Elijah and the Contest
How long will you wait?
Text: 1 Kings 18:17-46
Indecision
“Fear stifles our thinking and actions. It creates indecisiveness that results in stagnation ” ~ Charles Stanley
“Indecision may or may not be my problem.” ~ Jimmy Buffet
Indecision is the result of fear and doubt
Indecision creates greater fear and anxiety
Background
Solomon’s reign (1 Kings 11)
Solomon’s death (1 Kings 11:41-43)
Solomon’s sons Rehoboam & Jeroboam
The Kingdom Divided (1 Kings 12:16-20)
Both Kingdoms begin to practice idolatry
(Read 1 Kings 16:23-25; 29-33)
Confrontation
Elijah opposes Ahab and Jezebel
“As the Lord, the God of Israel lives, before whom
I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain
these years,except by my word.” (I Kings 17:1)
After three years of drought, Elijah confronts Ahab again.
A challenge is offered-
“Give us two oxen, let the prophets of Baal chose their ox, and cut it up and lay it on wood, but put no fire under it. I will prepare the other ox and lay it on the wood, and I will not put fire under it. Then you call on your god and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, He is God.”
(See 1 Kings 18:1, 17-19; 1 Kings 18:25-29; 1 Kings 18:30-)
The Contest 1 Kings 18:20-40
“How long will you hesitate between two opinions?
If the Lord is God, follow Him!”
Footnotes: God is not interested in halfhearted commitment. He will either have our hearts in their entirety, or He will have nothing to do with us at all. (See Joshua 24:15; Psalm 119:113; Matthew 6:24; John 14:6)
The Lessons All religions are not equal*
Activity, dedication, and emotion are not always signs of spirituality*
The benefit of faith depends on the object of your faith*
God does not accept partial loyalty or shared devotion
The faith you live by should be enough to die by*
Prayers that move the heart of God will impact your reality
* Notes from David Jeremiah
Footnotes: Deut. 4:24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
1 Sam 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.
For consider what great things he has done for you.
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Joshua 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Psalm 119:113 I hate the double-minded, but I love your law.
James 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for
three years and six months.
It’s Decision Time
Right Now…
You are one decision away
from changing your future!
How long will you hesitate?