The God Who Answers:

Introduction: How thankful I am for the church and the opportunity to preach God’s word.

Introduce myself, where I am at, what God has called my family to do.

Text: 1 Kings 18:17–39

Proposition: As we enter into the new year, we must continue to ask God to do what only He can in and through our lives as we serve Him.

Read the Text: 1 Kings 18:36-39

Sermon Title: The God Who Answers

Elijah had never seen God call down fire, but he believed He could do it and asked Him in faith. He was even willing to put his own reputation on the line. I believe some of us need to be reminded this morning that our God is capable of doing great things in our lives and now more than ever we need Christians to pray some big prayers!

It is my goal that by the end of this message we would remember that the God that we serve is able to both answer our prayers and to do exceedingly above all that we could ever ask or think. What are we asking God to do in our lives in 2025?

Pray.

Illustration:

In 1836, a minister named George Müller was burdened by the plight of orphans in Bristol, England. At that time, there were few facilities to care for orphaned or abandoned children, and many were living in deplorable conditions. Despite having little money and no secure means of support, Müller decided to build orphanages to care for them.

He founded the First Orphan House in 1836, and over the next several decades, he built five more, eventually caring for more than 10,000 orphans. The remarkable aspect of his ministry was that Müller never asked for money, nor did he publicize his needs. Instead, he prayed for God’s provision, and he experienced countless instances of miraculous provision—food, clothing, and financial resources arriving just when they were needed most.

On one specific occasion, George asked one of the volunteers to take the 300 children currently in his care into the dining room and have them sit at the tables. Knowing they had run out of food of any sort, He prayed and thanked God for the food and waited. Within minutes, a baker knocked on the door. “Mr. Mueller,” he said, “last night I could not sleep. Somehow I knew that you would need bread this morning. I got up and baked three batches for you. I will bring it in.”  Soon, there was another knock at the door. It was the milkman. His cart had broken down in front of the orphanage. The milk would spoil by the time the wheel was fixed. He asked George if he could use some free milk. George smiled as the milkman brought in ten large cans of milk. It was just enough for the 300 thirsty children.

The life of George Muller was certainly miraculous, but it was only because he was willing to ask God to do great things and show Himself faithful!

In this passage of Scripture this morning, we read one of the most famous accounts in all of the Bible as Elijah defeats the prophets of Baal in a showdown on Mt. Carmel. This story is evidence and a reminder to us that our God is the God who hears and answers prayers!

Background to the Text:

While not all Scripture is written to me, all Scripture is written for me (Romans 15:4). This passage is still relevant to our lives today!

The people of God, Israel (specifically the northern kingdom, but as a whole), underneath the corrupt leadership of Ahab and his idolatrous wife Jezebel, have turned their backs on God to serve and give place to idolatry once again.

God has constantly delivered them from trial after trial, and yet they constantly go back to serving the other gods around them and are deceived.

There is a consistent theme throughout all of Scripture of falling away, consequences, repentance, and restoration.

The children of Israel are people that we can many times look down upon for their treatment of God, but many times we do the same things!

Ahab is known for being the most wicked king in the history of Israel (1 Kgs 16:30), surpassing the evil done by his father Omri (1 Kgs 16:25). Ahab left a legacy of idolatrous behavior. Ahab married Jezebel, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of Sidon (1 Kgs 16:31). This action violated the Mosaic prohibition of marrying pagan wives (Deut 7:1–6). It also led to idolatrous worship practices in Israel. Because of Jezebel’s pagan influence, Ahab erected altars for Baal and Asherah (a Caananite goddess associated with fertility) in Israel (1 Kgs 16:32–33).

Elijah was the man of God who has already seen God do miraculous things including raising the widow’s son from the dead. He calls out Ahab for his idolatry and cites him as being a key source of the problem in Israel. Elijah was one of the very few that were left as true prophets of the Lord and stood up for what was right in a time where it wasn’t popular to do so.

Israel was now split into the northern (10 tribes) and southern kingdoms (2 tribes), and Ahab and Jezebel were creating an Israel that was nearly unrecognizable from the time of David. Their hearts were turning after Baal and other false gods.

