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Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

…. Cherished. Bible. Stories. Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion. Cherished Bible Stories. Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion. A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Historically, God’s people always fail when they are “indecisive”

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Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

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  2. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The Old Testament That Build Faith & Devotion

  3. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 • Historically, God’s people always fail when they are “indecisive” • God expects total commitment Josh 24:14-15 Jas 1:5-8 Rev 3:15-16 • It does no good to “wet one’s finger to check the wind” before deciding how to act

  4. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 • This story is one of the Bible’s more awesome displays of God’s power • Israel “hesitated between 2 opinions” v. 21 • God sent a mighty prophet to move them out of their double-mindedness, and to convince them Baal was no match for mighty Jehovah

  5. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah prophesied there would be no rain “…except by my word”17:1 • God had already declared this to be so re: idols Lev 26:14, 19 Deut 11:16-17 • Israel was “very guilty” of this 16:29-33

  6. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah prayed for such hardship on Israel… • …to get their attention so they would repent • …so they would know that God had meant what He said • It did not rain for 3½ years Jas 5:17

  7. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • God instructs Elijah to meet Ahab…“I will send rain upon the earth” v. 1 • God’s decision to send rain was not due to Israel’s repentance…she hadn’t • It had to be His omniscience for what was about to take place on Mt. Carmel

  8. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Ahab & Obadiah (servant) were out trying to find water & green pasture land vv. 5-6 • Obadiah “feared the Lord” vv. 3b-4 • He had previously hidden 100 prophets of the Lord from Jezebel’s wrath

  9. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah meets Obadiah…tells him to inform Ahab that he wants to see him v. 8 • Obadiah objects…he fears if Ahab comes and the Spirit of the Lord has taken Elijah away, the king would kill him vv. 9-14

  10. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah reassures Obadiah v. 15 • Upon seeing the prophet, Ahab says “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?”v. 17 • Elijah replies, “I have not troubled Israel… you have by following Baal” v. 18

  11. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • A Sad Reality – • Often, when some bring error in among the Lord’s people, they usually accuse those who defend the truth as “trouble-makers” (the instrument, institutionalism)

  12. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • A Sad Reality – • If a preacher feels the need to preach on a “controversial topic” (M/D/R), sometimes brethren caution against it, claiming “You’ll only stir up trouble!”

  13. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • A Sad Reality – • The trouble does not come from those who stand up in defense of God and His word • The trouble comes from those who introduce unauthorized practices/teaching

  14. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah proposed a meeting v. 19 • Bring all your prophets (850) to Mt. Carmel • Initially, Elijah does not address Ahab nor all his false prophets • His first words were to THE PEOPLEv. 21a

  15. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah’s words to the people v. 21a • “How long will you hesitate (waffle) between two opinions?” • “Make up your minds between God & Baal” Josh 24:14-15 Rev 3:15-16

  16. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah’s words to the people v. 21a • Israel’s real problem Ù a lack of total and complete commitment to God • God has always demanded this type of loyalty from His people Deut 6:5 Mt 22:37-38 • Anything else is failure Rev 3:15-16

  17. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • The people’s failure to answer the prophet proves their lack of commitment v. 21b • Elijah’s “proposal”…a contest to win back the hearts of the people vv. 22-24 • He would battle Baal’s prophets “alone”

  18. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah’s “proposal”…a contest to win back the hearts of the people vv. 22-24 • Each side would prepare a burnt offering except for the fire…call on their god • Whoever answered would be “God”

  19. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 Before The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Baal’s prophets agreed v. 24 • No doubt…they liked these “conditions” • Baal was the god of storms, lightning (fire) and fertility • Surely he would win the contest

  20. Cherished Bible Stories Stories From The O.T. That Build Faith & Devotion A Story Of Indecision 1 Kings 18 The Contest On Mt. Carmel • Elijah let Baal’s prophets go first vv. 25-29 • They began calling on Baal in the morning • They “leaped around the altar” • Baal was silent • At noon, Elijah mocked them cp. Prov 26:5

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