{"id":673,"date":"2022-10-15T14:47:16","date_gmt":"2022-10-15T19:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/the-showdown-on-mount-carmel-1-kings-1817-39-bible-study\/"},"modified":"2022-10-15T14:47:16","modified_gmt":"2022-10-15T19:47:16","slug":"the-showdown-on-mount-carmel-1-kings-1817-39-bible-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/the-showdown-on-mount-carmel-1-kings-1817-39-bible-study\/","title":{"rendered":"The Showdown On Mount Carmel &#8211; 1 Kings 18:17-39 &#8211; Bible study"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>1 Kings 18:17-39    <strong>THE SHOWDOWN ON MT. CARMEL<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Intro: This passage has it setting when the spiritual tide in Israel is at an  extremely low ebb.  The people have, for the most part, turned their backs  on the Lord and have gone after the Canaanite god Baal.  It is against this  backdrop of apostasy and idolatry that the prophet Elijah strolls onto the  stage.  He is introduced in 1 Kings 17:1.  When he makes his appearance,  he comes with a message from the Lord.  It is a clarion call for repentance  and for a renewal to loyalty to Jehovah.<\/p>\n<p>In this passage, things come to a head.  On the one hand there is  Ahab, Jezebel, the prophets and priests of Baal and an entire nation, less  7,000 people of God, 1 Kings 19:18.  On the other, there is Elijah and  Jehovah.  The odds may looked stacked in the favor of evil, but Elijah is  about to experience the truth that one plus God is a majority.<\/p>\n<p>As we spend a few minutes looking into this great passage this  evening, I want you catch a glimpse of the spiritual peaks that jut from the  clouds of this dark setting.  A few that come to mind now are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>There is a desperate need for spiritual heroes who will stand  against the tide of heresy and apostasy.<\/li>\n<li>There is a need for the people of God to gage their allegiance to  the Lord and to determine where we really stand when it comes to  being on the Lord&#8217;s side.<\/li>\n<li>There must be a willingness to flee the evil that surrounds us and  be a separate people for the glory of the Lord.<\/li>\n<li>There must be a willingness to renew our commitment to the Lord  and place Him above all other pursuits, interests and loyalties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With these truths plainly given to us in the text before us, let&#8217;s take  a closer look at this great day when there was a showdown on Mt. Carmel.   As we look into this passage, let&#8217;s take the time to allow the Lord to speak  to our hearts and to reveal things that might not be as they ought to be  whether it be in our personal, private lives, or whether it be in the life of our  church.  Then, let&#8217;s be quick to see that for those who are willing to obey  the Lord and follow Him single mindedly, there is the great promise of His  presence, power and personal ministry in and through our lives.  With all  this in mind, let&#8217;s join Elijah and consider The Showdown On Mount  Carmel.<\/p>\n<p>  I.  V. 21-24        <strong>THE DILEMMA OF THE PEOPLE OF GOD<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>    A.  V. 21a <strong>Their Waywardness<\/strong> &#8211; This verse tells us that the people of  Israel were possessed of a divided allegiance.  On the one hand,  they enjoyed their name as God&#8217;s people, but on the other hand,  they loved the sensual, fleshly appeal of Baal worship.  Elijah  described their condition as &#8220;one limping along a fence.&#8221;  They were  torn between two ideas and as a result, they were accomplishing  nothing!  (Ill. That is the way of compromise!)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. Baal was the principle deity of the Canaanites.  He, along with  his consort, Ashtoreth was worshiped through such abominable  practices as human sacrifice and sexual immorality.  In some places,  women were forced to serve as prostitutes in the groves!)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. These people had fallen a long way from the nation that had  entered and conquered Canaan hundreds of years before.  Now they  are a politically divided and apostate nation.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. Can we be honest and say that the same is true for the church  at the ed of the 20th century?  Whether we like to admit it or not, the  visible church is in the midst of apostasy and waywardness.   However, the Lord said that things would be this way, 2 Thes. 2:3.   (Ill. Also see &#8211; 1 Tim. 4:1-3; 2 Tim. 3:1-3; 2 Tim. 4:3-4)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. When we see denominations and churches grapple with issues  like abortion and homosexuality.  When we see them turn from the  proclamation of the truth and see them begin to produce error, such  as new translations of the Bible.  When we see these kinds of things  beginning to take place, isn&#8217;t it plain to see that we are living in an  age of apostasy?  I think it is.  Some, sadly, refuse to see the truth  though it stares them right in the eye.  People can attempt to justify  it by citing &#8220;denominational loyalty&#8221; or some other week excuse, but  may I remind you that our loyalty is to the  Lord and to Him alone?)<\/p>\n<p>    B.  V. 21 <strong>Their Warning<\/strong> &#8211; Elijah&#8217;s admonition is direct and to the point.   He tells them that they have to make a choice!  Elijah sees their  compromise as an affront to God.  He is telling them that they must  choose which side they will be one, since they cannot genuinely  have 2 gods, (Ill. Matt. 12:25.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. The hundreds of years that have elapsed since Elijah faced the  Ball prophets on Carmel, many things have changed.  Culture is  vastly different now than it was then, religious practice has changed,  the world itself is nothing like it was back then.  However, one thing  remains the same, God!  If a man is going to be right with God, then  he must take his stand apart from the world.  No one can have both.   