Let the Fire Fall

I Kings 18:1-41

 

There had been a drought in Samaria for 3 years; not a drop of rain had fallen. God was judging the land. And they were in a crisis, but the crisis was about to end. For God knew that before long the fire would fall from heaven, and then the rain would come. And that’s the sequence, first the fire and then the rain. First the cleansing fire and then the cooling flood. The fire represents God’s judgment, and the flood represents the showers of blessing.

 

Churches and Christians today have little to no power. We need a revival. And I believe that we can find here in I Kings chapter 18 the formula for revival because in those dark days, God sent revival to Israel; and what God did back then He can do now. So this is not just what God has said…this is what God IS saying. It was not just for them.  It is also for us.  We need the fire to fall!

 

vv. 1-2     It was terrible in Elijah’s day. Ahab was on the throne. Jezebel was his queen. Sin was rampant. The altar of Jehovah was broken down. And the truth of God was being dragged through the dirt. It was a dark day and yet God sent revival. My heart is yearning and burning and pleading for revival in our time. So pay attention as we are going to meet a succession of characters. Most of them are enemies of revival, and one of them was the tool that God used to bring revival. I want you to listen as the roll is called in this chapter, and listen carefully for you may hear your name as we study the people here in I Kings chapter 18.

 

1.     The Compromisers

The first group of people I want us to notice and think about are the compromisers that are represented by a man named Obadiah.

 

vv. 3-4     “And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.) And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.”

 

Now Obadiah was a good man and the Bible tells us in verse 3 that he “feared the Lord greatly.” Not only was he a good man, but he was a generous man because he fed the prophets of Jehovah God who were hiding out from the treacherous Jezebel, in a cave. And here was Obadiah, God’s man, bringing to them bread and water. It is very obvious that he was a good man, but it is very sad that he was in league with Ahab. There was not a man on the face of the earth more wicked than Ahab and here was Obadiah taking up with Ahab rather than taking a stand with Elijah. Obadiah was a good man, but he was a compromiser. Churches today have many who are just like Obadiah. They are good people. They love the Lord. They fear the Lord. They give money. They serve.  But they have compromised and sold out to the world. They are more in league with Ahab than with Elijah. We have a generation of nice people who love God, but somehow they’ve managed to also stay in league with the powers that be. The Bible says in James 4:4 that “friendship with the world is enmity [warfare] with God.” The person who is in league with this world is guilty of high treason against his king.

 

Great Evangelist Billy Sunday said, “We talk about worldly Christians, we might as well talk about heavenly devils.” The Bible says, “Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing...” Here was Obadiah, and it’s almost pathetic.

 

Look in verse 5, “And Ahab said unto Obadiah, go in the land and unto all the fountains of water and unto all the brooks, peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and the mules alive that we lose not all of the beasts.”

 

Here was a poor, pitiful preacher searching for grass when he ought to have been praying for rain. You see, the drought was just a symptom of the judgment of God. The reason they didn’t have any grass was they didn’t have any rain. And the reason they didn’t have any rain was they didn’t have any revival. There are a lot of good people who are willing to go search for grass. But we don’t need to just get through the drought. What we need is showers of blessing. What we need is real revival.

 

Attention all compromisers, who are trying to have it both ways. Do you remember how it was when you first got saved? Do you remember the joy and the happiness and the thrill? Do you remember how you used to pray and it seemed like the heavens opened and God’s spirit came down and God answered your prayer? Do you remember when you used to read this book and it used to burst aflame in your hand? Do you remember how you used to pray and testify for the Lord Jesus Christ and there was power and conviction and souls were saved? It’s not happening any more. Somehow you’ve gotten successful. Somehow you’ve cooled down. Somehow you’ve come in league with this world and you’ve become a friend of this world. It’s not that you don’t love God, you do love God. You come to church, but you’re not out and out for God. You’re not willing to bear the reproach of the Lord Jesus Christ. You’ve got one foot in the world, one foot in the church, and you’re miserable in both worlds. You have to pity the Obadiahs who don’t have enough conviction to serve God all the way and don’t have enough courage to serve the devil all the way.

