Message Notes

(I) MEETING BETWEEN ELIJAH AND AHAB

AHAB

“Then it happened, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said to him,

‘Is that you, O trouble of Israel.’ ” 1 Kings 18:17

1. Ahab takes the initiative (attacks)

2. He sought to put Elijah on the defensive

3. He sought to put the blame on Elijah as the one who troubled Israel

ELIJAH

1. Elijah meets this accusation straight on

2. He objects to the accusation of Ahab

3. He gives a prophetic interpretation of the situation in Israel

a) Who has troubled Israel?

b) The plain answer:-

i) Omri the father of Ahab (1 Kings 16:21-27)

ii) Ahab the son of Omri (1 Kings 16:28-34)

c) The evil deeds of the house of Omri

i) Forsaken the commandments of the LORD (1 Kings 18:18c)

ii) Followed the idol Baal (1 Kings 18:18d)

d) A challenge to Ahab

i) To gather all Israel to meet at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:19a)

ii) To bring 450 prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18:19b)

iii) To bring 400 prophets of Asherah who ate at Jezebel’s table (1 Kings 18:19c)

(II) AHAB TAKES UP THE CHALLENGE

1. Israel gathered (1 Kings 18:20a)

2. All prophets gathered at Mt. Carmel (1 Kings 18:21)

(III) ELIJAH ADDRESSES ISRAEL

1. Rebuked Israel for halting between two opinions (1 Kings 18:21)

a) God

b) Baal

2. One Prophet versus Many Prophets (1 Kings 18:22)

3. Proposal to Israel

“You call on the name of your gods,

and I will call on the name of the LORD;

and the God who answers by fire, He is God.” 1 Kings 18:24

4. Agreement of the people

“It is well spoken” 1 Kings 18:24e

(IV) THE TEST OF BURNT-OFFERING WORSHIP

1. Burnt offering sacrifice (1 Kings 18:25-26)

2. The failure of the false prophets (1 Kings 18:27-29)

3. The outstanding success of Elijah (1 Kings 18:30-40)

a) Repair of the altar of the Lord (1 Kings 18:30)

b) Twelve stones of Israel (1 Kings 18:31)

c) Dousing of the altar (1 Kings 18:32-35)

(V) THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE

1. Only the true God could answer as He did (1 Kings 18:36-38)

2. Divine fire consumed the offering Elijah gave (1 Kings 18:38)

(VI) THE FEAR OF ISRAEL

“The LORD, He is God!” The LORD, He is God!” 1 Kings 18:39

(VII) EXECUTION OF ALL THE FALSE PROPHETS (1 Kings 18:4)