Participants: Martin Fancher (Host)
Series Code: FC
Program Code: FC000288
|
00:31 Welcome to Faith Chapel.
00:33 My name is Pastor Martin Fancher. 00:34 I pastor the DeFuniak Springs, 00:36 Florida and Fort Walton Beach, Florida, 00:37 Seventh-day Adventist Churches. 00:39 It's pleasure to be here today with you 00:41 to share with you a subject of great importance to me. 00:45 "The Final Showdown" 00:47 is the title of today's message. 00:49 Doesn't that sound like one that will catch you? 00:51 "The Final Showdown" sounds straight from Star Wars. 00:55 Well, it really is. 00:58 Would you bow your head with me as we pray? 01:01 Father in heaven, we thank you so much 01:02 for your love for us. 01:04 Open our hearts and our minds that we may drawn closer 01:08 and closer to you. 01:11 That we will become one with you, 01:13 one in spirit, one in unity, one in thought and desire. 01:18 So that when someone sees us, 01:21 they will see a reflection of Jesus Christ. 01:24 We pray these things in Jesus name, amen. 01:29 Oh, it's such a privilege to talk about a showdown. 01:31 Everybody likes a showdown from the O.K. Corral 01:34 to the Jedi Knights of Star Wars. 01:37 There always comes down this battle between good and evil, 01:40 right and wrong. 01:42 And as always in today's world, 01:43 wrong is about to conquer 01:45 when right at the last moment comes right over the top 01:48 and it's victorious. 01:50 And my friend, that's the way 01:51 that the Great Controversy looks today in our world. 01:54 It appears by all side around us 01:56 and sound that Jesus is loosing and Satan is winning. 02:00 But my friend, what we see often times is deceiving 02:05 and it's not true, 02:06 because my friend Jesus has already won. 02:10 Today we're going to be looking at a story 02:11 from the Old Testament. 02:12 It's a story about the man named Elijah 02:15 who has had an encounter with the king 02:16 and the king lived to regret it. 02:19 Because Elijah was a messenger from God 02:21 and the message was from God 02:23 and any message God gives is gonna come true. 02:26 That's exactly what happened 02:27 and the story we're going to pick up in just a few moments 02:30 is after three years of no rain 02:33 which the Lord had provided for Elijah to tell. 02:37 There would be no rain, the land would be dry. 02:40 The people had slipped into idolatry. 02:43 God's people were now mixing pagan 02:46 and Christian worship together 02:48 and they weren't committing to either one fully 02:51 and God was being angry with that. 02:55 God is a God, a jealous God, the Bible tells us. 03:00 And for what He has done for us, 03:01 He simply asks us to respond in accordance 03:03 with our thankfulness, 03:05 not sharing our affections with a false God. 03:08 And so these people were gathered together, 03:11 God threw His prophet, 03:14 had challenged the king to a showdown. 03:19 A showdown on a mountain and when we get there, 03:23 we're going to discover this people 03:26 didn't just one day wake out of bed 03:27 and decide oh I think today 03:29 we're gonna serve a false God. 03:30 No, we're gonna find out 03:32 that their descent into degradation was gradual. 03:37 They one step at a time, 03:39 turn their backs on God little by little, 03:42 compromise by compromise, 03:45 little white lie by little white lie, 03:47 they turned and walked away from God. 03:51 Now the showdown is about to happen. 03:54 King Ahab has marshaled his forces 03:57 and they have met on Mount Carmel. 04:01 Elijah versus the prophets of Baal. 04:08 That's interesting to see how this turns out. 04:10 If we open our Bibles to 1 Kings Chapter 18, 04:14 we'll begin reading the first few versus 21-24. 04:20 And Elijah came to all the people and said, 04:23 "How long will you falter between two opinions? 04:25 If the Lord is God, follow Him; 04:28 but if Baal, follow him." 04:30 But the people answer him not a word. 04:33 Then Elijah said to the people, 04:35 "I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, 04:38 but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. 04:41 Therefore let them give us two bulls. 04:44 Let them choose one bull for themselves 04:46 and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, 04:48 but put no fire under it, 04:49 and I will prepare the other bull, 04:52 and lay it on the wood, and lay it on the wood, 04:57 but put no fire under it. 04:59 Then you call on the name of your Gods, 05:01 and I will call on the name of the Lord, 05:03 and the God who answers by fire, He is God." 05:09 So all the people answered and said, 05:12 "It is well spoken." 