Title: He is God (1 Kings 18:30-40)
Content When God responds, He reveals Himself in various ways. One of them is to answer with fire. I believe that the Lord who answered Elijah on Mount Carmel with fire will also answer us with fire today. If there is a wish for the saints, it will be this answer.
As James 4:2-3 says,
(James 4:2) You lust and have not, you murder, you envy, and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight; you have not obtained, you do not ask.
(James 4:3) The reason why you ask and do not receive is because you ask in error to spend it on your lust.
In today's text, Elijah made thorough preparations before receiving the answer by fire on Mount Carmel, so God responded with fire and just as he defeated the prophets of Baal, so to receive answers from God, remember that there are conditions for receiving answers I hope that you will become a saint who is working hard to prepare.
1. Let's rebuild the fallen Altar of Jehovah (30)
(1 Kings 18:30) Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me, and when all the people come near to him, he will tear down the altar of the LORD, which has been broken down, and the altar that has fallen down because of the cares and anxieties of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and tribulation and persecution.” We have to build it up again. We can receive answers only when we have a right relationship with God.
You must rebuild the broken altar in your ungodly state of mind and your home. Such work requires a process of self-reflection, confession, and contrition. "Jacob" is an exemplary figure who rebuilt the forgotten altar. Just like when he fled from his older brother Esau, he completely forgot the vow he made to God he met at Bethel, and on his way back to his hometown, he told his household and all who were with him to abandon idols and build an altar. You need to purify yourself and change your clothes.
1) Investigate our own actions and return to the Lord (Lamentations 3:40) (Lamentations 3:40) Let us examine our own actions and return to the Lord. We must repent of our sins and return to the Lord and depend on Him to live.
People do not always have the opportunity to repent, but only while they live in this world. If they do not repent until they die and do not have faith, even if they regret it at that time, it is already too late. God is long-suffering to save our souls and gives us the greatest opportunity of grace.
2) Let's test yourselves whether you have faith (2 Corinthians 13:5) (2 Corinthians 13:5) Test yourselves whether you are in the faith, and prove yourselves. Or do you say that you are a forsaken person, to test whether you have faith?
means to see if you have the confidence to receive the Lord even if the Lord comes now.
Those who claim to have faith must be able to confirm that Jesus Christ is in them. Even though we say we are living a life of faith, there are many cases where we do not stand in the truth and are living in the wrong and unrighteous life. So today, he asks us to examine whether we are living a life by faith.
3) Let's live a life that pleases God (Hebrews 13:16) (Hebrews 13:16) But do not forget to do good and to share with one another, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
Those who have not been able to please God in the past will live a life that pleases God, which will be the life of rebuilding the broken altar.
2. Let's take the twelve stones (31)
(1 Kings 18:31) And he took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, whom the LORD said to him of old, 'Your name shall be Israel.
All believers in Jesus Christ must be reconciled and united in Christ to build up the body of Christ completely (Ephesians 2:20-22) (Ephesians 2:20) Growing up, Christ Jesus Himself has become the corner stone.
(Ephesians 2:21) In him every building is joined together to become a temple in the Lord.
(Ephesians 2:22) You also are being built up together in Jesus to be a dwelling place for God in the Holy Spirit.
It is to bring together the hearts that were scattered about various things.
1) Being of the same mind is unity (1 Peter 3:8)
(1 Peter 3:8) Finally, be all of one mind and compassion; love your brother, be compassionate, humble,
If we share our hearts, nothing is impossible. In the place where the hearts of the saints are divided, it was difficult to expect God's answers.
He tells us to share in the sufferings of others with the same heart, to have more intimate fellowship because we love our brothers, and to be compassionate and humble.
2) Caring for each other is unity (1 Corinthians 12:25-26) (1 Corinthians 12:25) There are no divisions in the body, but the members are made to look after each other together.
(1 Corinthians 12:26) If one member suffers, all the members suffer together; if one member is glorified, all the members rejoice together.
3) Unity must come through Christ (Romans 6:5) (Romans 6:5) If we have become united in his death, we will also be united in his resurrection.
