6. Earnestly Contend for the Faith

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Hymns: 146 Silent Night, Holy Night, 151 O Come, O Come Emmanuel 153 Angels, We Have Heard On

Life of Elijah

Earnestly Contend for the Faith

1 Kings 18:17-39

 

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. 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. 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. 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. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

 

OUTLINE

(1) The Contention (v17-18)

(2) The Contestants (v19-20)

(3) The Contest (v21-38)

(4) The Consecration (v39)

 

INTRODUCTION

Jude wrote the last epistle before the Book of Revelation warning the church against departing from the faith when he wrote in Jude 3-4 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

It was a passionate plea to Christians to beware of spiritual contamination by evil men! The intention of Jude was originally intended to write a doctrinal epistle about the “common salvation”. Jude saw it necessary to remind the believers of the salvation that all born again believers possessed but he saw a more urgent need. This is because, evidently, the church was beginning to be infiltrated by false teachers who are attempting to destroy the Christian faith.

 The phrase “for there are men crept in unawares” means to enter in craftily, secretly, without notice, like a thief, slip in (stealthily), join a group unnoticed, worm one’s way in; sneak in.[1] Used of the action of false teachers entering into the church under false claims (Jude 1:4). It has the idea of stealthy intrusion in camouflage. The Apostle Paul gave a similar warning to the church at Ephesus:

Acts 20:28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

What was Jude asking the church to contend for? The once for all delivered unto the saints FAITH. Faith may be understood as subjective faith (belief, trust, submission). But here it refers to the system of doctrines taught in the Scriptures.

How do you identify these false prophets? By their lives described as lascivious – living without any moral restraint licentiousness, sensuality, lustful indulgence. You identify these men by their moral lives! [Friberg Lexicon].

“A holy life is not ascetic, or gloomy, or solitary life, but a life regulated by divine truth and faithful in Christian duty. It is living above the world while we are still in it” observes a conservative Christian pastor.

“Holiness is not the exemption from conflict, but victory through conflict” – Israel failed to fight the good fight of faith against sinful idolatry and they paid dearly with their wrecked lives.

Israel during Elijah’s time was in such a state when falsehood and Baal worship crept in through the marriage of Ahab to Jezebel. Amidst evil and idolatry, God raises Elijah to challenge the prophets of Baal at Mount Carmel and called down fire from heaven to burn the sacrifice. Elijah’s ministry in Israel led to a revival in the land. The people returned to God and acknowledged Jehovah as their God.

This is the story in 4 thoughts…

 

(1) The Contention (v17-18)

(2) The Contestants (v19-20)

(3) The Contest (v21-38)

(4) The Consecration (v39)

 

(1) The Contention (v17-18)

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.

 God’s prophet Elijah was seen as a trouble maker. Why are you here to disturb the peace in the land? Elijah had to correct Ahab. It is not me who is troubling the land but you. You have departed the commandments of God and went awhoring after other gods.

When Israel first entered into Canaan, God had warned them of the inhabitants of the land. They are to have nothing to do with them. Why does God want the inhabitants to be driven out so completely?

The reason is seen in their wicked worship system. They practice a demonic and licentious worship system. Baal worship was a combination of sexual activity and human sacrifice. The inhabitants of that area of the world were farmers and herdsmen. Their income and livelihood were tied to the land, whether they were Canaanites or Israelites. So, the most important thing to all the people was fertility.

Baal means “lord” and Baalim means “lords”. Baal was the god of storm and the god of fertility. He was often pictured riding on a bull, one of the Canaanite symbols of fertility. One way in which Canaanites sought to pacify Baal was to offer their children as sacrifices. The children were to be offered without any display of emotions otherwise the sacrifice was worthless. Ashtoreth was the Canaanite goddess of regeneration and fertility. She was also considered as a goddess of war. Temple prostitution was a widespread practice and one that is thoroughly degrading. Also, intermarriages also led to former recognition of the gods and gradual infiltration of pagan ideas into the community of Israel.

