In 1 Kings 18-19 you can read the story of Elijah when he challenged and defeated 450 prophets of Baal. The story is absolutely incredible. Here is a quick summary of what happened. Israel was under the leadership of a wicked king named Ahab who was married to a very evil woman named Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel had caused Israel to turn from God and begin worshipping the idol of Baal. Because of their wickedness, God gave word through the prophet Elijah that there would be a severe drought on the land and that there would be neither rain nor dew until God gave His word for it.
It was during the third year of the drought, that God told Elijah to go and present himself to King Ahab. Elijah told Ahab to summon all of Israel along with the 450 prophets of Baal and to join him on Mt. Carmel.Ahab did just as Elijah requested. Elijah stood before all of Israel and the prophets of Baal and made this proclamation — “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow Him!”
Elijah then turned his attention to the prophets of Baal and challenged them to a contest.They were to erect an altar to thier god. Two bulls were brought and the prophets of Baal chose which on they wanted and cut it into pieces and laid on the altar as a sacrifice to Baal. They were instructed to cry out to their god and ask him to send down fire to burn up the sacrifice. Elijah would do the same. Whichever God answered by fire would indeed be the true God.
The prophets of Baal went first. They cried out, and called on their god from morning until noon. Yet, there was no response. So, they cried louder and harder, even cutting themselves with knives and swords, trying desperately to get the attention of their so-called god.
Finally, Elijah had endured enough of their pointless ramblings and told Israel to pay attention. Elijah took twelve stones, erected himself an altar, laid the sacrifice on it, and then had them bring four huge containers of water and pour it all over the wood, the sacrifice and the altar. There was so much water that it even filled up the trench dug around the altar.
Then, as all Israel watched, and in the presence of all his enemies, Elijah prayed, asking God to show Himself as Lord. Immediately, fire fell from heaven burning up not only the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar itsef and even licked up all the water in the trough.
God had showed up, just as Elijah had asked. At this point, Israel was pumped up and on the instructions of Elijah, killed all the prophets of Baal. Elijah had listened to the voice of the Lord. Elijah had obeyed that voice. Elijah had declared God’s word unashamedly and without reservations. He trusted God to do what God had said He would do.And God honored His word. He showed up with majesty and power.
When we choose to take the time to listen to God, He will speak. Oftentimes, we are to wrapped up in ourselves to hear Him. But in those times that we do take the time to listen, we need to obey what He says to do. There are so many times we know what we are supposed to do. We know that God has spoken to us and given us specific instructions, yet we do not heed them. We choose to go our own way, do our own thing and then end up in a bad place, miserable and discontent. Down and defeated.
Well, it is time that we make some decisions. How long are we going to live defeated? How long are we not going to obey and serve the God of Elijah. If the Lord is God, then Follow Him! As long as we are not listening, and not obeying, we will not be victorious. It is time, as children of God, to seek Him, to hear Him and to heed Him.
We must stand up and declare Him Lord in whatever situations we are facing. Stand up in the presence of our families, our friends and even our enemies and procalim God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we give our problems, our doubts, our sins, our shortcomings, our insecurities, our worries, and our fears to God — He will send down His fire from heaven and burn them away. He will lift us up even in the presence of our enemies and strengthen us and bless us.
It is time we know that God is bigger than anything we might be facing. He is Lord of all. There is nothing He cannot do and won’t do if we will only surrender to His will. So, let’s do it. Let’s call out to the God of Elijah. Lift up His Holy name, declare Him God, and let His fire reign down in our lives. The Lord is God, so Follow Him!!!
