Game of Thrones(2)Elijah

1 Kings 18: 20-40 KJV

17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?

18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table.

20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:

24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.

25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.

26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:

32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.

33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.

34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.

35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.

36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.

37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.

40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Pray:

I will be speaking to you these next 4 hours on the story of Elijah. Just kidding. Just seeing if you are listening.

When we look at this story, we have some familiar bible characters. We have King Ahab a weak ruler. Queen Jezebel an Edomite and a very wicked ruler and you have the false prophets of Baal or Satan. And of course, you have the prophet of God, Elijah and YAHWEH the true God.

What we need to understand when we read stories like this in the word of God. Is that the message of God transcends our understanding of history. That is to say that history repeats itself. And when we read these stories, they often apply to our lives today more than we realize. The patterns set forth in the bible continue to this day.

What can we learn from this story of Elijah against the prophets of Baal? Well, several things. But one thing that often gets overlooked is the place where Elijah brings his challenge against the wicked prophets of Baal.

During this time true Israel was ruled by a King. And God would use the throne to rule His true people. But as is often the case, Satan had taken over the throne of Israel. And Mount Carmel here is a type of throne. It is a battle for control. These same battles continue to this day.

There is the throne of politics. Today in America this throne is ruled and controlled by Satan. And we are not voting our way out, we must pray our way out. The throne of education, again controlled by Satan. The throne of Hollywood, again controlled by Satan. Then there is the church. And any church that is the true house of God is run by Christ through his prophets. But unfortunately, many so called churches are being run by false prophets like the ones Elijah had to contend with here. Sure, they call out to Christ, and they have their bible degrees. But they are wolves in sheep’s clothing and worship Baal over Christ. They openly call Jesus Christ a liar while claiming to serve Him.

The word throne is used more than 200 times in the bible. And there has always been a battle for these earthly thrones. The first war was over the throne of God and occurred when Satan or Baal or Moloch challenged God for His throne. The bible tells us that Satan desired to rise above God. Satan desired the throne of God. And so, there was a war in heaven over the throne of God.

This war has been ongoing since the first great war in heaven when Satan and 1/3 of his angels were cast down. By the way, this is why freemasons place such importance on the number 33. It represents the fallen angels that they worship.

Revelation 12:7-9 says:

7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Again, it was a war for a throne:

Isaiah 14: 13-14 KJV

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

In other words, Satan wants ALL the high places. Mount Carmel is an example of a high place.

The heart of the demonic person is rebellion. A rebellious person is at war with God.

When Satan lost the war in heaven, he sat up his throne here on earth. Here he has his followers and his people. There are many types of thrones on earth that Satan battles for control of. Everything that God creates, Satan counterfeits. All the Nations, political leaders, governments, schools, churches, education, entertainment are little thrones that Satan wants control over.

We live in between two thrones. Heaven and hell. And the battle for your heart and soul goes on between these two thrones. It is up to you who rules the throne of your heart. But you must make a choice. This is what Elijah was saying in verse 21. How long halt ye between two nations.

And most Christians have no idea that the war we are in is right here on earth. They believe that we are living in a free country and that we are living in a Christian country and that they have nothing to be worried about. But God commanded us to be sober, to be vigilant for our adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And if you are serving Baal and believing that the devil’s people are Gods people then you are in for a rude awakening.

This story of Elijah here is a story of spiritual warfare. Notice that there were 850 false prophets and only one true man of God. That’s a very accurate assessment of the world today. For every true man of God there are at least 850 false prophets. Educated beyond their intelligence and serving the wrong God.

Now in-between heaven and hell there are places in the middle. Some of these places are demonic strong holds and some of these places are Gods strongholds. In the story of Elijah true Israel is supposed to represent God. Or be that place where God rules through His man, the King. But Ahab was a wicked King who was ruled by a wicked Edomite woman in Jezebel.

1 Kings 22:19 says:

19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lordsitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

1 Kings 22:10 says:

10 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

At this point Israel was divided. There was the Northern Kingdom called Israel and the Southern Kingdom called Judah. They had a church split. LOL. The Kings of Israel had become demonic and evil. Satan had conquered Israel.

In Judah it was hit and miss. Some Kings were good, and others were bad. But the Kings were supposed to submit to the throne of Jesus Christ. Be a Hebrew, marry a Hebrew. And Ahab went against God and married an Edomite. Ahab indulged in greed and pride and rejected Christ.

