Which God do you Serve?
1 Kings 18:16-39
What does God want from us?
He wants our praise!
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
He wants my worship, heart, and focus... that's what my reasonable service is all about!
Another verse that stands out:
Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
God truly, deeply wants our praise with everything we have!
Anything less, anything that gets in the way of that—we have to be ALL IN!
Whatever takes that focus away from Him? That's what we're truly worshiping.
We are either all in, or all out!
If we're all out, then we’ve chosen an idol to worship.
The very first commandment:
Exodus 20:3-4
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
God detests IDOLS!
He wants our praise!
Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
He wants my worship, heart, and focus... that's what my reasonable service is all about!
Another verse that stands out:
Deuteronomy 6:5
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
God truly, deeply wants our praise with everything we have!
Anything less, anything that gets in the way of that—we have to be ALL IN!
Whatever takes that focus away from Him? That's what we're truly worshiping.
We are either all in, or all out!
If we're all out, then we’ve chosen an idol to worship.
The very first commandment:
Exodus 20:3-4
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
God detests IDOLS!
Big Idea: False gods promise what only the true God provides.
So, let's remember where we are:
- After 200 years of evil kings (19 of them), to where we are now.
- Elijah (1) was called to tell King Ahab,
- "There will be no rain until I say so!"
- Elijah is then sent away to the Kerith Ravine,
- where he’s fed by ravens—meat and bread.
- He moves on to a widow’s house,
- and two miracles happen there:
- Oil and flour never run out.
- Her son dies, and God raises him up!
But why?
1 Kings 17:24
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
Now, where are we headed?
Elijah is the man of God he needs to be for the next step...
Some of you, God has prepared you for your next step...
But some of you are still in your Kerith Ravine!
We pick up with Ahab searching for Elijah,
and he has a man named Obadiah helping him.
Obadiah finds Elijah and Elijah tells him to go tell Ahab,
"I want to talk to him!"
Obadiah is like, "If you don’t show up, I’m dead!"
After some discussion, Elijah agrees, and they meet.
1 Kings 18:17
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
The term "troubler" in Hebrew is Akar, meaning "to cause hardship and distress for another," implying social chaos or disorder caused by this situation.
Ahab is saying, "Everything that’s going wrong—it's all because of you!"
He’s basically accusing Elijah of having the power to control the rain.
But Elijah responds in a way that will surprise Ahab!
1 Kings 18:18
18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.
Remember, there are two types of beliefs:
We, along with Elijah, believe in Monotheism—there is only one God.
Ahab, on the other hand, follows Polytheism—many gods.
Sadly, at times, Christians claim to follow Monotheism with their words, but live Polytheism with their actions.
I’ll be the first to admit—I've been there.
It's surprising how easily we can get distracted by things that take our focus away from God.
Normally, I’d give you three points, but today, there's only one:
If Elijah were here today, he would say to us and to our churches...
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
Now, where are we headed?
Elijah is the man of God he needs to be for the next step...
Some of you, God has prepared you for your next step...
But some of you are still in your Kerith Ravine!
We pick up with Ahab searching for Elijah,
and he has a man named Obadiah helping him.
Obadiah finds Elijah and Elijah tells him to go tell Ahab,
"I want to talk to him!"
Obadiah is like, "If you don’t show up, I’m dead!"
After some discussion, Elijah agrees, and they meet.
1 Kings 18:17
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
The term "troubler" in Hebrew is Akar, meaning "to cause hardship and distress for another," implying social chaos or disorder caused by this situation.
Ahab is saying, "Everything that’s going wrong—it's all because of you!"
He’s basically accusing Elijah of having the power to control the rain.
But Elijah responds in a way that will surprise Ahab!
1 Kings 18:18
18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals.
Remember, there are two types of beliefs:
- Monotheism — the belief in one God
- Polytheism — the belief in many gods
We, along with Elijah, believe in Monotheism—there is only one God.
Ahab, on the other hand, follows Polytheism—many gods.
Sadly, at times, Christians claim to follow Monotheism with their words, but live Polytheism with their actions.
I’ll be the first to admit—I've been there.
It's surprising how easily we can get distracted by things that take our focus away from God.
- The demands of raising children
- The hustle of sports and activities
- The pursuit of money, stress of paying bills, lack of tithing
Normally, I’d give you three points, but today, there's only one:
If Elijah were here today, he would say to us and to our churches...
...Quit Wavering!
[Waver: losing strength, determination, or purpose; only temporary.]
No one wants a friend like that, a family member like that, a boss like that, or a doctor like that! Imagine going to the doctor and hearing:
“We think it’s your appendix, but it could be your liver... and while we’re at it, we’ll check your brain, too! Oh, and maybe it’s your ankle!”
No one likes wavering!
No one gains anything by wavering. It only leads to discord and instability.
Elijah says it’s “Time for a Showdown.”
1 Kings 18:19-21
19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
No one wants a friend like that, a family member like that, a boss like that, or a doctor like that! Imagine going to the doctor and hearing:
“We think it’s your appendix, but it could be your liver... and while we’re at it, we’ll check your brain, too! Oh, and maybe it’s your ankle!”
No one likes wavering!
No one gains anything by wavering. It only leads to discord and instability.
Elijah says it’s “Time for a Showdown.”
1 Kings 18:19-21
19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
Notice: They want both. This is Polytheism—wavering.
