1 Kings 21 (17-26)

 

We have been studying the revival

Which God is brining to the nation of Israel.

 

We have learned that this would not be in the form of a “fire fall” But in the form of a “gentle blowing”,

In which God would thoroughly remove Baal from the land.

 

To illustrate this point, The writer has used the most wicked King Israel has ever known, and that man is King Ahab.

 

You will remember that God had used:

DROUGHT (3 ½ years)

DEFEAT (On Mt. Carmel)

DELIVERANCE (God defeated Ben-hadad just out of mercy)

DILEMMA (God promised Ben-hadad would return)

DEMONSTRATION (God powerfully annihilated Ben-hadad completely)

DISCIPLINE (God promised that Ahab’s life would be forfeit)

 

My dad always had a saying about wayward horses.

“Looks like he needs his attention got”

 

That is what God has been trying to do with Ahab.

 

But unfortunately, even the promise of death, failed to break Ahab.

1 Kings 20:42-43 “He said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.'” So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and vexed, and came to Samaria.”

 

Ahab didn’t repent, Ahab just pouted.

Ahab has proven to be a tough nut to crack.

 

THIS MORNING WE FAST-FORWARD TO HIS “BREAKING POINT”

 

And by the way, every person has a breaking point.

 

Remember King Nebuchadnezzar? (he ate grass like a cow for 7 years)

Daniel 4:34-37 “But at the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to generation. “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, ‘ What have You done?’ “At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me. “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

Every man has a breaking point,

THE QUESTION IS: Just how much judgment it will require

Before a person finally breaks.

 

For some it requires nothing short of an eternal sentence in hell.

 

Remember what Jesus told the Pharisees:

John 7:33-34 “Therefore Jesus said, “For a little while longer I am with you, then I go to Him who sent Me. “You will seek Me, and will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”

 

Jesus told the Pharisees there would be a day when they would

Call on His name and beg for salvation, but it would be too late.

 

In hell, every man will be broken.

Every knee will have bowed,

Every tongue will have confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord.

 

And every person there would be just like the rich man in hades

Crying out for the mercy of one to simply dip their finger in water

And touch it to their burning tongue.

 

Every man has a breaking point.

This morning we see Ahab’s.

 

God has already promised him death, and he refused to repent,

This morning we see God at work again.

 

There are three divisions we will assign to this text.

#1 THE INCIDENT

1 Kings 21:1-16

 

(Mosaic Law forbid Naboth to give it)

Numbers 36:7 “Thus no inheritance of the sons of Israel shall be transferred from tribe to tribe, for the sons of Israel shall each hold to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.”

 

(The Prophets forbid a King to ask for it)

Ezekiel 46:18 “The prince shall not take from the people’s inheritance, thrusting them out of their possession; he shall give his sons inheritance from his own possession so that My people will not be scattered, anyone from his possession.”‘”

 

So there you have the incident.

Ahab wanted a vineyard that by law he could not have,

So he acted wickedly and took it by force.

 

Let’s examine him closer (4 sins)

1) SELFISHNESS (1-4)

 

Ahab was King of all Israel. He pretty much had anything he wanted, EXCEPT THAT VINEYARD.

 

Without a doubt, we see a breaking of the 10th commandment.

Exodus 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

 

And then when Naboth stands upon his conviction to the Mosaic Law, Ahab goes home and throws another pity-party.

 

(4) “So Ahab came into his house sullen and vexed because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him, for he said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and ate no food.”

 

I’ve got a 3 year old daughter that does the exact same thing.

 

Certainly Ahab displays covetousness, but even more,

Ahab displays the root of covetousness, and that is selfishness.

 

It is selfishness that causes us to be discontent with what we have…

It is selfishness that causes us to covet what others have…

It is selfishness that causes us to pout when we do not get our way…

 

(Trace out the root of a pity-party or a bout of depression

And see if you do not recognize “selfishness” at its source)

 

Ahab is selfish.

AND SELFISHNESS IS A SIN

 

I know in our day we have come to promote love of self:

Self-esteem

Self-respect

Self-advancement

Self-promotion

 

Unfortunately those are all in direct conflict with Scripture.

For Scripture calls only for SELF-DENIAL.

 

Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

 

In fact, for salvation to occur, self-denial is a pre-requisite.

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”

 

SELFISHNESS IS A SIN!

You and I must learn to deny self.

 

John MacArthur explained what that looks like.

“I suppose death to self, is the real issue. Somewhere along your pilgrimage as a Christian, you need to learn to die to yourself regularly. It saves you from being defensive, revengeful, retaliatory, hostile, [and from] accumulating the list of things against you.

When you are forgotten or neglected or purposely set aside and you sting and hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy and you count it a privilege to suffer for Christ; that is dying to self.

When your good is evil spoken of, when [others] misunderstand you, when your desires are not interesting to [others] when your advice is disregarded and your opinions are ridiculed, and when you are abused, when you are mistreated, or misunderstood, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart, or even defend yourself; that is dying to self.

When you lovingly, patiently bear any disruption; any irregularity; any annoyance; when you can stand face to face with folly and waste and extravagance and insensitivity and endure it as Jesus endured it; that is dying to self.

When you are content with any food, any clothes, any climate, any society, any interruption, or any solitude; that is dying to self.

When you never care to refer to yourself in a conversation or to record and recite your own good works, or to pursue commendation; when you can truly love to be unrecognized for something good; that is dying to self.

When you see someone else prosper, someone else reach goals that you desire, and you can honestly rejoice with that other person in spirit; feel no envy and not question God while your needs are far greater and [you are] in desperate circumstances; that is dying to self.”

-John MacArthur, from sermon “God’s Pattern for Husbands – Part 1” quoted at: 34:00 minutes.

 

Ahab had most certainly never denied self.

 

Selfishness

2) ARROGANCE (5-7)

 

All we find Ahab doing here is pouting.

Pouting is a form of communication

In which you try to shame others into getting what you want

 

When Jezebel sees him pouting,

She responds just as he desired she would.

She justified him in taking what he wanted.

 

And notice what she appeals to, when she justifies him.

(7) “Jezebel his wife said to him, “Do you now reign over Israel? Arise, eat bread, and let your heart be joyful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

 

Jezebel appealed to his arrogance.

“Do you now reign over Israel?”

 

“You are King, you have the right to do whatever you want.”

And Ahab obviously agreed.

Ahab was arrogant.

 

ARROGANCE IS A SIN

 

James 4:6 “But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

 

Proverbs 16:18-19 “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly Than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

 

God even goes to great lengths

To keep His children from becoming arrogant.

 

Consider Paul…

2 Corinthians 12:7 “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself!”

 

God is opposed to arrogant,

Arrogance must be removed if salvation is to be attained.

 

Luke 18:9-14 “And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

 

God despises the arrogant and searches for the humble:

Isaiah 57:15 “For thus says the high and exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.”

 

There are two major strikes against Ahab.

He is selfish & He is arrogant

 

3) DECEPTION (8-14)

 

And what you notice from that event

Is that everything is done on the basis of deception.

 

False author – (Jezebel wrote in Ahab’s name)

False authority – (Jezebel used Ahab’s seal)

False charges

False witnesses

 

Apparently Ahab was one who had no qualms about deceiving or lying.

