GLEN ROSE, TEXAS
Sunday May 13, 2001
Bible Reading:
1 Kings 18:17-30
17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, [Art] thou he that troubleth Israel? 18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. 19 Now therefore send, [and] gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel's table. 20 So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. 21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word. {opinions: or, thoughts?} 22 Then said Elijah unto the people, I, [even] I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets [are] four hundred and fifty men.23 Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under]: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay [it] on wood, and put no fire [under]: 24 And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. {It is...: Heb. The word is good} 25 And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress [it] first; for ye [are] many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire [under]. 26 And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it], and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. {hear: or, answer} {answered: or, heard} {leaped...: or, leaped up and down at the altar} 27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he [is] a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, [or] peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked. {aloud: Heb. with a great voice} {he is talking: or, he meditateth} {is pursuing: Heb. hath a pursuit} 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. {the blood...: Heb. poured out blood upon them} 29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that [there was] neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded. {offering: Heb. ascending} {that regarded: Heb. attention} 30 And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD [that was] broken down.
The trouble was not as said in 18:17 "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" The trouble was a broken altar (V 30). The trouble in many churches is not the Pastor or the program. The trouble is "Broken Altars" in the lives of God's people. The purpose of an altar is: Worship; Sacrifice; Bring Offerings; God's people gather together; Meet God
In 1 Kings 18:30 the broken down altar was repaired by the man of God, even though it had been in that condition for many years.
Many Christians today need to repair some altars.
I. SOME NEED TO REPAIR THE ALTAR OF PREACHING
A. Repair this altar by attendance Hebrews 10:25
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some [is]; but exhorting [one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
1. Attend all the services
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they [are] life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. {health: Heb. medicine} 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life. {with...: Heb. above all keeping}B. Repair this altar by paying attention Proverbs 4:20-23
C. Repair this altar by attitude Ephesians 4:30-32
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
1. Get right with God
II. SOME NEED TO REPAIR THE ALTAR OF PRAYER
***The Preacher is a better Preacher with praying people***
A. Repair this altar with fervency Jas 5:16
16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
1. White hot prayer
B. Repair this altar frequently 1 Thessalonians 5:17
17 Pray without ceasing.
C. Repair this altar by faith Matthew 21:21
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this [which is done] to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Faith is "having confidence that He who has promised is able to perform that which He has promised"
III. SOME NEED TO REPAIR THE ALTAR OF PURPOSE
***The Preacher is a better Preacher with a working, serving people***
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. {power...: or, the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you}A. Repair this altar by serving the Lord Acts 1:8
B. Repair this altar by soul winning Matthew 28:18-20
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {teach...: or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations} 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen.
C. Repair this altar by our sacrifice 2 Samuel 24:24
24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy [it] of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.
IV. SOME NEED TO REPAIR THE ALTAR OF POWER WITH GOD
***The Preacher is a better Preacher with a Spiritual and Empowered people***
A. Repair this altar by having a right spirit
Psalms 51:10
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. {right: or, constant}
B. Repair this altar by having right speech
2 Thessalonians 3:11;
11 For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
Psalms 141:3;
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
Psalms 106:33
33 Because they provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips.
C. Repair this altar by having a right surrender
CONCLUSION:
"HARD CORE COMMITMENT"
The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made - I'm a disciple of His. I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still. My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I'm finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, worldly talking, cheap giving and dwarfed goals."I'm part of the fellowship of the unashamed. I have the Holy Spirit power.
I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, position, promotions, plaudits or popularity. I don't have to be right, first, tops, recognized, praised, regarded, or rewarded. I now live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, am uplifted by prayer and I labor with power.
My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my Guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I cannot be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed. I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice, hesitate in the presence of the enemy, pander at the pool of popularity, or meander
in the maze of mediocrity.I won't give up, shut up, let up, until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus.
Send questions or comments to yoke@granbury.com