Elijah PT 2
Notes
Transcript
I would like to begin with a quick snap shot of a story from the days of the prophet Elijah, taken from
1 Kings chapters 17 thru 19
Israel had wandered away from God, following Baal under King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. So Elijah gathered the people and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.
He stood before the nation and asked, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal is god, follow him.”
Elijah proposed a test: two altars, two sacrifices—but no fire. The prophets of Baal called upon their god from morning until evening. They shouted, danced, and cut themselves, but nothing happened. There was no voice, no answer, and no fire.
Then Elijah repaired the broken altar of the Lord. He placed the sacrifice upon it and ordered water to be poured over everything—not once, but three times—until the altar was drenched and the trench around it was full.
Elijah prayed a simple prayer: “Lord, let it be known today that You are God, and turn the hearts of Your people back to You.”
Immediately, fire fell from heaven. It consumed the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, the dust, and even the water in the trench.
When the people saw it, they fell facedown and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!”
The fire was spectacular, but the real miracle was not merely that God burned an altar. It was that God turned wandering hearts back to Himself.
Last week, we left Elijah standing face-to-face with King Ahab.
Three years of drought had devastated the land. The fields were drying up. The livestock were dying. The nation was suffering.
And when Ahab finally saw Elijah, instead of examining his own heart, instead of acknowledging his own rebellion, instead of recognizing that Israel had turned away from God, he looked at Elijah and asked:
17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”
In other words, he was saying:
“Elijah, this is all your fault.”
And Elijah answered him without hesitation:
18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the Lord and have followed the Baals.
And that's where we stopped.
With one simple truth:
Elijah wasn't the problem, nor was Ahab even the ultimate problem.
Sin was the problem.
And church, before we move one verse further today, we need to remember something from last week:
Ahab wanted to blame the man who exposed the problem, rather than confront the sin that caused it.
And anyone alive today can attest that human nature hasn't changed much since the days of Elijah.
We are still looking for somebody to blame.
We still blame our circumstances.
We even blame our upbringing.
We blame our spouses.
We blame our government.
We blame the
culture
The church,
And some of us, even blame the preacher.
We blame everything and everybody around us
because blaming somebody else is way easier than allowing God to put His finger on us.
But Elijah wouldn't let Ahab do that.
He essentially said:
“Ahab, I'm not your problem. Your rebellion against God is your problem.”
But here is where the story gets interesting.
Because Elijah wasn't interested in simply just winning an argument with Ahab.
God was about to expose the spiritual condition of an entire nation.
For three years the heavens had been closed.
For three years Israel had lived under drought.
For three years the land itself had testified that something was wrong.
And now the time had come for a confrontation.
—Not in the king's palace.
—Not behind closed doors.
—Not between Ahab and Elijah.
This confrontation was going to happen out in the open, where everybody could see it.
Elijah looks at Ahab and essentially says:
“You think I'm the problem? Fine. Let's settle this.”
Listen to verse 19:
19 Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
Gather everybody, he said.
Bring Ahab.
Bring Israel.
Bring the prophets.
Bring the worshipers of Baal.
Bring the doubters.
Bring the compromisers.
Bring the people who still claim Jehovah but have learned to bow before Baal.
And Bring them all to Mount Carmel.
Because the issue is about to be settled.
Let’s be sure to Understand what Elijah is doing.
He isn't going to Carmel merely to prove that Baal is false.
No, He's going to Carmel to force Israel to decide whether Jehovah is truly their God.
That's different.
Because the greatest problem in Israel wasn't that there were prophets of Baal.
The greatest problem was that God's people had become comfortable trying to live with both.
They hadn't necessarily stopped believing in Jehovah.
They had simply made room for Baal.
They wanted God when they needed Him—and Baal when they wanted him.
Jehovah for their history,— Baal for their culture.
Jehovah for their identity,— Baal for their desires.
And Elijah said:
“Enough!”
And church, this is where the events that happened on Mount Carmel
Suddenly becomes incredibly relevant to 2026.
Because I wonder whether the greatest spiritual danger facing the church today isn't outright atheism.
As I said last week, Maybe, just maybe, it's divided allegiance.
You see, we haven't necessarily rejected Jesus.
We've simply tried to make room for everything else beside Him.
Jesus and our ambitions.
Jesus and our materialism.
Jesus and our living in sin.
Jesus and whatever the culture tells us we must accept.
Jesus and whatever makes us comfortable.
But God has never asked for a place somewhere in our lives.
No, rather, He demands the throne of your life.
And so Elijah gathered Israel on Mount Carmel.
On one side stood the prophets of Baal.
On the other side stood Elijah.
And somewhere between them stood a nation that had spent far too long trying to belong to both.