DECEPTION IS A SIN

 

Adrian Rogers, “You are never more like the devil than when you tell a lie.”

 

John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

 

It is no wonder then that God hates deception.

Proverbs 6:16-19 “There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.”

 

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!”

 

Perhaps you even remember what God did to Ananias and Saphira

For lying to the Holy Spirit about the sum of money they gave.

God struck them dead in the middle of church.

 

In fact hell is filled with liars:

Revelation 21:8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

 

Ahab is a selfish, arrogant liar

 

4) SHAMELESSNESS (15-16)

 

In other words, Ahab showed no remorse whatsoever.

He never flinched.

He simply arose and took the vineyard.

 

He was absolutely shameless.

 

SHAMELESSNESS IS A SIN!

 

It angers God to see a hard-headed, hard-hearted, sinner

Who refuses to feel ashamed of their iniquity.

 

Jeremiah 6:15 “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the LORD.

 

Isaiah 3:9 “The expression of their faces bears witness against them, And they display their sin like Sodom; They do not even conceal it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.”

 

God is opposed to those who have no qualms about hiding their sin,

And never show any remorse about it.

 

Remember this parable?

Matthew 21:28-32 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘ Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ “And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went. “The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. “Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. “For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him.”

 

It is one thing to sin before God,

But to be unremorseful and proud of it is entirely another.

 

That is why the writer of Hebrews gives such a strong warning

To those who are unremorseful in sin.

 

Hebrews 3:7-12 “Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'” Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.”

 

Ahab was a Selfish, Arrogant, Shameless, Liar

 

#2 THE INDICTMENT

1 Kings 21:17-26

 

This was the passage we read to begin our study,

And now perhaps you see why God was so angry.

 

After such a bold display of so many sins,

It is no wonder to find that God is literally irate with Ahab.

 

Here Elijah arrives once again on the scene, and his message is harsh.

 

(19) “You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Have you murdered and also taken possession?”‘ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.”‘”

 

It is safe to say that God is livid.

 

But that is not all.

(21-22) “Behold, I will bring evil upon you, and will utterly sweep you away, and will cut off from Ahab every male, both bond and free in Israel; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, because of the provocation with which you have provoked Me to anger, and because you have made Israel sin.”

 

And I think you remember what God had to say about Jeroboam’s lineage.

1 Kings 14:10 “therefore behold, I am bringing calamity on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male person, both bond and free in Israel, and I will make a clean sweep of the house of Jeroboam, as one sweeps away dung until it is all gone.”

God compared Jeroboam to poop in his house,

And God was about to sweep him out the door.

 

Here God has the same message for Ahab.

It is more than just death, it is complete and total loss of lineage.

 

And then God reveals the exact fate of all of Ahab’s offspring.

(23-24) “Of Jezebel also has the LORD spoken, saying, ‘ The dogs will eat Jezebel in the district of Jezreel.’ “The one belonging to Ahab, who dies in the city, the dogs will eat, and the one who dies in the field the birds of heaven will eat.”

 

Not only will your entire lineage die, but none will be buried.

I will appoint animals to eat every single one of your offspring.

 

God has said:

• “I’ll bring evil on you”

• “I’ll sweep away your legacy and lineage”

• “I’ll feed you and your family to the dogs”

 

COULD GOD BE ANY ANGRIER?

 

Let me remind you that this is where God will eventually take

Each person who stubbornly refuses His “gentle blowing”.

 

DO NOT FORCE GOD TO TAKE IT THIS FAR!

 

On Wednesday night we have seen Isaiah give a similar warning.

Isaiah 1:5-6 “Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil.”

 

Don’t force God to beat you into a fine powder

Before you turn to Him.

 

That is exactly what Ahab had done.

Then we see God’s final appraisal of Ahab.

(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.”

 

Scripture records Ahab as the Old Testament’s “Chief of Sinners”

 

Ahab is as wicked as they come.

• He has continually pushed his thumb in God’s eye…

• He has continually thrown God’s law behind his back…

• He has continually turned a deaf ear to God’s reproof…

• And he has forced God to fling upon him a truly horrific judgment…

 

This was one sinful and stubborn man,

Of whom the Old Testament saw no equal.

 

The Incident, The Indictment

#3 THE ILLUMINATION

1 Kings 21:27-29

 

What I mean by illumination is that for Ahab the light finally came on.

 

Like Nebuchadnezzar, apparently Ahab

Had finally reached his “breaking point”.

 

He had Selfishness, Arrogance, Deception, & Shamelessness

THEY ARE ALL GONE

 

(27) “It came about when Ahab heard these words, that he tore his clothes (removed arrogance) and put on sackcloth (showed remorse) and fasted (denied self), and he lay in sackcloth and went about despondently (got honest).”

 

It took quite a bit of pressure for God to break him,

But Ahab was finally broken.

 

And with that let me give you some encouragement.

Nebuchadnezzar said:

Daniel 4:37 “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.”

 

REVIVAL IS POSSIBLE.

There is no heart too hard to prevent it…

There is no sin too great to stop it…

When God desires revival, revival will come.

 

 

And look at how God responds to Ahab.

(28-29) “Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s days.”

 

Because of his humble repentance,

God was merciful to even the chief of sinners.

 

It seems as though we have heard something like that before.

1 Timothy 1:15-16 “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”

 

This morning may you take courage to know

That regardless of where you have been, or what you have done,

If you will humble yourself before God He will be merciful.

 

Only, let me encourage you NOT TO DELAY,

For both cost themselves immensely in their lives of sin.

 

Ahab had already sealed the fate of his lineage before he repented,

And Paul lived with an enormous amount of regret.

 

When you hold off from repentance,

You may not completely lose the opportunity,

But you most certainly pierce yourself with many griefs

And force upon yourself God’s hand of judgment.

 

That is why Paul wrote to never disregard repentance.

Romans 2:4-6 “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:”

 

Today, respond to God’s call, Humble yourself before Him

HE WILL BE MERCIFUL

 

Lamentations 3:22-25 “The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I have hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.”

 

HAS GOD BEEN GENTLY BLOWING IN YOUR LIFE?

HAS GOD BEEN TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION?

 

Don’t force Him to completely crush you, turn to Him and receive mercy.

 

1 Kings 22:1-40 (read 37-40)

 

I know it has been several weeks since we were in our study of 1 Kings,

So it is certainly good to be back in this very enlightening book

On the importance of seeking and trusting God.

 

You will remember that most recently we have been stuck on one king.

 

He is the most wicked king to ever take the throne in Israel.

1 Kings 21:25 “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.”

 

Yet 6 chapters of Scripture are devoted to him.

 

Ahab forms a good back ground for revival.

In him we see how far Israel has fallen, and how bad they need revival.

 

Ahab also becomes a good candidate for revival.

(Recap his life)

1) Built a house for Baal

2) 3 ½ year drought

3) Loss on Mt. Carmel

4) Mercifully delivered from Ben-Hadad

5) Failed to kill Ben-Hadad and suffered a judgment for it.

 

1 Kings 20:42 “He said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.'”

 

6) Murdered Naboth and stole his vineyard

7) Suffered judgment for that.

