![]() To worship Allah as God is to worship a false god who is not there. Many Forms Today: This can come in many forms.įalse Religion: Like these prophets of Baal, it can come in the form of false religion, believing God to be someone or something other than who He has revealed Himself to be in the Scriptures. ![]() They saw God, they saw the other option, they chose the other option. Why is that? Keep in mind, Baal was pretty much the only alternative to God in the region. They represent anybody who has chosen to reject Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. ![]() But the prophets of Baal represent a larger group than that. One thinks of characters like Richard Dawkins or Sam Harris or Bill Maher, who have made quite public professions of ridiculing God. Modern Religious Prophets of Baal: Who is the Prophet of Baal today? There are certainly those loud and public anti-Christ voices in society. It was because the one true and living God was watching their every move, and would soon hold judgment over their lives. Judgment was just around the corner, and it was not for any lack of zeal. They did not know it, but they were on a path that ultimately led to their death. But we are told, 1 Kings 18:29 ESV And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. They were truly zealous in their beliefs. They were utterly convinced in their minds that their god would be there for them in their moment of need. In this story we saw that there was a group that was not only opposed vehemently to the God of the Bible, but they were actively worshiping and promoting another God. God sent the prophet Elijah to confront Ahab.Ī Description: Let us begin with the prophets of Baal. Ahab and Jezebel, though they charged with ruling over God’s people, had abandoned God and led the entire nation into idolatry. This took place during the years of King Ahab and his wicked Queen Jezebel. Christians by title, but not by the new birth.ī Personal: Do you know what a true Christian is? Are you a true Christian? Are you a counterfeit Christian?Ĭ The Backstory: Today, we continue our series titled ‘Great Stories’ by looking at the story of the great showdown on Mount Carmel, when the prophet Elijah, who lived over six hundred years before Christ, challenged the prophets of Baal (a false god) to a showdown to prove who was truly God. But secondly, I think he has truly encountered many counterfeit Christians. And so, some definition around ‘What is a true believer,’ is very important. First is that, as a nonbeliever, he may have a very skewed understanding of what a true Christian is, in fact I know he does. He said, “Why do so many Christians that I have met seem so different than Jesus?” Now that is a great question. My friend made a point, as an outsider looking in on Christianity. Yet God has opened up sweet conversation. At the end of this passage, God lets it rain again after 3 ½ years.A Opening: Counterfeit Christians: I was having a conversation recently with a friend who doesn’t believe in Christ, in fact who is quite hostile to Christ.Talk about times when you have seen God answer prayer as you enjoy your roasted food! Make a campfire (or a fire on a grill) and roast hot dogs, hamburgers, or marshmallows to make s’mores.But, through everything, Elijah trusted God – and we can have that same trust because we serve the SAME God! The same God who made fire fall from heaven loves us and is with us always. Elijah had a relationship with God where Elijah knew he could trust God to answer him and take care of him – although that did not mean things were always great for Elijah. (The next chapter of 1 Kings shows Elijah in the mist of discouragement and doubt – your older kids especially might enjoy reading that). So much happens in this passage of Scripture! There’s the amazing response of God to Elijah’s prayer, the judgment of the prophets of Baal, and the ending of the 3 ½ year drought – again, in response to Elijah’s prayer (as we see in James 5:17-18). Have you ever experienced a time when God answered one of your prayers in an amazing way?. ![]()
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