Elijah: His Mission

In this part of the sermon: Martin identifies the objects of Elijah's challenge as the ten tribes of Israel, a people with a rich covenant heritage and knowledge of God, yet caught in a state of 'limping'…

Compares 'all Israel' gathering to Mount Carmel with 'all Judea and Jerusalem' going out to John the Baptist, suggesting a strong representation rather than every single person.

word is used in the sense that we read in Matthew 3 that all of Israel was gathered to Mount Carmel. All of Israel was gathered to Mount Carmel. All of Israel was gathered to Mount Carmel. All of Judea and Jerusalem, all of Jerusalem went out unto John the Baptist. That is, there

14:56 - 15:06 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin identifies the objects of Elijah's challenge as the ten tribes of Israel, a people with a rich covenant heritage and knowledge of God, yet caught in a state of 'limping'…

Martin vividly imagines the discussions and varied motivations (hatred, curiosity, expectation) of the Israelites as they journey to Mount Carmel, highlighting the emotional and spiritual climate.

out that Elijah has sent out a summons through the king that all of us are going to be able should gather to Mount Carmel. Can you picture something of the subject of discussion as they gather in groups and make their way from these various places, some of them coming two or three days' journey to gather upon Mount Carmel? No doubt there were some who couldn't wait to come and who had hearts filled with venom and hatred and said, when I get my hands upon that cursed prophet responsible for the death of my child, responsible for the hardships this famine has brought upon us, when do I get my ha...

16:56 - 17:39 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The question of the prophet is, will this abominable state of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, mark the nation of Israel?

Describes Elijah as a 'rugged, hairy man whose eye burns with the fierceness matched only by that burning Palestinian sun,' emphasizing his intensity and divine authority.

it was relatively early in the morning. But the sun rises, and as the burning Palestinian sun beats upon the heads of these multitudes gathered, suddenly there stands in the midst a rugged, hairy man whose eye burns with the fire of the fire of the fire of the fire of the fire of the fire. The sun rises with a fierceness matched only by that burning Palestinian sun. And as he rises, does he begin to lift his hands to pronounce blessing? Does he begin

19:14 - 19:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The question of the prophet is, will this abominable state of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, mark the nation of Israel?

Explains the metaphor of 'limping' as being unable to move with vigor in any direction, illustrating the spiritual paralysis of divided allegiance.

beard. Here was a man who, conscious he was sent of God, opens his mouth, and the first words that the nation hears from his lips are the words of this challenge, which come in the form, first of all, of a question, and then of a command. The question, how long go ye limping between the two sides? While in his perceptive commentary translates the Hebrew, how long do you limp upon both sides? The two sides, of course, are the worship

20:03 - 20:45 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The question of the prophet is, will this abominable state of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, mark the nation of Israel?

Describes an 'amen corner' in the bosom of every Israelite (and every person) that affirms the truth of Jehovah, explaining why they couldn't wholeheartedly abandon themselves to Baal.

that they could not abandon themselves to Baal worship. You see, in the bosom of every Israelite was an amen corner, as there is a bosom in every one of us, an amen corner in the bosom of every one of us. Amen. When they would hear the assertion bound up in Elijah's name, Jehovah is God, there was an amen in the rest, and it was that haunting amen, Jehovah is God, Jehovah is God, Jehovah is God, that every time they would abandon themselves to the worship of Baal, there was the restraint of a conscience enlightened by special revelation, by the special dealings

22:05 - 22:49 Read in full sermon

Driving home: The question of the prophet is, will this abominable state of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, of divided allegiance, mark the nation of Israel?

Lists historical events like the Red Sea, Sinai, Jericho, and the Davidic kingdom to show the depth of Israel's knowledge of Jehovah, which restrained their consciences.

of God in their national history. They could not utterly forget the Red Sea. They could not utterly forget the thunders upon Sinai. They could not utterly and totally forget the open river at flood tide when the nation was brought over into that land. They could not forget utterly the walls of Jericho.

22:49 - 23:10 Read in full sermon

The point: Acknowledge that if you are trying to follow Jehovah on the strength of resolve and a tormented conscience without a new heart, you will always 'limp'.

Martin shares his personal experience of 'limping' in his youth, unable to fully embrace sin like his friends due to his upbringing in a Christian home, yet also unable to run after Jehovah due to an unregenerate heart.