It’s like trying to choose a restaurant on Sunday:
“Hmm, I don’t care... someone should name a restaurant ‘I Don’t Care!’”
Slogan: "The place where everyone wants to eat!"
They want both.
We can be like that too, living with Polytheism:
- Salvation? Yes, but I still want to do what I want.
- Bless me? Yes, but I don’t want to be a blessing to others.
- Wealth? Yes to money, but no to tithing.
QUIT WAVERING!
It’s time to decide!
1 Kings 18:22-24
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
Notice: They responded! Why?
Because fire! Baal is a god of fire, so they thought, “We’re going to win!”
They were all in.
If you have an idol, you go all in:
Money: Invest it, steal it, spend it, go into debt... just go for it.
Accumulate: collect things, fill your cabinets, build your empire, get more and more.
Image: Work out 3 hours a day, Botox everything, bulk up until you’re practically the Jolly Green Giant. Tuck it, tweak it, pluck it, lift it, and remove it. Whatever it takes to look perfect.
You can go all in, but it’s not going to be enough.
They thought Baal was going to win, but Elijah taunts them.
Elijah Taunts Them
1 Kings 18:25-28
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention. 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.
He arranged 12 stones—one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel, showing that God is still the one true God.
1 Kings 18:36-39
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38 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. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!”
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
Notice: They responded! Why?
Because fire! Baal is a god of fire, so they thought, “We’re going to win!”
They were all in.
If you have an idol, you go all in:
Money: Invest it, steal it, spend it, go into debt... just go for it.
- Pray to it,
- Love it,
- Worship it.
Accumulate: collect things, fill your cabinets, build your empire, get more and more.
- Pray to it,
- Love it,
- Worship it.
Image: Work out 3 hours a day, Botox everything, bulk up until you’re practically the Jolly Green Giant. Tuck it, tweak it, pluck it, lift it, and remove it. Whatever it takes to look perfect.
- Pray to it,
- Love it,
- Worship it.
You can go all in, but it’s not going to be enough.
They thought Baal was going to win, but Elijah taunts them.
Elijah Taunts Them
1 Kings 18:25-28
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention. 30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down.
He arranged 12 stones—one for each of the 12 tribes of Israel, showing that God is still the one true God.
1 Kings 18:36-39
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38 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. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!”
God shows up in an undeniable way, proving He is the one true God.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED?
Remember from last week.
1 Kings 17:1-24 NIV
Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
We learned that Elijah is from Tishbe in Gilead. This would be like saying, “Dan from Annapolis, Missouri.” This is the context of who he is—this is how we know him now!
1 Kings 17:24
Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
1 Kings 18:39
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” .. . .
They wavered no more!!
Now, let's jump ahead:
Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, looks at the people and says, "Father, forgive them!"
To the thief beside Him, He says, "Today you will be with me in paradise..."
The Roman Solider:
Matthew 7:54
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
All the wavering, all the other gods...
They went from Polytheism to Monotheism.
1 Kings 17:1-24 NIV
Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
We learned that Elijah is from Tishbe in Gilead. This would be like saying, “Dan from Annapolis, Missouri.” This is the context of who he is—this is how we know him now!
1 Kings 17:24
Then the woman said to Elijah, “Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.”
1 Kings 18:39
When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—He is God! The Lord—He is God!” .. . .
They wavered no more!!
Now, let's jump ahead:
Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross, looks at the people and says, "Father, forgive them!"
To the thief beside Him, He says, "Today you will be with me in paradise..."
The Roman Solider:
Matthew 7:54
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
All the wavering, all the other gods...
They went from Polytheism to Monotheism.
Surrender to Jesus for Who He Is—The Savior of the World.
Any other god is a false god that leads to empty promises.
Quit wavering!
There is only one true God, and His name is Jesus.
Don’t let the distractions or false gods pull you away.
Surrender fully to Him and His truth.
He is the only one who offers real peace, real hope, and eternal life.
Quit wavering!
Make the choice today.
Any other god is a false god that leads to empty promises.
Quit wavering!
There is only one true God, and His name is Jesus.
Don’t let the distractions or false gods pull you away.
Surrender fully to Him and His truth.
He is the only one who offers real peace, real hope, and eternal life.
Quit wavering!
Make the choice today.
The whole purpose here is for the people to see God is God—and stop wavering.
Some of you right now are wavering.
This wavering will only confuse you and pull you toward other gods that lead to nothing.
Where is God in your life?
Is He the Only God in your life? Or have the things of this world crowded Him out?
Is He just your Sunday God, the one you turn to for an hour or two, and then the rest of the week He’s at rest?
God doesn’t want to be a part-time presence in your life.
He is the One True God—not just a Sunday thing.
He wants to be in your life every day, every moment.
Quit wavering. Make Him the center of your life, not just when it’s convenient.
Some of you right now are wavering.
This wavering will only confuse you and pull you toward other gods that lead to nothing.
Where is God in your life?
Is He the Only God in your life? Or have the things of this world crowded Him out?
Is He just your Sunday God, the one you turn to for an hour or two, and then the rest of the week He’s at rest?
God doesn’t want to be a part-time presence in your life.
He is the One True God—not just a Sunday thing.
He wants to be in your life every day, every moment.
Quit wavering. Make Him the center of your life, not just when it’s convenient.
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