Go! And Stand For The One True God - 1 Kings 18:27 Series

Go! And Stand for the One True God - 1 Kings 18:27

Introduction

Today, in our "Go! And..." series, we look at a dramatic and bold moment in Scripture—a story of courage, faith, and truth. Our text is from 1 Kings 18:27, where Elijah stands against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Let’s read this verse together:

1 Kings 18:27 (NLT): "About noontime Elijah began mocking them. ‘You’ll have to shout louder,’ he scoffed, ‘for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!’"

Elijah’s boldness here wasn’t just about mocking false gods; it was a call to recognise the one true God. Today, we will explore three key lessons from this event:

Go! And Expose Falsehood.

Go! And Trust in God’s Power.

Go! And Lead Others to Worship.

1. Go! And Expose Falsehood

1 Kings 18:27 (NLT): "About noontime Elijah began mocking them. ‘You’ll have to shout louder,’ he scoffed, ‘for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!’"

Elijah’s sarcasm was purposeful. He wanted the people to see the futility of worshipping Baal. In ancient Canaanite religion, Baal was considered a powerful storm god, yet he was silent and powerless on Mount Carmel.

Isaiah 44:9-10 "How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god—an idol that cannot help him one bit?"

Isaiah reminds us that idols are human constructs—powerless and worthless. The Hebrew term for idol, elil, conveys the idea of "nothingness" or "worthlessness." Elijah’s mockery exposes the same truth: false gods cannot save or respond.

God is calling us to "Go! And expose falsehood." In our world, idols may not be wooden statues but can take the form of wealth, power, or even self-reliance. What are the false gods in your life that need to be confronted and surrendered to God?

Pastor Tim Keller says, "An idol is anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your heart and imagination more than God."

Consider a GPS device that gives wrong directions. You wouldn’t keep following it once you realised it was flawed. Similarly, when we discover falsehood in our lives, we must turn away and follow God’s truth.

2. Go! And Trust in God’s Power

1 Kings 18:36-38 "At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, ‘O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me! Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.’ Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench!"

Elijah trusted completely in God’s ability to act and demonstrate His power.

Jeremiah 32:17 "O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!"

Elijah’s prayer wasn’t long or complicated. He simply called on God to reveal Himself. The Hebrew word for "answer" (anah) implies a response that brings relief and resolution. God’s fire was undeniable proof of His supremacy.

God is calling us to "Go! And trust in His power." Are you facing a challenge where you need God to show up? Pray with boldness and faith, knowing that the same God who answered Elijah is with you today.

Charles Spurgeon said, "Faith asks no signal from the senses. It does not need to see signs and wonders; it believes in God’s word and waits for His time."

Think of a child jumping into their parent’s arms at the pool. They trust completely in the parent’s ability to catch them. We are called to have that same kind of faith in God’s power.

3. Go! And Lead Others to Worship

1 Kings 18:39 "And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, ‘The Lord—he is God! Yes, the Lord is God!’"

When the people witnessed God’s power, their response was immediate worship. Elijah’s boldness led them back to the true God.

Psalm 95:6-7 "Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!"