The Most Important Victory After The Revival Series

ELIJAH—A MAN OF LIKE PASSIONS

09 The Most Important Victory After the Revival

TEXT: 1 Kings 18:38-40

1 Kings 18:38-40 KJV [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. [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. [40] And Elijah said unto them, 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.

I. INTRODUCTION—THE BATTLE AFTER THE REVIVAL

-The fire has fallen and the sacrifice has been consumed and now all of Israel is no longer left to wonder as to who the real God is. Baal has fallen and Jehovah has risen.

-This single event foreshadows another great victory that will come to light in the future.

Philippians 2:9-11 KJV Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: [10] That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; [11] And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

-The greatest victory that this world has ever known outside of the Cross and the resurrection is described prophetically by John:

Revelation 19:19-21 KJV And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. [20] And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. [21] And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

-We have not yet experienced this final victory of the ages to this point and that is why we have to continue to be faithful in living for the Lord.

-One other point that needs to be pointed out for our encouragement and it comes with an understanding that it does not matter who may be standing against you or how many there may be, it is never a good time to compromise your beliefs.

-Elijah could have just as easily fled from the mountain when he saw all of the prophets of Baal show up against him but he knew how powerful that God was because of the past victories he had already seen God working in.

-There are moments in life when you will have to persevere in your prayer no matter how overwhelming the odds may seem. I am certainly glad to know that there are a lot of great witnesses in front of us from history who refused to throw in the towel in the face of overwhelming odds.

2 Timothy 4:16-18 KJV At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. [17] Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. [18] And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

-Put your life in the hands of the Lord and allow Him to see you through!

-But we need to be clear, there are some victories that come after the revival that are even more important than the actual revival itself.

II. DON’T LET THE PROPHETS OF BAAL ESCAPE

-Mount Carmel was sort of home field for the prophets of Baal. They had offered sacrifices there before and they never expected this kind of victorious outcome to take place in a place they saw as a place of strength for them.

-In fact in some of the historical annals of the Assyrian king, Shalmanessar III (841 B.C.), Mount Carmel is called ‘the mountain of Baal.’

-But even more than the worship that poured out of these people, there was something else very powerful that took place. Elijah was outnumbered 850 to 1 until God rained fire down from heaven.

A. What We Allow to Survive

-Elijah gave the children of Israel some very important instructions: