A Mountainous Challenge with Associate Pastor Adrian Robinson

Scripture Passage – 1 Kings 18:17-40 (NLT)

“Fire of the Lord” = God’s demonstrated presence and power (in the form of fire)

• God appeared in a burning bush (Exod. 3:2–3; Acts 7:30)
• God appeared in a pillar of fire by night (Exod. 13:21; Neh. 9:12; Neh. 9:19)
• The Lord descended on Mount Sinai in fire (Exod. 19:18)
• The glory of the Lord filled the temple during Solomon’s dedication (2 Chronicles 7:1-22)
• The third figure in the fiery furnace with the Hebrew boys (Daniel 3:24-25)

In our text, when did the “fire of the Lord” fall?
I. IT WAS WHEN THE ALTAR WAS REPAIRED (1 Kgs 18:30)
II. IT WAS WHEN THE SACRIFICE WAS OFFERED (1 Kgs. 18:33)
III. IT WAS WHEN THE WATER WAS POURED (1 Kgs 18:33-35)
IV. IT WAS WHEN THE PRAYER WAS MADE (1 Kgs 18:36-37)

I. IT WAS WHEN THE ALTAR WAS REPAIRED (1 Kgs 18:30)

“Then Elijah said to all the people, ‘Come near to me.’ And all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been thrown down.” – 1 Kings 18:30

• Elijah repaired the altar of the Lord = he fixed his PHYSICAL place of worship.
• God wants us to fix our SPIRITUAL place (our hearts) before we can receive His fire.
• The fire of the Lord only falls when the Lord is given His rightful place in our lives

II. IT WAS WHEN THE SACRIFICE WAS OFFERED (1 Kgs. 18:33)

“And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” – 1 Kings 18:33

• Elijah placed EACH PIECE on the altar….he didn’t pick and choose ONLY the best pieces
• We must learn to sacrifice all of our best efforts for Christ, not just part of our efforts.

III. IT WAS WHEN THE WATER WAS POURED (1 Kgs 18:33-35)

“And he put the wood in order and cut the bull in pieces and laid it on the wood. And he said, “Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood.” 34 And 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 And the water ran around the altar and filled the trench also with water.” – 1 Kings 18:33-35

• Without the power of GOD, our religious actions and ceremonies are meaningless
• We cannot invoke God’s supernatural power by our own hands

IV. IT WAS WHEN THE PRAYER WAS MADE (1 Kgs 18:36-37)

“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. 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.” – 1 Kings 18:36-37

• Elijah made prayer a HABIT of his life – he didn’t pray only when it was convenient, or only when he wanted something, or only when he was in trouble
• If we want God’s fire is to fall in our lives, we will need prayer, prayer and MORE prayer!

“Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.  17  Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!  18  Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.” – James 5:16-18
(NLT)

“Always be joyful. 17  Never stop praying. 18  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NLT)

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.” – Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)

CONCLUSION:

• Because of God’s power, authority and sovereignty, challenging Him will never end well for the challenger. 
• Our faith in God – and prayers to Him - will always help us overcome seemingly impossible circumstances, because it is done in HIS power and not our own.

Ask: Read 1 Kings 18
Action Items: (a) prayerfully ask for God’s “fire” (His presence and power) to fall in YOUR life, and (b) take active steps to change your approach (e.g., giving the Lord His rightful place in your life, offering God only your best, and praying more) so that you are able to experience God’s fire falling in your life.