Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1923-05-17

ICLDEN IEAI-Cnoose you this Gay
whom we will serye.--Joshua 24.15.
REFERENCE Malachi 4:
s. 6; Matthew 1874 1914; Luke lit; John
1:21-25; James SIT, 18.
PRIMARY TOPIC-Elijah and the Poor
Woman.
JUNIOR ToPIc-Enjah's Wonderful
Victory.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC
How Elijah Defied Wickedness
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC
What Modern Reformers Can Learn
from Elijah.
!. Elijah Meets Ahab. wv. II, 18).
At the Lords command Elijah
showed himself to Ahab. When Eli
jah last was seen by Ahab he an
nounced that rain would only be given
by his word (17:1). In connection
with the prophets appearance before
the king, rain was promised.
/. Ahab's Question. art thou he
that troubleth Israeli" ". I'D. Ahab's
aim was to intimidate Elijah, to awe
him into submission.
2. ElIjah's Answer. ". 1S). He
denied the charge and boldly de-
clared that the calamity which had
befallen the nation was caused by
the idolatry of Ahab and his family.
II. Elijah's Challenge. wv. 1924.
i. The People Assembled wv. 10,
POI. The king convened the people
at the urgent request of Elijah.
2. Elijah's Ringing Call to Decision
wv. 21-24). az The question asked,
"Who is your GOO, Baal or the Lordw
". 21). Many of the people had
not wholly forsaken God. They at
tempted to worship both God and
Baal Many today are hating be-
tween two opinions. They are halt
Ing between self and Savior, sin and
holiness, mammon and God. ~ The
silence Of the people. ". 21). This
may have been because of fear Of the
king or of ignorance, for many were
of the opinion that to be religious
was the only thing necessary, ir-
respective of the being worshiped.
There is all the difference between
merely worshiping and really wor-
Shipping God that there is between
hell and heaven. (3) The method
Of decision wv. 22-24). Two sacri-
Aces We're 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 consented that
this was a fair test. Accepted sacri-
fee is the grand and supreme test
by which God is calling upon men
everywhere to make the decision be-
tween Christ and the heather gods.
I'LL. The Test Applied. wv. $500.
i. The Offering by the Prophets Of
Baal (vv.- $500. Elijah gave the
prophets of Baal the first opportunity
to prove to the people as to whether
Baal was real god. The real differ
ence in the issue of prayer is the
person to whom prayer is made.
2. The Offering by Elijah wv. 80
800. 0) The people invited near
". s30). His object was for them to
see the entire proceedings in order
to fully grasp the genuineness of the
test. 90. The altar repairs wv. 30
32). Elijah took twelve stones repre-
senting the united nation. (3). The
offering on the altar (vv 1885. At
ter the bullock was in place he had
four barrels of water three times
emptied upon the sacrifice 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. "a.
Elijah's prayer wv. SO, 81. (a) It
was based upon covenants ". 36).
The foundation upon which all real
prayer rests Is covenant relationship.
CD It's object was Gods exaltation
". 36) Elijah was jealous for Gods
glory. His supreme desire was to
honor and magnify the Lord. (c) 1t
was for the salvation of the people.
". 81. His heart yearned after
Israel. He was most DESTROYS that
they should come to God. 90 The re-
suit wv. 3S, 39). (a) The fire of the
Lord fell and consumed not only the
sacrifice but the wood, stones and
dust even licking up the water In
the trench. (b) The people fell On
their faces and confessed that the
Lord was the God.
~. The Execution of BaaPs Proph-
cts. ". 4O).
The reason for this drastic action
was that Israel's government was
theocracy. God was their king
Idolatry was treason against the
king. These false prophets were
traitors to God and therefore should die.
v. Gods Prophet indicated. wv.
41-46).
The proof that Elijah was Gods
prophet was incomplete till rain came.
Israel under his ministry had now
turned back to God and God made
known unto them His graciousness.
How Much Is Lost.