25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it." 26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice; no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made. 27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
NKJV
These prophets of Baal were serving Queen Jezebel. She was the wicked and hateful queen who had Baal worship implemented into the Hebrew nation when she married King Ahab. She was the severe in rules and regiments. She was the unforgiving, the uncompromising toward evil, and who brought others into her way of thinking and doing things. She lived in witchcraft and dealt it into other people's lives.
In this confrontation on Mt. Carmel, Elijah is having a face-off with those false prophets of Baal. Elijah told them to choose one bull for themselves to prepare. Call on your god Baal and put no fire under it.
We see from verse 26 that the bull was received and they prepared it. They then called on the name of Baal from morning till noon saying, "O Baal, hear us!"
What brought these false prophets and Elijah together? Well, there was famine in the land! It had not rained, and the land was becoming a dust bowl. In the thinking of the King Ahab, we find who the leader of that land was leaning toward who troubled Israel.
1 Kings 18:17-24
17 Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him, "Is that you, O troubler of Israel?" 18 And he answered, "I have not troubled Israel, but you and your father's house have, in that you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and you have followed the Baals. 19 Now therefore, send and gather all Israel to me on Mount Carmel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table."
Yes, Ahab was calling Elijah the "troubler" of Israel. But Elijah's response was that Ahab and his father's house had forsaken the commandments of the LORD and followed the Baals. Yes, there was no compromise in Elijah, and he nailed it when he spoke. He was telling Ahab that because of their entire household ( King Ahab and Queen Jezebel) toward the carnality and worshiping the Baals, that their household had on display 24-hours a day, the worship of sin was bringing down his house and the land of Israel. Jezebel served corruption at her table!
20 So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word.
22 Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 23 Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. 24 Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."
NKJV
Let's read again, 1 Kings 18:25-40......that Elijah invites them to choose one bull for themselves. Cut it into pieces, lay it on the wood, but put no fire on it.
Elijah takes the other bull, and prepares it. He laid it on the wood,
1 Kings 18:25-40
25 Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it." 26 So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice; no one answered. And they leaped about the altar which they had made. 27 And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." 28 So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. 29 And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention.
It was noon and the prophet Elijah mocked them in their very demonstrative way of leaping, and crying loudly for the god Baal to answer them. Elijah asked them if the god might be sleeping, or if he was busy or on a long journey.
They used knives to cut themselves, as was their custom, their way of doing something to get another's attention specifically Baal. It was the "way of doing and behaving what they were told to do" and they did it. And the blood gushed out of those wounds they had made in their skin. That was a lot of cutting. Then midday had passed and was almost time of the evening sacrifice.
There was NO Voice, NO Answer, NO ONE PAID ATTENTION!
There was no answer. All that doing, all that yelling, all that crying building into a moment of silence. They came up empty. They came up as a group but they had no power. They served the god who was not the LORD. Verse 29 says that they prophesied till the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name."
32 Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four water pots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood." 34 Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. 35 So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench with water. 36 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." 38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" 40 And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there.
NKJV
"Come near to me," Elijah spoke to them. (What Jezebel had broken down, Elijah was repairing for use.) Elijah wanted them to see what the altar looked like. He also showed them how to prepare it.
Elijah repaired the altar that was broken down. And Elijah went through every step of placing 12 stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob. The prophet was echoing what God had said before: "Israel shall be your name." Meaning you shall be of unity serving one God!(Genesis 35:10)
The altar was built in the name of the LORD. Was not built according to any false thing, god, or idols.
The meat was placed on the wood, the trench dug held 2 seahs of seed. Now that is about 1 and 1/2 pecks of seed. And then water was added four times. ( 4 represents the divine of YHWH: meaning Yahweh)
Then Elijah spoke: "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."
The meat was placed on the wood, the trench dug held 2 seahs of seed. Now that is about 1 and 1/2 pecks of seed. And then water was added four times. ( 4 represents the divine of YHWH: meaning Yahweh)
Then Elijah spoke: "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. 37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again."
Fire fell! The sacrifice, the seed, the water, stones and even some dust was gone. The fire consumed it! Pleasing God is about what is right in His eyes. When serving the things that are created things, we certainly are not the pleasing, and just shouting, dancing around and exhibiting any thing like cutting is wrong, dangerous, and can harm or kill.
God's plan is all to be unity under His rule, by His Word, His commandments. Elijah prophesied in this prayer, this communication that the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel was the God IN ISRAEL. Elijah went on to say I am Your servant, and I have done all these things at Your Word. Hear me, O LORD, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.
Well, if I had seen that I would have turned immediately. I mean, we are seriously talking about fire and it's power. Remember that there was already wood in that place and he rebuilt from that wood on that site. That wood would represent the quality of the sacrifice to God. If the wood was already there then it had been used before and was used that day to obey God. Are we living for God? Is our faith that which directs our trust is in Him? To live for God is to have the faith that is believing and relying on His Word and that it will not return to Him void.
