The Self-Limitations of the Preacher

1 Kings 18:1-40

I Kings 18:1-40

1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly:

4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)

5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?

10 As the LORD thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the LORD shall carry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the LORD from my youth.

13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel slew the prophets of the LORD, how I hid an hundred men of the LORD's prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?

14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.

15 And Elijah said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.

16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

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.

40 And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there. (KJV)

This is quite a unique passage of scripture. Elijah the Tishbite has been introduced to us in chapter 17. We have little history of him except that he was from the town of Tishbeh, near Kadesh in the area of the tribe of Naphtali. He suddenly appears upon the scene in confrontation with King Ahab. This is the story of the drought brought upon the land by the Lord for the sins of the kings and of the people. In chapter 18, Elijah instigates a confrontation with the prophets of Baal and of the Grove.

God has told Elijah that he will restore the rain to the land and Elijah arranged a meeting with Ahab. In this meeting he confronted him with the sin of idolatry, for forsaking the commandments of the Lord, 18:18. Elijah challenged Ahab to gather all the prophets of Baal and of the groves to mount Carmel for a confrontation. Apparently the word got out and a great crown assembled to watch what was about to occur. Elijah already has a reputation because of his prophecy of the drought, so the people were interested to see what he might do. Elijah confronted the people with an absolute choice, either follow Baal or follow God. He called on them to stop trying to stand half-way between the two.

Elijah's challenge to the false prophets was a simple one. Two sacrifices would be prepared, one for Baal and one for Jehovah. Neither would be kindled with fire but each side would pray and ask their God to kindle the fire himself. The story is told in the text. The event began early in the morning and Elijah let the false prophets go first. They prayed all day with increasing intensity, calling on Baal to answer by fire. As Elijah mocked them and their god, their danced and cut themselves after the fashion of their worship. But although they prayed all day, there was no answer at all.

As the sun was about to go down, Elijah took his turn but before he prayed, he repaired an altar of the Lord that was there, taking one stone for each of the twelve tribes. In a move never seen by any worshiper of Jehovah, Elijah made an addition to the altar. He dug a trench around the altar and caused enough water to be poured on the sacrifice and the wood that it filled up the trench. Then, as recorded in verses 36 and 37, he prayed a simple prayer, calling on the Lord to hear him and turn back the hearts of the people. The fire of God fell immediately upon the sacrifice, consuming the animal, the wood, the stones, and even the water in the trench. God sent great revival to Israel that day and Elijah personally executed all the false prophets.

The question that I would like to explore with you today is why Elijah poured water on the sacrifice. Certainly it seems that this would be the one thing that he should not do if he was expecting the sacrifice to be consumed by fire. He seemed to be thwarting the very result that he was praying for. The questions that I have for you today is this: Was Elijah operating from some principle of theology or was this simply a unique occurrence? I am going to suggest that he was indeed operating from a principle which he well understood and I am going to suggest that you and I should take heed to this principle, especially considering the state of Christianity today.

I would like for you to think with me of the contrast between Elijah's methodology and that of modern preachers. I read recently that one pastor of one of the mega-churches in our country stated that he considers that 80% of the success of his preaching to be due to the lighting that is used in the sanctuary of his church. I wonder if you can see a contrast in that sort of attitude with the attitude of Elijah.

I. First of all, I want to affirm to you that this principle has already been introduced in scripture.

Go with me back to the time of Gideon, the judge of Israel, Judges 7:1,2. Israel had been oppressed by the Midianites and greatly impoverished by them. They had cried out to God and He had sent them Gideon. Apparently the Midianites had become aware that an uprising was beginning because they sent a great army composed of Midianite and Amelekite soldiers to put it down. They had encamped in the valley of Jezreel, an army too large to be counted.

Gideon had sent word and gathered an army to meet them, about 32,000 men. But God had come to Gideon with an objection to taking this large an army into the field. If Gideon got the victory with an army like this, God said, the people would take credit for the victory themselves. If God was going to help, it had to be in such a way that there would be no question but that He Himself had delivered them. So, through a series of tests, Gideon sent home all but 300 men. You know the story. With lamps and pitchers, Gideon's 300 routed the great army.

I submit to you that Elijah was operating by the same principle. The victory had to be such as could only be attributed to God Himself.

II. Next, I would like to ask the question as to whether this principle speaks to us as Christ's ministers in the task that is before us.

I call your attention to the New Testament, to the writings of the apostle Paul.

1 Cor 2:1-5

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (KJV)

According to Paul, the task of the New Testament preacher is not simply to preach, to evangelize, and to teach but to do so in such a way that the faith of men stands in the power of God and not in the talent and efforts of the preacher.

