house. And behold, at the entrance to the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the temple of the LORD and their faces toward the east; and they were prostrating themselves eastward toward the sun. He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? Is it too light a thing for the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they have committed here, that they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me repeatedly? For behold, they are putting the twig to their nose.”

 

That is precisely how Ahab and Israel looked at the sin of Jeroboam.

• Sure he had made two golden calves…

• Sure he had proclaimed a feast to them in the eight month…

• Sure he had run the Levites out of the land, and made his own priests…

 

IT’S NO BIG DEAL

That was the attitude in Israel.

And anywhere you see that attitude involving sin,

You can be certain you are seeing someone on the down-grade.

 

Paul spoke of them in Romans 1.

Romans 1:32 “and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”

 

When sin becomes trivial in your life,

You are most certainly on the down-grade.

 

WHY?

If there is anything that marks a person walking close to God,

It is both an awareness of sin, and a hatred for it.

 

Isaiah 6:5 “Then I said, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.”

 

Paul

Romans 7:14-15 “For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.”

 

Was Paul aware of his sin? – absolutely

Did he see it as trivial? – absolutely not

 

He would go on to say:

Romans 7:24 “Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?”

 

Those who are walking close to the Lord,

Both have a heightened awareness of sin, and they truly hate it.

 

They rightly see sin as the destructive force that it is.

James 1:14-15 “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.”

 

And they know it must be removed, not tolerated.

Matthew 5:29-30 “If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. “If your right hand makes you stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.”

 

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW IF YOU ARE ON THE DOWN-GRADE?

– How do you view sin?

 

Is sin no big deal?

• Sure I cuss a little…

• Sure I drink a little…

• Sure I tell an occasional dirty joke…

BUT IT’S NO BIG DEAL

Then let me introduce you to the down-grade.

 

It is not that those who walk with God never sin,

But they hate it when they do,

And immediately go to God to get it corrected.

 

One of my favorite verses in this regard is found in:

1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

I continually remind God of this wonderful verse.

Not because of the “forgive us” part. (although I desperately want forgiveness)

 

I remind God of this verse because of where John says that God will “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

 

Yes I want to be forgiven,

But what I really want is to be cleansed so the sin never surfaces again.

 

Anything less than that puts me on the down-grade.

 

You can know you are on the down-grade when: Sin becomes Trivial

#2 WHEN GOD IS REPLACED

1 Kings 16:31b-33

 

Replacing God is precisely what Ahab did.

 

First, he married a woman of the Sidonians named Jezebel.

Her father’s name was Ethbaal which means, “Baal Lives”

 

Most likely it was Omri (Ahab’s dad) who arranged this marriage,

But let us not forget that it was Solomon who formed an alliance

With the Sidonians for timber to build the temple.

 

THE RESULT: Ahab “went to serve Baal and worship him.”

 

Idolatry in any form is totally unacceptable,

But Ahab goes even farther than that.

 

(32) “So he erected an altar for Baal in the house of Baal which he built in Samaria.”

Remember, his dad Omri built Samaria.

It is on a hill surrounded by mountains, very similar to Jerusalem.

So Ahab built his own temple, for his own god, in his own capital city.

He is replacing God with Baal.

 

Not only that.

(33) “Ahab also made the Asherah. Thus Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel than all the kings of Israel who were before him.”

 

Ahab had replaced God in Israel with Baal.

Ahab saw God as generic, and One who could easily be replaced.

 

Those who walk close to God, see exactly the opposite.

They see God as vitally important to every aspect of their lives,

And One who could never be replaced.

 

Asaph said:

Psalms 73:25-28 “Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works.”

 

Isaiah said:

Isaiah 12:2 “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.”

 

With such men, it was always about God.

He was seen as exclusive, as irreplaceable,

And as absolutely necessary for every walk of life.

 

They are those who would sing:

“I need Thee every hour, Most precious Lord; no tender voice like Thine can peace afford. I need Thee, O I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee. O bless me now my Savior, I come to Thee.”

 

But if you don’t need God every hour,

Watch out, you are probably on the down-grade.

