Elijah’s Mt. Carmel Victory

 

FILING INFORMATION

96037

07/14/96 - Cyclone, KY

 

I. Introduction.

A.  Our text this morning is found in 1 Kings 18:1-40.  In it we are going to be discussing Elijah’s Victory for the Lord on Mt. Carmel. 

1.  There are some very good lessons that we can derive out of this text which will be beneficial to our lives as Christians.

2.  We have heard this story since  we were young - about how Elijah stood on the mountain that day and defeated all of the prophets of baal, how the Lord rained fire down on the altar and everything was consumed.

B.  In this lesson, we see the tremendous faith of Elijah, the great & awesome power of the Lord, and the ridiculousness of trusting in anyone/anything other than Jehovah.

 

II.  Who Was Elijah & Description of the Times.

A.  Elijah was a prophet of the Lord.  He was known as The Tishbite. was from Gilead.  (17:1)

1.  a man with a message for his own time.

2. considered by many to be the greatest of the oral prophets.

3. a man who had tremendous faith in the Lord, was willing to sacrifice for the Lord, and someone who followed the Lord exactly as he was told, no matter what the consequence.

B.  In 1 Kings 17:1, Elijah prayed that a drought would come upon the land to remind the people of what the Lord said would happen when they turned away from Him into idolatry.

1.  The Israelite people should have known because they had been warned of this happening back in Deut. 11:16-17

C.  One quickly finds the root of Israel’s problem centering around the act of idolatry. (The whole reason for our story in 1 Kings 18 is because of idolatry.

1. Deut. 8:18-19 - Despite the numerous warnings,  Idolatry had long been the problem of the Israelites.  It was long the temptation which led them down the path to problem after problem after problem.

2.  Reason for their problem - because they did not completely eliminated it from the land when they settled it. 

a.  were to utterly destroy the people who worshipped idols in their land - they were to have nothing to do with them at all.  7:1-6

3.  In Judges 1&2 we read of how they didn’t fulfill the commandments of the Lord (1:28 just one example)

a.  The Lord was displeased with what was going on - 2:1-4 - by the next generation, they had completely turned away.   (2:10)

b.  They would quickly begin to establish a pattern of falling in and out of idolatry for the rest of their existence.

D.  Seemed only to follow the Lord then their leaders did.  In the time of their text, Israel had a leader who didn’t follow YHWH.

1.  Ahab (874-852 B.C.) was the son of Omri, who according to secular history was one of the more notable kings of Israel.  Is mentioned in the annuals of history in other nations of the time as a good trade partner. 

2.  spiritually the nation was dead.  Omri & Ahab did much evil in the sight of the Lord. - 1 Kings 16:25-33

3.  married Jezebel -(daughter of the king of Sidon)   notice the “baal in her name - named after the god baal.  Their marriage was one of political convenience.

a.  financially rewarding to Israel in that it increased industry & commerce between the two kingdoms of Israel & Sidon. - created a strong middle class.

 

II. Just Who/What Was Baal??

A.  As we have already read in v. 31-33 of chapt. 16, spiritually this was a bad time for Israel.

1.  Baal was one of the principle gods of Palestine. - originally a deity of the Phoenicians.

2.  worship of this god goes back before the time of Moses.  (1500 B.C.)

a.  Was one of the principle religions of the day.  Image was of a man’s body with a bull’s head.

b.  Some ancients regarded Baal as the god of fire.

3.  Worship included:

a.  ritual prostitution

b.  human & child sacrifice.

c.  lascivious acts between male & female prostitutes.

B.  All of these things the Lord hated. - This is why he wanted these kinds of things destroyed when they took the land of Canaan.  But this was the situation of the land of Israel as we enter chapter 18.

 

III.  Lessons By Overview of the Events in 18:1-40.

A.  Are We Examining Ourselves?

1. 18:16-18 Elijah a troubler of Israel - Ironic isn’t it? - some label other people who stand for the truth “troublers” when they themselves are not following the truth as closely as they should.

a. issues in the late 50’s - those who took the “conservative” side were labeled trouble makers & were accused of sowing seeds of division.

2.  In our text we see Elijah’s faith & belief in the Lord put Ahab on the defensive.

3.  Many get on the defensive today about certain issues & things and accuse others of causing trouble when they themselves are the problem.

a. those who stand for the gospel are “troubling” their comfort & lackadasicalness

b.  It is in human nature to simply drift & become complacent with certain things.  Need to be sure this doesn’t happen with the Lord’s work.

4.  Christians need to be aroused & get their toes stomped on occasionally.  We all need to take personal examination of our lives.  Need to be reminded of the verse in Rom. 3:23 - for all have sinned & fallen short.

a.  2 Tim. 3:16-17 - this is what the Scriptures are for!

1.  So we can be knowledgeable in doctrine.

2.  profitable for reproof & correction. 

a.  so we can fix the problems in our lives.

b.  some like to apply this to others but not to themselves.

b.  4:1-2 - Paul instructs Timothy to preach the Word in season & out.

1.  convincing others to Christ.

2.  rebuking - calling out problems when need correction.