Where we pick up with this story in verse 17 of chapter 18, we find Elijah is now confronting Ahab face to face over the wickedness that he has been promoting throughout the land. I think we really see four key events from this passage that ought to remind us that our God is the God who Answers! As we think about the coming year, I wonder what you would like to ask God to do in your life? I wonder who we are serving primarily with our lives? Here in this passage we see Elijah, the man of God and prophet of God, who makes a massive request from God and it comes to pass. What are you asking God to do this year in your life, that only He can do?

Main Points:

The Problem Addressed: v.17-18:

v.17: Isn’t it interesting that the one who was causing all of the issues was unable to recognize that he was the one to blame?

It is much easier to cast blame off to those around us rather than to address the problem at hand in our own lives. The first step in getting help as any counselor will tell you is that the individual must first recognize that there is a problem.

Ahab had a father, Omri, who also was just as wicked as he was. If we aren’t careful it is easy for us to play the blame game and point our fingers at everyone around us and our circumstances as to why we do the things that we do and why we are they way that we are. It’s time to own up that we are the issue!

v.18: Elijah calls him out on the truth. The problem didn’t lie in his upbringing or his circumstances, but rather in that he had forsaken the commandments of the Lord and determined to serve the false gods of this world instead.

It would do us all some good to come to terms that maybe we find ourselves in the situation we are in because we, even as Christians, can begin to rely too heavily on the things of this world to bring us pleasure, joy, satisfaction, and peace when those things can only be found in Christ alone!

The problem that was faced was none other than idolatry, which is more of a heart issue than it is a physical worship issue. Idolatry can best be described as anything that you place in your life that takes priority over your relationship with the Lord!

The People Challenged: v.19-24:

v.19: The challenge presented: 850 false prophets composed of prophets of Baal and prophets of the Grove (false goddess Asherah associated with fertility that was Baal’s consort) that Ahab and Jezebel greatly respected. Elijah wanted the children of Israel to see how weak and powerless the gods they were serving truly are.

The setting: Mt. Carmel:

Mount Carmel was agreed on by Ahab. It would be a fitting site since it lay between Israel and Phoenicia, the lands of the deities in question. Also Mount Carmel was regarded by the Phoenicians as the sacred dwelling place of Baal. No doubt Ahab was highly pleased with this suggested site for the contest because it would have given the Baal prophets a definite advantage

v.20-21: Speech to the children of Israel.

Halt is an old English word meaning limping, not stopping as we might think of it today. (Luke 14:21 shows the word used again in this context). Websters 1828 defines it as: To hesitate; to stand in doubt whether to proceed, or what to do.

Can I remind you this morning that there is no middle ground in serving Jesus. He alone is worthy of worship! The people didn’t know how to respond, they were speechless.

Who your God is ought to be demonstrated in the life that you live, it makes an impact. We can have the head knowledge without the practical outworking of it in our lives. Do we really believe Him? In His power and what He can do? Or do we continue to struggle with the same sins, live the same way, and give up doing anything for God because we have forgotten that He is the only one worth living for and the only one who can do anything for us!

Jesus reiterates this point in Matthew 6:24 stating, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

v.22-24, The challenge described to the children of Israel. They agree to it.

What faith from Elijah to set the stage for God to work! How many times would we like to see God do great things, but we never put ourselves in a place where He can show Himself. Are we this confident in our God?

Peter walked on water, but we had to be willing to get out of the boat! How can you put yourself in a position to see God do what only He can do in your life this year? What is it that is holding you back from serving Him as you should?

The Prophets Failing: v.25-29:

We see three things through these verses, firstly we see Their Fervent prayers: v.25-27:

The prophets accept the challenge and pray at least for three hours (morning til noon). Would we be this devout? The lack of response from Baal. They began to realize that what they were trusting in, could not help them. What they had confidence in was exposed for being false and deceitful. What a sad reality when we begin to realize all the things we are chasing after mean nothing at all in light of eternity and when we really need it most, they fail to provide.

Jewish people are devout in prayer.

Muslim people are devout in prayer.

Hindus are devout in prayer.

They are all prayers to a “god” who cannot hear them or do anything for them!

v.27: Elijah isn’t being a jerk for no reason, he is exposing the issue that their god is not like the true God.

