Seven Truths About True Religion
1 Kings 18:21-24
1. Sincerity alone is not enough. [Verses 26(a) 28]
2. God is not always on the side with the largest numbers. [Verse 22]
3. Loud fervent praying is not a guarantee for a satisfactory answer.
[Verse 28(a)]
4. Emotion is not infallible evidence of God's presence or His endorsement. [Verses 26(b) 28(b)]
5. Worship even accompanied by a sacrifice is not accepted unless it is backed by a Godly life. [Verse 26(a)]
6. A Godly person can have victory in the presence of devils and false prophets. [Verses 30 39]
7. It doesn't always take a long prayer to reach the throne. [Verses 36 – 38]
God is still the God that answers by fire - even today!
Seven Truths About True Religion
1 Kings 18:21-24
I Kings 18:21 - 24
21And 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.” But the people answered him not a word.
22Then Elijah said to the people, “I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
23Therefore 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.
24Then 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.”
Introduction:
There are thousands of religions in existence today....
1. Sincerity alone is not enough.
A. They prayed - probably 6 hours: (6am to 12 noon)
[vs. 26 (a) 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!”
B. They cut themselves with knives
[vs. 28] So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
Page 2
C. They prophesied for three hours–(the evening sacrifice was at 3 pm)
[vs. 29] And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
2. God is not always on the side with the largest numbers.
A. Elijah by himself and 450 prophets of Baal
[vs. 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.
3. Loud fervent praying is not a guarantee for a
satisfactory answer.
A. Nine Hours (6 am – 3 pm) of praying and prophesying
B. They cried aloud …… [vs. 28 (a) ] …they cried aloud…
4. Emotion is not infallible evidence of God's presence or
His endorsement.
A. They "leaped about the altar"
[Vs 26 (b)] …Then they leaped about the altar which they had made.
Page 3
B. They cut themselves
[vs. 28 (b)] …they…cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them.
5. Worship even accompanied by a sacrifice is not
accepted unless it is backed by a Godly life.
A. They had a sacrifice, but they were not worshipping the true
God.
[vs. 26 (a)] 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!”
6. A Godly person can have victory in the presence of
devilsand false prophets.
A. Elijah called the prophets of Baal together to watch him pray
[Verse 30] “And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down.”
B. The Prophets of Baal witnessed God’s power….
[Verse 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!”
Page 4
7. It doesn't always take a long prayer to reach the throne.
A. Elijah prayed a 63 word, 18 seconds, prayer
[Verses 36 & 37] Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Hear me O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
B. Fire Fell From Heaven…
[Verse 38] Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
Conclusion:
God is still the God that answers by fire - even today!