The Wavering

The Wavering

1 Kings 18:21-30

I. The Preliminaries of the Contest

    A. The Indictment of the crowd (21)         i. Character of halting         ii. Condemnation of halting "if the LORD be God, follow him..."

Matt. 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Rev. 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

        iii. Consequences of halting "...answered him not a word."     B. The Introduction of the contest (23-24)         i. Necessity - Because of God's Word (36) "at thy word"         ii. Necessity - Because Israel, had Wandered         iii. Necessity - Because of God being glorified.         iv. Necessity of Sacrifice, Fire (well suited for Baal, and God's Sacrifices)

II. The Proclamation of the Contest (24)

    A. Distinctive's of Baal/Pagan worship (24-29)         i. Representation         ii. Dissimulation         iii. Dedication         iv. Laceration     B. Distinctive's of God (30)         i. Invitation "Come near unto me." (30) -         ii. Restoration (30)         iii. Saturation (35, 38)         iv. Time (36)         v. Supplication - (36-37)         vi. Fire (38)

III. The Persuasion

    A. Exaltation of God         i. Declaration "The LORD, he is the God"         ii. Delay of the Praise     B. Execution of evildoers         i. Proof         ii. Proper -

Deut. 13:5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.

        iii. Purging of wickedness and sin