I Kings 18:25-40
Is There No Fire?

Introduction
1. Is the fire of heaven evident upon your life?
2. In I Kings 18:25-40 the fire of God fell.

I. THE PLACE OF PARTICIPATION 18:25-29
Participation does not guarantee the fire of heaven falling.
A. Motion, But No Fire 25b-26
1.The priests choose their sacrifice. The dress it put no fire under it. For the first time in their life the false prophet was unable to insert a secret spark of fire among the sticks which lay upon the altar. You see, if you don’t have the real thing you have to fake it.
2.They called, “O Baal” “O Baal” “But there was no answer.” They jumped on the altar…Nothing!
3.Morning until noon…they prayed…So earnest, so sincere, so much enthusiasm, but there is no fire!
4.What a picture of the church: we are not lacking activity, fervor or attempts to obtain spiritual power. We are making a lot of noise. We are busy, earnest, and perhaps sincere…there is no fire! Apparently, all our programs, promotions, schemes, budgets, committees have failed to produce that which is so desperately needed…FIRE FROM HEAVEN!
B. Mockery, But No Fire 27
1.At noon (the height of strength for the Lord of the Sun) Elijah mocked them. Either he is talking or asleep.
2.We become a joke before God and the world. All of this enthusiasm, sincerity, praying is a joke to God.
3.It is serious business when God laughs (Ps. 2:4). He laughs at our efforts…our pride…our profession.
C. Mutilation, But No Fire 28-29
1.This is the height of sincerity. These are nearly in a trance. They Cried Aloud would suggest ecstatic utterance. They had six hours of non-stop intercession…a blood flowing!
2.There was neither voice, nor any answer, nor any regard (29b) There is a deafening silence in the heavens!
3.What is the problem? They were bowing before the wrong god!

II. THE PLACE OF PREPARATION 18:30-35
Before God answers:
A. The Response 30
1.“Come near…and all the people came near unto Him”
2.Come near…is always necessary before the fire falls!
B. The Repair 30b
1. Elijah takes 12 stones and quickly repairs the altar that was to Jehovah, but was torn down by Baal worshipers.
2.This is the place of sacrifice and surrender. This is the place where man meets God. This altar is so easy to knock down, but so necessary for the fire to fall.
C. The Remembrance 31
Unto whom the word of the Lord came saying, Israel shall be thy name.
1. Israel was regulated by the law and a covenant keeping God.
2.We must remember God’s Word for the fire to fall! Don’t expect the fire to fall with a disobedient heart!
D.The Realization 32a
In the name of the Lord
1.What a way to live! What would Jesus do?
2.We must begin to live for Him and to Him so the fire can fall.
3.Stop living for yourself! We are but containers…He’s the substance!
E. The Rejuvenation 32b-35
Elijah got sea water 3 times in 4 barrels
1. All the possibilities of human effort or intervention are gone!
2. “I serve a BIG God” GOD CAN DO IT!
F. The Revelation 33a
1. The false prophets dressed the sacrifice as they wanted. Elijah followed God’s word.
2.What does God want? What will God accept? What’s important to God?

III. THE PLACE OF PRAYER 18:36-37
The church must recapture her distinctiveness. She is not built upon manipulation, marketing or
money. She is built upon the might of God. If the church is to be light in this perverse
generation, she must humble herself and pray. She must understand that victory comes on her
knees. There are 4 important ingredients:
A.The Weakness 36a
At the time of evening sacrifice
1. It was the same time the false prophets ran down. (29)
2.We must come to the end of ourselves before the fire will fall.
B. The Witness
The Lord God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel…this is the covenant keeping God. He is “the Lord…the God”!
1.Go His way. Don’t do something you want to do and then ask God to bless it.
2.We don’t demand from God. We bow before Him, who He is…all He is…Fire Is About to Fall!
3.“There is no doubt but that 99.9% of our troubles as Christians is that we are ignorant of God. We spend so much time in feeling our own pulse, taking our own spiritual temperature, considering our moods, and our states and fears. O, if we had some conception of Him, the inconceivable glory of God.” M. Lloyd Jones
C. The Walk
“Let it be known this day…thou art the God of Israel. I am thy servant.”
1.Thou Art God There is a burning zeal for God’s glory to be seen. There is a zeal to let God be God. Fire Is About To Fall!
2.I Am Thy Servant…let it be known.
*What a place to live!! A life of one entirely surrendered to Another…completely yielded and seeking only God’s good…totally at His disposal!
*Let it be known…Do those around you know you are His servant? Do those around you know you are living a life of separation, sacrifice and surrender without you telling them! The Character of the Master will be seen!
D. The Word I have done all things at thy word. It is the only way for the fire to fall!
ALL IS FOR THE GLORY OF GOD (v. 37) So these will know.

IV. THE PLACE OF POWER 18:38-40
A. The Compliance 38
1.At the place of the weakness…the walk…the word…at that point:
2.Hear Me.
B. The Consumption Consumed the burnt sacrifice
1.With a burnt sacrifice one gives God his best and then it is consumed. There is nothing left of self or pride.
2.God wants us…all of us!
C. The Conversion 39
1.The world is looking for a living illustration of the power of God.
2.The Lord…He is God!
D. The Condemnation 40 All do not of will not bow!

Send The Fire!
God of Elijah, hear the cry! Send the fire! Oh, make us fit to live or die! Send the fire! To burn up every trace of sin, to bring the light and glory in, the revolution now begins, Send the fire!

Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame, Send the fire! Thy blood-bought gift today we claim, Send the fire! Look down and see this waiting host, Give us the promised Holy Ghost, We want another Pentecost, Send the fire!

‘Tis fire we need, for fire we plead, Send the fire! The fire will meet our ev’ry need, Send the fire! For strength to ever do the right, for grace to conquer in the fight, For power to walk the world in white, Send the fire!

To make our weak heart strong and brave, Send the fire! To live a dying world to save; Send the fire! Oh, see us on the altar lay. Our lives, our all, this very day; to crown the offering, we pray, Send the fire!
General William Booth