The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), and safety is in absolute separation from even the appearance of evil. The Word of God is given to us to protect our souls from the wickedness of this world. It is like the traffic rules. As a motorist, observing traffic rules means to stop when the light turned amber and finally red to allow pedestrians to cross. The law protects the users. The pedestrian, therefore, crosses the road in safety. Similarly, when we fail to avoid the pitfalls of life taught to us in the Scriptures, we are as it were blown up by the mines in the minefield of this wicked world like in a war zone, perhaps a hand or a leg is blown off, causing a lifetime of disability and regret!

“Holiness is not the inability to sin, but ability not to sin.” The freedom that we have as born-again Christians is within the boundaries of God’s Word. The Word of God sets the boundary for our protection. Just like our parents set the curfew hours that we are not to come home after a certain time.

When we obey, we are protected. When we disobey, we expose ourselves to the dangers of this wicked world, waiting to devour our very souls. Remember what the LORD said to Israel before they entered the Promised Land. Israel was exhorted to obey God’s laws for this is their wisdom and understanding in the sight of the nations.

Deuteronomy 4:5-9 “Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. 7 For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? 9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons.”

When Israel first entered into the land, Joshua and the elders who outlived Joshua followed the Lord wholly. The legacy they left behind were clean forgotten by the new generation. What happened?

Firstly, their forefathers failed to obey the doctrine of biblical separation both personal as an individual and ecclesiastical separation as a people.

  • They were to make no alliance with the inhabitants of the land. (Judges 2:2a)
  • They are to destroy all the altars of idolatrous worship for the sake of their purity. (Judges 2:2b)

“…but ye have not obeyed my voice…” (Judges 2:2) was the rebuke that came through the angel of the LORD.

Secondly, “they did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim and forsook the LORD God of their fathers…and followed after other gods…of the people that were round about them and bowed themselves down to them, and provoked the LORD to anger….They forsook the LORD and served Baal and Ashtaroth” (Judges 2:11-13)

We are exhorted to be holy because God is holy. The tribes of Israel failed to destroy the idolatrous nations as instructed by the LORD (Judges 2:2). The idolatrous influences of the remnant nations were too overwhelming for the weak faith of this new generation. The failure to obey God’s instructions fully results in utter failure in just one generation. How difficult it is to build and how easy it is to destroy!

This came back to haunt them when they were spiritual weak. The Northern Kingdom had no good kings. All were wicked. They departed from God! Sad scenario. It began during the time of Solomon.

1 Kings 11:1-14 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father. 7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon. 8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods. 9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, 10 And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded. 11 Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant. 12 Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. 13 Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant’s sake, and for Jerusalem’s sake which I have chosen. 14 And the LORD stirred up an adversary unto Solomon, Hadad the Edomite: he was of the king’s seed in Edom.

(2) The Contestants (v19-20)

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.

It is interesting that Elijah knew who were those false prophets who crept into Israel. He identified them clearly. There were 450 of these prophets and 400 prophets of the groves who ate at Jezebel’s table. Jezebel, therefore, was the one strengthening this group to trouble Israel.

Mount Carmel would be the scene of the battle between good and evil!

Adam Clark observed well, “The prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty – the prophets of the groves four hundred – The king and queen had different religious establishments; the king and his servants worshipped Baal, the supreme lord and master of the world, the sun. For this establishment, four hundred and fifty priests were maintained. The queen and her women worshipped אשרה Asherah, Astarte, or Venus; and for this establishment, four hundred priests were maintained. These latter were in high honour; they ate at Jezebel’s table; they made a part of her household. It appears that those eight hundred and fifty priests were the domestic chaplains of the king and queen, and probably not all the priests that belonged to the rites of Baal and Asherah in the land; and yet from the following verse we learn that Ahab had sent to all the children of Israel to collect these prophets; but Jezebel had certainly four hundred of them in her own house who were not at the assembly mentioned here. Those of Baal might have a more extensive jurisdiction than those of Asherah, the latter being constantly resident in Samaria.”

