Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Key text - v21
- In the previous chapter - 101 prophets going into hiding
- In the next chapter - 850 prophets going in for a hiding
- Elijah breaks cover and meets Obadiah
- Elijah blames Ahab for the trouble that has come upon Israel
- When you turn your back on God - calamity comes
- Righteousness exalts a nation
- Elijah brings the people back to basics
- v19 - Israel's moment of decision
- Do we have firm conviction?
- Overview:
- Elijah issues a challenge
- Elijah introduces the contestants
- Elijah evokes the God of the Covenant
Elijah issues a challenge (v21)
- He throws down the gauntlet
- "How long" - he had a holy impatience
- God had bourne Israel's sin
- God bears our sin
- They were teetering / limping to and fro
- Room for all religions
- "Adopt the one that suits you best"
- It did not suit Elijah or Jezebel
- Choose one God
- You cannot follow God and satan at the same time
- The people did not answer
- The Gospel challenge silences many
- Whom will you serve?
Elijah introduces the contestants (v24)
- The people thought this good
- A fair contest
- Example of boxers
- Baal - associated with fire
- God - associated with fire
- The Burning Bush - Ex 3:14
- A column of fire - Ex 13:21
- He Descended in fire - Ex 19:18
- God's fiery wrath fell upon Jesus at the cross - so that our sins might be forgiven
- Heb 12:29
Elijah evokes the God of the Covenant (v36)
- The prophets of Baal called on his name (v23-27)
- Elijah mocks the false prophets (v27)
- They try all things to have Baal answer them
- But there was no answer (v29)
- Is your prayer meeting like this?
- It depends upon who you are calling
- The prophet Elijah
- Pours water on the sacrifice - so there is no complaint of cheating
- He repaired the altar of the Lord that had been broken
- Has your 'altar' broken?
- True prayer life can collapse
- He called on the Covenant God (v36)
- The people fell on their faces proclaiming the Lord as God (v37)
- God was seen as the one true God
- Do we want the power of God to fall upon us?
- Do we need to see a miracle before we believe?
- Look at Calvary - Isa 53:6ff
- Can you see the fire?
- Have you had your heart turned to God? (v37)
- Do you see the God of fire?