The parable of union with Christ
Head and Body (Ephesians 4:15-16)
(Ephesians 4:15) But speaking the truth in love, you may grow up into him in all things, who is the head, which is Christ.
(Ephesians 4:16) From him the whole body is connected and united with the help of each joint, working according to the measure of each part, so that the body may grow and in love.
build it yourself
Husband and wife (Ephesians 5:2)
3.30)
(Ephesians 5:23) For the husband is the head of the wife, just as Christ is the head of the church; he himself is the Savior of the body.
(Ephesians 5:30) For we are members of that body.
Temple (Ephesians 2:21-22)
(Ephesians 2:21) In him every building is joined together to become a temple in the Lord.
(Ephesians 2:22) You also are being built up together in Jesus to be a dwelling place for God in the Holy Spirit.
body members (1 Corinthians 12:1)
2.27)
(1 Corinthians 12:12) As the body is one and has many members, and as the body has many members, yet is one body, so is Christ.
(1 Corinthians 12:27) Ye are the body of Christ, each part of the vine and branches (John 15:4-5).
(John 15:4) Abide in me, and I in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit of its own accord unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.
(John 15:5) I am the vine and you are the branches; he in me and I in him, this man bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
3. Making a ditch (32)
(1 Kings 18:32) In the name of the LORD, he built an altar of the stone, and returned to the altar, and made a trench for two years of grain seedlings. In the name of the LORD, he built an altar of stones and then made the trench. It appears that you have prepared a vessel that will receive abundant grace.
1) Let's prepare to build an altar dedicated to the Lord. (Joshua 22:26) (Joshua 22:26) We said, Let us now prepare an altar to be built, not for burnt offerings, but for other sacrifices. Please believe that only those who live in the faith that can worship only God by not bowing before and worshiping idols throughout their lives will receive answers from God.
2) Let's prepare to meet God (Amos 4:12)
(Amos 4:12) Therefore, I will do this to you, O Israel. I will do this to you. Prepare to meet your God, Israel. We do not know when the judgment of the Lord will come, so we must be ready to meet God at any time.
4. Cut trees (33)
Elijah practiced the sacrificial law well. He cut the wood, cut the calf in pieces, put it on the tree, filled the barrel with water, and poured it on the burnt offering and the wood. I hope you will do your duty as a saint.
The priest's duty
1) Keeping the commandments. (1 Timothy 6:14)
(1 Timothy 6:14) Keep this commandment without spot and without reproach until our Lord Jesus Christ appears.
2) It is to abstain from sinful things. (Ephesians 5:3)
(Ephesians 5:3) Fornication and all uncleanness and covetousness, even by name
Do not call, for this is fitting for saints.
3) Helping the weak. (Acts 20:35)
(Acts 20:35) In everything I have set an example for you, that in this way you toil to help the weak, and to remember the Lord Jesus Himself, saying, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
5. Repeat three times (34)
As one of the duties of a saint is obedience, I hope that you will live a life of great glory by obeying the Lord.
1) Let us obey with a free and joyful heart (Isaiah 1:19)
(Isa 1:19) If you are willing and obedient, you will eat of the good produce of the earth, and what the obedient soul needs is willingness. With willingness, we feel love for our duty and do it with joy.
2) Because of fear (2 Corinthians 7:15)
(2 Corinthians 7:15) And he felt deep toward you, because he remembered that all of you were afraid and that was why he received and obeyed him.
3) With all your heart (Deuteronomy 26:16)
(Deuteronomy 26:16) Today the LORD your God commands you to do these ordinances and ordinances. Therefore, you must keep it with all your heart and with all your soul. 6. Elijah's prayer (36-37)
(1 Kings 18:36) At the time of the offering of the evening meal offering, the prophet Elijah came and said, O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I do all these things according to your word.
At this time, the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the soil, and watered the trench again. I pray that the fire of the Lord will purify your souls for you today as well. May the fire of the Lord purify your souls. May the fire of the Lord come on. As the fire of the Lord comes, there will be a change in your heart, so that the rest of your life may be used as a saint who is preciously used by God.