On Fire

January 19, 2020                       NOTES NOT EDITED
On Fire!

1Kings 18:16-46

SIS: We need to pray down the power of heaven to set fire the altars of our devotion so that we might make a difference in the world for Christ.

Twenty-five years ago I first preached from the text in 1Kings 18, beginning in verse 16. I was fascinated by the courage of the Prophet Elijah as he faced off with 450 false prophets of Baal (and 400 prophets of Asherah, Baals female counterpart). This was a life or death challenge when Elijah threw down the gauntlet before 850 sword wielding private puppets of the evil King and Queen, Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah’s only weapon would be prayer.

There are many important elements to this story, a godly prophet, ungodly prophets, knives, swords and even blood.  But, the key ingredient in this story—the climax—is fire falling from heaven!  Fire is often associated in the Bible with God.  God rained down fire and brimstone on wicked Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24); God appeared to Moses in a burning bush (Ex. 3;2); God is called a “consuming fire” (Heb. 12:29.  In several places God is referred to as a “purifying or refining fire” (Zech. 13:9; Mal. 3:3).  In the prophetic portrait of John in the Revelation, the Lord is described as having eyes of fliery fiery flames (1:14).  Fire has had a long association with God, even for those blind philosophers searching for God by another name.

Heraclitus, one of the very earliest philosophers considered fire to be the “arche,” or the creating, driving principle of the cosmos. 

We all know the power of fire, especially here in Southern California. The Woolsey Fire last year marched right up to the edge of the church property, even scorching railroad ties lining the hillside.  As I speak, wildfires are raging in Australia, now having consumed over 12 million acres, displacing people and killing millions of animals.

Fire is an apt metaphor for God’s power, especially His judgment.  It is also a great metaphor for the “cleansing power of God’s mercy and grace.”  Who has not watched a Western movie where someone is shot and needs “trail surgery” to survive.  The “Trail Surgeon” is a fellow cowboy and the “Trail Scalpel” is the trusty long knife.  Before the Trail Surgeon begins to dig the bullet out of the victim’s side, he holds the knife over a campfire to sterilize it.  I remember this same procedure many times as a kid when Dad would hold a needle over a match to “sterilize” it before digging a splinter out of my finger.

Fire has a leading role in our text of the great revival under Elijah. Fire is a symbol of God’s power and presence.  If we want to see a wildfires of revival sweep across our nation, we need to have the kind of faith that Elijah had that day on Mt. Carmel.

Let’s read about praying fire down from heaven (1Kngs 18:36-39).

What Elijah accomplished that day under the most challenging and desperate of circumstances is nothing less than miraculous.  Miraculous is a word that is perhaps used too often and too broadly, much like the word, hero.  But, miraculous certainly applies to Elijah’s event that day in every sense of the world.

I believe the same miraculous power God exhibited in Elijah’s life that day is available for each of us today.  Daring discipleship even in the face of the great challenges of our day will bring the same results as they did that day for Elijah.  We just need to be “On Fire” for the Lord.

Faith that is On Fire has three components.

1.  First, On Fire Faith Makes the Right CHOICE (16-22)

¹⁶ Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. ¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you destroyer of Israel?”  ¹⁸ He replied, “I have not destroyed Israel, but you and your father’s house have, because you have abandoned the Lord’s commands and followed the Baals.  ¹⁹ Now summon all Israel to meet me at Mount Carmel,  along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah  who eat at Jezebel’s table.” ²⁰ So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. ²¹ Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?  If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.”  But the people didn’t answer him a word.

So, here are the “sides” in this Mt. Carmel Contest.  Verse 16 mentions, Ahab, the King of Israel (the Northern Ten Tribes).  Ahab holds the distinction of being the “most wicked king” in Israel’s history. One great preacher in a famous sermon titled, “Pay Day Someday,” called Ahab, “That vile human toad that squatted on the throne of Israel.” Ahab had won the honor of “Most Wicked King,” from another wicked King named, “Omri.” Omri happened to be Ahab’s father.  Omri arranged the marriage of his son to Jezebel, a very wicked woman from the pagan nation of Tyre.  Together, Ahab and Jezebel raised wickedness and idolatry to a new high—or should I say, new low.  450 prophets of Baal served in the court of Ahab.  The female counterpart of Baal was Asherah.  400 false prophets of Asherah enjoyed dining with the wicked queen, Jezebel (v19).