 

1 Kings 21:17-19 “Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, “Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who is in Samaria; behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth where he has gone down to take possession of it. “You shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, ” Have you murdered and also taken possession?”‘ And you shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “In the place where the dogs licked up the blood of Naboth the dogs will lick up your blood, even yours.”‘”

 

Ahab was stubborn and obstinate and he forced God to literally crush him before he would humble himself before God.

 

8) However, after this last judgment Ahab did humble himself

 

1 Kings 21:29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days, but I will bring the evil upon his house in his son’s days.”

 

9) Because Ahab finally did humble himself before God, his judgment was postponed.

 

The tragedy was that because Ahab took so long to repent,

He had already stored up an enormous amount of judgment.

 

He was going to die…

The dogs would lick up his blood…

These were promises from God.

 

This morning, we see those promises come to a fulfillment.

 

Therefore this morning I want to remind you about

The faithfulness of God to carry out His word,

But also the sovereignty of God that can make it happen.

 

God’s judgment is not a threat that should be taken lightly.

 

2 Peter 2:4-10 “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.”

 

Peter said:

• Take the sinning angels as an example…

• Take the great flood as an example…

• Take Sodom and Gomorrah as an example…

 

God know how “to keep the unrighteous under punishment”

 

When God promises judgment it occurs, there is no way to escape it.

Isaiah 30:15-17 “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses,” Therefore you shall flee! “And we will ride on swift horses,” Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift. One thousand will flee at the threat of one man; You will flee at the threat of five, Until you are left as a flag on a mountain top And as a signal on a hill.”

 

People all over the world live with this silly misconception

That somehow they will be able to avoid the great judgment.

 

But that is a faulty thought.

You cannot flee from it, you cannot escape it.

 

Revelation 22:12 “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to what he has done.”

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

 

The point is that when God decrees disaster, it is a guarantee!

So don’t force Him to go that far to get your attention.

 

This morning we close out the life of Ahab.

 

To open the service, I read to you the fulfillment of the prophecy in which the dogs actually licked up Ahab’s blood after he died.

 

Now, I want to take you back

To let you see exactly how that event came about.

 

It is a tremendous testimony to God’s sovereign power

To accomplish any purpose that He desires.

 

There are 4 main events in our text

#1 THE PETITION OF AHAB

1 Kings 22:1-4

 

“Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel.”

 

It was Aram and Ben-Hadad that consumed the battles of chapter 20,

And from whom God had delivered Ahab.

 

Because Ahab humbled himself, God granted him 3 yrs. of peace.

But now it was time for Ahab’s prophetic death to come about.

 

It begins with a situation that troubles Ahab.

 

(3) “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we are still doing nothing to take it out of the hand of the king of Aram?”

 

You may remember that when Ahab spared Ben-Hadad’s life,

Ben-Hadad made a promise:

 

1 Kings 20:34 “Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities which my father took from your father I will restore, and you shall make streets for yourself in Damascus, as my father made in Samaria.” Ahab said, “And I will let you go with this covenant.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.”

 

Apparently Ben-Hadad had reneged a little on his promise,

And Ahab was going to force him to follow through.

 

And for help he wants to enlist Jehoshaphat.

 

Who responds:

(4) “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

If you are curious why Jehoshaphat would help, here is why:

2 Chronicles 18:1-3 “Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; and he allied himself by marriage with Ahab. Some years later he went down to visit Ahab at Samaria. And Ahab slaughtered many sheep and oxen for him and the people who were with him, and induced him to go up against Ramoth-gilead. Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, “Will you go with me against Ramoth-gilead?” And he said to him, “I am as you are, and my people as your people, and we will be with you in the battle.”

 

So you see there was a little manipulation worked into that decision.

(A decision that will come back to haunt Jehoshaphat)

 

But none the less, it appears that the battle is being set,

And I hope you notice that the battle is Ahab’s idea.

 

The Petition of Ahab

#2 THE PERVERSION OF THE PROPHETS

1 Kings 22:5-12

 

Jehoshaphat is willing, but would like to know the LORD’S will.

 

(5) “Please inquire first for the word of the LORD.”

 

And it appears that Ahab is fine with that.

(6) “Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

 

I hope you noticed the difference in the way

The word “Lord” is recorded.

 

In verse 5, “LORD” is all capital letters, which is a reference to the name of Yahweh. It was the covenantal name of God.

 

However in verse 6, “Lord” is not all caps which refers to any and all generic gods, masters, or Lords.

 

Jehoshaphat wants to hear from God,

They all speak from some other authority.

 

Which prompts Jehoshaphat to ask:

(7) “Is there not yet a prophet of the LORD here that we may inquire of him?”

 

And you have to love Ahab’s response:

(8) “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

If that is not the prevailing mindset of the world, then nothing is.

 

We learn that the 400 prophets Ahab had, were hand picked

Because they would sell themselves to please Ahab.

 

They were “ear-tickling, prophets for profit”.

 

BUT NOTICE HOW THEY CHANGE THEIR SERMON

WHEN THEY REALIZE JEHOSHAPHAT IS UNHAPPY.

 

VERSES 9-12

They instantly change their tune and

Start prophesying in the name of the “LORD”.

 

These are ear-tickling, tell you what you want to hear king of guys.

 

THESE FALSE PROPHETS ARE ENCOURAGING AHAB

TO GO UP TO FIGHT AGAINST ARAM.

You will see in a moment that this was a crucial thing.

 

The Petition of Ahab The Perversion of the Prophets

#3 THE PROCLAMATION OF GOD

1 Kings 22:13-28

 

VERSES 13-16

 

It is quite humorous, how they try to intimidate Micaiah,

But he is the real deal.

 

When he gets there, he very sarcastically copies

Those spineless prophets who insist upon tickling the ears.

 

Ahab certainly picked up on the sarcasm:

(16) “How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?”

 

Then comes the actual prophesy.

 

(17) “So he said, “I saw all Israel Scattered on the mountains, Like sheep which have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master. Let each of them return to his house in peace.'”

 

The truth was that the leader of Israel would be killed

And his people would scatter from battle.

 

Ahab’s response:

(18) “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?”

Now, if the story stopped there,

We might just chalk this up as a warning to Ahab

That he should avoid the battle and save his life.

 

But remember, this is not a warning.

God is at work here to fulfill a previous prophesy

About Ahab’s death.

 

And because that is the case, Micaiah goes a little further

And reveals how God has been at work to bring this battle about.

VERSES 19-23

 

It is apparent that those false prophets were sent by God

To purposely coerce Ahab into battle.

 

(23) “Now therefore, behold, the LORD has put a deceiving spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; and the LORD has proclaimed disaster against you.”

 

I know some have difficulty with that concept,

So let me help you with that verse a little.

 

God did not lie to Ahab, rather God allowed the liar (Satan) to do so

In order to accomplish His purposes.

 

DON’T BE SURPRISED AT THIS, GOD HAS SATAN ON A LEASH

Job 1:6-12 “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them. The LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “From roaming about on the earth and walking around on it.” The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.” Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing? “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.” So Satan departed from the presence of the LORD.”

 

Even Satan has to have God’s permission to move and act.

Proverbs 16:4 “The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, Even the wicked for the day of evil.”