3.  exhort - encourage them in the gospel.

c.  What happens if this doesn’t occur?  2 Tim. 4:3-4

5.  We need to be examining our lives & our attitudes.

 

B.  Are We Prepared? - Are We Prepared for the mission the Lord has given us?

1.  Elijah given a message by the Lord - v. 1

2.  challenge issued to the prophets of Baal - v. 19

a.  took place with him against 450 prophets of the god Baal. - the only one who stood up for the Lord.

3.  NT examples of those who were prepared:

a.  Stephan - Acts 6

1.  mentioned in v. 6 & v. 8 as being full of faith & the Holy Spirit. - did many great wonders & signs among the people.

2.  v. 7 - gospel was spreading rapidly.

a.  v. 9-10

b.  he is brought before council.

c.  preaches sermon which pricks audience’s heart.

3.  v. 51-54 - preached on even though the audience was not receptive.

4.  v. 57-60.

a.  was prepared to go as far as a human could go - death!

b.  Epaphroditus in Phil. 2:25-30

1.  on a mission by the Philippians to give aid to Paul.

2.  v. 29-30

a.  Paul pays him a very great compliment - hold such men in esteem.

b.  Why???

c.  because he risked His life for the cause of Christ.

3.  The Lord’s work meant more to him than his own life.

4.  Don’t know how he risked his life:

a.  maybe exposed himself on the way to Rome.

b.  was carrying financial aid to Paul - travel treacherous.

c.  whatever the case, these men were prepared to fulfill the  mission given to them by the Lord no matter what it took.

3.  Just as Elijah, Stephan & Epaphriditus were given a mission - so have we!

a.  According to Mt. 28:18-20 mission to save souls!!

b.  mission to strengthen & edify each other in the body of Christ.

c.  Elijah, Stephan, & Epaphroditus stood prepared to stand for God whenever necessary:

1.  even if they had to stand alone.

2.  even if they had to risk their life - travel in secret, etc.

3.  even if they were not being received by the crowd in which they were speaking to...

4.  even if it came down to the point of death.

d.  are we prepared to do this?

4.  with the men in our text, there was no room for:

a.  excuses.

b.  second chances.

c.  failure.

5.  Are we willing to fulfill the mission that has been given us?  If one is not prepared he will be defeated!

 

C.  Are We Committed? 

1.  The people of the day of Elijah were not committed.  They were trying to have the best of both worlds.

a.  Heb. wd. for falter - verb - “are limping” - to become lame or pass over.

b.  They were faltering between who to serve.  Probably most of them were trying to serve both the Lord and baal at the same time.

2.  Obvious they weren’t committed to the Lord or Baal either.

a.  The Lord does not accept half hearted service.  He demands total service & allegiance to Him.

b.  No one that day stood with Elijah as he stood for God.

3.  Many today falter back and forth between the world & Christ.

a.  Paul talks about being transformed in Rom. 12:1-2

1.  What does transformed mean?  Going from something at the present to something totally different in the future.

2.  We are to put off the old man of sin accord. to Rom. 6:23

b.  The Lord talked about this in Luke 9:57-61.

1.  We need to be careful that we don’t hang on to the world & Christ at the same time.  Doing so will cause us to be unfit for the kingdom of the Lord.

c.  James 4:4, Mt. 6:24

d.  God has given us the power of choice - 1 Kgs. 18:21 - the people had a choice that day to make a decision to follow YHWH or Baal.

1.  Joshua & his family chose to follow the Lord.  They made their commitment known to the entire nation of Israel - Jsh. 24:15

e.  He calls for a decision from us:  2 Cor. 6:1-2

1.  no putting off.

2.  sense of urgency.

5.  Are you committed to the Lord?

 

D.  Are We Walking in Faith & Obedience?

1.  Elijah proved his commitment to the Lord by putting his faith & trust in the Lord.

a.  18:36-37. - standing before the king & nation - could have been killed if not successful.

2.  Was rewarded with the events in v. 38-39.

3.  We have to make a commitment to the Lord & then walk in faith & obedience to His will.

a.  Jesus has promised us a reward if we will only do as he instructs us.

1.  Rev. 2:10-11

2.  We too, must endure through the trials and temptations of this world - we do it by walking in faith & obedience.

b.  Paul showed his faith in the Lord throughout the NT.

1.  continued on through trials, temptations & illness.

a.  stoned & left for dead - Acts 14:19

b.  let down through window in basket - Acts 9.

c.  confident of his reward - 2 Tim. 4:6-8

4.  We can be too!!!  Just as Elijah, just as Stephan, Epaphroditus & Paul were!

5.  can be confident by:

a.  examining ourselves.

b.  being prepared to fulfill our mission.

c.  being committed to the Lord.

d.  walking in faith & obedience to His will.

 

IV.  Conclusion.

A.  Are you prepared to meet the Lord today?  Why not come to Christ this morning while you are still afforded the opportunity.

1.  You have to make a personal examination of yourself - you know where you stand with the Lord.

2.  You have to prepare yourself to being on a mission with Jesus Christ - knowing & being confident of your ultimate success.

3.  You have to commit yourself to stand tall through the troubles that will confront you.

4.  You have to walk in faith & obedience - by doing so you can be confident of that reward you will receive in Heaven.

B.  Just as the reward of Heaven is eternal (never ending) so is the alternative.

C.  Come to Christ by:

D.  Today is the day of salvation - don’t put it off even one more day!!!