God’s Fire Only Falls If There’s A Sacrifice

GOD’S FIRE ONLY FALLS IF THERE’S A SACRIFICE

1 Kgs. 18:30-38

INTRODUCTION

A. HUMOR: LAWYER’S REVENGE

1. A lawyer's dog, running about unleashed, beelined for the local butcher shop, where it stole a roast off the counter.

2. The butcher went to the lawyer's office and asked, "if a dog, running unleashed, steals a piece of meat from my store, do I have a right to demand payment for the meat from the dog's owner?"

3. "Absolutely," the lawyer responded. The butcher immediately shot back, "Good! You owe me $20 for the roast your dog stole from me this morning."

4. The lawyer, without a word, pulled out his wallet and handed the butcher $20. A few days later, the butcher opened his mail and found a bill from the lawyer. It read, "Consultation fee: $100.00”

B. TEXT

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes....32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord... 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.” [Did 3X] 36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed. 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 1 Kgs. 18:30-33, 36, 38

C. INSTANCES OF GOD’S FIRE REVEALED. The fire of God ‘s presence has been seen all down through history:

1. Abraham saw it as a burning & smoking lamp (Genesis 15) between the covenant pieces.

2. Moses saw that fire in a bush on Mt. Horeb and the bush was not consumed, Ex. 3:2.

3. The Israelites saw God’s holy fire in a pillar of fire during the nights after they left Egypt, Ex. 13:21.

4. On Mount Sinai, while giving Israel the Law, God descended in a “consuming fire on top of the mountain” Ex. 24:17.

5. MOSES (Lev. 9:24), DAVID (1 Chron. 21:26), SOLOMON (2 Chron. 7:1), and ELIJAH (1 Kgs. 18:38) all presented sacrifices and prayed and the fire of God fell on their sacrifices.

I. WE MUST HAVE THIS FIRE!

A. WHAT THIS FIRE REPRESENTS

1. There was no mistake about it when it fell -- it was the "fire of Jehovah" = miraculous fire.

2. NOT NATURAL FIRE. Natural fire works upward. This fire starts at the top and works down. It consumed first the sacrifice, then the wood, then the water, then the stones, and then the dust.

3. Stones and dirt couldn’t withstand it. Water couldn't quench it. What kind of fire was it? HOLY GHOST FIRE!

4. It represents the Holy Spirit’s anointing; God is a consuming fire! It also represents the FIRST LOVE of God’s people, for God. Many poets have described human love as a flame – an all-consuming passion.

5. We cannot properly serve God without loving Him passionately & putting Him first.

B. GOD SAID, “NEVER LET YOUR FIRE GO OUT!”

1. For about a century before Elijah's time, that fire from heaven was still Burning in Jerusalem (2 Chron. 7:1).

2. The same fire fell on the early church on the day of Pentecost. It fell because the disciples had given themselves to God. Knowing and walking with God had become their highest priority!

3. Enthusiasm means “inspiration or possession by God.” Enthusiasm is a powerful force people are looking for. “The worst bankruptcy in the world is the man who’s lost his enthusiasm.” This should especially apply to Christ-followers. We’ve found the answer! We need to be “...be aglow and burning with the Spirit” Rom. 12:11, AMPC.

4. Pete Rose (baseball great) said, “The player who has lost his passion – that man is finished!” That’s true! People will follow a fire truck, but nobody follows an ice truck. Build a fire & people will come to see you burn!

5. HEB is stacked full of food. Walgreens is stacked full of medicine. The church should be stacked full of prayer & deliverance! When people see you, they ought to see Jesus!

6. It’s like going to Church’s Chicken and ordering, and they tell you they’re out of chicken – that they have nothing but “sides.” You’d say, “What? I didn’t come here for sides! I came here for the main course – Jesus Christ!” Are you full enough of Jesus that others can see Him in you?

C. WHO IS THIS JESUS?

1. In infancy he startled a king. In childhood he amazed religious scholars. In manhood he ruled the course of nature—walking on stormy waves and hushing the raging sea to sleep.