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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (13-8-1995 Guisborough Evangelical Church)
In 1 Kings 18 we read of the
meeting between the apostate king, Ahab, and the man of God, Elijah. At once,
Ahab accuses Elijah of being the one who troubled Israel. Elijah immediately
responds, I have not made trouble for Israel, but you and your father’s
family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the
Baals (1 Kings 18:18). He arranged to meet all the prophets of Baal, with
the king, and all the people.
It is interesting to note in
passing how God’s faithful messengers are called “troublers” of people and
nations. Faithful Amos was charged with conspiring against Jeroboam II, and was
told the land could not bear his words (Amos 7:10). Paul and Silas at Philippi
were accused before magistrates of “exceedingly troubling the city” (Acts
16:20). And the Saviour Himself was accused of stirring up the people (Luke
23:5). There is no higher testimony to faithfulness than for servants of God to
stir up hostility of godless people. It is the duty of God’s servants to warn
men of danger and point out where rebellion against God leads, and to urge them
to turn from their idols and sins. This will not make them popular, and they are
unlikely to be awarded any bouquets. Plain speaking will always annoy the
wicked. To expose wickedness and hypocrisy will always lead to charge of causing
trouble.
So, the two religions were to be fairly tested, and the tests were to take place publicly on an elevated spot, in the presence of all the people.
We arrive at the scene on Mount Carmel. There were three
groups of people. Firstly the hundreds of prophets of Baal, who were out and out
idolaters. Then there was the lone figure of Elijah, on his own – but of
course God was with him. Then, in between, was the mass of people, professed
people of God, who could not make up their minds. They haltered and limped and
wavered between two opinions.
Elijah challenges the people to
make up their minds, to be one thing or the other. If the Lord is God, follow
Him; but if Baal is God, follow Him (1 Kings 18:21). If God is God, He
deserves whole-hearted commitment and service and devotion, 100% for God, all
the way with Him.
Throughout the Bible the
challenge goes out to be thoroughly decided for God. We cannot serve two
masters, God and Mammon. We cannot love God and the Devil. If we are friend of
the world, we are an enemy of God. We are either in darkness or light, in truth
or in error, going to heaven or going to hell. There is Divine impatience with
attempts to reconcile the irreconcilable. The church at Laodicea was neither one
thing nor the other, and the Lord said I am about to spit you out of my mouth
(Revelation 3:16).
This is so relevant in light of
the state of the church at the moment. So many in it want the “smile” of the
world, and at the same time want to hear Christ’s “well done”. Many are
men of God on Sundays, but men of the world Monday to Saturday. Many adapt to
the company they are in, love God, but serve the Devil, have a form of
godliness, but without the power, profession but no life. How unsatisfactory for
all concerned.
Graham Scroggie admitted that
early in his Christian life, “I frankly confess that I had not resolved to be
out and out for Christ. I would not meddle with it. I would at least endeavour
to get out of this world all that it held for me.” The Christian trying to
keep in with the world does not have the pleasure of the world or the joys of
walking with God. He has the fears of religion without the hope, the duties of
religion without the joys. He is neither at home with the world or with the
people of God. He is too good for the world, but too inconsistent to be at home
with the people of God. He is following God, but at a distance, and not truly
happy in either camp. Rejected by both classes. The world laughs at his
inconsistency, and Christians weep over it. How long is this going to continue?
We live in a country which has
lost its way. It has no goal or drive. The same spirit has entered the church of
God. Lack of abandonment, real commitment, unwillingness to lose life for
Christ’s sake. We lack spiritual life and power, awareness of God, assurance,
and spiritual authority. We have doctrine, but are not dynamic. The world sees
it all, and says, “if you are not decided and definite and committed, don’t
expect us to be.”
God’s call to us is – if the Lord is God, follow Him 100%. If Baal, or the world, is God, follow him. But end the indecision, end the uncertainty, be one thing or the other. Keep it up or give it up.
We look now at the actual
contest on Mount Carmel. The people were challenged to serve the God who answers
by fire, the God who is real, the God who demonstrates his power, and is able to
manifest himself and his power to bless. The contest showed that idols are
absolutely useless. They have mouths but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see;
they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell; they have hands,
but cannot feel, feet, but they cannot walk; nor can they utter a sound with
their throats (Psalms 115:5-7).
False religion is powerless. The
things that we so often set up in place of God are powerless – they cannot
satisfy us, bring us peace, or strengthen us. They are a delusion and sham. What
folly to allow other things to share our lives with God. We make fools of
ourselves. Half-hearted Christians bring trouble on themselves. Their boat is
going to be rocked, and their props will let them down in their hour of need.