 

And it is apparent that God even uses such liars as Satan

To deceive those who are headed into destruction.

 

This happens today

Romans 1:28 “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,”

 

This will happen in the end times

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

 

It is a picture of God taking a person who wants to be deceived

And allowing them to be deceived.

 

He is doing this to Ahab with perverted prophets.

 

Now of course the prophets hated this insinuation.

VERSES 24-25

 

Ahab didn’t like it much either

VERSES 26-28

 

But we will see that God is at work.

 

The Petition of Ahab The Perversion of the Prophets The Proclamation of God

#4 THE PERFECTION OF THE PLAN

1 Kings 22:29-40

 

In find it interesting that Ahab did not believe Micaiah,

But he didn’t totally disregard him either.

 

Instead he tried to cover himself from the judgment of God.

VERSES 29-30

 

How many suppose that they can hide from God’s judgment.

 

Revelation 6:14-17 “The sky was split apart like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”

 

There is no place to hide from God’s judgment.

 

YET AHAB TRIES TO HIDE FROM GOD’S JUDGMENT

 

BUT GOD IS SOVEREIGN

 

At first Ahab’s plan seems to work.

VERSES 31-33

At first Ahab’s plan seems to work.

Until, one of the most random acts in all of Scripture occurs.

 

(34) “Now a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint in the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the fight; for I am severely wounded.”

 

The end result, was what I read to you earlier.

VERSES 37-40

 

• God had promised Ahab would die – he did.

• God promised his life would be given in exchange for Ben-hadad – it was.

• God promised his blood would be licked up where Naboth’s was – it was.

 

The death of Ahab was predetermined by God,

And it happened exactly as God said it would.

 

ALLOW ME TO REMIND YOU ABOUT GOD’S SOVEREIGN ABILITY

There are three kinds of sovereignty we see in this story.

 

1) SITUATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY

God has control over wars,

And even over the desires of men to fight them.

 

• Do you suppose it was mere coincidence that Ben-hadad never gave back Ramoth-gilead?

• Do you suppose it was mere coincidence that Ahab couldn’t just live without that city?

 

God has sovereignty over the situations we find ourselves in.

 

There are many other examples, I’ll give you one.

Under the reign of Hezekiah, Assyria will try to conquer Judah. But Hezekiah will pray, and watch what God will do.

 

2 Kings 19:6-7 “Isaiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to your master, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. “Behold, I will put a spirit in him so that he will hear a rumor and return to his own land. And I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.”‘”

 

In other words, God was saying I will make the king of Assyria

Want to go home, and there he will die.

 

Was this any different than Ahab wanting to go to war with Aram?

 

God was sovereign over the whole situation.

 

2) SPIRITUAL SOVEREIGNTY

God has control over everyone and everything.

EVEN EVIL SPIRITS

 

Saul went to a spirit medium

(Ordinarily they cannot bring up the dead)

 

1 Samuel 28:8-14 “Then Saul disguised himself by putting on other clothes, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, “Conjure up for me, please, and bring up for me whom I shall name to you.” But the woman said to him, “Behold, you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off those who are mediums and spiritists from the land. Why are you then laying a snare for my life to bring about my death?” Saul vowed to her by the LORD, saying, “As the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” And he said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.” The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.” He said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped with a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and did homage.”

 

Nebuchadnezzar consulted with divination to determine where to fight, and God spoke through that.

 

Ezekiel 21:18-23 “The word of the LORD came to me saying, “As for you, son of man, make two ways for the sword of the king of Babylon to come; both of them will go out of one land. And make a signpost; make it at the head of the way to the city. “You shall mark a way for the sword to come to Rabbah of the sons of Ammon, and to Judah into fortified Jerusalem. “For the king of Babylon stands at the parting of the way, at the head of the two ways, to use divination; he shakes the arrows, he consults the household idols, he looks at the liver. “Into his right hand came the divination, ‘Jerusalem,’ to set battering rams, to open the mouth for slaughter, to lift up the voice with a battle cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to cast up ramps, to build a siege wall. “And it will be to them like a false divination in their eyes; they have sworn solemn oaths. But he brings iniquity to remembrance, that they may be seized.”

 

You could talk about Balaam and how God would not let him give a curse on Israel.

 

It is a spiritual sovereignty.

God is sovereign over every evil spirit, and over every cast lot.

 

If you want to listen, He can get you the truth.

If you want to be deceived, He controls the lying spirits as well.

 

But the one that is most amazing to me is:

3) SPECIFIC SOVEREIGNTY

 

Most people call this coincidence. It is not.

 

Notice what all God controlled here.

 

 

• Sovereignty over the shot of a soldier…

• Sovereignty over the flight of an arrow…

• Sovereignty over the joint of an armor…

• Sovereignty over the choice of a servant, where to wash the chariot…

• Sovereignty over the hunger of dog…

 

God gave some specifics about Ahab’s death,

And every one of them was carried out to absolute perfection.

 

MY POINT IS THIS:

GOD ACCOMPLISHES HIS PURPOSES

 

Isaiah 43:13 “Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”

 

Isaiah 14:24 “The LORD of hosts has sworn saying, “Surely, just as I have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand,”

 

Isaiah 14:27 “”For the LORD of hosts has planned, and who can frustrate it? And as for His stretched-out hand, who can turn it back?”

 

When God promised death to Ahab, death is what he got.

EXACTLY HOW GOD PROMISED IT

 

Do not mess around with the warnings of God in Scripture.

 

When God warns of an eternal hell,

And a worm that does not die,

And a fire that is not quenched,

DO NOT BRUSH HIM OFF.

 

He can do it, and He will do it.

 

When God says repent or else, He means it.

Heed His warnings and turn to Him, before He has to crush you.

 

Isaiah 55:6-7 “Seek the LORD while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the LORD, And He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.”

 

We have already seen that God is bringing revival to Israel.

It could happen in Ahab or in spite of him.

 

The same can be said for you and I.

GOD CAN BRING REVIVAL IN YOU, OR IN SPITE OF YOU.

 

2 Corinthians 6:2 “AT THE ACCEPTABLE TIME I LISTENED TO YOU, AND ON THE DAY OF SALVATION I HELPED YOU.” Behold, now is “THE ACCEPTABLE TIME,” behold, now is “THE DAY OF SALVATION”

 

1 Kings 20 (1-15)

 

Most recently in our study of the Kings we have talked about

The REVIVAL that God began through the prophet Elijah.

WE SAW FIRE FALL ON MT. CARMEL

 

But then Elijah made a critical miscalculation.

After the great victory,

Elijah was just certain that he knew where God was headed.

 

So much so that Elijah actually out ran God to Jezreel.

Elijah didn’t find the revival he expected, he found a death threat.

 

Then came a significant point of training for Elijah:

1 Kings 19:11-13 “So He said, “Go forth and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. And behold, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

 

Although Elijah was looking for a literal “Fire-Fall” type of revival,

He learned that revival doesn’t commonly come that way.

 

The true revival of God is not best explained

By an explosion, or a storm, or even a “firefall”.

 

All that fire-fall produced where some Half-Hearted, Momentary Converts who departed as quickly as they converted.