 

The compromisers: They are the alibi of lost people and a stumbling block to the saints.

 

2.     The Corrupt

Look in verse 17, “And it came to pass that when Ahab sought Elijah that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel?”

 

Now we meet Ahab who was absolutely, totally corrupt. He didn’t love God. Actually he hated God. He was vile, immoral, lascivious, wicked, and cruel. Notice what the Bible says about Ahab in I Kings 16:30, “And Ahab the son of Omni, did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.”

And verse 33, “And Ahab made a grove, and Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all of the kings of Israel which were before him.” The corrupt man, Ahab, we meet him, and we’ll meet them everywhere. They hate God, they hate Christ, they hate the Bible, they hate the church, they hate you, they hate me, and well they ought.

 

Ahab hated Elijah. Ahab looked at Elijah and said, “You’re the one who is causing all this trouble.”

 

There are a lot of people in this world who think that we’re the problem.  There are a lot of pornographers who would like to get rid of us. There are a lot of drug runners and whiskey dealers who would like to get rid of us. There are a lot of hate mongers, wicked liberals and racists who would like to get rid of us. There are a lot of people who do not like what we stand for and what we believe and what we practice. We are a thorn in their side. But that doesn’t make any difference to me. We are known by those who don’t like us. We give these kind of people insomnia.

 

You can’t be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and not have some people who don’t like you. The Bible says, “Beware when all men speak well of you.” There are the Ahabs who are corrupt, who oppose all that the Bible says. But all of the Ahabs in the world cannot stop us from getting revival. The problem is not the Ahabs; the problem is with the Obadiahs. Now I want you to understand that. God doesn’t say, “If only the government would straighten up, if only television would clean up, if only Hollywood would reform.” You can’t reform Hollywood. Adrian Rogers said you might as well try to run a soda shop in hell as to reform Hollywood. You can’t fix it. That’s not where the problem is. The problem is with God’s people, with the Obadiahs. God said, “If My people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.”

 

They are all around us. I cannot believe the depth of immorality, the unspeakable wickedness, the arrogance that struts abroad in our land. We ought to tremble when we think of the wickedness that is rampant in our land. But I want to mention another category of persons that we are going to face. Not only the compromisers, and not only the corrupted, but we are also going to meet...

 

3.     The Complacent.

vv. 20-21 “So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And 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.”

 

Now here were the fence-straddlers. They had never made a commitment to Christ. They had never made a commitment to Baal.

 

The biggest fool is not the man who says there is no God. The biggest fool is the man who says there is a God and then doesn’t serve him.

 

What did the people do? They didn’t even argue with him. They “answered him not a word.” They pleaded the Fifth. I feel like electrifying that fence and trying to get them on one side or the other. There they are, the complacent. And why hadn’t they decided? Because they’d not seen enough to convince them one way or the other. Do you know what’s wrong with our world today? Did you know that all over our county there are people who have their eyes on us Christians? And all over America today there are people who have their eyes on those who call themselves believers. And it’s not that they haven’t been exposed to the gospel … they’ve heard enough preaching to bring in the millennium. It is not a definition of the gospel that they need; it is a demonstration of the gospel that they need.

 

These people in our text, these blank faced heathens, they don’t know whether to serve Baal or serve God. And the reason that they do not know is that so many of us have not shown the power of God in our lives that would cause them so say, “That’s what I need!” But right now they are sitting on the fence. They are complacent about the whole matter. Oh, may God give us a mighty demonstration of His power in our lives.

 

Now I want to mention to you a fourth category of persons that we meet here. Not only do we meet the compromisers, the Obadiahs. Not only do we meet the corrupt, the Ahabs. Not only do we meet the complacent, the crowd who are sitting on the fence. All of these are enemies of revival. But also you’re going to meet the competitors.

