10/22 - Build an Altar

After we decide to make changes in our lives, the best thing we can do is build an altar.

1 King's 18:30, “Then Elijah called to the people, 'Come over here.' They all crowded around him as he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down."

1 Kings 18:31-32, "Elijah took 12 stones, one to represent each of the tribes of Israel, and he used the stones to rebuild the altar in the name of the Lord."

#1: The first ingredient is people.

1 Kings 18:32-34, “[Elijah] dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold about three gallons. He piled wood on the altar, cut the bull into pieces, and laid the pieces on the wood. Then he said, 'Fill four large jars with water and pour the water over the offering and the wood.' After they had done this, he said, 'Do the same thing again.' And when they were finished, he said, 'Now do it a third time.' So they did as he said, and the water ran around the altar and even filled the trench."

#2: Persistence

1 Kings 18:36-39, "At the usual time for offering the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed. He prayed, 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant. Prove that I have done all this at your command. O Lord, answer me. Answer me so these people will know that you, O Lord, are God and that you have brought them back to yourself.' Immediately the fire of the Lord flashed down from heaven and burned up the young bull, the wood, the stones, and the dust. It even licked up all the water in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell face down on the ground and cried out, 'The Lord, he is God! Yes, the Lord is God.'"

#3: Prayer

1 Kings 18:40, "Then Elijah commanded, 'Seize all the prophets of Baal. Don't let a single one escape.' So that people seized them all and Elijah took them down to the Kishon Valley and killed all of them there."

Question #1: Who are your people?

Question #2: What do we need to be persistent in?

Question #3: How can we fuel all of this with prayer?