THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 18:20-46
20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
21 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.
22 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.
23 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:
24 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. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
25 And 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.
THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE 1 Kings 18:20-46
26 And 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.
27 And 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.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And 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.
30 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.
31 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:
32 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.
33 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.
34 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.
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 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.
37 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.
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.
41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,
43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.
THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE 1 Kings 18:20-46
44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stop thee not.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE 1 Kings 18:20-46
Elijah challenges the prophets of Baal to a contest to show whether the Lord God is the supreme and sufficient God, or Baal (v.24b). Observe the moods and actions of the prophets of Baal at the contest as the day progressed. Elijah began to taunt them when they failed to get Baal’s response (v.27). How do you think they would have felt at the end of their turn? Notice what Elijah did and consider carefully the content of his prayer (vs.36&37) The contest rises to a climax in vs.38&39.. How would you feel, if you were present at such an event? God’s answer by fire drew a ready response from the people. Indeed, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, He alone is God! He, the Almighty God, has supreme power over all created things. Are you personally convinced that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ alone has supreme power and that Jesus is enough for all our needs? The 450 prophets of Baal met their end that day, no more to promote idolatry. Finally, Elijah engaged in clear faith in Jesus) are persevering prayer for a heavy downpour of rain (vs, 41-45, cf. Jas. 5:17&18) THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE 1 Kings 18:20-46
Prayer: Lord God, thank you that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Missions: The Church of Sweden is no longer the State Church. Its size, political influence, and social impact are large, but on the wane. Liberal theology and practice dominate the church, from endorsing same-sex marriage to universalism and rejecting the divine authority of Scripture. Politicians (often without any clear faith in Jesus) are frequently chosen to sit on parish Councils which has led to 2% church attendance.THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE 1 Kings 18:20-46
Bible In One Year: Lamination 1-5
Prayer: Lord God, thank you that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Church, from
Key verse: Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between Iwo opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but ii Baai is god, follow him. But the people said nothing. (1Kgs. 18:21)
THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE 1 Kings 18:20-46