Then Elijah walks out before the people.
And before there is an altar—
before there is a sacrifice—
before anybody calls down fire—
before the first prayer is prayed—
Elijah asks the question that exposes everything.
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
There it is.
He said, “How long?”
Not:
“Do you believe God exists?”— because they surely did.
Elijah asked:
“How much longer are you going to stand between two masters?”
And that's the question I want hanging over this entire message today.
“How long?”
How long will you call Him Lord without following Him?
How long will you ask for His blessing while resisting His authority?
How long will you sing about surrender while holding something back?
How long will you keep one foot pointed toward God and the other toward the world?
“How long will you falter between two opinions?”
Because before the fire ever fell from Heaven—
A decision had to be made on earth.
And today, we're going together to Mount Carmel.
We're going to watch the prophets of Baal cry out to a god who cannot answer.
We're going to watch Elijah repair something that had been broken down.
We're going to watch a simple prayer rise toward Heaven.
And we're going to watch the fire fall.
But don't become so fascinated with the fire that you miss the question that came before it:
“If the LORD be God, follow him.”
Because ultimately this story isn't about Elijah proving something to 450 prophets of Baal.
It's about God calling His wandering people home.
And perhaps before this service is over— He's calling some of you home too.
Come with me, as we go to Mount Carmel.
Eventually Elijah gathered the people of Israel onto Mount Carmel.
On one side stand 450 prophets of Baal.
On the other side—one, person, Elijah.
And between them stood a confused nation.
Then Elijah asked perhaps the defining question of his ministry.
21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people answered him not a word.
How long?
That is the question.
HOW LONG?
How long are you going to live halfway between God and the world?
How long are you going to call yourself a Christian while living as though Christ has no authority over you?
How long are you going to keep saying:
“One day I'll get serious about God”?
How long are you going to carry that bitterness?
How long are you going to hide that sin?
How long are you going to keep one foot in the church and one foot in the world?
How long are you going to let your children believe that
Christianity is something we do for an hour on Sunday rather than Someone we belong to every day of our lives?
HOW LONG will you falter BETWEEN TWO OPINIONS?
And do you know what Israel said?
The Bible says:
…But the people answered him not a word.
Silence.
Because sometimes the Word of God corners us so completely that there is nothing left to say.
Elijah proposed a test, using — Two sacrifices.
Without fire, mind you.
The prophets of Baal were to call upon Baal.
And Elijah would call upon Jehovah.
And Elijah says:
23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”
The prophets of Baal begin crying out.
Morning passes — Nothing.
They leap upon the altar — Nothing.
They cut themselves. — Nothing. (Note to all who have youngsters that have practiced this act of self mutilation, this is a demonic act, and has satanic roots. So if you are a parent dealing with this, do not over look the spiritual influences around you child.)
The prophets screamed louder. — Nothing.
And I love the brutal simplicity of Scripture:
28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
Do you know why there was no answer?
Can anyone guess?
Because dead idols can’t speak.
And they NEVER deliver what they promise.
You know, we still have idols today.
Our idols today just look different.
For instance, Success says:
“Give or rather sacrifice your family to me, and I'll make you important.”
Money says:
“Give or rather sacrifice your life, and I'll make you secure.”
Pornography says:
“Give me your purity, and I'll satisfy you.”
Alcohol says:
“Give me your pain, and I'll make you forget.”
Social media says:
“Give me your attention, and I'll make you significant.”
Politics says:
“Give me your hope, and I'll save your nation.”
And sooner or later every idol leaves you standing beside an altar that never delivers.
But, Elijah stepped forward.
And notice something.
Before Elijah calls down the fire—he repaired the altar.
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 that was broken down.
Oh church.
Maybe that's where revival begins.
—Not with bigger crowds
—Not with better music.
—Not with another program.
—Not with another conference.
—Not with another slogan.
Just Repair the altar.
—Repair the prayer life.
—Repair the marriage.
—Repair family worship.
—Repair the integrity.
—Repair your secret place.
—Repair your commitment to Scripture.
—Repair what you’ve allowed to crumble.
And after Elijah repaired the altar, he prepared the sacrifice and drenched everything with water,
Then he prayed.
And I want you to notice his prayer.
—He didn’t stand there screaming all day.
—He didn’t go about cut himself.
He didn’t put on a performance.
He simply prayed:
37 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
That's Elijah's heart.
Not:—“God, make me famous.”
Not:—“God, prove I'm right.”
Not:—“God, embarrass my enemies.”
Just— “Let them know that YOU are God.”
And then—
THE FIRE FELL.
It consumed the sacrifice.
—The wood.
—The stones.
—The dust.
—Even the water was licked up.