Those are the players on the side of evil.  An evil king.  An evil queen. 450 evil prophets of Baal.  400 evil prophets of Asherah.  On God’s side, one lonely prophet named Elijah.  The deck seemed terribly stacked against good.  We see this same situation today.

As we think of the number of cases at the Supreme Court that have gone against the righteous precepts of God’s Word.  Think of 1962 in the case, Engel versus Vitale.  The court decision removed prayer from public schools.  A year later in Abington Township School District v. Schempp the court outlawed Bible reading in public schools.  These attacks upon faith laid the foundation for the worst decision of the Court in the history of America, Roe versus Wade, 1972.  Now, the Court removed the right to life for an unborn child.  Closer to our day we have seen the Court stand against traditional marriage and promoting gay rights by legalizing same-sex marriage.  We will soon see the Court officially declare that man and woman, male and female, are archaic categories and should be—and will be—illegal in our country.  It certainly seems that there are more false prophets of Baal and Asherah setting the course for our nation than prophets of Almighty God pushing back against this godlessness.

More and more we see the political and judicial machine of our nation line up on the side of evil against the Church.

A crowd had gathered that day watching what was taking place.  They saw the teams line up to prepare for a fight.  850 false prophets carrying knives and swords (we will learn later) and an old prophet who was hated by Ahab because Elijah had prophesized a draught three year earlier.  Israel, under the curse of God, was in a desperate situation.  Baal was the fertility god but as the people looked around barren soil parched by years of drought, they were open to perhaps changing sides.  In other words, their allegiance was as wavering as a feather in a windstorm.  Many in the crowd had been with God.  Then they switched to Baal, and now they were wavering somewhere in the middle.  Elijah called for a “clear choice.”  He challenged them

Vs 21: “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?  If Yahweh is God, follow Him. But if Baal, follow him.”

The Bible records the crowd’s response, “But the people didn’t answer.”  Why, because they felt safer not making a choice until they saw who came out on top—and looking at 850 armed false prophets lined up against 1 prophet of God, the people had their doubts.

The people chose to “not choose” which is itself a choice.  Many people live as if there are three choices in life:  1. Choose to follow the evil ways of the world; or 2) Simply avoid choosing and simply waver back and forth as the situation in life requires; and 3) to stand boldly for God and daringly defiant of the wicked ways of the world. 

In fact there are only two groups in life—and in eternity.  There are sheep who boldly live for God and goats who either live in open rebellion or simply fail to accept the free gift of eternal life that God offers through Jesus Christ.  The Bible makes this clear (Mt. 25),

 ³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels 5with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.  ³² All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.  ³³ He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

God or Baal.  Heaven or Hell.  Only one choice is the “right” choice.

It is not possible to “sit on the fence” in regard to the offer of salvation God makes to each of us.  The Fence separating the lost man from the man of faith is very strong . You can't bust through in your own strength; you must go through the gate.  The fence is also very thin.  No one can walk on this fence for very long.  Sooner or later you come down on one side or the other.  You must make a choice . . . INDECISION IS AS DEADLY AS OPEN REBELLION!

I stood alone at the bar of God // in the hush of the twilight dim.

And faced the question which pierced my heart?

What will you do with Him?

Crowned or Crucified?  Which shall it be,

No other choice was offered me

I knelt in tears at the feet of Christ // In the hush of the twilight dim.

And all that I was, or hoped or sought, // Surrendered unto Him.

Everyone will one day stand at the bar of God and judgment will be based upon one question:  “What Did You Do With Him? With Jesus?” On Fire faith starts with the choice to accept God’s gift of eternal life and engage in bold faith daringly defying the minions of evil.

2.  On Fire Faith Takes Necessary Chances (23-39)

What Elijah does that day on Mt. Carmel almost defies description.  There was only one outcome that would be certain after Elijah’s challenge:  death.  Either he was going to die or the 850 false prophets with swords were going to die, and the crowd was probably putting their money on the false prophets. Elijah was either bold and daring or hopelessly naïve and soon-to-be dead.  Here’s Elijah’s bold challenge (vv 23-24):

²³ Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. ²⁴ Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh.  The God who answers with fire, He is God.”