Here we have another example of God versus the government. The government had bowed down to Satan. That is what is going on here. And it is what is going on in America today. Our government has bowed down to Satan and no longer serves Jesus. Our so-called leaders are wicked and ungodly.

There are places in America right now. Where if a child has gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria means that a child has the body of a male, but they believe in their minds that they are female and Vis versa. It is a form of mental illness and sometimes demon possession. If your child feels like this the state has decided that your child needs to be given hormone blockers. And they take them in for gender transition and mutilation. In other words, to castrate children. And in some places here in America the government will take away your child and transition them against the will of the parents. And the public school teachers are encouraging this confusion in the kids.

Those children will never be able to have a family. And what are we as Christians doing about this wicked government? Did God tell Christians to sit back and do nothing while wicked rules us? Of course not. Look at what Elijah does. He challenges the false prophets. He challenges the false narrative of his day.

Our government is saying we don’t care what God says. And that they can take your children from you. Folks we are at war. And we need to wake up. We are in a war for our children and we can’t even be faithful to church?

This is what was going on in Israel. The government had taken over the education system. They killed all the Godly teachers. The government had taken over the churches. They had killed all the prophets of the Lord. When this happens, we need to rise up and practice civil disobedience. We must recognize that Gods authority is the ultimate authority. And when any man-made government goes against God it has lost any right to rule us.

Sometimes it is Godly to fight.

Elijah is challenging the people to wake up. How long will you stand there confused about what to do. If you believe in God, then follow him. If Baal is God, then follow him. But again, they sat there quietly. As if they were Baptists and had forgotten how to shout Amen.

Elijah was repeating the challenge of Joshua who said:

15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve,

And so, I say to you this morning in the midst of the ongoing war against our Christian faith and against our God the Lord Jesus Christ. Choose this day whom you will serve. Get off the fence people.

Look again at verse 27

27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

Elijah was outnumbered 850 to 1 and he is mocking the false prophets. Elijah was saying. Is your god taking a nap? Did he get lost like some old man wandering on a journey? Maybe he is in the bathroom doing number 2. Yes that is how that translates. Mocking their god who is satan.

The bible says answer not a fool according to his folly and it also says answer a fool according to his folly. This isn’t a contradiction. What it means is don’t empower a fool by answering him. But when you must answer a fool. Mock him using his own logic.

For example: The same people in Washington who are telling you that they want to stop misinformation are also telling you that a man can get pregnant.

Mock them. That is what Elijah did and what we should be doing

As I read this I recalled the word of the Lord where it says God is not mocked. And I began to wonder how many Christians today mock the Lord their God unknowingly.

I hear it all the time. Well I had a really bad week this week. I guess God is no longer on His throne. I didn’t get that job that I applied for, I guess God is no longer on His throne. Or well the devil has taken over so many thrones in this world. I guess God is no longer on His throne.

Listen to me this morning church: God was on His throne when Daniel was tossed into the Lion’s den. God was still on His throne when the 3 Hebrew children were tossed into the fiery furnace. God was still on His throne when the apostle Paul was rotting in the mammertine prison. God was still on his throne when Peter was crucified upside down. God was still on His throne when John was exiled to the isle of Patmos. And listen to me. God will still be on His throne whether Westside Baptist Church has 5 members, 50 members or 500 members.

Too many Christians are so carnally minded that they believe that when things aren’t going their way that God is no longer in command.

We forget that Jesus promised us tribulation. We have come to believe that if we don’t have a life of ease that God is letting us down.

To that I say how dare you. How dare we have the nerve to say to God that if things aren’t going our way that He is no longer God. Bitterness is ungodly.

God is on his throne in sunshine and God is on his throne in the clouds. God is on his throne when you are employed and God is on his throne when you are unemployed.And hey God is on His throne when you agree with your preacher and when you disagree with your preacher. God is always on His throne. Stop being bitter. How dare we.

What be bitter at the God who hung the stars? What be bitter at the God who hung the moon? What be bitter at Him who gives you the air you breath? What be bitter at him who gives you the food you eat? What be better at Him who raised the ocean by the sound of His voice. What be bitter at Him whose teardrops formed the lakes. What be bitter at Him who gave His only begotten son. What be bitter at him who had no place to lay his head though foxes had holes and birds had nests. Yet the son of God had no place to lay his head. What be bitter at Him who took up that cross to save your soul. What be bitter at Him who is the King of Kings and had no throne but a cross and had no crown but a crown of thrones. And had no robe but a Romans coat.

