How Can Authentic Worship Be Restored?
1 Kings 18:20-39
Proposition: Because Christ is the only acceptable Mediator, you must give scriptural worship to Him regardless of whether you feel you were enriched or not.
When Solomon came to the throne there was godly leadership, peace and unity in the nation of Israel. During this time of prosperity Solomon assembled a workforce of 200,000 people to build the temple in seven years; followed by one of the greatest moments in the history of the nation the glory of the Lord filling that temple. But, success breed complacency, thus Solomon slid into indulgence and doing what was popular (rather than what was right).
Solomon used his powerful position to support his own indulgence – 700 wives and 300 concubines (1 Ki 11:3). His heart was turned after other gods. The great tragedy was that many of the Israelites followed his example. His relationships became a snare to him. “Solomon build a high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab” (1 Ki 11:7) on a hill east of Jerusalem. “…and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.”
At the end of Solomon’s reign there were many false gods of the surrounding nations being worshipped near or in Jerusalem. To the people in the region now the God of Israel was just one among many gods. It was the beginning of a multi-faith society. True worship was all but lost in the nation.
Jeroboam the ruler of the northern 10 tribes understood the cohesive power of religion. He established his own centers of worship, provided golden calves, and made worship convenient and fun. He used religion for his own benefit.
That brings us to our passage and King Ahab, “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him (1 Ki 16:30)”. In 70 years, Israel had gone from being united in their worship of Jehovah to a nation confused and divided with people assuming that all religions were essentially the same and the God you worshipped was a matter of personal choice. Sincerity is what mattered. Does this scenario SOUND FAMILIAR?
Consider a nation that experienced the glory of the Lord filling the temple, has now lost the knowledge of who God really is an how to worship Him. The location of this passage is called "El Muhraka," literally, "the place of burning." It is a level plateau halfway up Mount Carmel where a large crowd could have easily gathered. Just below the plateau the Brook Kishon still flows. How can authentic worship be restored?
I. You must submit to revealed truth! v. 20-21
Deviant worship will violate a biblical absolute.
1Ki 17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in thy mouth is truth.
A. Worship the LORD because He is God.
1Ki 18:21 … if the LORD be God, follow him:
1. The people were challenged to choose between truth and error.
They thought all religions were equal; it was a matter of personal choice…your personal preferences.
They wanted to combine the worship of Jehovah and Baal, and not to assume a hostile attitude towards Jehovah by the worship of Baal; and were therefore obliged to keep silence under this charge of infatuated halving, since they knew very well from the law itself that Jehovah demanded worship with a whole and undivided heart (Deu_6:4-5).
2. You are challenged to choose between truth and error.
1Ki 18:21 How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.
1Ch 16:29 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
B. Worship the LORD in response to truth.
1. Truth must be proclaimed.
key theme: Suffering as a Christian
1Pe 4:11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
key theme: Resurrection appearances of Jesus (15-19 teaching Peter).
Joh 21:15 So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
2. Truth must be submitted to.
key theme: The externals of religion (610 B.C. – 25 yrs before Babylonian captivity )
Jer 7:1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
Jer 7:2 Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.
Jer 7:23-24 But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, … 24 But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and in the imagination of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward.
Jer 7:28 … This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
key theme: Paul gives the content of the gospel (Paul’s reproof--justification by faith alone)
Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, … that ye should not obey the truth,
key theme: Explanation about the Day of the Lord (son of perdition)
2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
key theme: Having the correct attitude (duty of Christians to masters incl. believing ones)
1Ti 6:3-5 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, … 5 … and destitute of the truth…
key theme: A snapshot of the last days (rise of dangerous enemies to the Gospel)
2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
Application:
So what? You must submit to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God if you are to worship Him in a way that pleases Him.
Why? God condemns acts of worship associated with idolatry, unbelief, disobedience, and evil motives.
Now what? Submit to truth as soon as you hear it or read it. We should sing the truth, read the truth, pray the truth, and preach the truth but we must submit to the truth.
Be a witness!
Acts 1:8 be witnesses…Are we willing to be made willing for the basic, undeniable calling of every Christian?
Be in regular prayer!
Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Practice the presence of God in everything we do.
Be a grateful person!
1Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Be about the business to edify, exhort and comfort people!
1Th 5:20 Despise not prophesyings.
Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
How? Make up your mind…don’t halt between two opinions…petition help from the Holy Spirit.
How can authentic worship be restored?
Transitional Statement: First, you must submit to revealed truth; and secondly, because Christ is the only Savior God, you must focus on the living God.
II. You must focus on the living God! v. 22-37
Deviant worship is centered on man (convenience or likes/wants).
A. The prophets of Baal focused on a false god (26-29).
1. Their worship was a cultural creation.
2. Their worship was deviant worship.
The prophets of Baal were to offer a sacrifice to Baal, and he (Elijah) would offer one to Jehovah. This fire had come down before (Lev. 9:22-24).
v. 27-29 the words of Clericus: “Although these things when spoken of God are the most absurd things possible, yet idolaters could believe such things, as we may see from Homer.” The priests of Baal did actually begin therefore to cry louder than before, and scratched themselves with swords and lances, till the blood poured out, “according to their custom”.
People are more sophisticated today…now they redefine who God is and how they want to worship Him. He is no longer the God of the Bible but rather a god of their own creation…no judgment, no eternal hell, no accountability to a holy God. The goal ultimately is to please self, to feel good about their worship, to be entertained and or pleased.
B. You must focus on Elijah’s God (30-37).
1. Elijah’s God was the living God.
1Ki 18:36 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.
1Ki 18:37 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.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
b. The living God revealed himself to Abraham…Moses
Deu 32:3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.
Deu 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
2. Elijah’s God is largely unknown today.
"The Church is to develop a Christian counter-culture with its own distinctive goals, values, standards, and lifestyle - a realistic alternative to the contemporary technocracy which is marked by bondage, materialism, self-centeredness, and greed." John R.W. Stott
III. You must focus on Christ the only acceptable sacrifice! v. 31-39
A. Elijah offers worship to His God (31-37).
1. He prepares an altar (31-32).
v. 30-39 “broken altar” -- built by pious worshippers belonging to the ten tribes since the division of the kingdom
2. He prepares an acceptable sacrifice (33-37).
1Ki 18:36 … and said, LORD God … let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel… and that I have done all these things at thy word.
B. God accepts his act of worship (37-39).
1. Holy fire consumes the sacrifice (38).
1Ki 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
2. Sinful people confess him as LORD (37, 39).
1Ki 18:39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, … for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Is Christ accepting your act of worship?
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Conclusion:
How can authentic worship be restored?
1) You must submit to revealed truth!
2) You must focus on the living God!
3) You must focus on Christ the only acceptable sacrifice!
Thought and Application
1) How are you susceptible to sliding into indulgence or doing what is popular?
2) In 50-70 years Israel slid from a nation loyal to the living God to a divided and confused nation where religion was a matter of personal choice. How have you seen this same progression happening in our country? What have been the consequences?
3) How did Elijah’s demand for the people to decide which God they would follow fly in the face of the prevailing philosophy of religious tolerance? Would it have been more loving for Elijah to have affirmed the personal faith of the prophets of Baal?
4) How would you answer someone who said that it does not matter which God you worship as long as you are sincere? How might the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal help you in your answer?
5) God revealed His greatness and glory to the people at Mount Carmel by sending fire from heaven. What has helped you to have a greater grasp of God’s glory?
6) The worshipers and prophets of Baal deserved judgment, yet God’s fire fell on the sacrifice rather than the people. What attributes of God did this reveal to those assembled?
7) How can we keep our worship focused on what Christ has done for us on the Cross?
Cross-centered message – Preach the Gospel (central focus of our services).
Cross at the center of message Delivery of this message is the center of Pastor’s role.
Cross-centered life – life back-up the message (deny self, carry cross, follow Christ)
▪ Die daily to self-devotion (more concern for eternal things than earthly things)
1Co 4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
1Co 4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
1Co 4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
8) Is there something you need to change in your life to keep from following in the footsteps of Solomon?
9) How can you worship God more authentically?
Know and practice revealed truth daily!
