6/7/26 

Series: Holy Fire

Message : Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

1 Kings 18:36-40 (ESV)

36 And at the time of the offering of the oblation, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.” 40 And Elijah said to them, “Seize the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape.” And they seized them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slaughtered them there.

1) Context and Prophecy

1 Kings 17:1 (ESV)

1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, of Tishbe[a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”

1 Kings 18:17-19 (ESV)

17 When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is it you, you troubler of Israel?”18 And he answered, “I have not troubled Israel, but you have, and your father’s house, because you have abandoned the commandments of the Lord and followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”

2) When you face adversity: Pray!

1 Kings 18:36b-37 (ESV)

“O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. 37 Answer me, O Lord, answer me, that this people may know that you, O Lord, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

3) When you Pray: Expect a Response from the Lord

1 Kings 18:38 (ESV)

38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.

4) When the Lord Responds: Praise Him!

39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God.”

Questions:

1) Who is the first person that you call when life goes off the rails? Why do you call this person first? Where does prayer, a conversation with God about your situation/circumstances, fall in your “call log”? 

2) What do you ask God for most consistently? Have you ever asked the Lord to reveal himself, for the sake of proof or out of undeniable need? How did he respond?

3) Did you expect a response? Did you get the response that you expected? How did God’s answer impact your faith?

4) How did you respond to God’s answer to your prayer?

5) When is the last time you fell on your face in awe and wonder of the Lord?