“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.” (1Kings 18:38)

Introduction: Are there a lot of false prophets today? It seems like many are boasting to have special revelation as well as predicting events to happen that never do. So today, like in Elijah’s day, there were quite a few false prophets. However, Elijah was a man of prayer; also, he trusted in the God of the Bible. Yet, his FAITH was constantly being tested. 

Does God answer all prayers? One preacher described answers to every prayer in this manner. “If the request is wrong, God says NO! If the timing is not right, God says SLOW. If we are not right, God says GROW. But if the request is right, the timing is right, and we are right, God says GO!”

In Elijah’s case, God says GO!

“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.” (1Kings 18:21)

1. When the fire falls, the devil’s crowd is HORRIFIED!

“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.” (1Kings 18:40)

2. When the fire falls, the saints are PURIFIED!

“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.” (1Kings 18:40)

3. When the fire falls, the Lord is GLORIFIED!

“37Hear 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. 38Then the fire of the LORD fell..” (1Kings 18:37,38)

Conclusion: Interestingly enough, this was not Elijah’s first test. In fact, in the previous chapter, he is instructed to go to a brook to be fed by the ravens. The next thing you know, the brook dries up, and he is led by the Lord to be a blessing to a widow woman and her son. All of this is preparation for the bigger battles of FAITH. He prays for the heavens to be shut from sending forth the rain, and the windows of heaven are closed. Three and half years later, he lifts his voice to the throne of GRACE and the result is a torrential downpour. James claims that we have like passions as Elijah. Therefore, the same great and mighty God that answers by fire in Elijah’s dilemma is the same Sovereign Lord of today.