There is one very powerful theme in each of these texts and that is the Honor and Glory of God. It will not be shared with men and men must not try to usurp it.

Even the angels dare not allow themselves to receive honor that is due only to God.

Rev 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: (KJV)

Rev 19:9-10

9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (KJV)

Paul fully understood it as evidenced by his behavior when men thought to make him an object of worship.

Acts 14:8-19

8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:

9 The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,

10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.

11 And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.

12 And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,

15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them. (KJV)

This is not a principle on which there can be any compromise. Only God can receive glory. True servants of God understand this and false servants do not.

The prophets of Baal did not understand it. If Baal had answered, they would have shared in the credit for their antics in getting his attention. Their dancing and shouting, their cutting of themselves, and their great number would all have been a part of the reason that fire had fallen from heaven.

All those who handle the gospel must have a deliberate plan to avoid ever receiving credit for that which only God can do.

III. And how do we implement this plan?

First of all, we must note that God has limited the credit for His work by choosing a certain kind of men to do His work.

1 Cor 1:26-29

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. (KJV)

Here again, the principle is articulated: no flesh is to glory in His presence. No man is to take credit for the work that God does. God and God alone is to be praised for the salvation if sinners, for the growth of the church, for the upbuilding of the saints.

But you will notice that Paul declares that the preacher is to make certain decisions with regard to how he does his work. "I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified."

Now we know that there are those who suggest that this means that we are only to preach salvation messages. Others would say that we are not to preach theology nor explore the deep truths of God's word from the pulpit. But neither of these issues speak to the principle from which Paul is working. The preaching is to be done so that God alone gets glory.

A. Preach only what Jesus Preached.

B. Preach it in the way that Jesus preached it.

Notice from our original text that Elijah began by rebuilding the broken down altar.

Jer 6:15-16

15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.

16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (KJV)

C. Declare the whole counsel of God.

Acts 20:18-27

18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. (KJV)

D. Never sacrifice the message nor the method for the sake of results.

We notice a great contrast in the methods of the false prophets and those of Elijah. Whereas the false prophets put on a great show of spirituality, they got no fire from heaven. We have to wonder how the assembly would have been swayed by their antics if Elijah had not been there to force the issue. Would the people have not been convinced that these were great and spiritual men? Would not many foolish have been convinced that the worship of Baal was correct? Would not the preachers have come up with an explanation that the fire really did fall and wouldn't they have persuaded the crowd that Baal really had paid a visit?

The methods of Elijah were plain, simple, and biblically founded. His ministry was rooted in the history of God's revelation to Israel. He condemned sin as defined by the scriptures. He confronted wickedness with a straight-forward and easy to be understood proclamation of truth. His hope was in God. He prayed fervently for God's assistance and the revival of his people. He courageously stood against the tide. To all intents and purposes he stood alone. But he never considered taking another approach.

E. Give God exclusive glory for the results, and give Him great glory.

Make much of the sinners who repent. Do not treat the conversion of sinners as a foregone conclusion, the expected result. Continually operate so as to be surprised that God works.

F. Look for and expect nothing less than for the fire of God to fall upon your audience.

Elijah staked out a position in which only the intervention of God would grant the result he sought. He did not consider contriving something that appeared to be the work of God. In fact, he went to great trouble to prove that the result was not some trick that he was passing upon the people.

G. Seek the fire of God upon your own soul.

H. Take as your task that which only God can and will do.

Elijah's goal on Carmel was not to call fire from heaven nor even to defeat the prophets of Baal. His goal was to see the hearts of the people turned back to God.

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.

Our goal must be nothing less than the fire of God falling upon our audience. We cannot take as our end purpose anything less and we cannot seek to have any of the glory of it for ourselves. We must repent of every vestige of motive to get something for ourselves. God refused to use the army of Gideon to accomplish His purpose for the very reason that men would seek to steal His glory. This tells us that He refuses to use men when there is any possibility that they would take credit to themselves for what He does.

Paul's goal was that the faith of his converts would 'stand.' Faith was not the goal but 'standing faith,' the kind that anchors itself in God and in His revelation of Himself in Jesus Christ, the kind which produces repentance of the most radical kind, the kind of faith which only God Himself can produce.

To that end, he carefully considered the task and sought to make sure that none of the results could be attributed to him. Let us review how he carried this off.

1 Cor 2:3-4

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: (KJV)

1 Cor 2:3

I - the preacher: as 1 Cor 2:2 describes the subject, and 1 Cor 2:4 the mode of preaching.

Weakness - personal and bodily (2 Cor 10:10; 12:7,9; Gal 4:13).