It is either God or it is the world.  There can be no compromise,  James 4:4.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. We need the same spiritual fortitude that Joshua displayed when  he made his great declaration in Joshua 24:15.  It is either God, or  it the world.  It can never be both!)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. Notice their response &#8211; silence!  Many think by being quiet about  something and maintaining a low-profile, that it will just go away.  If  you feel this way, then I must tell you that you are deceiving yourself,  and anyone who may decide to follow you!)<\/p>\n<p>    C.  V. 22-24 <strong>Their Willingness<\/strong> &#8211; (Ill. The context.  Elijah describes the  terms of the challenge and the people accept.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. I find it interesting that this people had the audacity to expect  God to prove Himself to them.  After all, look at all the God-sized  things He had done for them over the years and still they are willing  to give Baal a chance to compete with God.  We should give them  points for being willing to play along with Elijah, but they need to find  themselves humbled before a holy God, instead of trying to find a  way around His will for their lives!)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>  I.  <strong>The Dilemma Of The People Of God<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> II.  V. 25-38     <strong>THE DEMONSTRATION OF THE POWER OF GOD<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>    A.  V. 25-29 <strong>The Futility Of Following Baal<\/strong> &#8211; (Ill. The contest.  All day  long the prophets of Baal prayed and cried out to their god.  Yet, they  received not so much as &#8220;small still voice.&#8221;  Elijah saw the folly of  what they were doing and mocked them, v. 27.  This sent them into  a frenzy.  But, when the smoke had cleared and the dust of their  activity had settled, Baal was still as dead as he had ever been and  they stood humiliated and defeated before the lone prophet of God.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. This will be the experience of every person who attempts to  follow the false gods of religion and of this world.  They are all dead  and can do nothing for those who cry out to them.  I am sure that  many who are caught in this trap feel that they are right and that men  who cry out for change and separation are fanatics and are people  to be pitied.  However, I would like to remind anyone who feels that  they can hook up God with worldliness that they are doomed to  failure, no matter how right they think they are, Pro. 16:25.  Ill. When  this things is over and the dust of this life has settled outside the  memory of eternity, God will still be God and His way and His Word  will still be right and everything else will still be wrong!  It is futile to  follow the course of this world!)<\/p>\n<p>    B.  V. 30-37 <strong>The Faith Of The Prophet<\/strong> &#8211; (Ill. The context.  After the  prophets of Baal had finished with their shenanigans, Elijah stepped  forward. Looking at what he did is very interesting.  First, he repaired  the altar of God, v. 30.  Then, he chose 12 stones to remind Israel  that they were one nation in the eyes of God.  Then he had 12  barrels of water poured over the sacrifice and the wood and the altar.   He did this final thing to remove all doubts as to who was to get the  glory for that which was about to happen.  Then, He stepped forth  and prayed a simple 63 word prayer and the fire of God fell from  Heaven and consumed every part of the sacrifice, the altar, the  water in the trench and even the dust round about.  God answered  in a spectacular display of power in response to the faith of His  servant.)<\/p>\n<p>(Folks, it takes faith to be an Elijah!  This man had hones his faith on  the grindstone of affliction.  He had already see God do the  miraculous, no rain &#8211; 1 Kings 17:1; food supplied by ravens &#8211; 1 Kings  17:2-7; an endless supply of meal and oil &#8211; 1 Kings 17:8-16; and the  resurrection of the widow&#8217;s son &#8211; 1 Kings 17:17-24.  This man knew  that this little thing was nothing for the Lord.  He was willing to put his  life on the line because he believed that he served a God who  moves in response to His people&#8217;s prayers.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. We need that same faith tonight if we are to take our stand with  the Lord and do what He leads us to do.  We need to exercise faith  in the Lord God of Heaven!  Some might say, &#8220;Well preacher, if I had  seen God do all those things, I might be able to have that kind of  faith also.&#8221;  What, do you need a miracle to spur you to faith in God?   Then, I got one for you!  How about the day Jesus Christ responded  to your cry of faith and saved you soul?  That is about the greatest  miracle that I know anything about and if He can do that, then  helping you and me to stand for Him in truth and righteousness is  mere child&#8217;s play.)<\/p>\n<p>    C.  V. 38 <strong>The Faithfulness Of The Lord<\/strong> &#8211; (Ill. The context.  God  responded to the cry of His servant and gave Elijah just what he  asked God to do.<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. The liberal crowd can attribute this event to anything they would  like.  When all is said and done, the fact the God honored faith that  honored Him is the only explanation!  Elijah stepped forward on a  dark stage and threw the spotlight on God and said, &#8220;My God can!&#8221;   God always responds to that kind of faith!  Ill. Matt. 17:20)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. All I am saying this evening is that when you and I decide that we  will exercise our faith in God and take our stand we will see God  come through for us.  The reason we don&#8217;t see this kind of  miraculous display of the power of God can be attributed to two great  failures on the part of God&#8217;s people.  1.)  Many fail to separate  themselves from the world and from the apostasy that surrounds  them and God cannot bless!  2.)  