Serving God With Certainty Series

1 kings 18:17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?"

18 And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.

19 "Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table."

20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.

21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.

23 "Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it.

24 "Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."

Last week we talk about serving God and in uncertain times.

This week all I want to speak to you about,

“Serving God with certainty.”

Let’s pray

Have you ever found yourself in a place where you just could not make up your mind?

It can be frustrating

One of the things that I hate about going to Baskin Robbins is the fact that they don’t have just 31 flavors but they have…

• 31 flavors plus

• smoothies

• Sunday’s

• cappuccino blast

• Banana splits.

It is too difficult to make up your mind at a place like that.

I have a tough time I go to Denny’s to eat.

Denny’s has all kinds of good stuff plus pictures to go with that.

How can you possibly make up your mind when everything looks good?

There comes a point in time however, when the waitress asks you for your order and you have to make your mind and come to a decisive decision.

And the reason that you come to that decision is because you are certain that will be the best choice

This morning I want to talk to you about something a little bit more important than picking your favorite flavor of ice cream or choosing between Buffalo chicken strips or a grand slam.

In Webster’s dictionary to be certain means to be

• Fixed

• Settled

• Not to be doubted

• Not failing

If you have uncertainty in your life you will also develop indecisiveness.

God hates indecisiveness

Ephesians 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth

I believe as God’s children, God calls us to be a people that are certain of him.

Certain that he’s going to send the rain & certain that before he sends the rain he’s going to send the fire!

Church how many here know that we need the fire?

• We need the fire of Pentecost in our church!

• We need the fire that sparks passion in us!

• We need the fire that will spread through every family

• Every school

• Every town

• Every ministry

• TO every person

The fire is sent to prepare us for the rain.

Elijah was certain of both

I want to be like that!

I want you to be like that.

We can!

Marks of a person who is serving God with certainty..

Last week we looked at the life of Elijah….

In Chapter 18 God spoke to Elijah and said to go present yourself to Ahab.

That takes us to our Text this morning.

When Elijah met Ahab, Ahab’s first words to Elijah was “are you the one that has been troubling Israel?”