Let me repeat something you have heard me say several times in various ways:  There is no safe road to heaven.  The key to eternal life was forged in the shape of a cross.  The prophet Isaiah reminds us of the path that we must walk as bold believers daringly defying the minions of evil.  The NLT gives us a clear understanding of Isaiah’s exhortation, which we examined in last week’s sermon:

^{Isaiah 43:2(NLT)}  When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you

Notice that Isaiah says, “when,” not “if.”  When you pass through deep waters; when you go through rushing rivers; and when you walk through the fire of oppression.  Not if, but when.  There is not safe path to heaven.  All roads to heaven must pass through the cross, and earth knows no greater burden than that of “carrying the cross of Christ.”  The cross counts for everything, and the cross costs everything! 

Satan is not the worst enemy to faith, safety is.  Satan has been defeated by Christ, but when we seek safety we sacrifice obedience to Christ. 

When we sacrifice obedience TO Christ, we sacrifice victory IN Christ.  Jesus told a story that story that illustrates this point (Luke 19:12-24  NLT):

¹² He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. ¹³ Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ ¹⁴ But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’ ¹⁵ “After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were. ¹⁶ The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’  ¹⁷ “ ‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’ ¹⁸ “The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’ ¹⁹ “ ‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’ ²⁰ “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. ²¹ I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’  ²² “ ‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, ²³ why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ ²⁴ “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’

The man or woman who sacrifices obedience for safety loses everything! I read once that there is only one risk that should be avoided at all costs, “not taking any risks!” Anybody hear of a young man named Mark Zuckenberg?  He dropped out of Harvard to start FaceBook.  Quite a risk.  He said this, “The biggest risk is not taking any risk... In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”

This parable we read sets out the expectations Jesus has for those who claim to be His followers.  Jesus, the Nobleman in the story admonishes us, “Invest this for me while I am gone” (v13). 
Faith that is “On Fire” takes great CHANCES.

Elijah was investing his life in service to God and, as far as he could see from a human perspective, it was more than likely he would not come down off that mountain alive.  But, he chose to serve God not seek his own safety. Someone has said this about risk versus safety:  “A ship in harbour is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” – (William G.T. Shedd) Don’t seek safety. Seek obedience.

On Fire faith is On Fire because it takes necessary chances.

3.  On Fire Faith Enjoys a Great Celebration (41-45)

Verse 26 tells us that the false prophets “called upon Baal from morning to noon, but Baal never answered.  They danced ecstatically calling out in loud voices.  Baal never answered.  After several hours Elijah pours salt into their wounded worship by saying, “Shout louder!  Maybe Baal’s in deep thought, or has wandered away (euphemism for relieving oneself), or travelling” (v27).

This sent the false prophets into a frenzy so that “slashed themselves with swords . . . until their blood flowed” (v28).  Still, no fire and no answer from Baal. 

Then Elijah took the stage, so to speak.  Just for heightened affect, Elijah floods the sacrifice and the altar with water (vv 32-34).  He floods the altar not just once; not twice; but three times!  Elijah wanted to make sure that when the altar burst into flames it could only be by the Hand of Almighty God and not spontaneous combustion—or some other such naturalistic explanation.

Then, verse 36, says Elijah prayed.  I said earlier that the prophets of Baal and Asherah were armed with swords and spears, and Elijah stood alone.  Well, that is true from a human perspective, but from a faith perspective we are never alone when we are standing for—and with—Almighty God!  And, we never face the forces of evil without being armed.  Like Elijah, we are armed with prayer!  This could easily be an entire sermon all by itself.  As someone has wisely said, “The child of God can do great things when they pray, but can do nothing of note UNTIL they pray!” Prayer plugs a believer into the power of Almighty God—and what great power that is!

BOOM!  THE FIRE FELL!

³⁸ Then Yahweh’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹ When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “Yahweh, He is God! Yahweh, He is God!”

God’s fire fell to consume the sacrifice and His judgment fell to consume the false prophets who had led Israel into evil, chaos, and hardship.  Look at verse 40:

⁴⁰ Then Elijah ordered them, “Seize the prophets of Baal!  Do not let even one of them escape.” So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the Wadi Kishon  and slaughtered them there.