 

(3) The Contest (v21-38)

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.

Elijah challenged the people to follow the truth. Walk in the path of righteousness. Following the true God of Israel. Depart from the false god Baal.

An English writer made this observation: “What this century worship is wealth. The god of this century is wealth. To succeed one must have wealth. At all costs one must have wealth.”

 As we look at the world today, we see how greatly material wealth and riches are highly esteemed. Those who have great wealth to invest seem to have more power than anyone else in the world, being able to cause great economic crisis just by shifting their wealth from place to place. The media always seems to portray the rich as people who really enjoy themselves, as being the most blessed and respected in the world, as people who have created their own heaven here on earth. And because of this, it has become the desire and dream of many to become rich. 

4 Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. 5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. Prov. 23:4-5 (KJV)

 We are warned here against failing to show restraint and being deceived. The matter before us here is the material riches of this world. There is something deceitful about material wealth is the admonition of this proverb. In all our endeavours this proverb warns us against labouring to be rich. If you put your heart and soul into getting riches as an end of life, you are going to be disappointed by it. Verse 6 says riches certainly (this is a term of emphatic “certainty”) riches that come to us can also be taken away from us.

The command in these two verses is the word “cease”. Reject this common wisdom that is the norm in the hearts of depraved man.

 Here this proverb is telling us that human life is precious, and was not meant to exist merely to gain a great abundance of material possessions or great riches. When a person lives only in affluence, he has really reduced his life to being nothing more than a machine that accumulates and processes the many things of this world. Covetousness degrades human life which is meant for nobler and better purposes.

 Many today live like machines. All that they think about is how to make more money to build up their possessions. They work non-stop, seven days a week, 18 hours a day, as they are motivated by a desire to amass more and more riches. They are never satisfied because there is always more and more to gain. And they think that that is what life is all about. They are just machines that accumulate, something like vacuum cleaners, that suck in everything and hoards it all up in a bag which is eventually disposed of. How degraded life becomes when it is lived only for affluence!

 Human life was meant to fulfil the supreme purpose of serving and worshiping God. A man’s life consists of the abundance of the glory that he can bring to God. This then is the proper place and purpose for our lives. If we are living for God, our lives become purposeful, meaningful and fulfilled. But if we are living for material possessions, our lives become as worthless and valueless in eternity as material possessions.

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.

 The battle for the truth is not one of numbers but the truth itself. When Martin Luther was awakened to the falsehood of the Roman Catholic Church, he raised the alarm. He pointed out the falsehoods in the system. He was one man against an established. Nonetheless, the truth prevailed.

2 Corinthians 13:8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

What was the test? The living and true God will send fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice.

 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. 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. 28 And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out 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.

 God’s word provided many warnings against the worship of false gods. A false gospel like the prosperity gospel of some mega-churches.

Psalm 135:15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

Psalm 96:5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.

Habakkuk 2:18-19 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it.

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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

 The power of God was gloriously manifested for His people to see so that they be not hoodwinked by these false gods brought in by evil men into the land.

 

(4) The Consecration (v39)

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.

This was the witness of the people when they witnessed the power of God authenticating His Word.

There are three epochs in biblical history when God wrought notable miracles to show the people the truth.

During the time of the Exodus, the crossing of the Red Sea, a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day and shoes that will not be worn out, the manna and quails from heaven. Here during Elijah’s time and thirdly during Jesus’ time. These were periods of great darkness where God had to intervene to distinguish truth from error.

 

CONCLUSION

May God help us to serve the God of the Bible. Not any Bible but the King James Bible which kept intact all the preserved words of scripture. Amen.

 

[1] From pará – unto or at the side of, and eisdúō, to enter in, which is from eis, into, and dúō, to go down, sink.