The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1922-01-20

LESSON TEXT Kings 1S:l-46
GOLDEN TExT-This is the viefoia
that overcometh the world. even OH
-faith.-I John ga.
/ REFERENCE. MATERIAL-Josh q
H-28; Eph. 6:10-20
| PRIMARY ToPIC--God Answers Eli
| jah's prayer.
JUNIOR TOPIC-One Man Against -Four
| Hundred and Fifty.
AND SENIOR to PIC
| -Jehovah's Victorious Champion.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
Modern Evils: How to Fight Them
!. Elijah Meets Ahab wv. 17-l9).
| At the Lords command, + ija
shows himself to Ahab When Eliial
was last seen by Ahab, he announced
that rain would only be given by his
word (17:D. In connection with iht
Prophets appearing before the king
rain was promised.
l. Ahab's Question-"Art thou he
that troubleth IsraelY' ". 17). Ahab's
aim was to intimidate Elijah--to awe
him into submission.
2. Elijah's answer ". 1S). He de
MED the charge and boldly declared
that the calamity which had befail,n
the nation was caused by the idolatry
of Ahab and his family
II. Elijah's Challenge wv. 19-24)
1. The people assembled wv. 10
20) The king convened the people at
the urgent request of Elijah.
2 EIijah's ringing call to decision
wv. 21-24). ~ The question asked
Who is your God, Baal or the Lord!
". Ply. Many Of the people had not
wholly forsaken God. They attempted
to worship both God and Baal. Many
today are hating between two opin.
ions; they are halting between self
and God-sin and holiness-mammon
and God. But the question must be
settled sooner or later. In fact the
decision is being made every day. (2)
The silence of the people ". 21).
This may have been because of fear
of the king or ignorance, for many
were of the opinion that to be re-.
ligious was the only thing necessary
irrespective of the being worShiped.
cd The method of decision CIV. 22724 !.
Two sacrifices were to be provided.
one to be offered to Baal, the other to
God. The god who answered by fire
was to be the God. The people con
scented that this was fair test.
III. The Test Applied wv. 25-39).
/. The offering by the prophets of
Baal (vv. $500. Elijah gave a fair
test. even placed the advantage on
the other side. He gave the prophets
of Baal the first opportunity to prove
to the people as to whether Baal was
real god. Elijah tainted them, and
they more earnestly cried 10 Baal,
but no answer came.
2. The offering by Elijah wv. 30-39).
az The people invited near ". S0).
His object was for them to see the
entire proceedings In order to fully
grasp the genuineness of the test. (2)
The altar repaired wv. 30-32). Be
fore there can be the power of God
manifested, the altar must be repaired.
Elijah took twelve stones, represent
ing the united nation. God is one,
and His people is one. (3) The offer
ing on the altar (vv. 1885,. After the
bullock was in place, he had four bar
rels Of water three times emptied
upon the sacrifices and the wood so as
to fill the trench about the altar. So
sure was Elijah that Gods power was
sufficient, that he heaped difficulty
upon difficulty. az Elijah's prayer
wv. 36-37). (a) 1t was based upon
covenants ". 36). The foundation upon
which all real prayer rests is covenant
(bl It's object was
Gods exaltation ". 36). Elijah was
jealous for Gods glory-his supreme
desire was to honor and magnify the |
Lord The only thing that he asked /
for himself was to be known as Gods
ley 1t was for the salvation
Of the people ". 80. His heart
7earned after Israel He was most
iesfrons that they should come to
Know God. 10y The result (vv. 38,
I9). GAY The fire of the Lord fell and
not only the sacrifice, but
he wood, stones and dust, even lick
ng up the water in the trench. (b)
rhe people fell on their faces and con-
essed that the Lord was the God.
~. The Execution of 6aaI's
Prophets ". 40).
The reason for this drastic action
vas that Israel's government was
heocracy-God was their King. Idola-
ry was treason against the King.
'hese false prophets were traitors to
iod and therefore should die.
v. Gods Prophets INDICATED (vv.
1-46). +
The proof that Elijah was Gods
rophet was incomplete till rain came.