What a contrast to the power of
God. He does the impossible. God produced fire on the altar after it had been
soaked with water. And it led to the cry: The Lord – he is God! (1
Kings 18:39). Notice that Elijah was above all concerned that God got the
praise. It was his passion for the glory of God which led to the fire falling.
He had seen to the repair of the broken altar of the Lord, rebuilding it with
twelve stone representing the twelve tribes (1 Kings 18:30,31). Then he had
prayed to the Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Let it be known that you
are God is Israel, and that I am your servant and have done all these things at
your command. Answer me, O Lord, answer me, so that these people will know that
you, O Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again (1
Kings 18:36,37).
Elijah had a consuming desire
for God’s glory. He was anxious that it be known that the Lord was God in
Israel. He was indignant that apostasy was rampant and that the people of God
were so vacillating and lacking conviction, and the leaders of the country were
under the power of evil. God’s name had been dishonoured, His worship
rejected, His servants persecuted, and His truth despised. Elijah wanted God to
be lifted up and vindicated.
How often our prayers never get
beyond our own interests. We pray for ourselves, we pray for our churches and
our work to be successful. If these thrive, we are satisfied. If they fail, we
are depressed. Elijah transcends these earthbound cares. He is concerned with
God, His glory, His name, His honour and His work. He wanted people’s hearts
turned back to Him.
It is only when we look beyond
personal interests, and plead for God’s glory, that we reach the place where
He will not deny us. It is when we are so concerned with our own interests that
we lose sight of the infinitely more wonderful matter of vindication and honour
of the Master. Cf. the words of One who was meek and lowly in heart: I am not
seeking glory for myself (John 8:50); Father, glorify you name (John
12:28); I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me
to do (John 17:5).
Then notice that Elijah wants
his own role to be seen for what it was – that he was simply a servant,
belonging to the Lord and under His orders. His own interests were subordinate
to His Masters. His one desire was to please and honour his Master.
How much of Christian service
can have a selfish edge on it – getting our own will done, getting known,
getting our name to the fore, our reputation, gifts and experience noted by
others. Anxious not to be known as a failure, our Christian work can easily
become a backcloth or stage on which we strut and seek applause. No, we are
merely servants, existing for the will and plans of another. Christian service
is not what we do for God. It is doing those things He has appointed and
assigned us. We are not doing things for God, but letting Him do what He chooses
through us.
Are we so given over to God that
we can simply say, “I am your servant”? Separated from the world unto the
Master, simply to live for Him. Emptied of self and filled with Christ. Just a
chess piece on the board for Him to move about, as He will. Not carrying out our
own little whims but simply carrying out His will in and through us.
Elijah was no different from us. But he got into the habit of dealing with God at first hand and as a living reality. He knew the privilege and glory of always standing in God’s presence. Is this not the test of the mature and growing Christian – taken up with God and seeing himself simply as His servant and bond-slave, totally surrendered and totally His? Nowhere more clearly seen than in one’s prayer life and in the way we speak of God and our relationship to Him. How we need the Holy Spirit to lift us up to where we ought to be.
The fire of the Lord fell and
burned up the sacrifice.. When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and
cried, ‘The Lord – he is God! The Lord – he is God!’ (1 Kings
18:38,39). The prophets of Baal, teachers of apostasy and evil, were destroyed.
Then rain came – first a small cloud on the horizon, then black clouds and
heavy rain.
When we are in the Lord’s will
and walking obediently, we may expect God’s blessing on our labours. He
blesses us when we are where we should be. He sends fire down on His plans and
purposes. Obedience brings blessing, but self-will and self-seeking will always
bring disaster. If my people, who are called by my name, will humble
themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I
will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2
Chronicles 7:14).
God has no room for the divided heart. He wants all or none. When there are no rivals to the Lord in our lives, when we abandon our plans and schemes, when we are at the end of ourselves, the Lord will manifest Himself in our lives. Make room for God to work and do a new thing in your life. God never fails the person who trusts Him utterly. He may keep Him waiting till the 11th hour, but then He will be there. A man has to be brought to the end of himself before the sufficiency of grace is appreciated. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective (James 5:16).
Elijah brings his challenge to us today: How long will you waver between two opinions? This question speaks to our intelligence, conscience and unsatisfied souls. Israel had long hesitated. And what about us? 5, 10, 20 years? How much longer? How many more sermons? How many more opportunities? When will the vacillating end? Why not be decisive about these deep and eternal issues? Stop coming, and come!
“Now
rest, my long divided heart,
Fixed
on that blissful centre, rest.”
