Elijah Challenges Baal Worshippers

Introduction: Showdown on Mount Carmel

0:05 of this tape is from the elijah series it is taken from first kings chapter 18 verses 22 to 24 and it is entitled it is well spoken 14th message of the series and it was preached pastor al martin on february 2nd 1969 and the 18th chapter of first king 18th chapter

0:43 we might call showdown drawing nigh for the large segment of israel that is apostatized to veil worship the prophet has been ordered by his god to afford ahab and to call the nation together might be a confrontation the great issue that has been before israel in a very focused way

1:23 for the past three and a half years namely who is god last week i sought something of the setting as it is set before us in first kings 18 nation together not necessarily every segments out of every single tribe of the 10 northern tribes along with the king and at least the 450 prophets of

2:02 baal and possibly the 400 they are gathered before him perhaps they expect some word of blessing from his lips a word of promise that rain will now come to break the long drought but instead fronted with a moral and spiritual issue you and the prophet heard this question into their teeth say hopping between these two sides of these two opinions jehovah be god then follow him but if baal then follow the people confronted with this issue which was the real issue why the heavens were shut up because of god's displeasure

2:47 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

3:26 hearts be afflicted and mourn and weep let your laughter return to mourning and your joy and your joy to heaviness humble yourself under the mighty hand of god and he we find that pattern not so much with an individual for the resolute commitment either to the worship of baal without reservation or the worship of jehovah this kind of question the human heart does not like it likes to find

Delineation of the Parties: Elijah's Solitary Stand

4:10 a mediating position some middle of the road position but the prophet would not allow such and so with this challenge ringing in their ears we pick up the narrative tonight at verse 22 this silence you said elijah unto the people i even i only am left

4:33 a prophet of jehovah 150 or give us two one bullet problems and cut it in pieces in our need of the

5:37 ministry of the holy the prophet utters some very strange words of verse 22 or what i am calling

6:35 tonight a delineation of the parties involved the prophet says something that may have seemed very obvious but it has tremendous significance then in verse 22 or the first part of verse 24 we have what i am calling declaration of the text a delineation of the parties declaration of the test then in the last part of the 24th verse we have all the people

7:14 is the presence of our nation with the eternal god comes to focus upon two parties or two groups and the second the 450 prophets of these are representative people

7:52 i just stands as the representative of god in all that god stands for 450 prophets stand as the representative of baal and all the great conflict that grips an entire nation comes to a pinpointed focus upon the head of elijah and upon the head of your claim as he delineates these

8:23 he says i even i am left he just says as he does here i even i only am left he is thinking particularly about the work that he is doing and he is thinking particularly about the work that he is doing of himself as a true, that there is at least one other true God-fearing man. He had met Obadiah earlier in the chapter. He knew that there was at least one other in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal. This man Obadiah had hid the prophets in the cave.

8:57 So he is not claiming, as is often inferred, that he was the only child of God left in Israel or the only Jehovah worshiper left. No. He repeats these words in the 19th chapter in verses 10 and 14, and they must be interpreted in the light of this verse where he says, I only am left a prophet. I only am left.

9:26 In verse 14 of the 19th, I am left. The references which are more indefinite must be interpreted in the light of the more specific. He is speaking of himself as the mouthpiece. The only true prophet left.

9:48 What happened to those hundreds that were hid in the cave? Well, maybe by this time they had been slain or in the providence of God were still kept secluded or they might have been men who were full of fear. But all we know is that in terms of Elijah's knowledge, if you were to go from one end of that section of the ten northern tribes, 40 miles north and south, 35 miles east and west, you wouldn't find one other man upon whom the Spirit of God, rested as the Spirit of Truth and the Spirit of Prophecy. He'll sense Elijah is coming.

10:30 But the whole purpose of God for his people Israel rests upon.

11:17 Here I've gone over the number of times I can't see anything to indicate they really were, but nothing that explicitly says they were. So here Elijah stands at these prophets. There's one man, the king, against him. Without many in the nation, absolutely against him.

