1 Kings 18:1-39 Let the Fire Fall
1. THE ENTRANCE OF REVIVAL - The Conditions in Elijah's Day -
(a) Corruption in Elijah's Day - 4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.
(b) Confusion in Elijah's Day - 1 Kings 18:22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. - days of Appeasement, days of Apostasy, days of Apathy.
(c) Correction in Elijah's Day - 2 And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
(d) Condemnation in Elijah's Day 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
(e) Confrontation in Elijah's Day - 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Mt. Carmel - became A Battleground of:-
The Doctrines - 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
The Deities 24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.
The Destinies 24 And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
2. THE ENEMIES OF REVIVAL (1 Kings 18:3-22) The Conflicts in Elijah's Day - (a) Compromise - represented by Obadiah. 1 Kings 18:3-6
Obadiah was looking for grass, when he should have been praying for rain.
He was trying to prop things up; Obadiah was trying to get by without repentance.
(b) Corruption - represented by Ahab and Jezebel.
1 Kings 16:30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. (c) Confusion - represented by the people.
1 Kings 18:19 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
(d) Competition - represented by the priests of Baal.
1 Kings 18:22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
3. THE ELEMENTS OF REVIVAL (1 Kings 18:30-37) - The Call in Elijah's Day -
(a) The Solidarity of God’s people.
1 Kings 18:30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity
(b) The Separation of God’s people from the world.
1 Kings 18:32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD:
God wants a holy people.
(c) The Sacrifice for God's people (of Jesus Christ.)
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood,
Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
(d) The Supply for God's people (Holy Spirit)
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:
(e) The Supplication for God's people (Prayer)
1 Kings 18:36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
(i) This prayer was Precise.
(ii) It was Powerful. The basis of the prayer was a bloody sacrifice (Hebrews 10:19).
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
(iii) And it was Purposeful. His zeal was for the glory of God.
4. THE EVIDENCES OF REVIVAL (1 Kings 18:38-39) The fire fell.
The Conviction in Elijah's Day -
(a) Fire Consumes. 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice,
John 3:16 For God so Loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son.
(b) Fire Convicts. 38 and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. - that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
(c) Fire Converts. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they
said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God. - but have everlasting life.
