“…The God who answers by fire – He is God!” 1 Kings 18:24 (ESV)
We are heading into a season of intensity. Yes! I realize most will say hasn’t the past two years been an intense challenging time? And yes of course it has been! But the God who answers by fire, He is the LORD ALMIGHTY (1 Kings 18:16-40)! When Elijah confronted Ahab, and the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel, it was an ultimatum! Elijah had been hunted and chased down for several years but no one was able to find him. He was at the top of the Israel’s Most Wanted List. But suddenly he appears back on the scene in a most dramatic and dynamic way! He had prophesied a drought and it came, devastating the already arid land. He had been hiding for over three years. Now, at the Lord’s command, he came out to engage in an epic battle. Likewise, the church has been in hiding for the past few years, but it is time to come out and engage in the epic battle against tyranny, for our nation, for our King and for our kids! Pastors and all followers of Christ are now being called to take a stand!
Elijah went up against 450 prophets of Baal, who were financed by the government, even eating at Jezebel’s table. The odds were totally stacked against Elijah. But that is exactly how God likes it! When man’s ways have hit up against the wall of impossibility, like when Moses and the Israelites were being pressed against the sea with no way out, God steps in! And He steps in big time! That is where we are at right now.
The next couple weeks will probably be very intense as the enemy realizes he has been defeated, he will dangerously and desperately attempt blatant aggressive evil things right in our faces to intimidate us and get us to give up. Sadly, many believers, even pastors, already have! This is the time when we must not trust what we see with our eyes, or the reports we hear with our ears. This is the time when we are to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not lean on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
With all the nation watching (v.19) the prophets of Baal spent hours shouting, calling out for their demonic god to send fire. As the hours passed they got even more desperate and frantically shouted louder, even cutting themselves with swords and spears so that blood “flowed!” All to no avail! No fire fell on their offering!
Then Elijah rebuilt the altar of the LORD, which had been lying in ruins. He gathered twelve stones, representing the tribes of Israel. He dug a large trench around the altar and carefully placed the wood into position with the prepared bull laid upon it. He ordered for four large water jars to be filled and poured over the altar. He had them do it three times, so much that the water saturated the altar, and filled the trench. Everything was soaking wet. Remember, because of Elijah’s word, they had been in a drought for over three years and water was extremely scarce. So, this was very extravagant!
When Elijah prayed for fire to fall, he wasn’t fearfully begging God, or wondering if God would show up. Elijah confidently prayed from a place of faith, completely believing God was going to answer with fire. He knew this was going to turn the hearts of the nation back to God (v.37). This was a turning moment for the nation. Revival, awakening, reformation and transformation was about to come!
“Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.” (v.38).
Immediately, everyone fell on their faces and cried out “The LORD – He is God! The LORD – He is God!” (v.39)
All the evil prophets of Baal were seized and put to death. This was the beginning of a new day in Israel! Many prophetic people today believe we are in this moment right now. We are on the verge of a great battle and God is going to win, decisively! Our nation will turn back to God, and we will step into the greatest awakening ever!
Fire is coming! What impact will the fire have on you and your church? Commit yourself to God to be one who stands in this hour! And please pray for your pastor. So many have compromised and are either silent, hiding in caves, or worse, calloused and are eating at Jezebel’s table. Ask God to awaken and stir up holy passion and courage in your pastor. Cry out for God to expose every place of compromise, even where benefits from Jezebel’s table have been received at your church. Pray for your church to be positioned close to the altar of the LORD and to be ready to respond to the fire falling with humility and repentance! Pray for the true Church to arise over the next few weeks as things get intense! Thank the Lord for showing the world that He is God!
