Elijah Challenges Baal Worshippers

The point: When you get thirsty for more of God's blessing, don't be surprised if God gives you deeper discoveries of your sin.

When people thirst for more of God's blessing, God often gives deeper discoveries of their sin, just as James teaches drawing near to God involves cleansing hands and purifying hearts.

for their failed worship like rain without facing the moral issue blessing without dealing with their sin but god is saying in essence no the time of blessing is to be the time of blessing is drawing near which means the time of facing sin has come now well that's always god's path whenever you get thirsty for more of god's blessing don't be surprised god gives you deeper discoveries of your sin james says draw nigh to god and he will draw nigh to you as though someone says yes but how and the answers in the next verse cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your

2:47 - 3:26 Read in full sermon

Driving home: False prophets are always loved by the people. Jesus said this is one of the marks of a false prophet. Glory unto you when all men speak well of you.

The more decadent a religion is inwardly, the more it must rely on external attractions and sensory experiences, like the finery and regalia of Baal priests.

For here are the darlings of the whole nation, probably decked out in all the finery and the regalia and the rigmarole of false priests.

12:02 - 12:17 Read in full sermon

Driving home: False prophets are always loved by the people. Jesus said this is one of the marks of a false prophet. Glory unto you when all men speak well of you.

Martin paints a vivid picture of the entire nation gathered on Mount Carmel, with the 'darlings of the court' (Baal prophets) promising peace, contrasted with Elijah's rugged appearance and thundering voice.

What decadent religion is, in its inward core and life and spirit, the more it must rest upon external traction by the senses. When your minds are at a picture of what it's like to see that entire nation there upon the hillside of Mount Carmel. The darlings of the court, these were holy men, who promised them peace. Gods who make no demands of repentance and transformation of life.

12:20 - 12:52 Read in full sermon

The point: Recognize that the extension of the prophetic ministry today is anointed exposition and application of the written word of God.

Jeremiah is presented as an example of a true prophet in a great minority during a terrible time of declension, whose warnings were dismissed as psychological problems by the people who preferred false prophets.

Jeremiah. You get under the hide of the people of Israel and say, look, that nation Babylon is going to be God's scourge to bring judgment upon you. Turn from your seat to the covenant people of God. You've got nothing to worry about.

14:52 - 15:15 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin shares contemporary examples of God raising up young men to rethink their theology and embrace the 'propheticness' of God's truth, even after a century of spiritual…

A story of a young man in ministry for eight years, parroting shallow doctrines, who was led by God to completely rethink everything, finding truth in an article by Martin, illustrating God raising up new prophetic voices.

Then in the ministry for eight years. Who's just been parroting the shallow cheap altitudes.

18:49 - 19:31 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin highlights Elijah's unshakable confidence, rooted in having received direct instruction from God, not presumptuous self-will. He applies this to believers, encouraging them…

A general, though one man, can withstand a nation if he is in command and has the authority, illustrating Elijah's ability to stand against the multitude because he was identified with God's cause.

Only when I promise something. Only evidence of getting hungry for God. A double of one fist and hitting the soul. He wasn't prepared for a question like that.

26:27 - 26:46 Read in full sermon

The point: Take great encouragement from Elijah's example when facing spiritual declension in your own area, looking to God.

Discusses how some might dismiss Psalm 27:3 as poetic exaggeration, but Martin argues that being identified with God means not fearing any number of creatures, however multiplied.

Now is that poetic license? And they come in hermeneutics class. And they come in hermeneutics class to handle poetry. So we say, well, you know, Dave, that was poetic exaggeration.

32:01 - 32:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Take great encouragement from Elijah's example when facing spiritual declension in your own area, looking to God.

Jonathan's courage in going up against the Philistine garrison with only his armor bearer, trusting that God can save by many or by few, is used to illustrate Elijah's faith.

Jonathan was shared by Elijah. For you remember when there was that garrison of the Philistines and Jonathan wanted to go up with his armor bearer, just the two of them. He said there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few. If God purposes to save, he can use a couple of striplings like he doesn't need many.

32:53 - 33:12 Read in full sermon

The point: Take great encouragement from Elijah's example when facing spiritual declension in your own area, looking to God.

Reports from other parts of the world where the Spirit of God is moving in gracious power and 'the book of Acts is just being rewritten,' contrasting with the declension in the Western Hemisphere.

