Facing Our Idols Before God Does

Intro

Last week we began our focus on the contest of the Gods. 1 Kings 18. In fact, that was last weeks message title…the Contest of the Gods Part 1.

I know ya’ll would expect part 2 to be tonight, but actually I want to take a night to evaluate…to learn…to search within our souls and seek the Lord for life change.

You see, the beauty of this not being a Sunday morning gathering is that we get the freedom to do some different things. We get the freedom to give some space, to do some on the ground application and that’s what I want to do tonight.

So let’s recap where we were last week, and the scripture we were in…and I’ll tell you what we are doing tonight and why we are doing it.

If you remember, the beginning of Chapter 18 finds Elijah…3 years after starting the drought…being told to find Ahab because God was about to end the drought and Elijah had some work to do.

So Elijah heads out from the widow’s house that he’s been staying at…runs into Obadiah (King Ahab’s servant) and tells him to find King Ahab because things are about to go down. And then we pick up in 1 Kings 18:20, get your eyes back on the text with me.

1 Kings 18:20–29 ESV

So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 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. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

Alright…I want to take some time here…because Israel had time here.

Here’s what I mean by that…God’s about to intervene here. Some phenomenal stuff is about to happen. But also some really hard things…people about to die. The repentance from Israel will be awesome…but it’s also ugly. I want you to put yourself in the place of Israel tonight. How long have you had to turn from your idols before God intervenes in a powerful…but also harsh way.

Tonight…we are going to respond to 1 Kings 18 rather than just expound upon it.

How many years did Israel have to realize their idol Baal was a false God? 3.

After that…they were given another chance to confess their idols when Elijah spoke and asked…how long are you going to limp between these two choices?? Yet no one did it.

From there…around 6 hours....6 hours of watching the prophets of Baal limp around an altar trying to get Baal to act....6 hours of time they could have repented and lifted up their praise to the true God and cast aside their idols.

But that wasn’t their hearts…instead…they wanted to see God tested. They wanted to see if their idols would stand the test. And you know the mix of people in that crowd…those that want to hope God is real and so they want to test him…they want to see his power…they want to see him work.

And yet…those that don’t want God to be real. Those that would rather keep their idols…those that want to hold on to them…because they like them…they cherish them. Those, who like the widow from the previous chapter, would rather just hope in their heart of hearts that God isn’t seeing their sin…and isn’t angry with them.

Tonight I want to give you chance to be Israel. I want to give you a chance to acknowledge your idols…and lay them down before the Lord decides to act in a way that is absolutely glorifying…but also terrifying in its own right.

So here’s what we are going to do...

Examples of Source Idols in Scripture:

Comfort -

Scripture:Judas sought silver over Jesus, the rich man who went away sobbing after Jesus told him what to do to be saved, the disciples asking to bury their father before following Jesus

Today: choosing to make money over following the Lord’s calling on your life, staying within your happy safe Christian friend bubble, avoiding those in need physically or spiritually, choosing not to say anything to someone who needs to hear it because you don’t want to deal with the drama

Not to mention the comforts of home: Video Games, Cell Phones, Pets, Houses, New Tech, New Clothing…all things that are not bad in themselves but bad if they are the place we place our hope in…the place we find our joy in....the idol we put before God who is our true hope and joy.

Acceptance -

Peter denying Jesus during the trials

Control -

Power -