 

MANY ARE THERE.

God is replaced in their lives with some sort of man-made substitute.

(We talked about BAILOUT last week)

 

• Maybe the government is their provision…

• Maybe their doctor is their healer…

• Maybe their big-screen TV is their source of joy…

 

Their lives are geared and engineered in such a fashion

To where they don’t have to depend on God ever.

 

 

You are on the down-grade: When Sin becomes Trivial When God is replaced

#3 WHEN JUDGMENT IS IGNORED

1 Kings 16:34

 

“In his days”

 

The writer is giving you insight as to exactly how Israel lived in this day.

 

“Hiel the Bethelite built Jericho; he laid its foundations with the loss of Abiram his firstborn, and set up its gates with the loss of his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the LORD, which He spoke by Joshua the son of Nun.”

 

As Joshua destroyed Jericho, he pronounced this curse:

Joshua 6:26 “Then Joshua made them take an oath at that time, saying, “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and builds this city Jericho; with the loss of his firstborn he shall lay its foundation, and with the loss of his youngest son he shall set up its gates.”

But Hiel wasn’t afraid.

 

• Apparently he thought those old prophecies were just a bunch of non-sense.

• Apparently he didn’t think God would really do it.

• Obviously he was hard-headed, for most would have stopped the building after losing their first-born while setting the foundations.

 

BUT YOU SEE THE POINT.

Those on the down-grade

Think judgment is a joke and hell is a myth,

And this belief is proved by their actions against the Lord.

 

But those close to God see it just the opposite.

They are motivated by the judgment of God.

 

1 Peter 1:17-19 “If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”

 

Matthew 10:28 “Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

Those who truly believe God, know that He is holy,

And that there is a day when all of their deeds will be recompensed.

 

Romans 14:12 “So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”

 

Hebrews 9:27 “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment,”

But those on the down-grade live like God is only kidding.

• They continue in their sin,

• They continue in their worldliness,

• They do it all like they will never get caught.

 

THAT IS THE DOWN-GRADE.

And that is precisely where Israel was.

 

Sin had become trivial

God had been replaced

Judgment was being ignored

 

But as Paul told us about the Old Testament participants:

1 Corinthians 10:11 “Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”

 

 

 

WE ARE SUPPOSED TO LEARN FROM THEM.

 

FIRST: AM I ON THE DOWN-GRADE?

• Do I treat sin in my life as trivial?

• Is there any area in my life where I replace God?

• Do I live like God will judge my disobedience?

 

If you honestly admit that this is you,

I told you I would tell you how to fix the problem.

 

Spurgeon said you had to get on the “up-line of revival.”

 

That is precisely what God is about to do in Israel.

In fact, if you look at the first four words of chapter 17,

You see a new hero being introduced.

 

“Now Elijah the Tishbite”

 

God was about to send a prophet to Israel to cause them to see

The effects of their sin,

Their need for God,

The certainty of judgment.

 

Elijah was about to confront Israel with the word of God.

They had forgotten God, and they needed to remember.

 

That is the secret for you as well.

 

 

• Recognize the danger of sin.

• Confess that you need God.

• Live your life motivated by God’s righteous judgment.

 

We call it revival.

 

We see a small part of this here this morning,

As we partake of the Lord’s Supper.

 

It’s just juice – It’s just a cracker

There are no redeeming qualities here whatsoever.

Rather, these serve as a symbol to help us to refocus.

 

Jesus said: “do this in remembrance of Me”

 

Perhaps this morning,

You aren’t walking as close to Jesus as you need to be.

 

This morning, return to the cross of Jesus.

 

Remember that SIN is so serious it cost Jesus His life…

Remember that His sacrifice is absolutely IRREPLACEABLE…

Remember that HELL is so real, that Jesus died to keep you out…

 

Remember Jesus,

Charge back up the hill,

Determine to live wholly devoted to Him.

 

As always, we are about to have a time of preparation.

1 Corinthians 11:27-29 “Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.”

 

We are going to have a time of preparation,

Then afterwards we will approach the table of the Lord.

 

Pray