And suddenly the same people who wouldn't answer Elijah earlier fell on their faces crying:
39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”
Church—
America doesn't need to discover a better version of Christianity.
We just need to rediscover the God of Christianity.
Our children don't merely need Christian entertainment.
They need to see adults who actually know God.
Our communities don't merely need churches with better marketing.
They need churches where broken people encounter the living Christ.
We need the fire of God again.
I'm talking about the unmistakable presence of God that produces
repentance—
holiness—
compassion—
boldness—
brokenness—
salvation—
and changed lives.
Digress
I am thankful Scripture doesn't end Elijah's story on Carmel.
Because after the fire— came fear.
Jezebel then threatened to kill Elijah.
And this same man who stood against 450 prophets ended up running for his life.
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.” 3 And when he saw that, he arose and ran for his life, and went to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
Eventually Elijah sat underneath a juniper tree and said:
“It is enough.”
In modern language:
“God, I can't do this anymore.”
That might be the part of Elijah's story somebody in here today needs most.
Because guess what?
—Strong people get tired too.
—Faithful people become discouraged.
—Preachers become exhausted.
—Mothers become exhausted.
—Fathers become exhausted.
—Caregivers become exhausted.
People who spend their lives helping everybody else sometimes reach a place where they have nothing left.
We are reminded in:
17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.
Elijah wasn't Superman.
He was human— He was just a man,
But yet, God used him.
And notice what God does when Elijah collapses.
God doesn't throw him away.
—God feeds him.
—God lets him rest.
—God speaks to him.
—God redirects him.
—God reminds him:
“Elijah, you're not finished.”
And somebody walked into church today thinking:
“I'm finished.” I’m just done!”
Maybe you're tired.
Maybe you're disappointed.
Maybe something you prayed for didn't happen.
Maybe you've been carrying something nobody in this room knows about.
Maybe you're still smiling.
Still shaking hands.
Still saying, “I'm fine.”
But inside you're sitting under your own juniper tree of despair saying:
“Lord, I’ve had enough.”
I want you to hear something from Elijah's story:
The God who met Elijah on Mount Carmel was still God underneath the juniper tree.
He was God in the victory.
And He was God in the depression.
He was God when Elijah was fearless.
And He was also God when Elijah was afraid.
He was God when the fire fell.
And He was God when Elijah couldn't take another step.
Listen to me,,, “Your weakness does not frighten God.”
Your exhaustion does not surprise God.
And your lowest moment does not cancel God's calling upon your life.
So then, I have a question for you all today.
Where are the Elijah’s of our day?
Church, I want to close with this.
Where are the Elijahs of 2026?
Where are the men and women who will say:
“As the LORD God lives, before whom I stand...”
Where are the fathers who will stand before God?
Where are the mothers who will stand before God?
Where are the young people who will stand before God?
Where are the Christians who don't need the approval of the crowd
because they already know whose presence they're standing in?
Where are the believers who will love sinners enough to tell them the truth?
Where are the Christians who will refuse to bow to the Baals of their generation?
I'm not asking:
Where are the angry Christians?
We've got plenty of those.
neither am I'm not asking:
Where are the political Christians?
We've got plenty of those too.
W’h’at I’m asking is this:
WHERE ARE THE HOLY ONES?
Where are the brokenhearted ones?
Where are the praying ones?
Where are the compassionate ones?
Where are the ones who will stand for truth while tears run down their faces?
Where are the Christians who would rather have God's approval than the applause of an entire culture?
Because Elijah teaches us something.
One person completely surrendered to God
can stand against an entire generation moving in the opposite direction.
It may feel like you're alone.— Stand anyway.
It may cost you something — Stand anyway.
Your family may not understand. — Stand anyway.
Your coworkers may laugh.— Stand anyway.
Culture may call you outdated.— Stand anyway.
The brook may dry up.— Trust Him anyway.
Jezebel may threaten. — Trust Him anyway.
And if you become weary,
come back to the God who met Elijah in the wilderness.
But before we leave Elijah today,
I want to bring his question off Mount Carmel and place it right here in this room.
“How long will you falter between two opinions?”
I'm not asking whether you believe God exists.
Israel believed God existed.
I'm asking: — Is He your God?
Not your parents', grand parents, or even your pastor’s God
Your God.
Maybe you've been standing between two worlds.
You want Jesus— but you don't want to surrender.
You want Heaven— but you still want your Baal.
You want forgiveness— but you don't want Lordship.
And Elijah stands before us across nearly three thousand years and says:
“Choose.”
If Baal is god— follow Baal.
If money is your god— follow money.
If pleasure is your god— follow pleasure.
If popularity is your god— follow popularity.
If you are your own god— then follow yourself.
But if the LORD is God—FOLLOW HIM!
Amen.
Invitation