How dare we be bitter at Him.

We run like cowards from conflict and say. Well I guess Gods not in it. We have become a generation of cowards.We are soft.

Thank God that the apostle Paul didn’t think the way we do today. We better thank God for the men and women who had the gumption to stand for right.

Folks, We need some good old fashioned shingle pulling, window rattling, spirit filled, Christ honoring, soul winning hell fire and brimstone Bible preaching in the pulpits of America today.

Sometimes God needs to prune away those who do not bear fruit. And God will use Satan to do just that. Don’t ever forget that every branch that doesn’t produce fruit is cut down and tossed into the fire. What are you doing for Jesus Christ in your life? Who sits on the throne of your heart this morning?

Should I be carried to the skies, On flowery beds of ease, While others fight to win the prize, And sail through bloody seas? No, I must fight if I would gain, Increase my courage, Lord! I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain, Supported by Thy Word.

God has a family and Satan has a family. Remember in Psalm 22 when Jesus said the BULLS of Bashan surround me? Jesus was referring again to Edomites, Just like today the symbol for wall street is what? A bull. A giant golden bull.

We have one man of God against 850 false prophets. Satan controls the message in a fallen world. This is why God sends us prophets.

And every time there is a demonic battle for a throne. Wherever there is leadership Satan wants to dominate. In every single one of these situations the devil will send a false prophet to tell lies to empower evil to take over that throne.

Again, in Revelation 2 Jesus says:

20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.

Jesus is calling out false prophets in the church. The Jezebel spirit is the spirit of false prophecy. These are the people who show up and say I need to be in charge. I have something to say. They are pushing to be heard. And if you tolerate, they will dominate. This is why Jezebel always finds the Ahab’s of the world. Because Ahab wouldn’t do conflict. And Jezebel says fine. If you won’t do conflict, I will do control. But not to worry. God always has a remnant.

Romans 11:2-5 KJV

2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

There is always a remnant here on earth serving God. Here God tells us there were 7000 people here who had not bowed their knees to BAAL.

All the people could hear was the false prophets. They had control over the internet, they had control over the media. And the people were living in fear. But God preserves His men to do His work. Paul is saying there are going to be times when we feel as though God has lost. We are going to be sure that we are at the end. When this happens, we need to understand that God has a remnant serving Him.

Now you might be asking this. Why? Why is God allowing Satan to take so many earthly thrones?

Here’s the answer in Matthew 7:15-19

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

God is using Satan to do His work. Which is pruning. I don’t know how many of you have ever grown tomatoes. But when you have a branch on a tomatoes plant that isn’t producing blumes. You cut it off. Why? Because all the energy coming to that plant needs to go to the branches that are making fruit. Farmers call this process pruning.

Those of you who are not producing fruit, will be pruned. You will be cut off and tossed into the fire. Remember God called you to a life of service to Him. And so again I ask. Who is ruling on the throne of your heart this morning?

If you don’t prune a tree it will die. God is pruning us down to a remnant that bears fruit. The good news is that revivals often come about when Gods prunes his church.

Last point. I apologize for being long winded this morning, but I need to read this last verse and make this point. Verse 28

28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.

Cutting yourself could be a sign of demon possession or at the very least demon worship. Christians do not make blood sacrifices to BAAL. Our sacrifice is made perfect in Christ. So, if you know someone who mutilates his or herself by cutting. Get them to church and get them help. The prophets of Baal here are counterfeiting the blood atonement of Christ. And it did them no good as it will do those who worship BAAL today no good.

I ask you this morning. Who sits on the throne of your heart? God is still on His throne. Will we follow the example of Elijah this morning and stand up, stand up for Jesus? Or will we turn our backs on a Holy God like cowards?

You may be asking preacher what can I do? Well, first be faithful to the house of God. Second support the work of the house of God. Third share Jesus with everyone and anyone you can. Fourth study the word of God. And finally pray. Pray without ceasing for God to send us Godly men into our pulpits to bring America the revival it needs to turn this country around.

Let me ask you again. Who sits on the throne of your heart this morning? If God be God then serve Him.

As for me? I would rather die with my boots on than die the death of a coward. If it is God’s will to deliver me then so be it. If it is Gods will to bring me home. So be it. The only people who lose are the ones who serve the wrong God and the ones who refuse to serve at all.