REVIVAL FOR SURVIVAL 1 Kings 18:17-24 REVIVAL – NOW vs.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. I. THE ASSAULT OF THE FOE The religion of Baal worship was readily accepted and unquestioned until God’s prophet came on the scene. 1. UNHEEDED WARNINGS A. Of The Foes Presence B. Of The Foes Power C. Of The Foes Purposes D. Of The Foes Provisions (tools) 2. UNHELPFUL WORDS A. Because Of Silent Messengers [1] Those Who Cannot Speak The Truth Isa 56:10 His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. [2] Those Who Will Not Speak The Truth Jer 6:14; 8:11 They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. [3] Those Who Speak But Have Nothing To Say B. Because Of Slighted Mercies Psa 106:7 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. C. Because Of Sinful Miseries 3. UNHOLY WAYS [1] A Spirit Of Carelessness [ 2] A Spirit Of Complacency [3] A Spirit Of Compromise [4] A Spirit Of Confusion [5] A Spirit Of Contention 2. THE ABANDONMENT OF THE FAITH Some Have Abandoned….. 1. THE PEOPLE OF FAITH A. A Divine Fellowship B. A Distinct Fellowship (different) C. A Devoted Fellowship 2. THE PRINCIPLE OF FAITH That of trusting God regardless of the Conditions, Conflicts or Consequences. That principle we call faith. A. Caused Abel To Worship B. Caused Enoch To Walk C. Caused Noah To Work D. Caused Abraham and Sarah To Wait E. Caused Isaac, Jacob and Joseph To Witness F. Causes Others To War A Good Warfare 3. THE PRECEPTS OF FAITH A. Of Sound Doctrine B. Of Steadfast Study of the Word C. Of A Spirit Of Prayer D. Of Spiritual Worship 4. THE PATH OF FAITH Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Holy Living: A life of Modesty, Purity and Morality A. These Paths Are Not Rightly Acknowledged "Old Paths, wherein is the good way." That’s not what the world thinks or says about the ways of God. B. These Paths Are Not Readily Accessible "Ask for the Old Paths" C. These Paths Are Not Routinely Attended Mat 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 3. THE ASSESSMENT OF THE FELLOWSHIP 1. THE CONFRONTATION WITH SIN A. A Man Of Great Boldness [1] The Confidence Of God’s Man 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. [2] The Comfort For God’s Man 17:2 And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, [3] The Courage From God’s Man 18:1; And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth. B. A Message Of Great Burden 18:17-18 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. C. A Manifestation Of Great Boundaries v.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. 2. THE CONDEMNATION OF SIN A. The Condemnation Of A Perverse Throne vs.17-18 Prov 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Prov 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people .[1] Ahab’s Walk 16:30-31 30 And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. [2] Ahab’s Wife 16:31 And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians [3] Ahab’s Worship 16:31c-32, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him 32 And he reared up an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. [4] Ahab’s Wickedness 16:33 And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. B. The Condemnation Of A Powerless Religion vs.19 Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. A Religion Without Power…. [1] Has A Corrupt Foundation [2] Is A Contradiction Of The True Faith [3] Is Characterized By The Flesh Baal Groves (Asherah) Jer 19:5 They have built also the high places of Baal, to burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind: [4] Will Conclude In Failure Why? There Is : - [a] No Reality vs.26-27 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. [b] No Response vs.28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. [c] No Results vs.29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. C. The Condemnation Of A Perverse People vs.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. [1] A Time For Questioning "How long halt ye" [2] A Time For Qualifying "If the LORD be God" 3. THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN There Comes A Deterioration & A Devastation A. An Effect On Morality B. An Effect On Materiality Drought and with it comes shortages of finance, food, furnishings C. An Effect On Mortality Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. SIN: Will Take You Farther Than You Wanted To Go Keep You Longer Than You Wanted To Stay and Cost You More Than You Wanted To Pay 4. THE CONSIDERATIONS OF SIN A. How Sinful The Age B. How Severe The Judgment Of God C. How Swiftly The Passing Of Time D. How Sufficient The Blood Of Christ E. How Soon The Coming Of The Lord F. How Specific Our Responsibility
