What Happens When The Fire Of The Almighty Falls
1 Kings 18:2; 21-41
State Title
We need to be a church that is hungry for the fire of God
-To often the church of JC we have become hungry for entertainment, comfort, facilities, programs, dignity
-God has not called us to be a people of fancy programs he has called us to be a people of fire
Why
Because our generation much like the generation of Elijah is a generation in desperate need of the fire of God
-Take prayer out of the school
-Take Under God out of the pledge
-Take In God We Trust off our money
-Legalize Gay Marriage
-Abort The Unwanted
No social program-No republican/democrat and no church is going to change our country---Only the fire of God Almighty
My heart is so burdened by the generation in which we live
Quotes
My parents hate me
My dad wanted to abort me
My mom says she hates me and is giving me away to foster care
My moms live in boyfriend smokes pot
My dad beats me
My heart breaks for our youth
Suicide 2nd biggest killer of teens
58% of all HS students use some drug in their 4 years in HS
72% of all HS students abuse alcohol
We are loosing a generation
Statistic-85% churched kids
We live in a broken, hurting, lost, and dying world
-we as the church are here to offer hope
-We must spare no expense in reaching out (70% unchurched)
I tell you what—no sermon, no youth pastor, no band, no song, no tract is going to change our world
WHAT WE NEED IS THE FIRE OF THE ALMIGHTY GOD
When you ask for the fire you arnt asking for magic, a show
But you are asking for a manifestation of God himself
Misconceptions about fire-
COLLEGE CHAPEL – GREAT MUSCICIAN – No My Fire
1 Kings we see the fire of God fall
Elijah a prophet of God challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest
-Believed Baal was the God that rode the lightning-in the fire
-Call out all day and Baal never manifests himself
-As Elijah steps us to bat it doesn’t take all day
-As he calls out to God He shows up
What I Want To point out this morning is 4 things that happened when the fire fell
Then I want to invite you to ask the fire of God to fall in your life
I. The People fell in His presence
Vs 39 When all the people saw this they fell prostrate
Reinharde Bonke
Steve N-whats your opinion
Here in 1 Kings it seems the Israelites voluntarily fell in God’s presence because
A. There Was A recognition Of Who God Is
Box Song
You Can have a small box you can have a big box but if your god is in a box you have no God at all-your god is very small
1. The Israelites Had Lost Sight Of Who God Was
-They were not strangers to Gods work
-Egypt, Red Sea, guided by pillar, manna, water from rock
-Inspite of all God had done they lost sight of who he was-there God had become small
-an ungodly king, a spirit of independence, and a new god to worship had divided God’s people-AND they had lost sight of who God was
2. People here today and you have lost sight of who God is
-The Situation has been to hard
-The temptation to strong
-The circumstances out of control
YOU NEED TO PRAY GODS FIRE WOULD FALL ON YOUR LIFE REVEALING TO YOU ONCE AGAIN WHO HE IS
Ps 145:3-His greatness no man can fathom
Deut 10:17-He is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome
I don’t know what it is you face today nor what it may be that is causing you to loose sight of who God is
I DO KNOW my god is bigger, greater, and more awesome then anything you might face
Limited God to a cross on our neck/church building
INVITE HIS FIRE and YOU WILL ONCE AGAIN RECOGNIZE WHO HE IS
B. Restoration of Awe @ what he could do
MOON – WOW
1-People of Israel had just witnessed a great miracle
-although the prophets of Baal-cried/screamed/cut themselves-Baal would not answer
-Elijah comes all he does is ask and the fire of God falls right there
-WOW that’s right
2-So often as God’s people we forget what God can do
-We try every other solution before we simply put it in the hands of Jesus
-WHY-Our God is more then able
Eph-Our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask and think
Ps 92:5- O LORD, how great are Your works!
When you truly come to a realization of how great God is and the awesome things God can do
There is only one thing you can possibly do
FALL ON YOUR FACE
II. Repentance
Vs 39 they cried-The Lord he is the Lord-The Lord he is the Lord
A. When the people of Israel saw the awesomeness of God they realized the awfulness of their sin
-People of Israel came to a place of realizing their failure into idolatry
-This wasn’t the 1st time for Israel
-How many remember 1st time you saw who God was and came to repentance
-God doesn’t want that to be a one time occurrence in your life-He wants there to be an ongoing repentance
PAUL-I AM THE CHIEF OF ALL SINNERS
I AM-Present future indicitive verb
He is/always will be a sinner
We are no different-We are sinners
We need God’s forgiveness
2 Cor 7:10- For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.
Luke 7:10-Repent or you will perish
Jer 15:19-If you repent I will bring you back
Acts 17:30-God calls all men everywhere to repent
B. Everyone of us are sinners, but often we turn our backs on our sin and minimize it in the face of others failures therefore short circuiting the process of forgiveness in our lives
-God calls us to be a repentant people not a legalistic people
Aarron Speary-Moral Patrol
-Start worrying about our own sin-not other
-You will stand before God to give account for one person
C. Every experience you have with God should be a Uturn experience
1. To many Christians have an experience with God-God convicts and they walk away
2. God wants changed Christians
AROUND THE MOUNTAIN CHRISTIANS
III. There was a killing of their old way of life
Vs 40And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.
Dr Laura-Wife cheated-still hang out with the guy
Acts 26:20 Repent, turn to God, and prove your repentance
A. Under the Law of Moses those who lead the people of God into idolatry were to be put to death-So Elijah says do it
-God doesn’t take sin lightly
-There was to be a killing a separating from their old way of life
-A permenant parting of ways
MANY CHRISTIANS NEVER CUT TIES
B. Many Christians are fatalities of unsevered ties
JUSTIN-Gets free/back to old friends
-feet in both worlds/become a casualty
So many Christian love God but make acceptions
-Not cheat on wife/look at pornography
-Not going to be a drunk/social drink
CUT ALL TIES TO OLD WAY OF LIFE
Ephesians-Don’t give Devil a foothold
C. When you cut all ties you are making a serious statement to satan
-Im closing the door once and for all
-So serious about this I wont even go close to anything that could take me back
IV. A Deliverance took place
A. God cares about your well being
Agnostics
1-The purpose of God sending the fire was so the people would be free from the drought they faced
Vs The famine was severe in Samaria
2-After the people recognized God-there was true repentance-and their was obedience applied-there was an end to the drought
B. God doesn’t want you to live your life in a spiritual drought
-God wants you to live a growing, prosperous Christian life
-Loved ones often because of dividedness in our hearts we experience extensive drought conditions in your life
-If you’re here and you are in a drought time God wants to deliver you, but he cant if you have a divided heart
OFTEN---God will deliver me or maybe I need a new house/job/promotion/marriage/church---that will solve my drought
-and these things become our Baal(one job to another)
C. Its time to start striving for your deliverance and to invite the fire of God
HE WILL BRING
-Deliverance to your situation
-New life to your dried up marriage
-renewal to suffering finances
D. God says this call out to me and I will answer you-I will bring deliverance to drought-fresh water in dry places
E. All you have to do is call out to me
Conclusion
We live in a hurting dying world
We have a generation that is lost
Tired of dry religion and Bible beaters
Tired of programs and gimmicks
WHAT THEY NEED IS THE FIRE OF GOD HIMSELF TO FALL
Heb 12:19 For our God is a consuming fire
I WANT THAT FIRE
MY LIFE
THIS CHURCH
THIS YOUTH MINISTRY
STAND
CALL OUT TO GOD---HIS FIRE
SWEET HOLY SPIRIT