Many refuse to exercise their faith  in God and God doesn&#8217;t move in response to doubt!)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. I want you to know this evening that when you as an individual  and we as a church body reach the place where we are willing to  stand for the Lord alone and we are willing to exercise our faith in  Him, then God will not leave hanging out there to flap in the wind.   When we take our stand for Him, He will take His stand with us!  If  you don&#8217;t believe me, just try it and see!)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>  I.  <strong>The Dilemma Of The People Of God<\/strong><\/p>\n<p> II.  <strong>The Demonstration Of The Power Of God<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>III.  V. 39            <strong>THE DECISION BY THE PEOPLE OF GOD<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(Ill. We will have to give these people credit.  They said they would honor  the God who answered by fire and when He did, they did!  These people  made a decision on Mount Carmel.)<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>    A.  <strong>They Had Experienced God In Power<\/strong> &#8211; (Ill.  He had answered the  prophet by fire in their very presence.  There was no denying the  reality of what they had seen.  After this moment, it wasn&#8217;t just some  stories about God told by gray-haired old men, it was reality.  They  had seen it and they responded to it.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. There is no other way to know God than to experience Him in a  personal way.  I am convinced that this is the root of all apostasy.   When men meet the Lord they are changed.  When they just go  about some religious form they are led and motivated by the flesh.   Perhaps this explains why there is a cry from the heart of every  saved soul to be free from the bondage of religion without God, to be  free from the form of godliness without God that dominates the  world, and to be free from worldliness in every form that it takes in  the world around.  Meeting God will change you forever!  I&#8217;ll go so far  as to say that being saved will unfit you from what is happening in  the religious world around you.  You will be different and the Lord will  bless the difference!)<\/p>\n<p>    B.  <strong>They Extolled God In Prostration<\/strong> &#8211; (Ill. The context.  When the  people see the Lord move in such a miraculous manner, they fall on  their faces before Him in genuine humility.  This signaled a desire on  their part to worship and honor the Lord God of Heaven.  This is the  greatest indicator of change.  They are singling God out as the sole  object of their worship.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. When we come to the place where we are willing to separate  ourselves from all the other gods that compete for our attention and  yield to the God of Heaven, then we will find ourselves drawn to Him  in true, heart worship.  Nothing in this world is more precious than a  heart that is aflame with love for the Lord and a heart that burns with  a desire to see God glorified, whatever the cost.)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. Does that describe you?  Does that describe our church?)<\/p>\n<p>    C.  <strong>They Exalted God In Praise<\/strong> &#8211; (Ill. The context.  The last sound the  Baal prophets and priests heard as they were being led away to their  deaths, v. 40, was the sound of the people of God shouting praises  to their Lord.)  (Ill. What a sight and sound that must have been!)<\/p>\n<p>(Ill. Nothing in this world is quiet so liberating as finding yourself  focused on God and on Him alone!  When He has your attention,  your affection and your allegiance, He will be satisfied and so will  you!  Nothing liberates the saint more than knowing you are in a  place in your walk with the Lord that pleases Him.  That there is  nothing between you and God.  That all sin, all worldliness and all  sinful associations have been put away.  When you get there, God  can and will bless you with gladness of heart and joy of soul.  And  that, my friends, is worth any price that must be paid!  Remember,  Jesus came to make us free &#8211; John 8:36.  As far as I know,  everything I have said this evening has been truth and the truth is  what will make us free &#8211; John 8:32.)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Conc: Are there areas of your life this evening that, if you were honest, you  would have to say were worldly and abhorrent to God?  Maybe you would  like to come to this altar and confess those things and experience God&#8217;s  power in forgiveness.  Are you able to see to apostasy that abounds all  around us?  If so, maybe you would like to come and pray for churches,  and pray for this church that we will ever be quick to recognize apostasy  and that we will take our stand for Jesus.  Maybe you have never been  saved and you would like to met this all-powerful, all-loving God.  If you will  come to Him, He will receive you and He will save you soul if you will ask  Him to.  Whatever the need of your heart and life this evening, please bring  it to the Lord.  Will you do that right now?<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1 Kings 18:17-39 THE SHOWDOWN ON MT. CARMEL Intro: This passage has it setting when the spiritual tide in Israel is at an extremely low ebb. The people have, for the most part, turned their backs on the Lord and have gone after the Canaanite god Baal. It is against this backdrop of apostasy and &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/the-showdown-on-mount-carmel-1-kings-1817-39-bible-study\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;The Showdown On Mount Carmel &#8211; 1 Kings 18:17-39 &#8211; Bible study&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-673","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=673"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/673\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=673"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=673"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=673"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}