"Preparing For Revival!"

1 Kings 18: 17-40

INTRO. Elijah, the prophet, faced many challenges during his ministry to the Israelites. King Ahab and his evil wife Jezebel had led the Israelites into Baal worship. The people had left the worship of the One and only true God to worship idols. Oh, that's awful you say! Yes, it is, but we do it also today! Anything we put before God or in the place of God becomes our idol or god.

In v.17, of our text, Ahab meets Elijah, and says, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" Elijah responds, “I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.” (v18). He tells Ahab to gather all the prophets of Baal, 450 of them and the prophets of the groves, 400 total, together.

Elijah, then challenges the people, "How long halt ye between two opinions? If the LORD be God follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word" (v21). Elijah, then challenges the prophets of Baal, "Let us take two bullocks and lay them on wood, and ye call on your gods and I'll call on mine, and the God that answers by fire let Him be God." (vv. 23-24).

The people all agreed. The prophets of Baal chose them a bullock, cut it into pieces, and laid it on the altar. They called on the name of Baal from morning to noon, but no answer came. They danced on the altar, crying, "O Baal, hear us." (v26). Still no response. Elijah began to mock them. They cried the more and began to cut themselves until their blood gushed out, but nothing.

Now it was Elijah's turn. He repaired the Altar of the LORD, which had been broken down. He dug a trench around it, and then He laid the bullock, cut in pieces, on the wood on the Altar. Then he commanded them to pour water on the altar. This they did three times, until the water poured off the Altar. He prayed, and God sent fire down from heaven and consumed everything including the water in the trench!

The people, then cried, "the LORD, He is The God!" (v39).

PREPARING FOR REVIVAL:

(1) By Setting Our Priorities Straight

Text: 1 Kings 18:21

Joshua 24:15

(2) By Seeking In Prayer God's Fire in Our Midst

Text: 1 Kings 18:24,38

Jeremiah 20:7-9

Luke 3:16--John the Baptist said, "He [Jesus] shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire."

*Where is the fire today? Where is that unquenchable zeal and fervor for

the Lord?

(3) By Submitting Ourselves to God's Preparation of Our Hearts

Text: 1 Kings 18:37, 39

Psalms 34:18

CLOSING: We can see revival, if we really want it! God desires to see His

people excited about Him and His work.

Are you excited about God's House? God's work? God's purpose

and plan for us? Do you desire to feel the fiery presence of the

Holy Spirit in our midst?