Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction....

So tonight we are gonna go to the Old Testament and look at the prophet Elijah.

He is a special person, He is a prophet of God and he is one of the few people in the Bible who did not see death.

as such we know that he appears in the New Testament with Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration and then in future events as well.

One of the best things we can see in this passage is the truth that we can see the Lord, we can trust Him and grow in victory with Him..

But we have to be committed to him and to no one else.

We are two weeks from Revival… I want you to know this truth..

We as a church have set aside some time to stop, to sit back and look for a movement of God in our church and in our lives.

But for this to happen, we must be ready in our hearts for revival.

So today lets look at being committed to the Lord, even when we fill the world has lost its mind and walked away from God. we can still remain faithful to him and live in victory.

Let me ask you a question here...

Do you desire a deeper walk with God?

Do you desire to experience a mighty move of God in your life, in this church and yes, one that spreads out into our community?

So lets look at this text

Well, I knew your answer would be yes....

It has to begin here ( in our hearts ) for us to experience God.

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We talk about the desire to see and hear from God… But what are we doing about it?

Are we laboring in prayer?

Are you seeking his face more than anything else in your life?

Now if you remember from last week we began looking at the meeting between Elijah and King Ahab of Israel.

Personally I want to see God high and lifted up here in his place, I desire to see our lives changed and of course that our church would grow and impact more for the Kingdom of God.

So lets look at this text

How can this happen....

Now if you remember from last week we began looking at the meeting between Elijah and King Ahab of Israel.

Well I think we can learn some examples from the Scriptures....

So this morning lets go to , It has been a long time since I have shared from this passage, but I believe God can speak to us from this passage.

Now if you remember from last week we began looking at the meeting between Elijah and King Ahab of Israel.

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.

19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.

21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions?

If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.”

And the people did not answer him a word.

Now if you remember from last week we began looking at the meeting between Elijah and King Ahab of Israel.

The Bible tells us that this king did evil in the sight of the Lord, him and his darling wife Jezebel.

So much so that they did more evil in the sight of the Lord than their fathers before them.

They have chased after false gods and lead their own people astray…

Question: Does this sound like our nation and world today??

Now for this time, we know that God had enough of it, so he sent a message through the prophet Elijah for the king of Israel.

There would be no rain in the land

And slowly the land began to dry up, the rivers and streams quite flowing, the water became scarce.

As for Elijah, the Lord hid him for a season by a brook and allowed the ravens to feed him, and when the water dried up there, lead him to the land of Sidon to be cared for by a widow in Zaraphath.

* Now this reminds me that God will take care of his people… amen

Now for Elijah, we know that it would soon be time to confront Ahab and Jezebel, God is leading Elijah for a confrontation of the ages.

It is time for the people to turn their hearts back home.

As a nation it is time we do as well..........

Now consider this, is there anything that keeps us from following the Lord freely, more fully ?

I am not talking about idols like baal and asherah… but I am talking about those things that stand in our way and keep our relationship with the Lord from growing.

I want to challenge you today…

Prepare your heart to hear from God.

will serve as our home passage here… Why? Sometimes God is calling us to a show down if you will… choose him or choose something else...

I Kings

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.

19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

So let me share about 3 thoughts with you today, as we walk through this passage...

So let me share about 3 thoughts with you today, as we walk through this passage...

1. Place Fault on the Right Door Step......

You know there comes a come where we have take responsibility for our actions and yes my friends, those things where we have failed to act.

Both can leave us guilty, both can leave us desperate, both can leave us with pain.

Going back to our text we see there came time time when God leads Elijah back to our source of the problem.

Ahab and his Wife.

It is their sin, their destruction that has led the children of Israel astray yet another time.

Honestly the people are at fault as well, you might say how?

Consider this.....

Well the king made their sin permissible.

He did evil in the sight of the Lord.

Ahab is said to have done more evil than his fathers before him, he and his wife Jezebel chased after wicked things, false gods and set an example for the people.

What you are doing is ok....

So the people followed after the ways of the king… His example led them.

BUT.... they knew the truth, they willing turned away from the Lord.

Friends, understand today that many, many people know the truth of what is right and wrong, but they turn away from the Lord and his ways.

They are unconcerned, its not hurting any one else....

They just want to be happy… but honestly their is no true happiness in the ways of the world.

And they stoop to even blaming God for their heartaches…

Looking back to our text, we see God has sent Elijah back to met Ahab face to face… look at what is saids

ESV

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?”

He was blaming Elijah, he was blaming God for the drought… he is unconcerned and uncaring about his own sin....

Friends we are in a sad place when we are no longer concerned about sin.

The Bible tells us that sin is bad, it separates us, It harms us, sin leads to death...

Lay your faults at the right door step.

it Is our sin that reeks havoc in our lives, it is the devil’s deception in our lives... it is not God.

Jesus said .......

ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Lay fault at the right door step my friends...

King Ahab sought to blame Elijah for the drought, for the trouble they were experiencing as the land has been without rain or dew for some time…

ESV

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” 18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals.

19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

King Ahab sought to blame Elijah for the drought, for the trouble they were experiencing as the land has been without rain or dew for some time…

But Elijah turns the table… “…you have, and your father’s house are the ones who have caused all that you experience today....

Why? because you have abandoned the commandments of God…and chased after false gods like baal.

Listen my friends, God is not vague about sin.

He points our sins, our failures our trespasses as we live in relationship to Him.

When we are wrong, when we are dealing with sin… God makes sure we know… please do not harden your heart like Ahab and Jezebel....

Put sin in its place.... there you will find victory.

Now lets consider this second thought....

2. A Challenge Comes.....