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A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. HOUR OF PROVOCATION
A. PERPLEXING
1. AHAB
I Kg 18:1-2a After three more years the word of YHWH came to Elijah, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain upon the earth.” So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab.
I Kg 18:17-18 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?” He answered, “I’ve not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of YHWH and followed the Baals.”
(also Jn 14:15, 21; Is 54:17; Deut 28:23-24; Gal 6:7; Prov 3:11-12)
2. FALSE PROPHETS
I Kg 18:19-20 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel.
B. PERCEPTION
1. OVERWHELMING ODDS
I Kg 18:21-22 Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you jump between two different opinions? If YHWH is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people didn’t say a word. Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of YHWH, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.
(also Rev 3:15-17)
2. ANSWER BY FIRE
I Kg 18:24 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of YHWH, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “Well said.”
(also Judges 6:20-21; II Chron 7:1)
II. HOUR OF PROVING
A. PERVERSION
1. TEST
I Kg 18:25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.”
I Kg 18:26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they danced around the altar that they had made.
2. FAILURE
I Kg 18:27-29 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” They cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation [3 pm], but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.
B. PRESSURE
1. REMEMBRANCE
I Kg 18:30-33a Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of YHWH that had been thrown down. Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of YHWH came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” and with the stones he built an altar in the name of YHWH. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
2. CHALLENGE
I Kg 18:33b-35 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. He said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” And he said, “Do it a second time.” And they did it a second time. And he said, “Do it a third time.” And they did it a third time, so that water ran around the altar and filled the trench as well.
III. HOUR OF POWER
A. PRAYER
1. SUPPLICATION
I Kg 18:36-37 And at the time of the afternoon offering, Elijah the prophet prayed, “O YHWH, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Answer me, O YHWH, answer me, that this people may know that You, O YHWH, are God, and that You have turned their hearts back.”
2. DEMONSTRATION
I Kg 18:38 Then the fire of YHWH fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, the dust, and licked up the water in the trench.
B. PENITENCE
1. REPENTANCE
I Kg 18:39 When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “YHWH, He is God; YHWH, He is God.”
(also Jn 20:28)
2. RETRIBUTION
I Kg 18:40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah descended to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered them there.
(also Heb 2:1-2; Dt 13:5)