Short sermons of the United Pentecostal Church of Mannheim Short Sermons Index

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THE ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE

1 Kings 18,34-41 & 44ff
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. And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
45 And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

For three years long there was a great drought in Israel. God held back the rain because of the sin of the people. The rivers were dried up, many water reservoirs were empty. Water was expensive and precious. It was Elijah's task to bring the confused people back to God. Elijah believed that God would perform a miracle. The great amount of water which was also necessary for the sacrifice was important and therefore not a waste. God sent fire first of all. Only then, when the people worshipped God and the false prophets were destroyed did He send the rain. Our country needs men and women, examples like Elijah to lead the confused people to God! (rw)