Sermon Tone Analysis

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Anger
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1 Kings 18:1-2, 15-46
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stephen Caswell © 2005
Syncretism
 
Syncretism is mixing two things together.
Some things in life are made to be mixed with other things.
A marriage requires both a bride and a groom.
Certain food tastes better when mixed with something else; like bacon and eggs, strawberries and cream, fish and chips.
But some things just don't mix.
For example, petrol and water won't mix.
In the Christian life, you simply can't mix light with darkness.
God is holy.
Unfortunately, God’s people often try to mix religions.
*/Israel/**/ tried to mix Baal worship with Judaism./*
/As we will see today it just doesn't work./
God won’t tolerate rivals for our affection.
/This morning I would like to ask the question, *who is your God?*/ The prophet Elijah asked the same question to the Children of Israel 3000 around years ago.
God had called the Hebrew nation to be His own special people.
He had redeemed them from slavery and given them the Land of Canaan for their possession.
The Lord gave them the Law to live by and blessed their nation abundantly.
Sadly, God’s people weren’t living for Him.
They forgot the Lord’s goodness and followed after other God’s.
This morning we will see 3 things; */The Trouble, The Trial, and The Triumph/*.
 
1.
The Trouble
 
/a.
Elijah – The Lord/
 
*1 Kings 18:17:* /Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, is that you, O troubler of Israel?/
In verse 17, /Ahab charged Elijah with *troubling* Israel/.
*/This verb is used of bringing a curse on Israel.
It indicates stirring up resentment, to bring about hatred or danger./*
/Ahab said, you’re the problem Elijah.
It’s all your fault./
You got us into this mess.
*/Why did Ahab blame Elijah for the nation’s problems?/*
Because Elijah had prophesied that a drought would come upon Israel, and then it came.
*1 Kings 17:1:* /And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, except at my word./
*James 5:17* says the duration of the drought was for 3 years and 6 months.
After delivering God’s prophetic Word, Elijah disappeared for 3½ years.
The drought commenced just as He said.
You can be certain that Ahab was upset.
He searched for this troublesome prophet in Israel and amongst the surrounding nations.
He searched in vain.
/Had Elijah done anything wrong?/
No! /He simply did what God had told Him to.
He told the truth./
*/But King Ahab didn’t like the message that Elijah had brought; so he attacked the messenger./*
/Paul experienced this when he corrected the Galatians./
*Galatians 4:16:* /Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
/Sometimes people don’t like the truth.
Ahab and Jezebel didn’t like it.
Elijah was an obedient servant of God.
/He didn’t cause the drought; *God did!*/
The same thing happens today.
Some people, including Christians don’t like the truth.
So they oppose it.
*/Some people shoot the messenger when they don’t like the message./*
Say What They Need to Hear, Even If It Kills You
 
*/John the Baptist’s/* message from the wilderness was not, Smile, God loves you.
It was O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come.
*/Jeremiah/* was not put into a miry pit for preaching, I’m OK, you’re OK.
It was for crying against the adultery, idolatry and other wickedness of his nation.
*/Noah’s message/* from the steps of the ark was not, Something good is going to happen to you.
He condemned the world and was a preacher of righteousness.
*/Jesus Christ/* was not crucified for saying, Consider the lilies, how they grow, but for saying, Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites . . .
children of hell . . .
fools and blind guides . . .
whited sepulchers . . .
generation of vipers.
/b.
Ahab - Baal/
 
*1 Kings 18:18:* /And he answered, I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals./
/In verse 18, Elijah sets the record straight.
He places the blame right where it belongs; with King Ahab and his wicked wife Jezebel.
/They had led the nation away from the Lord and into idolatry.
Israel had forsaken the Lord’s commandments.
The nation had agreed to have no other gods before them.
But the king and the people broke God’s covenant.
Ahab was the ring leader in all of this.
He promoted idolatry in the land as his father had before him.
*/Firstly,/* he married a pagan wife contrary to God’s law.
Jezebel led Ahab away from God into idolatry.
*/Secondly,/* he set up an altar and a temple for Baal worship in Samaria.
Ahab introduced the religion of Sidon, the country his wife came from to Israel.
*/Thirdly,/* he allowed his wife to kill the Lord’s prophets.
Jezebel wouldn’t tolerate any rival gods.
She commanded everyone to worship Baal.
Ahab was the blame for Israel’s drought.
If he had read God’s Word he would have known this.
*2 Chronicles 7:13-14:* /When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
*Ahab and Baal worship was wrong not Elijah and God.
*/Verse 14 says if God’s People will humble themselves, pray, seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, that He will hear and heal their land*/.
It doesn’t say if the pastors or the politicians; it says if God’s people return to Him./* /He/ /wants all of His people to repent of their sin.
/
/ /
*/The Israelites couldn’t make up their minds who to serve./*
The word */halt/* means */to falter, to waver, to bounce back and forth between 2 things.
/*This had gone on for around 700 years; ever since the golden calf at Mount Sinai.
/So Elijah asked the question,/ */How long will you halt between two opinions?/*
*/He then gave them some advice;/ */If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him./
Elijah told the people to make up their minds, once and for all.
He said, stop trying to serve 2 Gods.
*/You must choose one now!/*
Application
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