Sermon notes from Sunday 3 March 2019 am
1 Kings 18 verses 29 - 39
When we turn to 1 Kings 18 and identify this mighty man Elijah we know he is probably one of the most famous and well known prophets in the Old Testament scriptures. When we turn to James we read that "he was a man of like passions as we are yet he prayed earnestly." (James 5 verse 17) He was just like you and me. You see a man that at times was afraid, depressed, discouraged, tired, hungry, yet we read he prayed earnestly. In verse 30 as he gathered around him the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets that sat at Queen Jezebel`s table, the Jewish leaders are there as well, we read "he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down." Let us think of this man today as we contemplate the nights of prayer we are going to have this week.
Think of the priority Elijah shows. This mighty man of God in another portion of scripture is described as a "hairy man and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins" (2 Kings 1 verse 8) Here was this man Elijah standing on Mount Carmel. He was bringing a nation back to God - that was his priority. Our priority today is to turn men and women back to God again, to point them to Calvary, to the sacrifice God has made for them. Here was this man Elijah, the only priority he had was to turn people back to God. This man was standing alone. God doesn`t want a multitude of people, just one person surrendered to his will, not afraid to stand against the enemy. The man of God cannot sit on the fence, he must be out and out for God. Elijah told the people "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him." (verse 21) We are reminded in Romans 12 verse 1 to "present out bodies, a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service." When God saves us, forgives us our sins we should hold nothing back from him. Elijah on Mount Carmel saw the 850 prophets, how they had a prominent position in Israel. Perhaps they were well dressed, 450 of them preached in the lands and 400 sat at Jezebel`s table. Imagine the prominence they had. They were well thought of, had a high standing in society. The nation had been blinded, drawn away from loving God. Elijah told them "you know the truth yet you halt between 2 opinions." Elijah had a burden from God. Paul talked about that same heaviness "I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." (Romans 9 verse 2) We need that same burden today. There are people going out into a lost and Christless eternity, going about trying to earn their own righteousness yet fail to see the Lord suffering and dying on the cross. Romans 10 verse 1 "Brethren my heart`s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved." Forget about fancy words or places, let us pray that people will be saved. That is the priority we need. Elijah waited for all the fuss to die down, it took 6 hours for that to happen. In verse 30 he told them to come near to him and all the people did come near. This altar had to be rebuilt and repaired. The people were invited to come and watch. They had to see it repaired. There are people watching us today, just to see how we are living our lives. There was an altar that needed to be repaired. Many are turning away from God today. When we take our stand for God he will honour us. Is there an altar in our lives that needs to be repaired again?
The pattern to be followed. "All the people came near to Elijah." 1 Kings 19 verse 10 shows what Elijah saw in this nation. They had forsaken God`s covenant, thrown down God`s altars and slain God`s own prophets. The people were tired of what the Lord had to say to them. They were going to have their own worship. Paul said to Timothy "till I come give attendance to reading (of the word of God), to exhortation (of it) to doctrine." (1 Timothy 4 verse 13) Stephen in Acts 8 was chosen as a deacon in the early church. He was a man full of faith and grace, a tremendous worker in the church. He was taken out one day and stoned to death. As he died he stated that he saw Jesus waiting to receive him. The people stoning him "stopped their ears". They didn`t want to hear it. That is the danger and that is what is happening in our province. One day the king of Israel called on Jehoshaphat to go with him to battle but Jehoshaphat asked "is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire of him?" The king told him of Micaiah whom he did not like because he did not prophesy good for him. All his prophets told them to go into battle but then they called for Micaiah. Before he went into the king a messenger told Micaiah "Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth; let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them and speak that which is good." Micaiah responded "As the Lord liveth, what the Lord saith unto me, that will I speak." (1 Kings 22 verse 14) As the people watched Elijah he took 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel. 12 speaks of unity and harmony. Even though the nation of Israel was divided, in the eyes of God they were one people, one body. In John 17 Jesus prayed "that they may be one as we are one." (John 17 verse 21) Paul in Philippians 2 verse 2 said "Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord of one mind." These 12 stones were ordinary stones, nothing special. Elijah was following the pattern God gave to Moses "not a tool shall come on the stone." He built them as they were. On top of the stones he placed the bullock for sacrifice. God wants ordinary men like you and I today. God wants to use us for his kingdom, to bring many to saving knowledge of Christ.
The power that was expected. The altar was repaired, the sacrifice was placed in order. What was Elijah really expecting here? He commanded that 4 barrels of water be poured on the sacrifice not just once but 3 times. Before Elijah prayed every obstacle was thrown at God to prevent him from working. This was a soaked sacrifice. Elijah lifted his voice to God and says "Lord send the fire". C T Studd said "attempt great things for God, expect great things from God." Elijah did everything to prevent the God of heaven working. He was expecting God to do something amazing.
The praise that Elijah offers. 1 Kings 18 verse 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." That was why Elijah was there, why he repaired the altar. He stood and called on the name of the Lord, not to be seen as a man of faith but that the people would know who God is and they would turn back to him as a result.
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