05:14 Do you have the picture? Can you see it now? 05:17 Elijah's up there 05:19 and he lays out the ground rules for this test. 05:21 He says since there are four hundred fifty men, 05:24 we're going to go ahead 05:25 and let them provide the bulls. 05:27 We get one, they get one, they are going to go first. 05:30 Something interesting to note about this test. 05:34 Why did God choose to put a drought on the people? 05:40 Maybe because there was a spiritual drought going on, 05:43 maybe that was the case. 05:45 But it's amazing that instead of saying 05:49 whoever is God provides water, then he is God. 05:53 Elijah's test is whoever produces fire 05:57 then he will be God. 05:59 Interesting how God chooses to work, 06:01 He could have made it rain, but no He calls for fire. 06:04 What's happening here is 06:05 Elijah is comforting the indifference, 06:08 the spiritual indifference of God's people. 06:10 You can't be on both sides of the fence, 06:13 either you are for me or you are against me God says 06:16 and the test is about to take place. 06:20 Let's keep reading versus 27-29. 06:25 And it so it was, at noon, 06:28 that Elijah mocked them and said, 06:30 "Cry aloud, for He is a God, either He is meditating, 06:33 or He is busy, or may be He is on a journey, 06:36 or perhaps He is sleeping and must be awakened." 06:39 So they cried aloud, they cut themselves, 06:40 and was their custom, with knives 06:43 and lances until the blood gushed out on them. 06:48 When midday was past, 06:49 they prophesied until the time 06:52 of the offering of the evening sacrifice. 06:54 But there was no voice, 06:56 no one answered, no one paid attention. 07:00 Well, they are not off to a good start. 07:05 God's people are standing around, 07:07 the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty 07:10 strong have been marching around. 07:12 They've been praying, 07:13 they've been calling upon God of Baal to answer them. 07:18 Elijah appears to be taunting, 07:21 maybe he is gone on a vacation, 07:22 maybe he doesn't hear you, talk a little louder. 07:26 So what happens, they start to scream and rant 07:31 and rave and cry louder to their God. 07:34 They even begin to cut themselves 07:35 the Bible says as we read, 07:37 till the blood was gushing out of them. 07:40 Trying to awaken or catch the attention 07:44 of their God for an answer. 07:46 My friend, aren't you glad 07:47 to capture the attention of the almighty living God, 07:51 we do not have to go to such drastic circumstances. 07:54 We don't have to cut ourselves 07:55 and afflict ourselves to capture His attention. 07:58 We need simply but to call on His name and He will hear. 08:02 While the test isn't over yet. 08:04 The people are wearing over this. 08:06 They are beginning to be tired, 08:08 the day is almost spent. 08:10 I can picture the prophets of Baal 08:13 some of them taking shifts, 08:14 taking turns because they are wearing themselves out. 08:17 They've tired because of the blood they lost. 08:19 They've tired because 08:20 they have been on their feet all day. 08:21 They are physically exhausted 08:23 and the God of Baal remains silent. 08:29 Well, we wonder what kind of a victory that might be. 08:34 But we're gonna have to take a look and see. 08:36 Let's continue with versus 36 and 37. 08:40 And it came to pass, at the time of the offering 08:42 of the evening sacrifice, 08:44 that Elijah the prophet came near and said, 08:46 "Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, 08:50 let it be known this day that you are God in Israel 08:54 and I am Your servant, 08:56 and that I have done all these things at your word. 08:58 Hear me, O Lord, hear me, 09:01 that this people may know that you are the Lord God, 09:05 and that you have turned 09:06 their hearts back to you again." 09:11 Wow! Do you hear the love in that message? 09:16 I don't know, if I were Elijah, 09:18 I just might want fire to come down out of heaven 09:20 and tackle all the people that were there 09:22 including the Gods of Baal. 09:25 But I'm not Elijah 09:27 and Elijah had a great love for these people. 09:31 He saw only their salvation, 09:33 only what was in their best interest. 