Romans 12:1-2
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
NKJV
Now Elijah went above and beyond with that to prepare the sacrifice.......and the adding of water, but his trust was in God and for God's glory. Is what we do today in these living bodies a sacrifice to God in that we "just obey" and with no complaint? Just a question now!
When we build things for God based on speaking His Word and prophesying it over our kids, grand-kids, our jobs, our family, our health, our finances, we see God answer that is truth. It is also about being the Good Samaritan who looks to the need of those who are the beaten, the wounded, to those who have been stripped of their dignity (our neighbors).
God demonstrated that we are to give as He gave. He gave us His best, should we not do the same? Not with that which speaks as of the world, is of the flesh, but that which is of a compassionate heart that puts their trust in one God and expects the fire to fall from heaven. Remember the man who lives in Argentina is your brother, and the woman at the Mercantile is your neighbor as well!
When we see what happens next from this event on Mt. Carmel, we see how Elijah prayed for rain. He worshiped God at the altar and moved over to prayer and in that we see the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a place of famine and Elijah prophesied and prayed for unity in the land of Israel, with one God. And he prayed that the hearts of the people would be turned immediately back to the LORD God. Elijah prepared the table of the Lord (the altar) of sacrifice, and prayed. The table of the Lord was of righteousness. Elijah went one on one against that which is unholy to remain the holy before God, to be the one standing in the gap through prayer for those lost in lust, and worship of idols. Those doing empty things but think they are really having a great time.
Those people seeking after the false got no voice, no answer, and no one paid attention! When one sows toward evil, they get evil in return. When we sow towards peace and justice that is of God we get what we ask for in praying. It is that which every living person lives out their purpose for which God planned. It is not about the color, the age or even how smart, but how everyone can be of one unity in God. Today we see famine when it comes to the loss of youth and teens to the streets of America. Today we see famine where the young reside in gangs and not within homes with a loving father and mother to care for them. Today we see famine in those young girls who are of more value for what their bodies look like than for what God placed in their minds. For God certainly placed great minds in our youth to think and create, in our young men and women to become those working citizens who will not bow to greed and the power game of the competitive, but embracing that which is mercy and good for all those who are around them. And for the mature of age, we have the opportunity to continue to pray, encourage the young, and bless God for giving us a great family of people that God considers as His own.
When we pray to the living God and seek His Word, worship in giving thanks and singing His praises, we are prophesying there will be no famine in our land. When we stand for righteousness, and are obedient to the Lord's call in the hour of need, will we be the one to pray? Will we go to the altar of God and give our best of what we have in our hearts to pray and see America turn, to see our community turn toward God? Will we bring glory to God in this hour?
May we speak with one voice that we are united under God, and get the answer when we pray so others will see and know that we have been with Jesus!
May America be what she was intended to be.............a place of freedom to worship God!
God demonstrated that we are to give as He gave. He gave us His best, should we not do the same? Not with that which speaks as of the world, is of the flesh, but that which is of a compassionate heart that puts their trust in one God and expects the fire to fall from heaven. Remember the man who lives in Argentina is your brother, and the woman at the Mercantile is your neighbor as well!
When we see what happens next from this event on Mt. Carmel, we see how Elijah prayed for rain. He worshiped God at the altar and moved over to prayer and in that we see the power of the Holy Spirit. It was a place of famine and Elijah prophesied and prayed for unity in the land of Israel, with one God. And he prayed that the hearts of the people would be turned immediately back to the LORD God. Elijah prepared the table of the Lord (the altar) of sacrifice, and prayed. The table of the Lord was of righteousness. Elijah went one on one against that which is unholy to remain the holy before God, to be the one standing in the gap through prayer for those lost in lust, and worship of idols. Those doing empty things but think they are really having a great time.
Those people seeking after the false got no voice, no answer, and no one paid attention! When one sows toward evil, they get evil in return. When we sow towards peace and justice that is of God we get what we ask for in praying. It is that which every living person lives out their purpose for which God planned. It is not about the color, the age or even how smart, but how everyone can be of one unity in God. Today we see famine when it comes to the loss of youth and teens to the streets of America. Today we see famine where the young reside in gangs and not within homes with a loving father and mother to care for them. Today we see famine in those young girls who are of more value for what their bodies look like than for what God placed in their minds. For God certainly placed great minds in our youth to think and create, in our young men and women to become those working citizens who will not bow to greed and the power game of the competitive, but embracing that which is mercy and good for all those who are around them. And for the mature of age, we have the opportunity to continue to pray, encourage the young, and bless God for giving us a great family of people that God considers as His own.
When we pray to the living God and seek His Word, worship in giving thanks and singing His praises, we are prophesying there will be no famine in our land. When we stand for righteousness, and are obedient to the Lord's call in the hour of need, will we be the one to pray? Will we go to the altar of God and give our best of what we have in our hearts to pray and see America turn, to see our community turn toward God? Will we bring glory to God in this hour?
May we speak with one voice that we are united under God, and get the answer when we pray so others will see and know that we have been with Jesus!
May America be what she was intended to be.............a place of freedom to worship God!
You can also visit my Youtube channel The Voice of Prayer for more teaching at http://bit.ly/1tNyBhV
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