 

4.     The Competitors.

These are they who are in business themselves to try to draw away the hearts and lives of people.

 

vv. 22-24, “Then 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. Let 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: And 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…”

 

This is the test of fire. “And the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.” Now this silent crowd is coming to life. There is going to be a contest. There is going to be a showdown on Mount Carmel.

 

In this corner - the priests of Baal. And what was Baal? Baal was an ungodly, licentious, demon god that they worshiped. And the priests of Baal were in competition with the prophets of God.

 

Today the church of the living God faces more competition than she’s ever known. There is a revival today, only the devil is the one having it. There is a revival of atheism, a revival of humanism, a revival of demonism, a revival of sorcery, a revival of sexual immorality like we’ve never seen before.

 

And in this corner – Elijah, the prophet of God.  And Elijah knew something we need to learn better than we have so far. That is, “Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.” And Elijah was not afraid of a showdown, for he knew who would win. We don’t have to be afraid of the organized, militant, demon forces of hell if we have the power of our God upon us.

 

And these prophets of Baal were powerless and impotent because they were bound by the mighty power of the true God.  Baal was energized by a demon spirit and I believe that they were wrestling against flesh and blood, but even though there are demon spirits, we don’t have to fear them. We read in the Bible that demons and fallen angels came into being when a third of the angels fell from heaven. But if a third of the angels fell that means two thirds didn’t fall. That means we have two angels for every demon.

 

There are strident forces and demonized religions in America and all over the world saying, “Listen to us.” But they can’t hold back revival either. The Ahabs can’t hold back revival either. And the complacent can’t hold back revival. Only God’s people who compromise can hold back revival.

 

But now we meet a guy God can use…

 

5.     The Courageous.

vv. 30-34, “And 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. And 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: And 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. And 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. And 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.”

 

Now remember the God that answers by fire is going to be God. But you don’t start a fire with water. And yet, a God that can’t burn wet wood is no good. Now the entire thing is sopping with water.

 

vv. 35-37         “And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water. 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. 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.”

 

Here we find the formula for revival. Do you want to see what it is? Do you want to see what this courageous man did that day on Mount Carmel that we may repeat in this day and this age?

 

1.     Solidarity.

In v. 30 he fixed the altar and said to the people, “Come here.”  And as they came forward to him they were coming together with each other.

 

Then He brought these stones together, one stone for each of the 12 tribes of Israel. It was another symbol of God’s people coming together in unity, around the altar. How are we going to come together? What is the source of our unity? This Old Testament altar was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must come together at the cross. The ground at the cross is level. It makes no differences what race, it makes no differences what background. It makes no differences what economic or social background. We must come together. The Bible says, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Proverbs says God hates discord among brethren. Acts says that on the day of Pentecost, that they were all together in one place in one accord. Oh, the devil doesn’t want that. The devil had rather start a church fight than open a house of pornography any day. He had rather start a church fuss than to sell a barrel of whiskey any day. God wants His people to lock arms together. The church is a Christian army going forth behind the banner of Christ. There must be that solidarity, that oneness of spirit.

 

Now the second thing I want you to notice in this formula for revival, not only solidarity, but separation.

 

2.     Separation.

Look in verse 32, “And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar.” This trench was a line of distinction. It was a border. It was a separation. What was he doing? He was showing that there is a difference. God’s people are to be separated. The trouble today is that we look like the world, act like the world, dress like the world and even sometimes smell like the world. The Christian ought to look different, act different, be different. You ought to stand out like a diamond in a coal mine. But

 we’re not different. We have gotten everything so mixed up today that there is no distinction, no holiness in the people of God. May God give us some old-fashioned separation.