Make no mistake about this:  those that rebel against God and refuse the salvation He offers freely by His grace, will face an eternity of torment—I don’t like to point this out, but as they say, “That’s a fact Jack!”

The people of Israel were ecstatic and responded with worshipful hearts to God when the fire of God’s promise fell at the behest of God’s prophet.  But . . . now listen to this . . . the story isn’t over!

Remember I said that Ahab hated Elijah because Elijah prophesied three years of drought.  Crops had dried up.  People were hungry.  The economy was as dry as burnt toast.  People desperately prayed for rain, hoping that Baal, the fertility god, would send it.  He didn’t send rain.  In fact, the earth continued to dry and die.

Now, look what happens when the people finally surrender to Yahweh, the Only True God.

⁴¹ Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a rainstorm.” ⁴² So Ahab went to eat and drink, but Elijah went up to the summit of Carmel.  He bowed down on the ground and put his face between his knees.  ⁴³ Then he said to his servant, “Go up and look toward the sea.” So he went up, looked, and said, “There’s nothing.” Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.” ⁴⁴ On the seventh  time, he reported, “There’s a cloud as small as a man’s hand coming from the sea.” Then Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Get your chariot ready and go down so the rain doesn’t stop you.’ ”

⁴⁵ In a little while, the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and there was a downpour.

The parched dry soil of Israel received the abundance of life-giving rain.  The tattered, torn, bruised, and hope-starved people soon would celebrate a bumper crop of joy!

When God’s people make a solemn, absolute choice to obey God and not man; and when God’s people step out with bold, daring, On Fire faith to challenge the minions of evil in our world; then, God will send His blessings like, “a downpour.” This reminds us of
Malachi’s promise (Mal. 3:10):

Test Me in this way,” says the Lord of Hosts. “See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.

Specifically, Malachi is referencing the giving of the tithe, but broadly Malachi 3:10 speaks of living a life of bold, daring, On Fire faith in general.

The one who makes the choice and takes the chance enjoys the celebration.

[Close] Earlier I said that what Elijah accomplished on Mt. Carmel in the face of great danger was nothing short of miraculous.  Let me add this:  nothing short of the miraculous is going to turn your life around.  Nothing short of God invading your life miraculously with His grace, will bring lasting and meaningful change in your life.  The same is true for our nation.  Nothing short of a miraculous intervention by God will save our nation.  My fear is this:  do we really believe God will miraculously send His fire from heaven?

 I am encouraged about a story I read over two decades ago. ARNOLD LEMERAND was getting out of his car on this Sunday near a construction site where young children were playing.  He realized something was wrong.  An 1800 lb. cast iron pipe had rolled off the stack and pinned 5 year-old Philip Toth underneath.  He was not immediately crushed because the ground was soft.  But, he was suffocating.  Arnold looked around for help. No one was around but the children.  He did what he had to do.  He lifted the 1800 lb. pipe off Philip's head and a couple girls pulled the boy from under the pipe.  Later Lemerand said, “I thought the pipe weighed maybe 300 to 400 pounds.”  This would have still been a superhuman feat.  It actually weighed 1800 pounds.  The deadlift record under ideal conditions after years of training is only about 1100 pounds. After the incident Arnold went back to the site to show his sons what had happened.  He couldn't budge the pipe.  His burly sons together couldn't budge the pipe. A police officer tried to budge the pipe, as did various reporters and photographers.  Nobody could budge the pipe.  Later, at an AP news interview, the reporter asked about Arnold's strength and general health, or if he had any regular health practice he followed.  His answer was, "I try to avoid heavy lifting!"  (Arnold 56 yrs old had had a heart attack 6 yrs before!)

Can you imagine how much great work you could accomplish in this world if you determined today that you can “do all things through Christ Who strengthens you?”  Can you imagine how “On Fire” you would become to the empire of evil if you trusted God as much as Elijah trusted him?

Will you join me today in praying that God would give you a “On Fire Faith” that poses a real and present danger to the forces of evil in our world?  Ask God to set your giving “on fire.”  Ask God to set your worship attendance “on fire.”  Ask God to set your prayer life on fire.  God’s fire falls on On Fire faith.