July 19, 2007

FIRE 1st Kings 18  

 

1)    Introduction

a)    Ahab was the King in Israel, Jezebel was his wife

b)    Elijah was God’s Prophet

c)     Israel was experiencing God’s judgment it had not rained for 3 years

 

2)    Mount Carmel 1st Kings Chapter 18

a)    The Choice: 18:21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you HESITATE or WAIVER between two opinions if the Lord is God follow Him but if Baal follow him

i)       Baal was the chief male deity of the Canaanites

ii)    Asherah was the chief female deity of the Canaanites she was Baal’s female counter part

iii)  Idols are anything we place before God

iv)  Psalms 115:4-8 their idols are sliver 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.  THOSE WHO MAKE THEM WILL BECOME LIKE THEM everyone who trusts in them

b)    On The Fence

i)       The middle ground has disappeared politically, morally and socially in this country.  What today is called the Political middle ground in America used to be called the far left

ii)    Being on the fence is a lie from the enemy it is a way to justify your own sin and comfort your self in the process

c)     The response: 18:21 But the people did not answer him a word

i)       Total apathy

d)    Against all odds: 18:22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord but Baal’s prophets are 450 men”

i)       Profits of Baal 450 to 1 Profit of God

ii)    Gideon 300 men of Israel against thousands of Midianites

iii)  Samson 1 against 1000 Philistines

iv)  David was of average height Goliath was 9’6”

v)    1 + God = the majority

e)     The Challenge: 18:24 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

f)      Deaf Dumb and Blind 18:29 And it came about when midday was past that 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

g)    Restoration: 18:25 Then Elijah said to all of the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him And he REPARIRED the ALTAR OF THE LORD

h)     The Altar:

i)       a place of worship and communion with God

ii)    Commitment or consecration was made or renewed to God

iii)  Sacrifices were made for the FORGIVNESS OF SINS

i)       The Answer: 18:38 Then the FIRE of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the and the stones and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench

j)      The problem was no rain God answered by FIRE

k)    The message

i)       only God can forgive sins when they are forgiven Judgment will be lifted

l)       This was a REVELATION of who GOD is