Elijah & Our Worship: 1 Kings 18:20-46

Introduction

Our message takes place with the prophet Elijah, who confronts the wicked king, Ahab, whose sinful rule of Israel brought about a punishment involving a three-in-a-half year famine and drought in the land. King Ahab’s godless reign could be attributed to his choice of wife, Jezebel, who was a pagan known for killing God’s prophets who also embraced the false gods of Baal and the Asherah. The confrontation eventually led to Elijah calling for a spiritual showdown between him and 450 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of the Asherah. That brings us to where we are now for our message.

Choose Your God: v. 20-24

20 So Ahab sent a message among all the sons of Israel and brought the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

21 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.

23 “Now let them give us two oxen; and let them choose one ox for themselves and cut it up, and place it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put a fire under it.

24 “Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” And all the people said, “That is a good idea.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Ki 18:20–24.

-God’s people must not “hesitate” between trusting and following Him or any other false god.

Jesus teaches us that we must decide on whom we will serve:

-24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 6:24.

-God’s people must be bold, whether they stand alone or not.

Paul says to stay strong as there’s always a purpose:

-58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Co 15:58.

David reassures us that God is with us even in the darkest times:

-4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 23:4.

False God & Prophets, No Results: v. 25-29

25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one ox for yourselves and prepare it first for you are many, and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”

26 Then they took the ox which was given them and they prepared it and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon saying, “O Baal, answer us.” But there was no voice and no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they made.

27 It came about at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god; either he is occupied or gone aside, or is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and needs to be awakened.”

28 So they cried with a loud voice and cut themselves according to their custom with swords and lances until the blood gushed out on them.

29 When midday was past, they raved until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice; but there was no voice, no one answered, and no one paid attention.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Ki 18:25–29.

-Efforts made without the wisdom, power, and guidance of the one true God can lead to vain, erratic, and nonsensical behavior.

Paul explains what happens when man refuses to follow and trust in the Lord:

28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,

29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,

30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,

31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;

32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 1:28–32.

-If our efforts are outside of God’s will, we can also look like as vain and ridiculous as the Baal prophets.

Instead, we must heed Solomon’s advice:

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart

And do not lean on your own understanding.

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

8 It will be healing to your body

And refreshment to your bones.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Pr 3:5–8.

Setting the Stage for God, v. 30-35

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord which had been torn down.

31 Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.”

32 So with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he made a trench around the altar, large enough to hold two measures of seed.

33 Then he arranged the wood and cut the ox in pieces and laid it on the wood.

34 And he said, “Fill four pitchers with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time,” and they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time.

35 The water flowed around the altar and he also filled the trench with water.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Ki 18:30–35.

-For great things to happen, we must return to what God as designed for our lives, and we must remember who we are in Christ.

Jesus explained to the disciples that only what He gives is worth anything when He tells them:

63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 6:63.

This is likewise true later on in chapter 15 when He says:

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 15:5.

-The stage must be set where only God gets the glory, not man.

The Lord speaks adamantly through the prophet Isaiah:

8 “I am the Lord, that is My name;

I will not give My glory to another,

Nor My praise to graven images.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Is 42:8.

The psalmist understands as he proclaims:

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us,

But to Your name give glory

Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 115:1.

Paul adequately explains:

20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,

21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Eph 3:20–21.

One True God & Prophet, Results: v. 36-40

36 At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word.

37 “Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that You, O Lord, are God, and that You have turned their heart back again.”

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

39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God; the Lord, He is God.”

40 Then Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; do not let one of them escape.” So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Ki 18:36–40.

-In facing spiritual opposition, the only defense for God’s people is to pray and trust in the Word of God.

King Solomon understood the nature of prayer to be an act of God’s people humbling themselves:

14 and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 2 Ch 7:14.

Likewise, Peter concurs:

5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Pe 5:5–7.

-The desired results are God’s glory and the revival of God’s people.

The cherubim from Isaiah 6 calls out:

Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,

The whole earth is full of His glory.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Is 6:3.

David proclaims in Psalm 19:

1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God:

And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ps 19:1.

Again in Romans 1, Paul explains that man is without excuse to know the glorious nature of God:

19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 1:19.

The elders in Revelation 4 day and night worship God with:

11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Re 4:11.

How much more should we fully grasp that:

31 Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Co 10:31.

I believe that as we seek the one, true God and live for His glory, then we can as Paul says in Romans 12:

present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 12:1–2.

Then, we can as Peter implored the early Church in Acts 3:

19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 3:19.

Then, as Peter concludes in 1 Peter 5 about humbling ourselves, praying, and resisting the devil firm in your faith, and suffering for a while:

10… the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Pe 5:10.

Then, we can experience what Paul desires for us in Romans 15 when we says:

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ro 15:13.

-These results are maintained when God’s people eradicate all sin, including those who cause us to sin.

Though we do not have a mandate from God to kill off those who sin against Him today, there is application for this:

Paul commands the church at Galatia that if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ga 6:1.

Paul tells Timothy that those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Ti 5:20.

There is a reason for this:

Solomon said that He who walks with wise men will be wise,

But the companion of fools will suffer harm.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Pr 13:20.

And, to leave the presence of a fool,

Or you will not discern words of knowledge.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Pr 14:7.

And, to not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Pr 22:24–25.

Finally, Paul sums it up to the Corinthians with a reminder to not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Co 15:33.

In addition, Jesus says in the Matthew 18 to go through the stages of church discipline when a brother sins against you for the purpose of restoring him (Matt. 18:15-17).

James further concludes that if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jas 5:19–20.

God’s Provision, God’s Timing: v. 41-46

41 Now Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.”

42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. But Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he crouched down on the earth and put his face between his knees.

43 He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go back” seven times.

44 It came about at the seventh time, that he said, “Behold, a cloud as small as a man’s hand is coming up from the sea.” And he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, so that the heavy shower does not stop you.’ ”

45 In a little while the sky grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy shower. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel.

46 Then the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he girded up his loins and outran Ahab to Jezreel.

Chapter 19

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Ki 18:41–1 Ki 19.

-When the drought in life remains, God’s people continue to worship.

-God’s people must be dedicated to and see the benefit of waiting on the Lord.