Form Without The Fire

FORM WITHOUT THE FIRE!

Background of the story:

At the time of I Kings 18, the King of Israel was a man named Ahab, and he was married to a Philistine woman who is known her wickedness - Jezebel.

Jezebel’s evil influence and Ahab's leadership led the nation of Israel to fall into paganism."

1 Kings 16:33 states that Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.

Oh they apparently still prayed to God however they also worshipped some wicked pagan gods called Baal

So - because of their disobedience - God sent Elijah to tell King Ahab that he and the nation of Israel would be punished with a drought. There would be no rain or the next three and half years.

At the end of that 3 ½ years, God sent Elijah back to King Ahab:

I kings 18:1 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the LORD came to Elijah: "Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land." So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

I kings 18:4 says that Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets

I kings 18:15 states, “Elijah said, "As the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today"

I CALLING NAMES I Kings 18:17 Ahab meets Elijah and says is that you, you

troubler of Israel

Anytime there is a renunciation of sin. Someone is not going to like it.

Anytime a Gospel preacher goes against the tide of popular culture

trends and stands solely on the word of God someone is not going to

like it.

Any time a man of God waves the blood stain banner of the cross and points the way for sinner to come only through Jesus, someone is not going to like it.

Anytime the prophet of God holds up the standard of Gods word and calls sin – sin, someone is not going to like it.

Anytime the man in the pulpit proclaims the proclamations of “prepare ye the way of the lord” there are those who are bent on living after the lust of this world that are not going to like it.

Gods messengers are called to stir the waters of this hell bent generation and with a bible in one hand and the grace of God in the other preachers need to mount the pulpits and preach with the boldness of John the Baptist, and trouble or cities with the word of God.

To much preaching is preached without conviction, without compassion, without correction, without Christ.

The preacher is told in 2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of

season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine

Acts 4:31 they spoke the word of God with boldness

Acts 6:4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word

Acts 6:7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly…

Acts 13:49 And the word of the Lord was being spread throughout all the region

Acts 19:20 So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed

II THE CONFRONTATION:

Ahab and offered a challenge. Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. All of Israel gathered at the foot of the Mountain and they heard Elijah confront them with these words:

I KINGS 18:18 18 "I have not made troublor Israel," Elijah replied. "But you and your father's family have. You have abandoned the LORD's commands and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."

So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing.

Elijah did not come to comfort but rather to confront. The kind of preaching we need to day is that which comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comforted.

III.THE CHALLENGE v. 20 How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him

MATTHEW 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things

will be given to you as well

MATTHEW 6:24 24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the

other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money