We Need a Drenched Altar
1 Kings 18:30-39
Revival – Union Grove 9/14/08
We live in a generation where God is not the top priority in many of our homes, jobs, or even in our churches. We live in a generation where one presidential candidate is pro-choice and the other is pro-life. We live in a generation that tries to imitate the power of God in “religious” services, but in reality leaves God out of their actions.
We are consumed with self – what we want, forget what God wants.
In order for Real, Authentic Revival to come our way this week, we’ve got to ALL get out of God’s way and allow Him to work wonders in this church, this community, and in the lives of each person who comes in the doors of this church, not just this week, but from here on out.
Bottom line: in my own life – I am seeking a “real-fire” experience from God, not just a “wild-fire” here today, gone tomorrow meeting. In the life of this church – I pray for a Heaven-sent. Holy-Ghost filled revival with Christians repenting, Sinners saved, and a church renewed with an outlook of “Preparing for Holy Heaven-Sent Rain.” The question, can these things happen in today’s culture, in today’s church – the answer is YES – however, we must be right with God.
We look at Elijah. Elijah came along at a time when the land needed a confrontational leader. King Ahab and his crafty wife Jezebel brought in the worship of Baal and led their nation in this direction. Anyone who worshipped Jehovah God was put to extreme trial, if not death. The climate of the community had literally gone to the dogs, in this case, the idols. In 1 Kings 18, we see a “Showdown” that is taking place on Mount Carmel between Elijah and the priests of Baal. Elijah challenges these priests to a dual between their god and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Thus, we have a confrontation between Good and Evil. The showdown is this – you choose God or you choose Baal. (Good vs. Evil)
Point out background in 1 Kings 18
Now, let’s get to the text for the evening: Verses 30-39
TEXT
Here is a thought for the night – “When is the last time we confronted evil together as the body of Christ?”
I. Revival/Renewal was desired after a decline
Declines happen from time to time in our churches due to various things:
- Death
- Hurt Feelings
- Bad Decisions/Unpopular decisions
- Community Changes
- Turning away from God
Elijah had no choice but to confront the King, his wife, and the priests. Many had been led away onto their side, something had to be done. There was a faithful remnant left to join in with Elijah, but it was a few, not many. Faithful Jehovah worshippers had dwindled, it was time for an eye opening renewal for all to experience.
What does Elijah do?
1. Invites all of the people to come near, so they can watch and see
2. He repairs the altar of the Lord that was broken down
3. He took 12 stones, symbolizing the tribes of Israel and rebuilt the altar
4. He made a trench, deep enough to hold 2 measures of seed
5. He put the wood in place, cut the bullock in pieces and gave orders
6. Fill 4 barrels of water and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, do it again, do it
Again (12 barrels of water)
7. Elijah prays the fire down
8. God shows up
The people had been brainwashed to the teachings of the Baallistic philosophy, a neo-universalism, if you will – “anything and everything goes.” Let’s face it, that’s an easy teaching to follow. So, Elijah had to make everything seem “impossible” for folks to believe.
- Burnt Sacrifice on a Drenched Altar?
- Only God can do something like that!
Elijah did everything so that God could get the glory!
What’s the ultimate purpose of the church? To bring glory and honor to God
For revival/renewal to take place – God does not want the flesh to get the glory, He wants the glory.
Romans 8:8 – So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
II. Real Revival/Renewal comes when we are desperate for God to work.
Think of these classic examples of God working in Scripture:
Joshua 6: 1-26 – Priests marching around the walls of Jericho, expecting the walls to flatten. What happened? Who won?
Judges 7: 1-22 – Gideon, with his 32,000 decimated to 300 with lamps and pitchers. Who won? Who gets the glory?
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
The church today – are we desperate for the Word of God?
Are we desperate to see souls saved?
Are we desperate to see lives changed?
Are we desperate to do whatever God wants us to do to see these things happen?
If so, God will work in us and through us
If not, God will not work and we will die a spiritual death
Let’s face it – today, someone would write a book, all pastors would read it and try to employ the strategy in the local church. That’s not desperation – that’s spiritual laziness – not getting to the authentic answer and helper.
Here’s another example: David vs. Goliath – Sling-shot vs. Giant – who’d a thought it – God!
See, we serve a God that can do anything! We try to start the fire on our own from time to time – no wonder we don’t see folks saved, lives changed, or do what God wants us to do. See, we need REAL FIRE, not WILD FIRE.
Are we desperate enough to:
1. Teach the Bible as the RELEVANT answer for our time
2. Share the Gospel with ALL who we come in contact with
3. Live the Gospel out by FULFILLING the G.C. and Acts 1:8
God will reward our desperation.
III. Real Revival/Renewal requires for us to take a stand
Think of this: we are faced today with evil on every corner. Christianity has been watered down to the point to where it is not respected in many corners. Churches have become the laughing-stock of many areas simply because they can’t get along. We have doctrines floating around promoting “religion” but not “Christianity.” What are we doing about it?
Many churches – this is the answer:
1. We gripe
2. We complain
3. We moan
4. We groan
Instead of standing for God – we stand for what we want.
It is not about what we want, it is about what God desires.
In the text, God doesn’t want the altar to be warmed up – he douses the thing.
Heaven forbid, but we need another committee to form – an Altar Dousing committee. We need this water-bucket committee to douse out anything that we’re trying do without the Spirit of God.
Friends, if we want revival, we’ve got to seek the face of God, and pray for revival fire.
Elijah doused the altar, God showed up and burned the sacrifice. The people were amazed.
Sand Mountain needs a Mt. Carmel experience
Lookout Mountain needs a Mt. Carmel experience
If we want Revival, we’ve got to give God the full control of our hearts individually, our church collectively, and our world.
It is one thing to say that we want something – it is another to actually go through with our words.
God can do some amazing things this week in this church, but are we willing to douse the altar with our tears, concerns, burdens, and our church and allow God to send the fire down?
Only time will tell – Let us pray:
Lord, sometimes we get nervous and think that we have got to warm up the altar ourselves. Lord, teach us that nothing is too hard for thee. Lord, help us to drench the altar tonight. If anything is done tonight, Lord may you do it for your glory and honor. Amen.