It is not about whether you fall for the dad or you're my greatest personal enemy. It is not about whether you take the job or not. The real real relationship you need is where you do your job. And I know that Brazil highs 10 or 12 times right now let's get to 5 degrees of school, there were times when I almost wanted to curse the fact that I had been born in Israel, that I had been reared in a home where the word of God was constantly poured into my head. I had to sit, albeit in the midst of poor preaching, but at least there was

31:47 - 32:07 Read in full sermon

The point: If you believe Baal (worldly ambition, sensual pleasure, popularity, prestige) is God, then follow him wholeheartedly, but be prepared to live with the consequences of having no God to hear you in life's necessities or i…

Uses 'Baal of ambition,' 'Baal of sensual pleasure,' 'Baal of popularity,' and 'Baal of prestige' as modern equivalents of false gods, illustrating the objects of worldly devotion.

for your Baal attachment. And the prophet says, if Baal be God, follow him. If the Baal of sensual pleasure is the God that you want to worship, then give yourself to him. At least you'll have the titillation of a few nerve endings for a few days before you sink into hell. If the Baal of popularity is the God that you want to worship, then give yourself

39:12 - 39:34 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin challenges the audience to follow Baal wholeheartedly if they believe him to be God, but warns them to face the implications: no God to hear in life's necessities and no…

Illustrates the inevitability of life's troubles (calamity, sickness, heartache, jilted relationships) to emphasize the need for a God who hears prayers.

Man is born unto trouble as the sparks fly upward. And though life is relatively simple for most of you, not all of you, but for most of you, some of you children have known more real suffering in your young lifetime than many of us adults have known in ours. But most of you, life's pretty simple. Dad and mom worry about paying the bills, putting food on the table, filling up your hollow legs, putting clothes on your back, providing for you.

42:41 - 43:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin challenges the audience to follow Baal wholeheartedly if they believe him to be God, but warns them to face the implications: no God to hear in life's necessities and no…

Describes the prophets of Baal going 'from the slopes of Carmel to the pit of eternal burning,' vividly portraying the eternal consequences of false worship.

And Elijah said unto them, Here they are, one moment full of life and animation, dancing about the altar, crying and praying, and a moment later they make the brook Kishon red with their blood in death. Look, take the prophets of Baal, let none of them escape. And they took them and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slew them there from the slopes of Carmel. Oh, listen, from the slopes of Carmel to the pit of eternal burning.

44:51 - 45:31 Read in full sermon

The point: If Jehovah is God, then follow him with whole-souled allegiance, knowing he is worthy of nothing less and offers access in calamity and a glorious end.

A graphic description of the physical decay of the body after death ('maggots are going to eat in the flesh...nothing but some bones...a little pile of dust') to underscore the reality of mortality.

Look at your hands right now. Don't look at the picture. You look at your hands. In a few short years, maggots are going to eat in the flesh of those hands until in your casket there's going to be left nothing but some bones.

49:03 - 49:16 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Multiply the concentration camps of Hitler and the gas chambers. And they are as kindness compared to Calvary. If God is not just, if God is not holy, if God is not the lawgiver and upholder of the dignity of his law, wh…

Compares the suffering of Christ on Calvary to the concentration camps of Hitler, arguing that Calvary is infinitely more cruel if God is not just and holy, emphasizing the depth of divine wrath against sin.

If God is not the judge of the universe, committed to uphold the righteousness of his law, then he has committed the most cruel act upon the face of the earth. Multiply the concentration camps of Hitler and the gas chambers. And they are as kindness compared to Calvary. If God is not just, if God is not holy, if God is not the lawgiver and upholder of the dignity of his law, why should he bruise the only sinless man whose feet touch the earth?

58:27 - 59:10 Read in full sermon

The point: If you make no progress in love to God, his word, or holiness, and can easily dismiss holy things from your mind, it is because you are 'limping' after Jehovah under external pressure, not a new heart.

Quotes a hymn to express the substitutionary nature of Christ's suffering and the Father's wrath poured out on Him, highlighting the theological significance of Calvary.

Jehovah, Father, the drop of the wrath of God, O Christ, what burdens bowed thy head. Our load was laid on thee. Thou stoodest in the sinner's stead, its bear all ill for me. Death and the curse were in our cup.

61:41 - 62:13 Read in full sermon