GOD PROVES WHO HE IS:

1st Kings 18:20-40

• THE CONTEST ON MOUNT CARMEL
• THE FALSE PROPHETS OF BAAL
• ELIJAH, THE MAN OF GOD
• FIRE FROM HEAVEN

THE CONTEST ON MOUNT CARMEL

1st KINGS 18:30-40

1 Kings 18:30–40 (ESV): 30 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 the LORD that had been thrown down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD came, saying, “Israel shall be your name,” 32 and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 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. 35 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.
36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, 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. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

Hi, Dear child of The Mighty God in The Highest Heaven. Welcome to The Stable Sanctuary, a House built for Your spiritual nourishment and  development. The scripture above outlined is an episode in The Holy Bible concerning the people of Israel at a time in History, when the people had left the worship of The True God and followed a strange god named Baal. This was during the reign of King Ahab; with the influence of his wife Jezebel.

From verse 20, we learn that Ahab gathered the people and the prophets on Mount Carmel. This might have taken a couple of weeks. After which Elijah also came. It’s wonderful that Elijah is the one who triggers the contest because He knows His True God. All people were silent. Elijah, the prophet, gives instructions on what was to be done [ verses 23,24]

 THE FALSE PROPHETS OF BAAL

1st KINGS 18:25-29

Prophet Elijah gives the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal priority to display their skills and sacrifice. The prophets of Baal try desperately to prove their course, but all was in vain . Prophet Elijah mocks them; which makes them to cut themselves with knives and lancets to shed their blood to make Baal hear them. There was no answer. Their animal sacrifice lay before them as they were now filled with shame; till the time of the evening sacrifice 1500 hrs G.M.T.[ 3.00 p.m] They were desperate.

ELIJAH: THE MAN OF GOD

1st KINGS 18:30-37

In verse 30, The prophet Elijah now calls the people to give him attention . He repairs The Altar of The Lord; which by then was broken, forgotten and abandoned. [ In like manner, Today’s church needs to re-establish faith in Jesus Christ].  Elijah took twelve stones; representing the Twelve tribes of Israel. By means  of prescission spiritual engineering, prophet Elijah was so keen [ Verses 33-35] to ensure his work was not to be doubted at all. Now check prophet Elijahs prayer in verse 36: simple, clear to the point; meaning that God had instructed him on what to do. In verse 37, he implores God to hear Him; that the people may know that “…. You are the LORD GOD….” This was meant to turn the hearts of the people of Israel back to God.

 FIRE FROM HEAVEN

1st KINGS 18:38-40

In verse 38, The fire of The LORD fell from heaven and consumed the burnt sacrifice and the wood and the stones, and the dust and licked up the water that was in the trench. There was wild excitement and pandemonium as all the people shouted in approval of who The Lord God is :” The LORD, He is the God, The LORD, He is the God.’’ At this point, the people had fallen on their faces; worshipping and shouting in awesome wonder.  That day, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal were killed by the people in the brook Kishon.

The entire episode shows that God in Heaven is a Jealous God. Where He has to prove Himself, judgement must befall His enemies. That is why Jesus Christ came into the world; to prove the Great love of God to Humanity and judgement over sin and death befell Him [ The Lord of Glory] . He died on the cross of Calvary to save mankind from sin and death.

#  In JESUS CHRIST, we live and move and have our being

# JESUS CHRIST is for you and in you.AMEN.