 

A TRUE REVIVAL OF GOD IS MUCH MORE THOROUGH THAN THAT

 

I recently read an article by John MacArthur entitled: “Practical Thoughts on an Enduring Ministry”

“Humble patience with people may be the most important virtue you’ll every exercise. After all, your goal as a pastor should be to bring the convictions of your congregation into line with the full message of God’s Word, and their lives to spiritually maturity. And this is a process of sanctification that takes time (decades not just months or years). It only comes from trusting the Spirit’s power in using His Word as it is faithfully proclaimed week after week, year after year.”

 

The point is that the truest revivals of God

Don’t occur as a flash in a pan, but in a slow cooking oven.

 

God works continually and thoroughly over time

To completely change hearts and build the convictions of those

Who have genuinely chosen to follow Him.

 

We are certainly learning that here in 1 Kings.

 

Elijah’s “revival” on Mt. Carmel was certainly short-lived

BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN GOD IS NOT BRINGING REVIVAL

 

In fact, God promised Elijah that true revival was coming.

1 Kings 19:15-18 “The LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you have arrived, you shall anoint Hazael king over Aram; and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place. “It shall come about, the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall put to death. “Yet I will leave 7,000 in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

 

God was going to completely and thoroughly remove Baal from Israel.

God was going to bring revival, but not in one afternoon.

In fact, it wouldn’t even fully occur in Elijah’s lifetime.

 

God was bringing revival, but it is a thorough process

That could not be rushed.

 

It is that process that we see unfolding in our text this morning.

God is working in the heart of Ahab.

 

You and I know that God has already begun to work in Ahab’s life.

 

GOD GAVE HIM:

1) A Drought to Suffer Under (3 ½ years)

2) A Defeat to Acknowledge (Baal lost on Mt. Carmel)

 

This morning we see four more areas

In which God will “gently blow” to get Ahab’s attention.

 

WHAT I WANT YOU TO SEE:

The subtle ways that God works in our lives in order to get our attention.

 

I believe God is working revival in our midst,

But I don’t want you to miss it

Simply because you are waiting for the fire to fall.

 

Let me show you what the “gentle blowing” of God looks like in a life,

So that you will recognize it in yours and turn to God as He desires.

 

You will see this morning 4 times that God gently blows in Ahab’s life.

They are the four times that God speaks in this chapter.

 

Coupled with the previous two, here are four more ways in which God was working to Get Ahab’s attention.

 

#1 A DELIVERANCE TO ENJOY

1 Kings 20:1-15

 

Allow me to paraphrase:

• Ben-hadad is king of Aram and he is an arrogant man.

• He is now seeking to grow his kingdom by destroying Israel.

• He is purposely trying to pick a fight by asking for more than Ahab would give.

 

First he asks for Ahab’s wives

(which Ahab actually gives)

Next he asks for anything he or his servants want

 

Ahab realizes that he is only looking for trouble, and refuses.

 

This gave Ben-hadad the excuse he needed to declare war.

(10) “Ben-hadad sent to him and said, “May the gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria will suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.”

 

In other words, you wouldn’t give my servants anything they want,

So I am about to give them handfuls of your dust.

 

I am about to pound Samaria into rubble.

 

Ahab responds

(11) “Then the king of Israel replied, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who girds on his armor boast like him who takes it off.’”

 

Two soldiers may put on their armor with the intention of winning,

But only the one who is able to take off his armor

Is the one who truly was victorious.

 

BUT YOU SEE AHAB’S PREDICAMENT.

He is faced with a battle that he cannot escape…

He is faced with a danger that he cannot defeat…

 

And it is at this point that God enters the scene

With a “gentle blowing” for Ahab.

 

(13) “Now behold, a prophet approached Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will deliver them into your hand today, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'”

DOES THAT SEEM STRANGE TO YOU?

Ahab and God are not exactly allies.

 

Yet here God, without any prompting at all,

Just turns and freely offers deliverance to Ahab.

We call it mercy, and God is using it to try and get through to Ahab.

“and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

 

Sometimes God just does something inexplicably good in our lives

Simply to reveal to us that His plans for us are good.

 

• Maybe He heals a sickness…

• Maybe He provides financially…

• Maybe He allows a success…

 

He just does something good to show us that He loves us

And would like to play a bigger part in our lives.

 

The intention is that we would perceive and turn to Him completely

 

REMEMBER THIS ACCOUNT:

Matthew 20:29-34 “As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” They said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him.

 

It was just an act of undeserved mercy,

And it caused the recipient to follow.

 

I WONDER IF YOU WOULD NOTICE GOD DOING THIS IN YOUR LIFE?

• Can you recognize the good that God has done for you?

• Can you see His provision, or His hand of healing in your life?

• Can you see that everything you have is because of Him?

 

The INTENTION is that you will see that He is good

And would determine to follow Him.

Romans 12:1 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Let the mercy of God in your life

Motivate you to serve Him whole-heartedly.

 

That is how God was working in Ahab’s life.

 

First, a deliverance to enjoy

#2 A DELIMMA TO PONDER

1 Kings 20:16-22

 

Now of course you will notice that God

Came through with the deliverance just as he promised.

 

Ahab was able to perform a great slaughter of Aram.

But there is no record of Ahab’s repentance, or worship

So God allows for another chance to get Ahab’s attention.

 

You notice in verse 20 that “Ben-hadad king of Aram escaped on a horse with horsemen.”

 

This prompted yet another visit from God’s messenger.

(22) “Then a prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him, “Go, strengthen yourself and observe and see what you have to do; for at the turn of the year the king of Aram will come up against you.”

 

Here God allows for Ahab to see a coming dilemma

And then gives him time to sweat it out and ponder on it.

 

Certainly Ahab would have rejoiced in his victory,

But because he failed to worship God his rejoicing would be short lived.

 

GOD WOULD NOT ALLOW HIM TO ENJOY VICTORY FOR LONG

 

This is a “gentle blowing” from God to allow Ahab to worry

So he might turn to the God who has already delivered him once.

 

“see what you have to do”

This was a command for Ahab to recognize his need for God’s help

 

SOMETIMES GOD WORKS LIKE THIS IN OUR LIVES AS WELL.

 

He allows hardships to throw us into turmoil and anxiety

So that we will be motivated to turn to Him.

 

Last week we saw it as: “Wilderness University”

 

Elijah was a great example of one who took his dilemma to God.

Let me give you another example.

 

King Hezekiah, when Assyria sent a letter threatening to destroy them.

2 Kings 19:14-19 “Then Hezekiah took the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it, and he went up to the house of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. “Incline Your ear, O LORD, and hear; open Your eyes, O LORD, and see; and listen to the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to reproach the living God. “Truly, O LORD, the kings of Assyria have devastated the nations and their lands and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone. So they have destroyed them. “Now, O LORD our God, I pray, deliver us from his hand that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You alone, O LORD, are God.”

 

He understood what to do with a dilemma, he turned back to God.

 

I WONDER IF YOU HAVE EVER RECOGNIZED THIS IN YOUR LIFE?

• God allows you to see a potential problem…

• God allows you to sweat something out a little…

 

He doesn’t do it to harm you,

He does it to cause you to depend upon Him.

 

1 Peter 5:6-7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.”

 

This is certainly what God wanted from Ahab,

But as you can see, there was no such response.