 

Are you a separated Christian? Is there a difference? Do the people with whom you go and live and work, can they see a difference in you? You laugh at the same smutty jokes, you take a little drink, you smoke, you gamble [lottery], you do all of these things, and you wonder why we don’t have revival.

 

Not only is there solidarity, not only is there separation, but there was sacrifice.

 

3.     Sacrifice.

Look in verse 33a, “And he put the wood in order and cut the bullock in pieces and laid him on the wood.”

There was a sacrifice that day, a bloody sacrifice. And there will never be revival without sacrifice. Now I’ve already told you that this sacrifice is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. Real revival will come in power and the power by which it will come will be the power of the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Is there right now in your heart, this moment, any unconfessed, any unrepented of sin that’s not covered by the blood of Jesus? If not, why not?

 

First of all, solidarity, God’s people coming together. Secondly, separation, God’s people acting like it. Thirdly, sacrifice, the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, and our personal surrender to Christ. And then I want you to notice fourthly, the spirit.

 

4.     The Spirit.

Notice verse 35, “And the water ran about the altar and he filled the trench with water.”

Now in the Bible water is symbolic of the Spirit of God. We are to put aside the flesh and be filled. [fasting]

 

Are you thirsty? Are you? Do you want more? Do you want God’s Holy Spirit to possess you? You say, “God knows I’m empty.” I didn’t ask you if you were empty, I asked are you thirsty? My car’s been empty many times, but it’s never once been thirsty. Are you thirsty? Do you want more? Do you long for more?

 

5.     Supplication.

vv. 36-37 “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 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 of these things at Thy word, hear me Lord, hear me that this people may know that Thou art the Lord God and that Thou hast turn their heart back again.”

 

What a great prayer it was, and it was a prayer for revival. Only 63 words. It wasn’t a long prayer, it was a burning prayer. It was a focused prayer. It was an urgent prayer. Notice the power of it.

 

The burning ambition of his heart was that God be glorified. Oh God, give us some men, some women, with burning hearts and bursting lips who long and yearn and sigh for the name of God to be exalted, for Jesus to be glorified, for Christ to be lifted up. Then we’ll have revival. That was the purpose of Elijah’s prayer. “That this people may know that Thou art the Lord God.” Let the fire fall!  That’s the formula for revival:

Solidarity. God’s people coming together.

Separation, God’s people acting like it.

Sacrifice, the blood of Jesus and our living sacrifice.

And the Holy Spirit being poured out on us, praying in the spirit and supplicating for the glory of God. What was the result of that prayer that day?

vv. 38-39         “Then the fire of the Lord fell.” Put a circle around the word then. “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. And when all of the people saw it they fell on their faces and they said, The Lord He is the God,” not a God, the God, the one and only, “The Lord He is the God.”

 

The fire of the Lord falling represents God’s judgment upon sin. Sin needed to be dealt with. And when the fire of the Lord fell it fell on that sacrifice and it consumed it completely. Now pay much attention. Had there been no sacrifice upon that altar and had the fire fallen it would have consumed all of them. Are you paying attention? The fire is going to fall. No ifs, ands, and buts about it. The question is where? And if it doesn’t fall on that sacrifice, it’s going to fall on you. America is going to burn. There are no questions about that. America will burn in the fires of revival or America is going to burn in the fire of judgment, but America is going to burn. I pray that America will burn with a mighty, sweeping, glorious revival fire.

 

The fire of Lord fell and it was truly “the fire of the Lord.” It wasn’t something cooked up, it was something prayed down. It wasn’t an emotional contrivance of music and lights…it was God!

 

Next time:  After the cleansing fire, the cooling flood…those showers of blessing. But now, let’s follow the formula.  Will you come to the altar right now in solidarity?  We come together, we rally around the cross of Christ.  Let’s pray together for God to separate us, sanctify us, fill us, and grant to us a revival!

        If you need to be saved, accept the sacrifice of Jesus.  Let God’s fire fall there, rather than upon you.   [helps by Adrian Rogers]