CHOICES
I Kings 18:17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”

Have you ever been accused of causing trouble? What causes trouble in the house of God?

Naming sin or committing it?

The greatest want of the world is the want of men --men who will not be bought or sold; men who in their inmost souls are true and honest; men who do not fear to call sin by its right name; men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole; men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall. Ellen White – Education, pp. 56, 57

18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father’s house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel.

Notice that Ahab, who has had his “prophets” surrounding him for the entire famine, responds immediately to Elijah, because he knows that finally God's man is speaking with an authority that can at last end the famine. Contrast to his “prophets.”

Would you have gone to Carmel to watch?

Set the scene – Hilltop place of worship Baal's altar and the ancient, broken down, altar of Israel's God. {+100 years after Solomon built God's Temple @ Jerusalem}

21 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.”

Idiomatic expression: “How long are you going to limp around on two crutches?”

Shallow application – These people were worshiping Baal and couldn't decide

Deeper Application – We are as indecisive as they. We half-hardheartedly follow God and refuse to step firmly.

I share my service & trust between God and my …. Work, savings account, retirement, spouse, home, family, etc.

If I trust in my bank account and retirement, where is God? Where does my life call for faith.

But the people answered him not a word.

What are our words worth – when the time comes for publicly choosing God – what will my & your words be? Why are atheists so free to speak out

Not long ago at a high school, three military recruiters showed up to address some high school seniors. Graduation was only a few months away, and the military men were there for the obvious--to articulate to these graduating young men and women some of the options that military service would provide them. The meeting was to last forty-five minutes. Each recruiter--representing Army, Navy, and Marine Corps--was to have fifteen minutes.

Well, the Army and Navy recruiters got carried away. When it came time for the Marine to speak, he had two minutes. So he walked up with two minutes to make his pitch. He stood utterly silent for a full sixty seconds--half of his time. Then he said this:

"I doubt whether there are two or three of you in this room who could even cut it in the Marine Corps. I want to see those two or three immediately in the dining hall when we are dismissed." He turned smartly and sat down. When he arrived in the dining hall, those students interested in the Marines were a mob. They acted without delay. He appealed to the heroic dimension in every heart.

22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”
So all the people answered and said, “It is well spoken.”

Remember – These people who seemed to be supportive of Baal are just fickle as can be – they are perfectly willing to follow whoever comes up with the win today. WE ARE TO BE MORE STEADFAST THEN THIS!

25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it.”
26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, “O Baal, hear us!” But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, “Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened.”

No doubt they would love to have killed him, but this would not prove that their god was superior to Yahweh. It would only prove they had failed. It wasn’t just Elijah; the people were watching.

3 years w/out rain and any spark would be sufficient

28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied [in ecstatic frenzy] until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.

I once read the following definition of a fanatic: "A fanatic is a person who, having lost sight of his goal, redoubles his effort to get there." The fanatic runs around frantically getting nowhere. He is a basketball player without a basket, a tennis player without a net, a golfer without a green. For a Christian to make progress in ... learning to please God, he must have a clear idea of what his goal is. ... Jesus stated it this way: "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."R.C. Sproul

SCENE CHANGE

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people came near to 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, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, “Israel shall be your name.” 32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, “Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood.” 34 Then 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. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench 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 Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.”
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!”

Rev 5:1 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,12 saying with a loud voice:
“ Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

The Fire of the Lord came and:

Rebuked the prophets of Baal

Responded to Elijah's prayer

Demonstrated God's glory to the people

Cleansed the altar of sacrifice

Ended indecision

Settled the controversy

Called all to a decision for God

This Same Fire....

This Same Fire....

What is God's claim on your Time? Talent? Treasure? God calls not for some of you but for all of you and more than you are.

We want a great life and church – at bargain prices – How much would I have to give to get...?

A Church with all the activities my family needs?

A Life Abundant with Joy and Peace that passes understanding?

Would I give my undivided submission?

If not to God – then to Whom?

If not now, then When?

The LORD, HE IS GOD! The LORD, HE IS GOD!