1 Kings 18

         In 1 Kings 18
This chapter of 1 Kings is full of many interesting subjects.

          It starts off telling us that in a kingdom who rulers were King Ahab and Queen Jezebel and their worship to Ba'al.
       According to "Wikipedia", Ba‛al" in some texts, it is used as a substitute for Hadad, meaning a god of the rain, thunder, fertility and agriculture. It is interesting to read in this chapter that the reason Elijah was there was due to a major famine and draught in the land of Israel. You would think Ba'al was enough of a god to have prevented that from happening. Not so. UMMMMM INTERESTING

         Oh well, that's another story.

         In 1 Kings 18:19-29 it tells of Elijah challenging King Ahab (and his evil wife, Queen Jezebel) to bring all their false prophets to Mount Carmel for a duel. These prophets were challenged to bring a bull, build a sacrifice, offer their bull to the Ba'al's, pray for a miracle and have their god answer by fire. Well to make a long story short, they never got it to happen...........

        Now to my point.....(I know--it's about time).

        From 1 Kings 18: 30-37, Elijah gives the prophets a quick lesson in the plan of salvation that will be given to the world years later.

         In the verse 30 thru 33, it tells how Elijah had the alter made ready by repairing it and rebuilding it according to God's (Yahweh) instructions.

³⁰ Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins.
 ³¹ Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." 
³² With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 
³³ He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. 


        The remainder of the verse 33 and verses 34 and 35
33 Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood."
³⁴ "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. ³⁵ The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.  


        After doing all this according to God's instructions on how to present their sacrifice, Elijah was now ready to come before YAHWEH (GOD).


 ³⁶ At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: 
        "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 
³⁷ Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."


       Then the answer came.....
³⁸ Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.


      Now lets "Fast Forward" to Acts the 2nd chapter on the Day of Pentecost.


      In Acts 2, Peter standing up, begin to preach to the Children of Israel just as Elijah did on Mt. Carmel to the prophets of Ba'al (1 Kings 18:27-28). Then in Acts 2:38, Peter boldly gave the same instructions that Elijah had many years before. 


        Elijah..Clean and rebuild the alter to Gods instruction
        Peter..Repent, which is asking God to clean and repair your heart


        Elijah..Pour water over it until it is fully submerged (12 vessels 3  times)
        Peter..Be baptized (completely submerged in water in the Name of the Father, Son and       Holy Spirit, which is the Name of Jesus Christ). Matt. 28:18-19-John 1:1
     
        Elijah..then the Fire fell and burnt up the sacrifice, wood, the stones and the soil, and even licked up the water.
        Peter..You shall receive the Holy Spirit, which in Act 2:3 says it was like a "FIRE" that set on them


       If you are reading this and are not acquainted with Jesus through repentance, baptism and his Holy Spirit in your life, you can have it very simply. Ask, Seek and you will find...
    
         Luke 11:5-13


verse 13--[9] "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

           He says he is coming for a Church that is ready for the Bridegroom. 

2010 could be the year

Are you ready to meet him Face to Face.