11:38 One of the prophets of Baal, courted by the king, and his wicked wife.

11:47 Because of the kind of message they bring, make no demands of righteousness upon the people. 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.

12:02 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.

12:20 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.

12:52 This voice thunders out from the mouth of this one who is a hairy man dressed probably, in a rugged, rugged leather girdle. And he scurs me, even I only am left. Conflict of this hour will come to its full full. And to its, it sees some things in this.

The Principle of Minority in Spiritual Declension

13:23 That I believe are very essential for parts of scripture. Times of spiritual declension, true prophets of God are always in a monarchy. Remember, this was a time of terrible declension. And as we saw earlier, one of the judgments of God was his removal, of the prophetic voice.

14:02 God says elsewhere in his word that he will judge his people by taking away the word of the Lord. And they shall run to and fro throughout the land, saying, where is the word of the Lord? And they shall not find it. Times of spiritual declension, true prophets.

14:20 Times of blessedness, there was the school of the prophets. Though there were the great names who are recorded in scripture, there were dozens, if not hundreds of other lesser prophets, who echoed the words of the great prophets, who were the mouthpieces of God. And each one was like salt and light. And declension.

14:52 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.

15:15 This guy Jeremiah, you see, has got some psychological problems. He's just negative. He's all the time looking at the dark side of things. And Jeremiah said, what shall we do?

15:28 The prophets prophesy falsely. And my people love to have it so. What shall be done to a nation like this? You see, the principle was true in Jeremiah's time.

15:38 A terrible time of declension. And the true prophet was in a great minority. And false prophets abounded. That principle is true right through the history of the church.

15:51 In the service of speaking directly in the name of God, the prophetic ministry has ceased. But the extension of the prophetic ministry, its counterpart today, is anointed exposition and application of the written word of God. Anointed exposition and application to life. This is the extension of the prophetic.

16:16 I submit that the history of the church to the present hour reveals the principle that comes to light in the words of Elijah. I, only I, am left a true prophet. But the false prophet's the landslip. How much there is.

16:40 God was about to do a new thing in the fifty years. In the eighteen hundreds under Luther and other men who were great instruments in the reformation. Where was the beginning to the beginnings of the life that came through men like Brick. And then there were more until finally God as it were filled the land with.

17:08 Reminded no new inspiration. Who claimed no new insight. But who began to take this book. Seer were willing to dig out of the rubble of neglect and ignorance.

17:21 Truths that have been lying dormant for me. Who were willing to rethink as it were. Whole patterns of thought into which they had been molded from their childhood. And they began to let the word of God once again speak.

17:36 And a great day. Needed the history of some of those periods. It's not a minority. But God blessed a people.

18:06 An abundance. Out in his.

God's Work in Revival and the Prophetic Voice

18:49 Then in the ministry for eight years. Who's just been parroting the shallow cheap altitudes.

19:31 As a young man to completely rethink. Everything. And he calls. In desperation.

19:42 And doesn't even know me. Had an article in the sword and trowel. I said I think you got the right one. He said let me tell you my problem.

19:57 You see God is beginning to open up his truth. And lead another young man into. In the truest sense of propheticness. This should be one of the greatest encouragements to us.

20:10 Hundred years the prophetic voice had been. God is about to bring some. And then the seventy. And through the few years.

20:53 Why? Because this is what happened. When a nation comes. It will see a second principle.

The Danger of Flesh-Appeasing Ministry

21:01 How many of you have been worshipping Jehovah?

21:46 How many of you have been worshipping Baal?

21:51 In the narrow heraldry.

23:17 By absolutely up all their anchorage in divine truth. Flesh appeasing ministry of the prophets of Christ. To the eyes. And to the senses.

23:36 And that will make them feel at ease. With the heathen. And the nations around them. Being something when you find them.

23:46 How context that's in the book of Acts. Added that day three thousand. Well what preceded that? Teaching on the nature of sin.

24:06 Get hands you have crucified in sin. Teaching on the necessity of repentance. Repent. And be converted.

