Matthew 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.
There is a struggle that the scripture identifies, and has identified throughout history; where we must choose who we will serve. Good vs. evil… God vs. the things of the world.
In our everyday lives we are fraught with choices. Some of them are simpler like: What to eat, what to where and where to go. However, if we consider this to a Godly perspective even these simpler decisions are made with the mindset of spiritual things. In fact in many things we should have the framed mindset that:
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Halt between two opinions
In 1st Kings we see an account where the man of God this shows the result of God’s people who chose to serve the world, to follow what was flashy and shiny and “feels good”.
Now I might make the first comparison that God’s people then aren’t too different than God’s people today. So many today choose the easier paths, the shiny things or seek out worldly entertainment in the name of worship.
1 Kings 18:18 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.
How many people today that go to church EVEN KNOW the commandments of the things of God. These days we don’t even bring the Bible to church, let alone reading it throughout the week. The seeds of rebellion today align with the ways of the world to the point that even when they learn the things of God… they CHOOSE NOT to obey them.
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.
21 And 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.
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.
Keep in mind that these are God’s people… the “church” if you will. They answered not a word because they knew there was gonna be a show, something exciting was going to happen… Were they convicted that this is even something that would need to be considered?
The Challenge Accepted
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.
I might interject this thought. As Christians we are told of false prophets, false teachers, false religion; and while there might be those who know what they are doing is designed to deceive… they genuinely believe in what they are saying. These prophets of Baal weren’t “caught red handed in deceit” they actually expected their god to respond.
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.
Yes, the man of God mocked them. Yes, the man of God called them out by name. Yes, the man of God identified their false teachings when presenting the truth… just sayin’.
28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
Anytime the cutting of the flesh is present there is a satanic presence but, let’s look at this further. There are many religious systems that incorporate fleshly mutilation as part of their practices. Prove to god you are serious, they say. It amazes me the level of commitment that society today has to the cutting of their flesh, marking of the flesh, piercing of the flesh even branding of the flesh… They sometimes even try to justify this practice by marking their body with a bible verse, like this somehow justifies their actions. God’s word doesn’t change because of the beliefs of the day…
The Silence of Despair
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.
Nor any that regarded is the people, Israel. They stood there and watched the spectacle, expecting their gods to speak, expecting their gods to act. In my minds eye I see during this even of several hours of screaming and leaping and cutting… that the people who followed participated and cried out along with the prophets. I can even see those who were perhaps were desperate for the false god to speak, after all who wants to be proven wrong?
I can then imagine the silence there as the prophets were gasping for breath, looking at the destruction around them and looking at the faces of the people that followed them faithfully; shocked and disappointed in the silence of despair. Questions start: where was he, why didn’t he come, were we not faithful enough, did we not suffer enough to please these gods?
As a Chaplain and Pastor, I have been with so many that placed their hopes in the things of the world, the government, their family, their friends. Yet when trouble came, they were left wanting and hopeless.
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.
He Repaired the Altar
Remember this passage is speaking to those inside the “Church (Israel)” God’s chosen people. Not to the worldly, but to those, if you will; of the Church who are following the things and people of the world.
For those who come to the point where they see their status (2 Corinthians 13:5a Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; …) and turn from the world and back to God… It simply is not enough to replace the world with God. There will be some things in your life that will need repaired. Your prayer life, will need repair. Your Church membership, may need repair. Your fellowship, may need repair. Your Godly fellowship, will need repair. The Altar will need to be repaired in your life otherwise you are trying to build a life for God on the ruble of a broken life!
31 And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
32 And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
33 And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
In order: If we are to have true worship… in needs to be “in order”. Look at the confusion of the prophets of baal, the mess they made in the name of worship. God desires things to be: (1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.)
34 And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
God shines the most when what needs to be accomplished… is impossible. (Luke 1:37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.)
35 And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
Time of offering: Things in our life often need to be in God’s timing. Israel had listened to the prophets of baal, like today; “you can worship God anytime… or anywhere.” God set aside a time when His people were to come together and worship corporately.
Let it be known: Why are we so content today to not share the joy of worship to others? Part of our testimony is to share, not only the Gospel” but how our life is changed from it.
37 Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
God’s people need to see God work in lives today. This is why, it is so easy to get pulled away from Church, pulled away from fellowship and the things of God. It is a shame that this even needed to take place. But often times it takes God working in a mighty way to show His people WHO HE IS.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
Matthew 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.
1 Kings 18:21 And 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.
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.