ELIJAH AND THE FIRE FROM HEAVEN Penge Baptist Church 29 th July 2012

Being Elijahs “ A man just like us ” James 5:17 A man of prayer A man who listens to God A man chosen by God A man whom God cares for A man not afraid of confrontation!

The context The idolatry of Israel …. the king made two golden calves ….. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt ….. And this thing became a sin (1 Kings 12:28-30) ….worsened under Ahab Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. (1 Kings 16:33) God ’ s punishment of drought “ As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word. ” (1 Kings 17:1)

The challenges God ’ s challenge to Elijah “ Elijah does come first, and restores all things. ” (Mark 9:12) Elijah ’ s challenge to Ahab “ I have not made trouble for Israel, ” Elijah replied. “ But you and your father ’ s family have. You have abandoned the LORD'S commands and have followed the Baals. (1 Kings 18:18) Elijah ’ s challenge to the people Elijah went before the people and said, “ How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. ” (1 Kings 18:21) Elijah ’ s challenge to the prophets you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire — he is God (1 Kings 18:24)

False religion and true faith A man made faith – a human invention Rituals – time and suffering An impersonal “ god ” A persuadable “ god ” A religion and not a relationship A God who reveals himself – ultimately as Jesus Personal Consistent Faithful Merciful and just A relationship and not a religion

Modern-day idols

Praying like Elijah “ O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again. ” (1 Kings 18:36-37) Allowing God ’ s timing Faith in Scripture Reverence Expectation

Fire from heaven! “ Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. ” (1 Kings 18:38) When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “ The Lord — he is God! The Lord — he is God! ” (1 Kings 18:39) Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain came on and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. (1 Kings 18:45)

Fire for us! “ Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit. ” (Acts 2:2-4)

God ’ s challenge to us To listen prayerfully to God ’ s call To conquer sin in our lives To speak the truth boldly To challenge idolatry To pray for miracles for change in the power of the Holy Spirit ’ s fire! To take on God ’ s true Olympic fire! “ The power of the Lord came upon Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel. ” (1 Kings 18:46)

Modern-day idols

Truth to proclaim! There is only one God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ, his only Son, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

There is only one Holy Spirit, who alone can transform lives There is one holy universal Church, one communion of God ’ s people, one forgiveness of sins by faith in the blood of Jesus, one resurrection of the body and thereafter life everlasting – in heaven or hell. God is love – he so loved the world he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life All this is clear from the Bible, God ’ s infallible Word