Facing The Real Issue (2)
Life Lessons From Elijah • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsElijah confronts and defeats Arab and the prophets of Baal and Asherah.
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17 When Ahab saw him, he exclaimed, “So, is it really you, you troublemaker of Israel?”
18 “I have made no trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “You and your family are the troublemakers, for you have refused to obey the commands of the Lord and have worshiped the images of Baal instead.
19 Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”
20 So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel.
21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.
23 Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it.
24 Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed.
INTRODUCTION:
A- Background:
1- God had called Elijah to proclaim judgment upon Israel because of her unfaithfulness.
2- God had miraculously preserved his prophet during a 3-year long drought.
a. By a creek by the agency of Ravens.
b. With a widow in Zarephath in Phoenicia near Sidon.
Miraculously multiplying her food supply until food could be harvested after the drought ended.
B- Confrontation:
1- God commanded Elijah to confront King Ahab and demand a public contest with the prophets of Baal and Asherah.
2- There are three actions that I must take to face the real issue of commitment in my life:
I- I MUST RECOGNIZE THE ROOT OF MY SPIRITUAL PROBLEM.
II- I MUST RECEIVE THE PROPOSITION OFFERED BY GOD.
III- I MUST ACCEPT THE PROOF THAT GOD GIVES.
I- I MUST RECOGNIZE THE ROOT OF MY SPIRITUAL PROBLEM. (1 Kings 18:1-21)
I- I MUST RECOGNIZE THE ROOT OF MY SPIRITUAL PROBLEM. (1 Kings 18:1-21)
A- Afraid to trust God to do what He says. (1 Kings 18:7-12)
A- Afraid to trust God to do what He says. (1 Kings 18:7-12)
7 As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?” he asked.
7 As Obadiah was walking along, he suddenly saw Elijah coming toward him. Obadiah recognized him at once and bowed low to the ground before him. “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?” he asked.
8 “Yes, it is,” Elijah replied. “Now go and tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’ ”
9 “Oh, sir,” Obadiah protested, “what harm have I done to you that you are sending me to my death at the hands of Ahab?
10 For I swear by the Lord your God that the king has searched every nation and kingdom on earth from end to end to find you. And each time he was told, ‘Elijah isn’t here,’ King Ahab forced the king of that nation to swear to the truth of his claim.
11 And now you say, ‘Go and tell your master, “Elijah is here.” ’
12 But as soon as I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you away to who knows where. When Ahab comes and cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I have been a true servant of the Lord all my life.
1- God will always fulfill what He promises.
(1 Corinthians 1:9)
9 God will do this, for he is faithful to do what he says, and he has invited you into partnership with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
B- Trying to be secretive about commitment to God. (1 Kings 18:12b-13)
B- Trying to be secretive about commitment to God. (1 Kings 18:12b-13)
13 Has no one told you, my lord, about the time when Jezebel was trying to kill the Lord’s prophets? I hid 100 of them in two caves and supplied them with food and water.
1- The Lord does not want secret followers, but open followers.
a- This is why the Apostles demanded the open confession of baptism.
(Acts 2:38)
38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
C- Remaining indecisive about commitment to God. (1 Kings 18:19-21)
C- Remaining indecisive about commitment to God. (1 Kings 18:19-21)
19 Now summon all Israel to join me at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah who are supported by Jezebel.”
20 So Ahab summoned all the people of Israel and the prophets to Mount Carmel.
21 Then Elijah stood in front of them and said, “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” But the people were completely silent.
1- We cannot vacillate between commitment to Christ and the world.
(James 4:4-5)
4 You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.
5 Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the spirit he has placed within us should be faithful to him.
II- I MUST RECEIVE THE PROPOSITION OFFERED BY GOD. (1 Kings 18:22-24)
II- I MUST RECEIVE THE PROPOSITION OFFERED BY GOD. (1 Kings 18:22-24)
A- Sometimes standing for the Lord can be lonely. (1 Kings 18:22)
A- Sometimes standing for the Lord can be lonely. (1 Kings 18:22)
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only prophet of the Lord who is left, but Baal has 450 prophets.
1- Standing alone with God puts you in good company.
a. With people like Moses and Paul.
2- God always stands with those who stand for Him. (Romans 8:31)
31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?
B- Trust in the God who answers prayer supernaturally. (1 Kings 18:23-24)
B- Trust in the God who answers prayer supernaturally. (1 Kings 18:23-24)
23 Now bring two bulls. The prophets of Baal may choose whichever one they wish and cut it into pieces and lay it on the wood of their altar, but without setting fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood on the altar, but not set fire to it.
24 Then call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by setting fire to the wood is the true God!” And all the people agreed.
