1 Kings 18:21-40 Let the Fire Fall
I. THE CALL FOR REVIVAL - The Mess
(a) Days of Corruption - Ahab had led the people into idolatry.
17 when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
I Kings 16:33 Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him.
Jezebel 19 prophets of the groves 400 which eat at Jezebel’s table
(b) Days of Confusion - 21 How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
(c) Days of Condemnation - 17:1 And Elijah said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
(d) Days of Confrontation - 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
2. THE COURSE OF REVIVAL - The Man - His :-
(a) DESCRIPTION - James - Elias was a man subject to "like passions" as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
(b) DUTY - 36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet "came near" and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
(c) DESIRE - 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
3. THE CHALLENGE OF REVIVAL - The Mistake - Their Worship Was:-
(a) COMPROMISED - Religion Of Convenience
(b) COMPLACENT - Death With Reality — Cannot Exist
(c) CONTEMPTIBLE - 21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
4. THE CHARACTER OF REVIVAL - The Method - 24 call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. - FIRE - SYMBOLIZES:-
HIS PERSON - Burning Bush — Firey Furnace
HIS PURITY - Rev 2:18 And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;
HIS POWER - 1 Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
HIS PRESENCE - New Testament Church - Acts 2:3 there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them
5. THE CAUSE OF REVIVAL - The Manifestation - "Then The Fire Fell"
(a) OPPOSITION, (b) OBEDIENCE, (c) OFFERING - 31 - 33
6. THE CONSEQUENCE OF REVIVAL - The Miracle - Their
(a) Revelation - 39 when all the people saw it, i. Fire consumes. - it consumed everything.
ii. Fire convicts - 39 and they said, The LORD, he is the God;
iii. Fire converts - Acts 2:37 when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said ..... Men and brethren, what shall we do?
(b) Realization - 39 they fell on their faces:
(c) Ratification - 39 and they said, The LORD, he is the God;
(d) Renunciation - 40 Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.