24:16 Clear preaching on the necessity of a marked cleavage. Between believers in the world. With many other words. Acts two forty one.

24:24 That he testify and exhort saying. Save yourself. From the untoward generation. Whose multitudes get added on.

24:33 Swearly the grave. With the issues of an exalted Christ. Recipe of repentance. Of the necessity of separation.

24:45 Of open commitment. Were added unto them.

Elijah's Confidence in God's Direction

24:50 How?

26:27 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.

26:46 To win right out of his numerical sale.

26:50 He thought that today a worshipping nation.

29:59 Was going to run. No sir. I'm in command. Take a bullet.

30:05 Bring another bullet. The general. He can withstand a nation. He started with these words.

30:25 When he appeared before Ahab. He said. As he prayed offering of the evening oblation. That Elijah the prophet came near and said.

30:56 Oh Jehovah the God of Abraham. Of Isaac the Israel. Let it be known this day. Number one.

31:03 That thou art God in Israel. Number two. That I am thy servant. And number three.

31:09 That I have done all. Is that true? He wasn't tempting the Lord. He had been in the presence of God.

31:21 He had gotten his direction. From the throne of God. And from the mouth of God. And so confident.

31:27 That he stands now. Identified. With the cause of God. And of truth.

31:32 He comes out. With an unshakable comes. Oh man. That's identified with God.

31:38 Can withstand an incalculable. To build the miracle. Fitting the prophet. To this hour.

31:50 To be a buried. Out of ten. Thousands of the people that accept them.

32:01 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.

32:13 I believe Dave did this. I will not be afraid of ten thousand. Multiply them to a million. They're still creatures.

32:22 I'm identified with the cause of God. Psalm 91 in verse 7. All of us as his children, some of those promises that are yea and amen in Christ. A thousand shall fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand, but shall not come.

32:53 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.

33:14 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.

33:54 But I'm speaking now from the perspective of the area where God has placed us. Just as God sent Elijah to those ten northern tribes and his primary concern was not those two southern tribes, so God has put us here and though our hearts should share a concern for the entire world, there's an irresponsible, visionary concern for the regions beyond that doesn't get underneath and grapple the problem and the need. And so I'm speaking from that perspective that this should be a great encouragement to us. Because we look to God.

34:36 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.

35:07 For here's one man, standing identified with God, and he goes a little bit far. And God says, you'll read and reread Hebrews 11. Read of those ordinary men and women who, because they were dead, enter in the purpose of God and believe. It's a blue kingdom.

35:33 It's the two big words. Subdued. Don't be disturbed. It's just marital.

35:52 It's a wonderful opportunity for God to just let's hurry on then from a delineation of the sides to a declaration of the test. What will the test be? Well, Elijah sets out.

Declaration of the Test: Preparation and Intercession

36:11 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.

36:34 He says, all right, you get two bullets, and you choose yours. You leave me to anyone. You want to. See, he's blocking up every possible excuse.

36:43 And we'll see this as the thing develops. It's fascinating, the wisdom God gave Elijah so that there wasn't one little loophole. They had to, as it were, retreat in absolute defeat after this encounter. He says, all right, two bullets.

36:59 Let them choose one bullet for themselves. Lay it on the wood. No fire under. I'll dress the other bullet.

37:05 Lay it on the wood and put no fire under. So the first factor, then, is the preparation of the sacrifice. The one great condition, no fire beneath it. Then, secondly, there's to be intercession.

37:19 Call ye on the name of your God. And I sense some iron. He doesn't say call on Baal. Call on the name of, oh, what's his name?

37:28 Call on the name of your God. He knew who their God was. I wonder if he's just insulting him by not even using his name. Call on the name of your God, whoever you are.

37:40 I will call upon the name, not of my God, but on the name of Jehovah, the only one worthy of the name God. And the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. That is, who answers by fire, acknowledging to be God and giving what is due to God, namely, your mind and will.

38:18 To focus. It's obvious that this met with the approval of the 450 priests of Baal, as well as with the fitting.

