Holy Ghost Fire Of The Lord

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.

INTRO:

Many times fire is used as a symbol of God’s presence and his power.

When sacrifices were instituted in the old testament, the burnt offering, or the offering by fire, was used in worship. And God said that this fire “shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out”

(Leviticus 6:13). In;

Exodus 3:1-6 Moses was called to ministry at 80 yrs old out of a burning bush.

Judges 6:21 When Gideon met with the angle of the lord the angel touched Gideon’s offering with his staff and fire rose up out of the rock and consumed everything.

There was “fire mingled with hail,” poured out in judgment against Pharoah Exodus 9:24

2 Chronicles 7:1

When Solomon had finished his prayer at the dedication of the Temple, “fire came down from heaven and consumed the offerings and sacrifices …”

“A pillar of fire … went before the children of Israel to give them light and heat in the night ” when they left egypt Exodus 13:21-22.

“The Lord rained down upon Sodom and Gomorrah, brimstone and fire” Genesis 19:24 .

2 Kings 2:11 “Chariots and horses of fire” appeared during the translation of Elijah”

2 Kings 6:17

Elisha prayed for a young man’s eyes to be opened and he saw the “mountains full of horses and chariots of fire”

Matt.3:11 John the Baptist said Jesus would “baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire” .

Acts 2:3 “Tongues like as of fire sat upon each of them” appeared on the day of Pentecost .

In fact, Hebrews 12:29 “Our God is a consuming fire”

Hebrews 1:7 And his ministers a flame of fire.

We all know the account of Elijah and the 850 prophets of bail on mount carmel. It was actually a show down between God and bail to see who was really God!

Point #1 THIS WAS A DAY WHEN THE FIRE NEEDED TO FALL!

A. Like America Israel had backslid on God. They had a wicked leader(King Ahab) the bible says he was more evil than all the kings before him.

1 Kings 16:30–33 (KJV 1900)

And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

America is in the exact same position. it serves everything but God!

of course we don’t call these false gods bail. We call them Nintendo or ESPN, or You tube, We even give this false god a prominent place in our home’s and in many home’s it is displayed in every room. even heard of the Television set being placed in peoples bathrooms and kitchens.

B. Ahab had sold out to his wife’s false religion!

Elijah told Ahab You have sold yourself to do wickedness!

Biden has also sold himself out to do evil.

Because of this sinful and false religion. The alters of the lord were torn down and Gods prophets were slain.

Because of COVID many of the church’s were shut down and some ministers were fined and even jailed for conducting services.And the church has suffered for it ever since.Let me tell you that once you stop going to church it gets easier not to go at all. And it becomes harder to get back into the habit of going to church.

2 Corinthians 6:14–18

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

1 Corinthians 5:6 (KJV 1900)

Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

C. Elijah must have felt all alone. and no wonder!

It was a day when the truth had been crushed and unrighteousness seemed to prevail. It was a dark and evil time in Israels history.

Its true that 7000 prophets had not bowed their knees to bail!

But where were they?

Why had they not spoken up?

Why had they not challenged bail and his followers?

This same need exists today. The world still has its weak, spineless, Ahab's and its sinful, and sensuous Jezebels.

But this world desperately needs some Elijah’s-Type prophets to stand up and be counted for the Lord!

The true church is fighting for its life today. God is looking for an Elijah. Someone who will be fearless in the face of the crowd, in the the face of the opposition, someone to challenge the crowd on the truth of Gods word!

D.Elijah stood up for God that day!

He as god’s only representative Challenged Ahab Jezebel and the 850 false prophets of bail along with all of backslidden Israel.

Baal’s prophets prayed … and prayed … and prayed!

With No results! It is always the same! No fire!

False gods are not “a present help in time of trouble” Psalms 46:1 .

E. Elijah honored God.

1. He rebuilt the altar torn down by wicked false prophets.

2. He chose twelve stones, representing the twelve tribes of Israel.

Notice! Elijah chose God’s way!

Many want revival, but in their own way.In their own time,

Now! Everything was in order!

But Would fire fall? Would God answer His prophet?

1 Kings 18:38 Said;

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.

Point #2 FIRE NOT ONLY NEEDED TO FALL, BUT IT MUST FALL

A. It was the only remedy! The only hope! There was no other alternative! It was a crucial moment in Israels history!

The nation of Israels future was dependent upon it!!

Elijah’s reputation as a prophet was at stake!

B. Fire always falls when God’s honor is at stake.

Elijah pleaded, “Let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel … that this people may know that thou art the Lord God” Vs. 36, 37.

C. David told Goliath he was going to kill him, so “that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel” 1 Samuel 17:46.

D. Hezekiah prayed for deliverance from the hand of a, God-defying general. His plea was, “That all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even Thou only” 2 Kings 19:19

That night an angel of the lord slew 185,000 men.

E. Elijah prayed 63 words. Did the fire fall?

It fell like lightning, consuming everything.

1 Kings 18:38 (KJV 1900)

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.

NO doubts were left!

NO questions asked!

NO need for debate! God was restored!

God was both honored and worshiped!

The people fell on their faces and cried out,

“The Lord, He is the God; the Lord, He is the God” V. 39.

III. FIRE NOT ONLY

(1) NEEDED TO FALL,

(2) MUST FALL, BUT the question is?

(3) IT WILL FALL TODAY ?

A. It fell on Mt. Carmel.

B. It fell at the dedication of the Temple (2 Chronicles 7:1–3).

C. It fell on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4).

D. It is promised to all .

Joel 2: 28-32

28  And it shall come to pass afterward,

That I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh;

And cyour sons and dyour daughters shall prophesy,

Your old men shall dream dreams,

Your young men shall see visions:

29  And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids

In those days will I pour out my spirit.

30  And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth,

Blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

31  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and lthe moon into blood,

Before the great and nthe terrible day of the LORD come.

32  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered:

Acts 2:38,39

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

E. It will fall now! But When?

Come back tonight to get the rest of the story!