The Battle of the gods!

Worship only goes to God

Intro:

Read 1 Kings 16:29-17:1 1 Kings 18:1-2

Imagine three years without rain. I am an Iowa kid. Iowa grows more corn than anyone else in the world. I have seen some dry summers here in Iowa. Where farmer struggled to produce corn. All it takes is one spring with little rain to mess with everyone’s harvest. As I have served at camp over the years, I have seen 90 degree a 100 degree weather, turn green luscious grass into brown brittle carpet. For us today, we can pump water into our field from hundreds of miles away, and we are never to far from grabbing a bottle of water out of the fridge. Imagine not having that access. We some of the effects in Elijahs life. The brook dries up. Ahab and Obadiah trying to find grass for their livestock. Why was this happening? Because the people of Israel had turned away from God. God had commanded that there would be no other God’s before Him and to not make for yourselves graven images. Jezebel has massacred the prophets of the Lord. Wickedness abounds. Worship is not direct toward Him. Today we are going to see the battle of the gods take place. We are going to see a battle against Baal and against Yahweh. The main point of this narrative is that: Worship Only Goes To God! No exceptions. There are three truths we must understand from this passage.

God does not Tolerate Rebellion (v.7-19)

-We see tension between Ahab and Elijah

-Ahab is the King. He accuses Elijah as being a troubler of Israel.

-Baal is the god of storms and rain

-Elijah points out the problem: “…you have forsaken the commandment of the Lord…”

-God is a jealous God and will not allow His people to love and admire any other

-(Ill) marriage

God has no Competitor (v.20-40)

-v.20-24

-we see this competition happen

-Yahweh vs Baal

-Elijah is stating that there is only one god.

-Either it is Yahweh or it is Baal

-He is telling the people of Israel not to sit on the fence

-It seems like team Yahweh is the underdog

-1 Prophet vs 450 and the king of Israel

-v.25-29

-the prophets of Baal looked foolish

-they were doing this for hours

-calling on Baal

-cried out and leap on the alter

-Baal isn’t like Yahweh

-cry louder

-blood gushed out

-On Mount Carmel we have the battle of the gods, and one of the Competitors seems non-existent

-v.30-35

-Elijah probably seemed a little crazy at this point

-Elijah is a prophet of God he has and will do amazing things

-v.36-37

-Baal is not competitor of God and neither am I

-But there needs to be humility

-We cannot have people worship us

-Do we care if God receives worship?

-v. 38-40

-counselor, preachers, mighty work

3. God is the Ultimate Provider (v. 41-45)

-Baal was the giver of rain,

-We see the confidence Elijah has in God

-abundance of rain coming

-Elijah prayed seven times knowing God would provide

-Sends the servant

Application

1 Kings 18:21. What idols do you have in your life? What is receiving worship?

Are we pointing others to worship the Lord?

Do we put confidence in who God is and in nothing else?