38:35 A God who had identified himself with fire many times in Scripture.

39:17 People were in a state of declension. At least they had some concept of their national history. And this would be in their thinking.

39:35 Leave out of the garden. This sacrifice, it says, the Lord passes through.

39:50 It's 921 Chronicles 21, 26.

40:49 As David offers an offering to the Lord after his sin of numbering the people by references that in the history of Israel, prior to this moment, the manifestation of the presence, of God, and with an acceptable word, is judging that substance, anger, and so in some measure, in the minds of the most careless of the Israelites,

41:29 there was an identification, the presence and approval of God. So they would know enough that if suddenly Elijah's bullet and his offering and his altar burst into flames, this would be a manifestation of the power. Isn't that pretty risky business? To stake everything on an issue.

41:57 An issue like this? Well, if Elijah just had brought this up in his own head and said, now let's see, what might be a good way to put these prophets to market? No, no. Remember, he said, I have done all these things according to God.

42:13 See, nothing's risky if it's the revealable of God. A thing like this without a revelation from God is what? Tempting the Lord. So the devil tried to get our Lord to do.

42:27 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.

42:37 We strike out to build an altar, wait for some fire out of heaven, and we end up embarrassed. And the Lord's name is the tremendous lesson here. This would be presumptuous. This would be a terrible sin if the prophet had not had a clear revelation from God.

42:56 So I say in terms of the whole matter of our own building, I'm very cautious. And as I continue to pray, and if that conviction comes, I won't be afraid to stick my neck out. But I want to make sure. That I do that thing according to his word.

The People's Response: An Itch for a Show

43:21 But whenever God leads his people in terms of his word, and the application of the principle of his word in specific areas, and they commit themselves, it may look utterly foolish to the world. We need not fear if we can say with the promise aside, the declaration of the test, all the people answered and said, it is well spoken. 20th century vernacular, fair enough. Let's go ahead.

44:05 Contrast this with verse 21. And this is what struck me in my preparation. The latter part of verse 21 says, and the people answered him, not a word. All the people answered and said, it is well.

44:24 The difference, 21, there was a moral and spiritual challenge directed to their own hearts and wills. How long are you people going to go hedge-hopping from Baal to Jehovah? If God is Jehovah's God, serve him, follow him. If Baal is Jehovah's God, serve him, follow him.

44:47 If Baal is Jehovah's God, serve him, follow him. If Baal is God, follow him. He presses a moral and spiritual issue to the conscience, and they won't answer. They don't want to come down solidly upon an issue that demands commitment.

45:03 A challenge of the moralists to the prophets. I mean, the issue is going to be between the 450 prophets, he said. Let them, ye, you prophets, who call upon the name of your God. And the people say, oh, wonderful, we're going to have a show.

45:32 We're all for that. The issue is pressed to their own will. If they can get in on a show, oh, that's wonderful. The response out of them when you say there's going to be a show,

46:11 I submit to you that the itch for a show, spiritual decline. Chapter and verse, all right, Matthew 12, said an evil and an adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.

46:44 We'll begin with it. Our Lord in the sixth chapter of John, and they say, coming from heaven, and we'll believe, give us a show. And we'll believe.

47:05 Fathers ate man in the wilderness. God gave them a show. And if you do something miraculous, like sending down the bread in the wilderness, we'll believe. What did their fathers do who had the bread day after day?

47:19 Did that show ever make them believe? They were a bunch of hard-hearted rebels. God left their carcasses, died in the wilderness, raised up a new generation. They had a perpetual show.

47:32 It didn't do that much for their love of sin.

47:45 Found in the word of God.

The Danger of Seeking a Show Over God's Word

47:50 Bring men into vital relationship. Pledge of his promised presence. That should be. The basis of our faith.

48:00 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.

48:13 They must keep a barn full of sheep. They've got more fleece. It's tempting the Lord. It's asking the Lord for a show.