Fanatical prayers: v.28: The prophets begin to physically harm themselves, taking part in every practice they think could please God but it is to no avail.

Failing prayers: v.29: The Bible says the result of all their prayers and efforts was that there was “neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.” Nothing changed. No one answered. And there was no regard.

The word regard shows that not only was there no answer, but there was no concern or interest towards the devotion of these prophets. The sad reality of serving false idols and of religion.

False idols still exist today in various forms (paycheck/401k, homes, cars, possessions, sports, etc.) Sadly, many of us look to these things to provide us comfort and yet just like the prophets of Baal, are met with no response and no consideration from the world.

The prophets bloodied themselves so that Baal would hear them, but our God bloodied Himself so we could hear Him! That is the difference!

The Power Falling: v.30-39:

v.30-35: The people all gather around. Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.

At this point there had been no altar of God in the land for around 50 years. Ever since the previous king Jeroboam changed the religious system in the northern kingdom and said there was an altar in Dan and Bethel and they didn’t have to worship God as He commanded because it wasn’t convenient. Would I serve God, even when it was inconvenient for me to do so? Where are my priorities?

He takes 12 stones for the tribes of the children of Israel in the name of the Lord. God is reminding them of who they are and that He hasn’t given up on them yet. God hasn’t given up on you, no matter how far you have strayed from Him!

He digs a deep trench around the altar and commands that water be dumped from four barrels 3 separate times until everything was drenched with water and the trench was filled to the top. Elijah has created an impossible situation. What an encouragement to know that when we can’t see how it could ever be done, that God still CAN!

If you have been away from the Lord, the thing you need to do to see the power of God is to rebuild the altar of God in your life again. Come in humility and faith and repentance and put it under the blood. Open the line to God again.

v.36-39: The reason and request, and the response:

The Reason and Request v.36-37:

It wasn’t for selfish recognition, but for the people that had gone astray to come back to God. It isn’t just what are you asking God for, it is why are you asking Him for it?

The Response: v.38-39:

The fire falls, and God’s power is on full display. The sacrifice is completely consumed, demonstrating His ability to answer prayer to the fullest! OUR GOD IS ALIVE AND STILL ANSWERS PRAYER!

This story is one that points to the greater story of Scripture. That Jesus is the sacrifice given in our place.

The fire that fell did not consume the people despite their disobedience, it consumed the sacrifice! Praise God!

Evening Sacrifice: For 50 years the 10 northern tribes have not offered the morning sacrifice (9am) and evening sacrifice (3pm) God commanded them to. Matthew 27 shows that Jesus was on the cross during the time of the morning sacrifice and hung there for 6 hours. After 3 hours of darkness, He cries “my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me,” and dies at the time of the evening sacrifice.

Conclusion:

Through this story, we were able to see four key events that ought to remind us that our God is the God who Answers and is worthy of our lives! As we think about the coming year, I wonder what you would like to ask God to do in your life? I wonder who we are serving primarily with our lives? What is it that hinders you from serving Christ as you should?

Here in this passage we see Elijah, the man of God and prophet of God, who makes a massive request from God and it comes to pass. What are you asking God to do this year in your life, that only He can do? Are you tired of serving the false idols of this world? Maybe it is time to rebuild the altar of God in your life and come back to Him, because He is worthy and He alone can satisfy you and meet your every need!

Illustration: The rich man and the closing store:

A wealthy man of great influence went to eat at a local small business restaurant. After receiving his meal he noticed on the box that there was a disclaimer that the store was no longer able to stay open and would be closing down by the end of the year. The man took the disclaimer to the owner of the store who was working that evening and said, “If you were standing before the man who could keep this store open no matter the cost, how much would you ask for?” To which the owner was in disbelief. After a while, he finally told the man the astronomical amount of money that it would take to pay off debts and keep the store going for another year. The man then reached into his pocket and cut him a check for the exact amount he asked for.

I tell you this story to say, if you were to be standing before the God of the universe, what request could we possibly make that He is unable to accomplish for His glory? For the Christian, What is it in your life that you want to see God accomplish in 2025 that you have never seen Him do before?

If you have never made a personal decision to trust Christ as your Savior, let today be the day that you get that settled once and for all.

Closing Prayer