Worship The One & True God

WORSHIP THE ONE & TRUE GOD

I KINGS 18:17-21

I Kings 18 give us the account of the Prophet Elijah, as he stands alone against 850 false religious leaders. Elijah challenges the people to decide who is going to be the god of their lives.

He demonstrates the reality that the Lord is the only true God. He has the false prophets build an altar and call upon their gods to answer their prayer by consuming a sacrifice laid upon that altar with fire. All day they prayed and prayed but nothing happened.

Then Elijah builds an altar to the Lord GOD JEHOVAH and has it drenched with four barrels of water. He prays a simple prayer containing only 63 words, and the fire of God comes down consuming the sacrifice and the altar. .

I KINGS 18:17-21 17And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 18And 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.

19Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table. 20So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.

21And 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. And the people answered him not a word. 22Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: 24And 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.

And all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.” 25And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. 26And they took the bullock, which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, “ O Baal, hear us.” But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar, which was made.

27And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, “Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.”

28And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. 29And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither --------voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. 30And Elijah said unto all the people, “Come near unto me.” And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.

31And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be thy name:” 32And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. 33And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, “Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.”

34And he said, “Do it the second time.” And they did it the second time. And he said, “Do it the third time.” And they did it the third time.

35And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 36And 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. 37Hear 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.”