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