All we have to know is that we're standing identified with the cause of God. And so like Elijah, we stand at a point of relative declension in the cause here in our own Western Hemisphere. Thank God there are other places as reports come from different parts of the world that the book of Acts is just being rewritten. The spirit of God is moving in gracious power and for what we can discern, hundreds are being swept off and making a clean break with the past.

33:14 - 33:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not be disturbed by the overwhelming feeling of spiritual declension, but see it as a wonderful opportunity for God to work.

The feeling of being overwhelmed by spiritual declension, like a mighty wave, where one can barely keep their head above water, is used to highlight the need for encouragement from Elijah's example.

But I also say, let us stand out and see the declension within the framework of the evangelical church, let alone talk of the world and the declension there. Aren't there times when you just feel as though that thing is just going to engulf you like a mighty wave that breaks upon the shore and carries everything out with you? Do you feel that at times when you just, Lord, I can just barely keep my own head above water, let alone break out into that and rescue some others? We ought to take great encouragement to look like this.

34:36 - 35:07 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Elijah sets out the terms of the test: two bulls, no fire beneath, and calling on the name of their respective gods. Martin emphasizes Elijah's wisdom in blocking all excuses and…

Elijah's diplomacy in letting the Baal prophets choose their bull is explained as blocking every possible excuse, even the idea of a 'red bull' with rags for spontaneous combustion.

Let them, therefore, give us two bullets. Now, notice his diplomacy. Let them choose one bullet for themselves. Now, some of you think, well, I've got a red bullet in there, one that's maybe got some rags stuffed inside the cavity of his chest and spontaneous combustion will break forth a little fire.

36:11 - 36:34 Read in full sermon

The point: Be cautious in your own 'building' and ensure that any significant action is done according to God's word, not presumptuously.

The danger of copying others' experiences (like building an altar and waiting for fire) without a clear revelation from God, which would be presumptuous and tempting the Lord.

It's what he'll try to get us to do. We read of somebody that did such and such and such and such, and God wonderfully answered their prayer. And we say, oh, isn't that nice? I think I'll do that.

42:27 - 42:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not tempt the Lord by constantly asking for a 'show' or 'fleece' as a basis for belief.

People who constantly put out 'fleeces' for the Lord are humorously described as having the 'biggest bag of fleece' or a 'barn full of sheep,' illustrating the temptation to ask for a show.

Not asking for a show. Whether the show is visible fleece. Some people have got the biggest bag of fleece. Every time I meet them, they're putting fleece out for the Lord.

48:00 - 48:10 Read in full sermon

The point: If you are not content to grow in grace on the basis of the sanctifying power of the truth, no show will be effective.

The story of the rich man in hell, still asking for a show (someone to go back from the dead) for his brothers, is used to illustrate that shows do not subdue the heart if Moses and the prophets are not believed.

I'm going to give you a show. It's effective. Remember that man that was in hell, still looking for a show? He said, all of my brothers could only have a show.

50:35 - 50:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Understand that a better day for the church will dawn through the return to the prophetic ministry of the Word of God, preached with unction and power.

Martin mentions receiving two magazines every month based on the philosophy that miracles (crooked legs straightening, blind eyes opening) are the answer to the church's dilemma, critiquing this approach.

For where we live in a day of spiritual declension, when someone comes along and says, Ah, the answer to our dilemma is that once again the church will be a great show place, with miracles, crooked legs straightening out, blind eyes opening. Then we'll see people turn to the Lord. I get two magazines every month based on this whole philosophy. And where we're in bad shape, it looks pretty good on the surface.

51:57 - 52:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not view the miraculous as a shortcut to spiritual power or effective wisdom.

The Israelites in the wilderness, who lived amidst perpetual miracles (rock providing water, manna from heaven), yet remained stubborn and rebellious, demonstrating that miracles alone do not subdue the heart.

He gives gifts severally as He wills, and we would not contest that He can and is able to do the same. But what I'm saying is, the miraculous is no shortcut to spiritual power, nor is it any shortcut to an effective wisdom. The Israelites lived in the midst of perpetual miracles. They had a flinty rock follow them wherever they went, and water gushes out of them.

53:11 - 53:38 Read in full sermon