What Happens When The Fire Of The Almighty Falls

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