“If The Lord is God, Follow Him”
I Kings 18:21
A Sermon By Pastor Mark Taylor
We learn from the life of Elijah what we need to do for God’s power and presence to be evident in our lives. Do you want God’s help in your life, family, heath, job, church, and relationships? For many of us the question isn’t, do we want God’s help? The question is, are we willing to do what’s necessary to receive God’s help.
Elijah prayed earnestly that it might not rain. “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit ” (James 5:17-18). The background of this story is that for 3 ½ years Elijah has been praying that it would not rain in Israel so that the people might realize they have sinned and brought God’s displeasure upon themselves. The drought was to prepare the people to repent. The drought was to awaken their sleeping conscience through the door of human need. God often has to get our attention in the natural, before He can speak to us about the spiritual. We begin to get a picture of man who’s concern for Israel was so great that he didn’t care if they suffered in the natural, if it led to spiritual revival. The text in James doesn’t simply say, "he prayed," but that he prayed, "earnestly." He was so moved by their sinfulness that he earnestly asked God, "do whatever it takes to get this people’s attention." “And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21).
When Jesus walked on earth He said you are either hot or cold, the middle ground disappeared. “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” (Matthew 12:30). If you chose God you are blessed with the refreshing rain of heaven, if not your heart becomes hardened and you wind up committing sins you would have never dreamed possible. Christian’s are called the "Extreme Right," and the simple fact is we haven’t changed our views on right and wrong, but the left has gone further and further left.
Elijah repaired the broken altar "And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down." 1 Kings 18:30 Altars symbolize prayer, fellowship with God, dying to self, and yielding to the will of God. The fact that the altar was in a state of disrepair was a powerful symbol in and of itself of how far the people had gotten from God. Even in Christian families there is very little of what could be called a family prayer altar. What little praying is done is more by the individual rather than a collective effort. The family altar has been broken down. "My house shall be called a house of prayer" (Mark 11:17) , was Jesus’ declaration, but of how many churches is that true?
The fire came down. "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." 1 Kings 18:38. Revival is not the fire falling, but that which causes God to respond by sending the fire. Revival is brokenness that God responds to with acceptance. Revival is the fire of God coming down on broken and contrite hearts. When the conditions are right, God will always respond with the fire of His presence. He will burn up our past mistakes and failures. Your sins will be forgiven and forgotten. “For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalms 103:11-12).
Spiritual restoration lead to earthly and financial blessing; "And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain." 1 Kings 18:41. Because of sin there had been no rain for 3 ½ years, imagine the devastation - poverty, famine, unemployment, and sickness; but all that was about to change. With the repentance came the rain of God, for man and beast alike, and the curse was lifted off of the earth. When men seek first the kingdom of heaven, all these other things will be added to them. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:33-34). With the coming of the rain, crops were restored, granaries were filled and prosperity and economic recovery came again to Israel.
If you choose to “Follow Him”, the Lord Jesus Christ, you will be filled with His Holy Spirit and will be able to defeat and overcome Satan’s power. It has been said and it is true that “Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong even if everyone is for it.”
