Study on Elijah
Do we really just need to be Christian? Can we not mix and match our Christianity with other religions? People today think this is new thinking but here in 1 kings 18 we see the people thought this was a reasonable idea. God was not happy with their thinking.
1/. The man who stands alone.
James reminds us Elijah was just a man like us. He is now heading back to confront the King of Israel, Ahab.
Elijah in verse 19 gives the l
King an order. Let the battle begin. Which God is the real God?
Ahab sent the word and the prophets and all the people come to see this Great spectacle. 850 prophets versus 1. Surely there would be only one winner.
Elijah looks as if he is standing alone but of course he wasn't. Elijah was standing with and for God or rather God was standing with Elijah.
2/. The people who sit on the fence.
Elijah preaches the word of God to the people. He asks them how long they are going to sit on the fence. He tells them if Baal is the true god follow him but if the Lord is the true God, follow him.
We need to choose who the real God is.
The true God is the one who sits in heaven and who sent His Son Jesus Christ to this earth to be our saviour.
Would Israel opt for the true God or would they opt for the idol Baal.
Baal was worshipped by the King and Queen.
Baal wasn't a fad. It had been around for a long time.
Baal seemed to be relevant according to its followers.
Baal appealed to the people's sensuality.
Would we have been any different. Would we have wavered between the 2 opinions.
We worship our possessions. We worship sport. We worship sex. We can live two different lives. Christians on a Sunday and then live our lives as we like every other day. We need to choose the God we are going to follow. The Lord is either God of all or He is not God at all.
What is my Baal. What is crowding God out.
We don't have an answer form the people here. They sat on the fence. Elijah needs to show them the power of God and the falseness of Baal. He sets this test with the altar. Whichever god sends down the fire wins.
3/. The worshippers who shout to nobody.
The prophets took the bull and prepared it. They called on Baal from morning till noon. They called and prayed. They shouted. But there was no reply.
They tried harder. They danced around the altar.
Elijah can't contain himself. He mocks them and Baal. He tells them to shout louder. He gives some silly excuses about where Baal my be.
They shouted louder for some more hours but still there was no fire.
Why?
He didn't exist. He only existed in their imaginations.
Our idols have no power to give us what we need. They can't forgive our sins. Only God can do that thought the death of His Son on that cross at Calvary.
Are you trusting in a god that is a nothing or are you trusting in the true God who can save you from a lost eternity. The true God who can forgive your sins.
Created 9 months ago