 

So God continues to work.

First through a Deliverance to Enjoy

Second through a Dilemma to Ponder

#3 A DEMONSTRATION TO CONSIDER

1 Kings 20:23-30

 

You will notice that Ben-hadad is more serious this time.

This time he had exchanged his politicians for soldiers

And he has mustered an army of well over 120,000.

 

You know the odds are against Israel, for look at verse 27:

“The sons of Israel were mustered and were provisioned and went to meet them; and the sons of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the country.”

 

Once again, defeat for Israel looks certain.

 

And then God’s prophet shows up

With another “gentle blowing” from the LORD.

 

(28) “Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Arameans have said, “The LORD is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.'”

 

This time God is not delivering simply to show mercy to Ahab.

 

WHY IS GOD DELIVERING?

He is avenging His name on those who think

He is only a God of the mountains.

 

And He points that out to Ahab.

You would not turn and worship Me because I am merciful,

So maybe you will turn and worship Me because I am powerful.

God puts on a powerful display,

Which is also meant to get Ahab’s attention.

“and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

 

REMEMBER WHEN JESUS DID THIS?

Matthew 8:23-27 “When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”

 

Remember what Jesus said to Nathanael?

John 1:50-51 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” And He said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

 

Jesus also said:

John 5:36 “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish — the very works that I do — testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.”

 

They are all moments God uses to cause us to submit to Him

Because of His great power.

 

We are to see that He alone is God,

And that He alone is worthy of worship.

 

John 14:11 “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”

 

PERHAPS GOD HAS WORKED LIKE THIS IN YOUR LIFE

• A near death experience…

• A miraculous deliverance…

• Sometimes just a lightning storm, or a loud clasp of thunder…

 

Those times are meant by God to show you that He is God

And He is not to be messed with.

 

BUT AHAB STILL FAILED TO GET THE MESSAGE

 

First A Deliverance to Enjoy

Second A Dilemma to Ponder

Third A Demonstration to Consider

#4 A DISCIPLINE TO ANTICIPATE

1 Kings 20:31-43

 

Ahab obviously did not learn a thing,

For he turned loose the man God had delivered into his hand.

Verse 34 says, “he made a covenant with him and let him go.”

 

He should have been making a covenant with God,

Instead he is making it with the man who cursed God.

Ahab is not getting it.

 

This brings on a little dramatic parable,

The prophet pretends to be a man who has lost one given to his care.

 

Ahab reveals that his life should be given in exchange.

 

Then we hear the fourth time God speaks to Ahab in this chapter.

(42) “He said to him, “Thus says the LORD, Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.”

 

Here is another “gentle blowing” in Ahab’s life.

 

God is yet again trying to get Ahab’s attention,

By now promising Ahab of a coming destruction.

 

Sometimes God results to drastic measures to get a person’s attention

• It can be a promise of judgment in Scripture…

• It can actually be a hardship or tragedy…

• It can be a literal punishment with consequences…

 

God is forced to reveal to a person exactly where they are headed

So that they might turn to Him in repentance and worship.

 

Jesus did this at times:

Matthew 11:20-24 “Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. “Nevertheless I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment than for you. “And you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. “Nevertheless I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.”

 

Jesus threatened judgment to get us to fear Him and repent.

 

Remember this parable?

Luke 13:6-9 “And He began telling this parable: “A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. “And he said to the vineyard-keeper, ‘Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?’ “And he answered and said to him, ‘Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.'”

 

John the Baptist said:

Matthew 3:10 “The axe is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

 

When God threatens you with judgment (i.e. lays the axe at your root)

Then pay attention and start to please Him.

 

That is precisely what God is doing here to Ahab.

Unfortunately he still has not worked.

 

(43) “So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and vexed, and came to Samaria.”

Instead of repenting, he started pouting.

 

Now I know this was a long chapter,

But it was necessary to see it all in order to get the idea.

 

LOOK AT ALL THE WAYS GOD WAS “GENTLY BLOWING”

A Drought to Learn from

A Defeat to Acknowledge

A Deliverance to Enjoy

A Dilemma to Ponder

A Demonstration to Consider

A Discipline to Anticipate

 

And every time the King has turned a deaf ear,

And is only moving deeper into depravity.

 

BECAUSE OF HIS OBSTINANCE HE IS NOT ONLY DELAYING REVIVAL,

BUT IS HEAPING JUDGMENT UPON HIMSELF

 

HERE IS THE POINT:

I want you to open your eyes to see all the various ways

In which God has been at work in your life.

 

I want you to see the DROUGHTS He has allowed…

To cause you to RETURN to Him

I want you to see the DEFEATS He has allowed…

To cause you to TRUST only Him

I want you to see the DELIVERANCES He has performed…

To cause you to LOVE and SERVE Him

I want you to see the DILEMMAS He has brought your way…

To cause you to INQUIRE of Him

I want you to see the DEMONSTRATIONS of power He has shown you…

To cause you to BE IN AWE of Him

I want you to see the DISCIPLINES He promises for rejecting Him…

To cause you to FEAR Him

 

I want you to see the hand of God in your life.

GOD DESPERATELY WANTS FOR YOU TO TURN TO HIM

He wants from you what He wanted from Ahab,

For “you to know that I am the LORD.”

 

 

I believe with all my heart

That God is working for revival in this church.

It is not occurring as a fire flash on a mountain side.

But it is occurring as a gentle blowing through our midst.

 

Some in our midst are responding to God

Some in our midst are not

 

And all the while God is calling, God is working, God is moving…

Quietly, softly, subtly, but continually and thoroughly

 

Now if God is not working in your life,

I am not asking for a thing from you.

 

But if He is, I am asking is that you recognize it, and submit to Him.

 

Don’t be like Ahab, stubborn and obstinate,

But be willing to acknowledge God at work, and turn to Him.

 

 

Revival is on it’s way.

 

Hebrews 3:7-11 “Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED Me BY TESTING Me, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THEIR HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.'”

 

1 Kings 18:34-46

 

You are well familiar now that we are in the middle of the focal incident

In the entire book of 1 Kings.

 

It is this event that the writer of Kings has been driving us to.

 

He wanted us to see the confrontation of Elijah,

This amazing showdown, and the repentance of the people.

 

We have used this section to talk about the various attributes of revival.

 

In Israel, God’s people had gravitated away from God,

And they needed to be revived.

 

Certainly we are not too arrogant

To assume that we are never in need of such a revival.

 

And so we are studying the elements of revival.

 

God first softened Israel up with a 3 ½ year drought

(while Elijah sought refuge with a Sidonian widow)

 

But after 3 ½ years, God began to move.

He sent Elijah back to Israel,

 

Elijah sent Obadiah to Ahab.

 

You may remember that Obadiah was not too keen on the idea.

1 Kings 18:13-14 “Has it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of the LORD, that I hid a hundred prophets of the LORD by fifties in a cave, and provided them with bread and water? “And now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your master, “Behold, Elijah is here”‘; he will then kill me.”

 

Obadiah had been a faithful silent witness, but God wanted more.

And thus we learned our first principle of revival.

 

REVIVAL REQUIRES NOT ONLY THE WICKED TO REPENT,

BUT THE RIGHTEOUS TO STEP OUT.

