The Fight to the Finish

1 Ki 18:16-40

Imagine this scene. Ahab has been scouring the whole world looking for Elijah. For three years since he last stood in court, it hadn’t rained. Then one day, Elijah just shows up at his palace. Not only does he have the audacity to show up unafraid but he challenges Ahab and Jezabel and their prophets to a contest of gods. Who’s god is greater? Which God should be the God of Israel?

The big day arrives and they march up Mount Carmel. Elijah against 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah. It seemed like the odds were all in their favor. They clearly had more priests than Jehovah. They held sway over the people of Israel, and they had the King and Queen in their back pocket. It was time to get rid of this troublesome prophet and his God. What they didn’t count on was a prophet who had complete faith in the God of gods. He was going to Give them proof of who the real God was.

PRAYER

I. Preparation for the Proof

A. Elijah assembles the audience

1. Back in Elijah’s time there wasn’t 24 hour news channels, Satellite or pay per view.

2. Elijah needed enough people there to end any doubt about his proof of who is the real God.

3. The prophets are there of course.

a) Idolatry had so invaded the courts of Ahab that the priests at the very table of the queen.

b) What power they possessed.

4. The people also gather to see this showdown.

5. It could prove to be very entertaining. Cow tipping was getting really boring anyway.

B. A call to choose sides.

1. Elijah looks at the assembled people and challenges them to take a side.

2. They couldn’t sit on the fence in this matter. God or Baal.

3. Baal, the one they sacrificed their children to.

4. God the one who led them out of Egypt, gave them the promised land, made them a great people, provided for them and cared for them even when they turned away from them.

5. Now was their chance to stand up to Ahab and stand for God.

6. Notice their response in vs. 21: 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." But the people said nothing. NIV

7. They remained uncommitted.

8. How many times have we failed to take a stand for God when it came to the world or God?

C. Elijah goes on alone

1. This didn’t deter Elijah.

2. He was going to finish this even if he had to do it all alone.

3. He had God on his side and he knew he would win.

4. Now was the time to “blow them away”

II. Presentation of the Proof

A. A test of fire

1. Elijah sets the challenge in motion

2. 1 Kings 18:22-24 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then 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." NIV

3. Baal was the God of the Sun

a) He was the god that controlled the harvest and the productivity of the crops.

b) He had all the fire he needed to start this sacrifice.

c) So did Jehovah.

d) This was a fair fight.

4. 1 Kings 18:24b Then all the people said, "What you say is good." NIV

B. The battle begins

1. The priest of Baal begin chanting.

a) nothing happens

2. They begin crying out loudly to their god.

a) nothing happens

3. They began dancing and shouting

a) nothing happens

4. They do this for several hours

a) nothing happens

5. Elijah even helps them a little.

a) 1 Kings 18:27-29 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention. NIV

b) nothing happens

C. Elijah’s turn

1. He rebuilds the altar of God, a stone for each tribe of Israel. But then he does something that had to stun everyone. He orders them to dig a trench around the altar, and dump 12 barrels of water over the sacrifice, altar and trench.

2. Fire on a completely soaked sacrifice. This could be interesting.

3. Elijah doesn’t spend all day shouting and dancing. He doesn’t cut himself in a frenzy like the priests of Baal did. He just utters a simple faith filled prayer.

a) 1 Kings 18:36-37 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "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." NIV

b) It’s amazing what can be done with simple faith filled prayers isn’t it?

4. Look at what happens in answer to Elijah’s prayer.

a) 1 Kings 18:38-39 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. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD-he is God! The LORD-he is God!" NIV

b) God’s proof in irrefutable.

5. Elijah wins the day and the priests of Baal are put to death.

6. God reigns in his people’s hearts again.

III. Truths for Modern Day Elijahs

A. When we are sure we are in the will of God, we are invincible.

1. Elijah acted in complete confidence because he knew he was doing the will of God.

2. There is nothing worse than not knowing we are in God’s will.

a) It makes people indecisive and insecure.

b) Yet, knowing we are doing as God wants, should give us the confidence to handle anything, no matter how bad it seems.

c) We can overcome.

B. Divided Allegiance is as wrong as open idolatry

1. Just as bad as Ahab open idolatry was the Israelites willingness to try to serve 2 gods.

2. This is one of those things you can’t sit on the fence about.

3. Jesus said in Luke 11:23 "He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters. NIV

4. You can’t serve God and anything else. Not a job, not money, not your family. Nothing can come before God.

a) I want to challenge our elders and other spiritual leaders to strong to uphold the teachings of God.

b) I want to challenge parents to be strong in teaching their children that God alone can be the ruler of our hearts.

c) I want to challenge each of us as individuals to be absolutely committed to God above all else.

C. The most effective tool we have is the prayer of faith.

1. Too often prayer is the final thing we resort to in dealing with situations.

2. Let’s make prayer the first thing we do when dealing with various issues in our lives.

3. Believe that God will answer that prayer.

IV. conclusion

A. Elijah accomplished what he did not because of his abilities, but because he had a genuine faith that God could do whatever God needed to do.

B. He was risking everything by standing up to Ahab and the prophets of Baal but never flinched because of his faith in God.

C. Our God is greater than any other god man tries to worship.

1. Let him be the Lord of your life.

2. Trust him.