48:23 Now, there may be times when in extremities, and the only way you can turn is to ask God for some providential intervention. I don't mean to despise that. And if you've had any precious dealings with God, I would not in any way belittle that. It's about this itch, you see, for something tangible, invisible, rather than the assured presence of God as pledged in his word, brought out by second causes and the ordinary means.

48:53 He needed a show before he'd believe. Believe unless I have a show. The Lord says in John 20 and verse 29, You've believed because you've seen, Thomas, but it are they who having had no show. You've believed because you've seen, Thomas, but it are they who having had no show.

49:17 You've believed. You've believed because you've seen, Thomas, but it are they who having had no show. You've believed because you've seen, Thomas, but it are they who having had no show. You've believed because you've seen, Thomas, but it are they who having had no show.

49:24 Truth has come with power, and who give credence to the word of truth, and stake their lives upon the power of that truth. They've had no show. Inherent power in the miraculous. The history subsequent to this mighty visitation of God upon Mount Carmel.

49:50 And though it seems that the whole nation is converted in a moment of time, and says, Jehovah, he is God.

49:56 The subsequent history revealed that much of this was just an external, as it were, toppling of Baal worship. For if there is very little deep, can possibly seven thousand come out of this. You will not be persuaded by the simple. If, as a believer, you're not content to grow in grace on the basis of the sanctifying power of the truth.

50:35 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.

50:53 If one would go back from the dead. If you'd give them a show, they'd believe. And what was the answer of Abraham? If they will not believe Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe though one should.

51:11 If Moses and the prophets, with their message of the nature of God, the character of His law, the nature of man as a creature made in His image, fallen in Adam, estranged from God. If that message of Moses and the prophets, focusing upon God's Redeemer, the Lord Jesus, God's divine substitute, the way of repentance and faith. If Moses and the prophets will not prevail upon them, no show will ever subdue the heart. Why?

51:44 For God has ordained to beget men unto a living hope. How? Word of God. We need this in our day.

The Sufficiency of the Prophetic Ministry for Revival

51:57 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.

52:28 It's the very fact that these so-called purveyors of merit, if there is to dawn a better day for the church, will be essentially and primarily while the instrumentality will return to the prophetic ministry. The Word of the living God, preached with unction and power, received with spiritual perception. Now, if God is pleased, in that context, to do some other things that would be called miraculous, blind eyes or unstopping deafened ears, fine!

53:11 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.

53:38 They had miraculous bread sent down from heaven, day after day, morning and night. They never did a thing that subdued endurance, stubbornness, and rebellion against God. My friend, the indication that the self-confidence that the Lord is with you

54:19 is not even in the realm of your sense of His presence, but the purge of His presence in Holy Scripture. I will never leave thee, nor if you don't need to have a show, an emotional show, something tantalizing. It's tangible to the senses.

God's Sovereign Grace and the Remnant

54:37 Stubborn and so enmeshed in Baal worship, the wings of the law of God no longer reach their conscience. A nation from absolute chaos. But remember, if they hadn't come to some semblance of turning from their sin,

55:21 God would have had to obliterate them to be true to His other portions of His word. And so having committed Himself to preserve the nation, God, as it were, just intervened in sovereign grace to break them off from ruinous Baal worship. It's obvious. He only reserved a remnant of 7,000.

55:40 It's in the history of the usual ways, but rather than seek to copy that and make it a pattern, I pray that God will never bring us to that place where we become so insensitive to revealed truth. It's nothing endless. And its end is to stand after God's own characters,

56:23 the people, it says. Now that's not glamorous. I mean, I'm nothing sensational. You haven't been a beauty queen.

56:47 And as such, you go by unnoticed. But that's alright. By this book, you are made like the Savior. Your life, the monument, the response of the people.

Conclusion: Rejecting the Show for the Word

57:19 Think of that tendency of the human heart that wants a show. You can carry that over in many other ways, can't you? People, Sunday nights, run a show. Just tell me that.

57:46 I tried to envision with my mind,

58:35 Sunday after Sunday, morning and evening, for a brief exposition. Move it!