WHEN THE FIRE FALLS
There are certain times when God moves in a very special way that brings the fire upon people. Fire as we know does something special. It purifies, consumes, motivates and shows final judgment. Here the fire is the symbol, evidence and manifestation of God’s Presence and Power. What Elijah knew is what we need to know, what it takes for the Power Of God to fall on us.
1. HE KNEW THAT COUNTERFIET THINGS DON’T TAKE THE PLACE OF REAL THINGS.
A. Counterfeit Preacher V17 Ahab was trying to blame Elijah
B. Counterfeit Church V21 Always divides, God unifies.
C. Counterfeit Sacrifice V25 Tries to take the place of the real one. Dressed up only.
D. Counterfeit Pouring V28 Used their own blood.
E. To a Counterfeit god the counterfeit preacher.V26-27 Trying to take the place of God himself the fire will never fall when dependent on anything but God.
2. HE KNEW THAT REAL THINGS WERE OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE.
A. Real Preacher V18 – Didn’t compromise the truth that Ahab was the cause of no rain
B. Real Church v30 – Though they had been lead astray, came near at the Words of the man of God. God’s man got the altar fixed.
C. Real Sacrifice V33-35 Piece after piece lay upon the altar. Every individual piece of the bullock. How about us? Romans 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. Cut into pieces, our hearts, hands, feet, eyes, and lips. How about our families, jobs, pleasures, and friendships? Have I yielded all or only part to Him?
D. Real Pouring – Life giving water! Poured on the altar. Pour it all on the altar. What have we not poured
D. REAL PRAYER – V36-39
a. Prayer offered not some big time eloquent speech, just down to business with God.V36, 37
Not glory for himself but glory to God, recognizes his place as a servant, Jas: 5:17: 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 the space of three years and six months. Jas: 5:18: And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain and the earth brought forth her fruit.
3. THEN THE REAL FIRE FALLS – V38
A. GOD ANSWERS – Yes, I will be known to this people that I AM GOD! The fire falls when we get out of the way. Elijah got himself out of the way for God’s glory
B. GOD’S PEOPLE – V39 This is the reaction that we ought to have when we come into the presence of God. When is the last time we actually got on our face before God and praised Him for His blessings on us, for God being God when all else seems to be against us. God blessing in times of sorrow, sickness, death, finical difficulty. We ought to praise God! He deserves the Praise!
C. GOD’S JUDGEMENT – V40 The end of those that would not give God the glory and praise. Those who trusted in other things, like them ownselves, own power, own goodness, own righteousness, own way, own life, their own truth that they wanted to believe. It didn’t work, Ro: 3:4: God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. Today who will be on the Lord’s side and get on the altar and thank Him how He has blessed us? Maybe you need to put your sacrifice in pieces on the altar and whatever part of your life you haven’t let God have control place it on the altar.