1- Who heals?
2- Who saves souls and changes lives?
The Maniac of Gadara (Mark 5:1-15)
1 So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gerasenes.
2 When Jesus climbed out of the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit came out from the tombs to meet him.
3 This man lived in the burial caves and could no longer be restrained, even with a chain.
4 Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.
5 Day and night he wandered among the burial caves and in the hills, howling and cutting himself with sharp stones.
6 When Jesus was still some distance away, the man saw him, ran to meet him, and bowed low before him.
7 With a shriek, he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!”
8 For Jesus had already said to the spirit, “Come out of the man, you evil spirit.”
9 Then Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” And he replied, “My name is Legion, because there are many of us inside this man.”
10 Then the evil spirits begged him again and again not to send them to some distant place.
11 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.
12 “Send us into those pigs,” the spirits begged. “Let us enter them.”
13 So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.
14 The herdsmen fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. People rushed out to see what had happened.
15 A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.
3- Who performs miracles?
Parted the Red Sea for the Israelites.
Delivered Peter from jail.
Raised Lazarus from the dead.
III- I MUST ACCEPT THE PROOF THAT GOD GIVES. (1 Kings 18:25-38)
III- I MUST ACCEPT THE PROOF THAT GOD GIVES. (1 Kings 18:25-38)
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”
26 So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
27 About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”
28 So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.
29 They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.
30 Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.
31 He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel,
32 and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons.
33 He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”
34 After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said,
35 and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command.
37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!
A- God does not insist on blind faith, but demonstrates His power.
A- God does not insist on blind faith, but demonstrates His power.
1- The gods of this world cannot answer your needs. (1 Kings 18:25-29)
25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “You go first, for there are many of you. Choose one of the bulls, and prepare it and call on the name of your god. But do not set fire to the wood.”
26 So they prepared one of the bulls and placed it on the altar. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning until noontime, shouting, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no reply of any kind. Then they danced, hobbling around the altar they had made.
27 About noontime Elijah began mocking them. “You’ll have to shout louder,” he scoffed, “for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!”
28 So they shouted louder, and following their normal custom, they cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.
29 They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice, but still there was no sound, no reply, no response.
a- Put them to the test! Can they do what God can do?
b- All effort to get them to do so will end in failure.
2- God alone can and will answer in power. (1 Kings 18:30-38)
30 Then Elijah called to the people, “Come over here!” They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down.
31 He took twelve stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel,
32 and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons.
33 He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, “Fill four large jars with water, and pour the water over the offering and the wood.”
34 After they had done this, he said, “Do the same thing again!” And when they were finished, he said, “Now do it a third time!” So they did as he said,
35 and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command.
37 O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.”
38 Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!
a- Reconstruct the altar in your life.
(1) It must be done God’s way. It must be HIS altar!
(2) Place your sacrifice upon the altar.
(Romans 12:1-2)
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
(3) Seek for God to work - He will.
B- Accepting God’s proof necessitates an open decision. (1 Kings 18:39-40)
B- Accepting God’s proof necessitates an open decision. (1 Kings 18:39-40)
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
40 Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.
1- Make a verbal confession of His Lordship. (1 Kings 18:39)
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, “The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!”
a- Make an open, public profession of your faith in Christ.
(Matthew 10:38-39)
38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.
39 If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.
b- Be willing to tell others about what Jesus has done for you.
(1) Madman of Gadara (Mark 5:19)
19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.”
2- Repent of your sin and turn to God. (1 Kings 18:40)
40 Then Elijah commanded, “Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don’t let a single one escape!” So the people seized them all, and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed them there.
C- Enjoy the provision of God. (1 Kings 18:41-46)
C- Enjoy the provision of God. (1 Kings 18:41-46)
41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!”
42 So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees.
43 Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look.
44 Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Then Elijah shouted, “Hurry to Ahab and tell him, ‘Climb into your chariot and go back home. If you don’t hurry, the rain will stop you!’ ”
45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.
46 Then the Lord gave special strength to Elijah. He tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab’s chariot all the way to the entrance of Jezreel.
1- God always fulfills his promise (1 Kings 18:45)
45 And soon the sky was black with clouds. A heavy wind brought a terrific rainstorm, and Ahab left quickly for Jezreel.
CONCLUSION:
A- Summary
I- I MUST RECOGNIZE THE ROOT OF MY SPIRITUAL PROBLEM.
II- I MUST RECEIVE THE PROPOSITION OFFERED BY GOD.
III- I MUST ACCEPT THE PROOF THAT GOD GIVES.
B- Illustration:
“I Have Decided To Follow Jesus”
By S. Sundar Singh (sung to Hindustani melody)
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.