 

God wants us all revived, not just those we label as immoral.

You may not consider yourself immoral, but is it possible,

That you can give more than what you’ve been giving.

 

Elijah had Ahab gather all Israel to Mt. Carmel, for a SERMON

(Sermon of Elijah)

1 Kings 18:21 “Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.”

 

They were a vacillating people and they needed to get off of the fence.

REVIVAL REQUIRES US TO MAKE A DECISION

ABOUT WHO WE ARE GOING TO SERVE.

 

Maybe we serve a foreign god…

Maybe we serve a way of life…

Maybe we serve our selves…

 

But revival will never occur

As long as we are hesitating in our convictions.

With God, you must be all in or all out, there is no “lukewarm” allowed.

 

After the sermon of Elijah, the showdown began. (Suggestion of Elijah)

The prophets of Baal were to prepare an ox and lay it on the altar,

But put no fire under it, and then call on the name of Baal to light the fire.

 

But despite their sincere devotion, the ox didn’t even get warm.

Nothing happened, and so Elijah took the opportunity

To publicly humiliate Baal and his prophets.

(Sarcasm of Elijah)

1 Kings 18:27 “It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”

 

AND YOU WILL REMEMBER THE PURPOSE.

Israel needed to see they were trusting in a false hope.

They were relying upon someone who could not save.

 

REVIVAL REQUIRES THAT WE REALIZE THE FALSE SECURITIES IN OUR LIVES THAT ARE STEALING GOD’S GLORY.

 

Before we can fully pledge allegiance to God,

We have to fully reject all other sources of hope and comfort.

 

Then, after Baal’s prophets finally came to a stopping point,

It was Elijah’s turn to do the same. (Sacrifice of Elijah)

Prepare an ox, lay it on the altar, and call on God to light the fire.

 

And last week we saw Elijah begin this process.

1 Kings 18:30-31 “Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.”So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been torn down. Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”

 

There had previously been an altar on that mountain,

But it had fallen into disarray. Elijah repaired the altar.

 

Israel had forgotten who they were.

 

REVIVAL REQUIRES THAT WE REBUILD GOD’S ALTAR IN OUR LIVES

(That is what revival really is) REBUILD – REMEMBER – RETURN

REVIVAL REQIRES:

• Both the wicked to repent and the righteous to step out…

• That we make a decision as to who we will serve…

• That we abandon all forms of false security in our lives…

• That we rebuild God’s altar in our lives…

 

That is what Elijah has taught us thus far,

But, Elijah did not stop there.

 

VERSES 32-35 “So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed. Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.”

 

Apparently it was not enough for Elijah to simply

Beat Baal in a heads up competition.

 

ELIJAH WENT FOR A DRAMATIC VICTORY.

• Not only are we on Baal’s mountain…

• Not only is he outnumbered 450 to 1…

• Not only is he calling for fire, which is supposedly Baal’s specialty…

 

But here Elijah does the unthinkable.

He actually soaks the sacrifice with water.

 

Scripture says that the trench would hold “two measures of seed”

Which is about 11 quarts.

 

So, after the water soaks the ox, and soaks into the wood a little,

The trench is holding a little under 4 gallons.

 

It reveals that Elijah has no tricks up his sleeve.

He has eliminated every possible advantage

And disproved every potential excuse.

 

If this sacrifice is burned, then it will have to happen by the hand of God.

 

And there we pick up with our story.

 

We have seen: The Suggestion of Elijah, The Sarcasm of Elijah, and The Sacrifice of Elijah

 

#1 THE SUPPLICATION OF ELIJAH

1 Kings 18:36-37

 

Here we have that infamous prayer of Elijah

That we actually referenced a couple of weeks ago.

 

If you had any doubts as to Elijah’s motives, they are satisfied here

• He doesn’t want fame…

• He doesn’t want tolerance…

• He doesn’t even want rain…

 

ELIJAH WANTS REVIVAL

 

He is tired of God not getting the glory that God deserves,

And he is tired of God’s people living like Baal is their deliverer.

 

He simply wants to see God’s people

Give God the glory He deserves.

That certainly is not too much to ask is it?

 

“O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known…”

 

And then Elijah lists four things.

1) REVEAL YOUR POWER

“that You are God in Israel”

 

Elijah wanted God to put Baal to shame.

It seems as though there has been some confusion.

 

Popular opinion actually believes that there could be 2 gods,

And that they are pretty close to equal.

(TODAY: Allah or Buddha or Jesus)

 

Elijah wants God to completely squash that notion.

Let it be known “that You are God in Israel”

 

2) REVEAL YOUR PROPHET

“and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.”

 

Certainly you can guess that Elijah would like a little vindication.

He was after all called the “trouble of Israel” by Ahab.

 

But vindication is not the main request here.

Elijah wants God to reveal

That nothing that has been done here is a simple coincidence.

 

• Don’t let them think that drought was just bad luck…

• Don’t let them think that rain was just inevitable…

• Don’t let them think this altar will burn by coincidence…

 

People continually try and explain away God’s wrath in their lives.

 

• If we experience drought or economic trials, surely it is not because God is angry, it’s bound to be because of someone else’s greed.

 

• If we are attacked by terrorists who blow up our buildings, it is not because God has removed His hand of protection, it is because someone made an executive mistake.

 

• If we suffer natural disasters meant to get our attention, people don’t think it is because God is angry, it is because of global warming.

 

Elijah wanted to make sure the people of Israel made no such excuse.

He wanted them to know that the drought, the showdown,

And the fire was all the calculated determined plan of God.

 

“let it be known…that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.”

 

Reveal Your Power Reveal Your Prophet

3) REVEAL YOUR PEOPLE

“Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that You, O LORD, are God”

 

Now Elijah gets specific as to whom he is aiming at.

Israel had forgotten who her God was, Elijah wants them to remember.

 

REVIVAL IS FOR GOD’S PEOPLE

 

God doesn’t owe them any more proof, His Law is enough.

But Elijah wants God to answer by fire

To prove to these people that He cares enough to reveal Himself.

 

Elijah wants God to show up so “that this people may know”

 

Reveal Your Power Reveal Your Prophet Reveal Your People

4) REVEAL YOUR PURPOSE

“and that You have turned their heart back again.”

 

Make sure the people know why You are doing this.

 

• Make sure they don’t leave this place amazed…

• Make sure they don’t leave this place entertained…

• Make sure they don’t leave this place disturbed…

 

I WANT THEM TO LEAVE THIS PLACE REVIVED

 

Is that ever a prayer that we could echo.

And from Elijah we learn another real important principle about revival.

 

REVIVAL REQUIRES EARNEST PRAYER

TO THE GOD WHO CAN ANSWER

 

Revival is not solely up to you, nor is it up to me.

• I don’t have the ability to force open blind eyes…

• I don’t have the ability to speak into a dead heart…

• I don’t have the ability to make a person love Jesus…

 

REVIVAL IS THE WORK OF GOD, AND SO IN ORDER TO HAVE IT, WE MUST PRAY FOR IT.

 

Psalms 85:4-7 “Restore us, O God of our salvation, And cause Your indignation toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your lovingkindness, O LORD, And grant us Your salvation.”

