Let The God Who Answers By Fire Be God!

King James Version (1 Kings 18:17-24)

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.

This mornings service. So you are a christian, what is the difference than any other religion?

We ended with!

What are the proofs? Was there anything tangible going on!

1. They all believed that they were worshiping a god or gods.

Ashtoreth

Chemosh

Dagon

Marduk

The Egyptians had over 40 false gods that they worshipped.

Baal

False gods today.

Islam

Hinduism

Buddhism

Atheism

Sikhism

Taoism

Mormonism

Bahai Faith

Unification movement

False Christs

2. The big problem was that many were deceived into believing that the gods they worshipped were real.

King James Version (1 Kings 18:17-18)

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.

Even Gods people were deceived! Leadership can make or break a people!

3. Here is the thing, none of them tangibly seen in physical form the God that they worshipped!

They were all worshipping something!

This morning!

The difficulty with people beliving in God.

By faith we know that God is, and that He is a rewarder

Elijah knew that God was the God who answered by fire!

In order for Him to answer He had to be there!

4. Elijah issued a challenge to all of the other false prophets and teachers and even to all of Israel!

King James Version (1 Kings 18:17-24)

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.

King James Version (1 Kings 18:25)

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.

Elijah challenges the rest of the prophets to a tangible demonstration of the gods they serve versus the God He serves.

I THINK ITS TIME FOR THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST TO ISSUE A REAL CHALLENGE TO THE WORLD AND TO THE DEVIL EVEN!

They accept of course!

5. Look at what happens with the prophets and Baal.

King James Version (1 Kings 18:26-29)

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.

There is no answer.

There is no tangible evidence!

There is no fire falling from heaven!

THERE IS RELIGION BUT THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP!

And thats the big difference in it all see. Everything else is religion but christianity true christianity is relationship!

AND THAT MAKES SENSE BECAUSE HOW CAN YOU HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH SOMETHING THAT IS NOT THERE?

6. Look at what happens with Elijah.

King James Version (1 Kings 18:30)

And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him.

He wanted them to get close so they didnt miss it! Everyone setting in the front next sunday hallelujah!

King James Version (1 Kings 18:30)

And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

The church needs to get this today. You want the fire. Repair the altar!

King James Version (1 Kings 18:31-37)

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.

King James Version (1 Kings 18:38-39)

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.

7. This is the difference see and it is different than all other religions for the same reason!

There is only one God!

There is only one way!

There is only one true altar!

There is only one true sacrifice!

And the tangible evidence is there to prove it!

Here is another major difference in the christain faith.

WHAT IF I WERE TO TELL YOU THAT THERE IS TANGIBLE EVIDENCE!

Elijah challenges the rest of the prophets to a tangible demonstration of the gods they serve versus the God He serves.

Does your God answer prayer?

Does your God show up with power?

Power to change the life.

Power to witness.

Power that if felt changes a situation.

Power and peace that calms the troubled see and storm in your life.

Does your God spoeak to the winds and waves and they obey Him? What manner of man is this?

King James Version (1 Kings 18:21)

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.