Trembling (cf. Phil 2:12.) Not cowardly fear, but trembling anxiety to perform duty; anxious conscientiousness in contrast to "eye service" (Eph 6:5; 2 Cor 7:15; Phil 2:12). His very weakness, as that of Christ crucified, his theme, was made the power of God (1 Cor 1:27).

Many other preachers did not think much of Paul's style.

2 Cor 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible. KJV

A number of commentators undertake to say that this weakness of presence was through some infirmity of Paul's body. But it seems to me that the words are linked to 2:2 where he states that he had deliberately chosen a certain mode of operation. He chose a weak approach, he did not have it forced on him

2 Cor 2:4

4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. (KJV)

Rather than maintaining a ministerial and professional distance from the people, Paul allowed himself to experience the pain of actually entering into a loving relationship with these people, a relationship which caused him much anguish as he fretted over their souls, over their relationship with God, and over their failures and continual weakness. He allowed himself to be torn up emotionally as he sought the goal which only God could give, their hearts turned toward God and standing in faith toward Him.

2 Cor 3:5-6

5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. (KJV)

Paul's humility was not an affected thing but was born out of a real sense that he could not accomplish the task before him unless God moved. His only hope was in God and he had chosen a task which would leave him a laughingstock unless the fire of God fell upon his audience. This, too, was a result of the determination that he had made concerning how he would minister.

2 Cor 3:6

The Greek is, 'Not that we are (even yet, after so long experience as ministers) sufficient to think anything OF [af'] ourselves as (coming) FROM [ex (NT:1537)] ourselves; but our sufficiency is (derived) FROM God.' 'From' more definitely refers to the source out of which a thing comes; "of" is more general.

To think, [logizesthai (NT:3049)] - to 'reason out' or 'devise' by our reasonings. The "we" refers to ministers (2 Peter 1:21).

Any thing - even the least. We cannot expect too little from man, or too much from God.

2 Cor 4:1-2

1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. (KJV)

Not only was there a determination as to what he would do and how he would do it, there was a forceful, thoughtful, and determined rejection of methods used by others. He worked conscious that he was under the eye of God and would one day give account to Him of his methods as well as his deeds. Scandalous and deceitful methods would not work in a task that called for the greatest of personal integrity and which was being judged by the Perfect Judge of all mens' hearts.

2 Cor 4:3

Renounced - literally, 'bid farewell to.'

Of dishonesty - rather, 'of shame' (Rom 1:16). Shame would lead to hiding (2 Cor 4:3); whereas "we use great plainness of speech" (2 Cor 3:12), "by manifestation of the truth." We have nothing that needs hiding (cf. 2 Cor 3:3). He refers to the disingenuous artifices of "many" teachers at Corinth (2 Cor 2:17; 3:1; 11:13-15).

Handling ... deceitfully - so 'corrupt' or adulterate the "word of God" (2 Cor 2:17; cf. 1 Thess 2:3-4).

Commending - recommending ourselves: recurring to 2 Cor 3:1.

To - to the verdict of.

Every man's conscience (2 Cor 5:11) - if only they be candid. Not to men's carnal judgment, as those alluded to, 2 Cor 3:1.

In the sight of God (2 Cor 2:17; Gal 1:10).

2 Cor 4:1-7

2. Their sincerity in their work is avouched (v. 2) in several expressions: We have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty. The things of dishonesty are hidden things, that will not bear the light; and those who practise them are, or should be, ashamed of them, especially when they are known. Such things the apostle did not allow of, but did renounce and avoid with indignation: Not walking in craftiness, or in disguise, acting with art and cunning, but in great simplicity, and with open freedom. They had no base and wicked designs covered with fair and specious pretences of something that was good. Nor did they in their preaching handle the word of God deceitfully; but, as he said before, they used great plainness of speech, and did not make their ministry serve a turn, or truckle to base designs.

2 Cor 4:5-7

5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (KJV)

Here again we have our theme, 'that the excellency of the power may be of God.' That is, men should see plainly and clearly that it is God Who has moved, it is He Who has caused the results, and it is He Alone Who should be glorified. But just as Elijah had a strategy for the accomplishment of this, so did Paul.

IV. So, if we would know the power of God manifest among us, we must choose the same methods as used by those whom God used in the past.

We must keep solidly in our minds that God must receive all the glory.

All manner of deception and dishonesty must be renounced.

We must operate from a burden for God's glory and for the welfare of others that is produced by true love for them, the kind of love which will cause us great pain.

We must remember that we are earthen vessels.

We must declare the full counsel of God.

We must season our efforts well with prayer.