 

Psalms 80:14-19 “O God of hosts, turn again now, we beseech You; Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine, Even the shoot which Your right hand has planted, And on the son whom You have strengthened for Yourself. It is burned with fire, it is cut down; They perish at the rebuke of Your countenance. Let Your hand be upon the man of Your right hand, Upon the son of man whom You made strong for Yourself. Then we shall not turn back from You; Revive us, and we will call upon Your name. O LORD God of hosts, restore us; Cause Your face to shine upon us, and we will be saved.”

If you want revival, then you have to beg God for it,

And Elijah’s prayer is a great place to start.

 

• Beg God to show up and REVEAL THAT HE ALONE IS GOD.

• Beg God to REMOVE OUR EXCUSES and reveal that the hardships we face are a direct result of our disobedience to Him.

• Beg God to move FOR THE SAKE OF HIS PEOPLE.

• Beg God to move in such a WAY THAT REVIVAL IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCE.

 

If you and I want revival, then we have to pray for it.

 

Let’s see the answer

 

The Supplication of Elijah

#2 THE SUCCESS OF ELIJAH

1 Kings 18:38-40

 

A couple of weeks ago we learned from James:

James 5:16b “The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

 

Once again we learn that it is true.

It is not just that we pray for revival,

But it matters what state our heart is in when we pray.

We cannot pray for others to be revived

If we have not given our all to God.

 

Be wholly devoted, be sincere to God, and pray for revival,

BECAUSE PRAYER TO THE ONE TRUE GOD WORKS.

 

• Baal’s prophets prayed for hours…

• Baal’s prophets jumped on the altar…

• Baal’s prophets cut themselves with lances…

And they got no answer.

 

This righteous man offers one prayer, and the response is instant.

(38) “Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”

God answered!

And He answered with fire.

 

Fire hot enough not only to burn flesh and wood,

But fire hot enough to incinerate stones, dirt and vaporize water.

 

GOD ANSWERED

Isaiah 44:6-9 “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, And there is no God besides Me. ‘Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it; Yes, let him recount it to Me in order, From the time that I established the ancient nation. And let them declare to them the things that are coming And the events that are going to take place. ‘Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, Or is there any other Rock? I know of none.'” Those who fashion a graven image are all of them futile, and their precious things are of no profit; even their own witnesses fail to see or know, so that they will be put to shame.”

 

Isaiah 46:8-9 “Remember this, and be assured; Recall it to mind, you transgressors. “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me,”

 

Psalms 135:5 “For I know that the LORD is great And that our Lord is above all gods.”

 

Isaiah 45:20-25 “Gather yourselves and come; Draw near together, you fugitives of the nations; They have no knowledge, Who carry about their wooden idol And pray to a god who cannot save. “Declare and set forth your case; Indeed, let them consult together. Who has announced this from of old? Who has long since declared it? Is it not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A righteous God and a Savior; There is none except Me. “Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. “I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance. “They will say of Me, ‘Only in the LORD are righteousness and strength.’ Men will come to Him, And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame. “In the LORD all the offspring of Israel Will be justified and will glory.”

 

And that is precisely what happened for Elijah

(39) “When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God; the LORD, he is God.”

 

All of a sudden this vacillating people display a little conviction.

 

Now they are off the fence.

 

HOW DO WE KNOW?

(40) “Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.”

 

The brook was formerly dry, and now it flowed

With the blood of those who deceived Israel.

 

Last week we read about idols:

Psalms 115:8 “Those who make them will become like them, Everyone who trusts in them.”

 

And so it happened to those who prophesied for Baal.

 

And here we see revival.

REVIVAL HAS OCCURRED WHEN OUR HEARTS ARE WHOLLY DEVOTED TO GOD AS REVEALED BY OUR CONFESSION AND OUR ACTIONS.

 

When you publicly proclaim Christ…

When you publicly obey Christ…

Then we will know revival has come.

 

For centuries the church has had those who proclaim Christ but who never obey Him.

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

 

If you are hiding from the world, afraid to take Jesus to work, or afraid to take Jesus to your friends, you are in desperate need of revival.

 

On the other hand, we have those who try to obey without publicly confessing.

John 12:42-43 “Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”

 

If you are publicly confessing Him, but then living a life inconsistent to your claim, you also are in desperate need of revival.

 

NEITHER DEMONSTATES THE SPIRIT OF REVIVAL THAT GOD DESIRES.

 

God desires those who will speak up and step out.

Until that is us, then revival has not occurred.

Elijah wanted these people wholly devoted,

As evidenced by their confession and their actions.

 

WHERE ARE YOU?

 

These people experienced revival, you could as well.

 

Now let me show you the blessing of revival

#3 THE SHOWER OF ELIJAH

1 Kings 18:41-46

 

As a side note, see that Elijah is a man of great faith.

• He predicts rain

• He prays for rain

• He doesn’t stop even after discouraging results

 

AND ELIJAH’S PRAYER WAS ANSWERED WITH A FLASH FLOOD

 

ELIJAH RUNS – to submit to Ahab and to lead the city to revival as well.

 

BUT THE MAIN PICTURE HERE IS THAT

As soon as God’s people turned their hearts toward Him,

The drought was lifted and the showers came.

 

It sort of reminds you of that often quoted seldom followed verse.

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

 

For some reason people often fear the thought of revival.

 

They are afraid if they give God full control of their lives

And devote themselves only to Him

That it will immediately result in pain and suffering.

 

They are afraid to give God control,

For fear of Him saying, “Africa” or some other scary place.

 

And so, instead of exercising faith,

They remain in fear and keep revival far from themselves.

 

BUT SHOW ME ONE TIME IN SCRIPTURE

IN WHICH REVIVAL WASN’T WORTH IT FOR THE PEOPLE.

 

Show me one time in which their lives were not drastically better

After they fled from sin and wholly devoted themselves to God.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”

 

And such was certainly true here.

Their lives were instantly better after the returned to the LORD.

 

Many of you could give similar testimonies.

 

God asked something of you that you dreaded or feared,

But after you obeyed, it was extremely worth it.

 

THE SAME IS TRUE OF SALVATION.

People fight it, resist it, put it off, and neglect it.

But I have yet to see one person who submitted to it who didn’t immediately say, he wishes he had done it sooner.

 

But People often resist when God calls for revival.

• They hold on to their false securities…

• They respond like Israel to Elijah’s sermon (they do nothing)

 

And yet, when they finally give in, they find that they only wish they had done it sooner and saved themselves 3 ½ years of drought.

 

The same could be true for you today.

• The spiritual drought…

• The bitterness…

• The confusion…

• The doubt…

 

It could all go right away, and you could rejoice under a heavenly shower, But to do so, you must wholly devote yourselves to God like Israel did.

 

And I wonder today, if you would be willing

To let God bring revival in your heart.

 

In a moment we are going to have a time or response,

And if you are willing I just want you to offer up this prayer to God.

 

“Lord God, I know here today that I am not as close to You as I should be. I want that to change, and I am asking You to do whatever You desire to do in me, that I may experience revival.”

 

Give God full permission in your life, and see if life doesn’t turn out better.

 

2 Chronicles 7:14 “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

 

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.”