09:36 And he prayed in his prayer to God so unselfish, 09:40 turned their hearts towards you. 09:44 Elijah in his prayer even admitted 09:46 that the power to turn comes from God. 09:49 Oh! My friend, He gives us 09:52 the strength to turn our lives over to Him. 09:57 Did you see the difference already? 10:00 The prophets of Baal are screaming. 10:03 They're dancing, they are cutting themselves. 10:05 They're doing whatever they can. 10:06 They're making a huge noise. 10:08 The people are listening and chanting, 10:10 everything is going on. 10:12 But in contrast, the prophet of God, 10:15 the prophet Elijah of the true God 10:19 stands quietly in front of his altar 10:27 and quietly prays to God, 10:29 no frenzy, no jumping up and down, no need to catch 10:33 the attention of God almighty. 10:35 He had the attention of God and he simply bowed his head 10:39 and humbly prayed. 10:42 Oh! I'm so glad that we serve a God 10:44 that isn't into pump and circumstance 10:46 but is into love and acceptance 10:48 and forgiveness. 10:51 And all I know is that those of us 10:53 that have been forgiven by God. 10:56 We respond with love toward God. 11:02 And He continues to draw us closer, and closer to Him. 11:07 Well, we've discovered that they've been praying all day. 11:11 We've discovered that Elijah comes and prays. 11:15 After all this isn't a test for Elijah, 11:17 this is not a test for God, 11:18 this is a test for the people. 11:21 They were started out by asking 11:23 how long do you waver between two opinions. 11:29 Either God is God, or Baal is God, 11:33 whichever one is serve Him. 11:36 Is that simple? 11:38 It always has been that simple. 11:40 If God is God then give Him his due 11:42 and if not then don't. 11:45 So how do we tell the difference? 11:47 How do we know in the day and age in which we live, 11:50 how do we know that God is God? 11:55 Well, if you've ever been forgiven 11:57 and understand the peace that comes. 12:00 And when you discover that when God forgives, 12:02 He not only forgives, but He cleanses us. 12:06 And as the Bible tells us in Jude, 12:08 He presents us before the Father 12:11 just as though we've never sinned. 12:15 Wow! I wonder what I look like having never sinned. 12:20 I wonder when God looks at me. 12:23 How Jesus has presented me in perfection, 12:28 that robe of righteousness 12:29 that He offers to us is freely given, 12:33 but it has to be freely accepted. 12:38 If we keep going in the story, 12:39 we're gonna come to the great finale of this prophet story 12:44 or we got the showdown on the mountain 12:46 has been going on for three years. 12:47 They finally brought it together 12:49 to this great test on the mountain 12:51 and Baal's prophets have been going at it all day. 12:54 Now what does the prophet of God do? 12:58 He humbly prays, 13:00 praise the Gods blessing will be given. 13:03 So that the people may know that He is God 13:07 and that He will turn their hearts toward Him. 13:11 And now follow as we continue versus 38 and 39. 13:15 It tells us then the fir of the Lord 13:19 fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, 13:22 and the wood and the stones and the dust, 13:25 it licked up the water that was in the trench. 13:29 Now when all the people saw it, 13:31 they fell on their faces, and they said, 13:33 "The Lord He is God! The Lord, He is God!" 13:38 Can you hear it? 13:39 Can you see it? 13:41 In your minds eye, have you looked this whole crowd 13:44 that has been chanting for the God of Baal 13:47 and holding their breath 13:48 that they were to see whose God wins. 13:51 Now in one accord praises the living God 13:55 and proclaims Him victorious. 13:58 Well, that's not the end of the story, 14:00 but the end of the story 14:02 actually isn't good for the prophets of Baal. 14:05 As we well know, Elijah sends his prophet 14:08 to go take a look and see if the rain cloud is there. 14:11 And prophet's servant comes back and says no sir, 14:15 there is no rain cloud 14:16 and he does it again and he does it again 14:19 and he would wonder. 14:21 If God has caused this to happen 14:25 and the fire to come down and not only eat up 14:28 and consume the sacrifice, 14:31 but to consume the rocks and lick up the water 14:36 that they had poured over it from the sea and left nothing 14:40 but a charred hole in the ground, 14:42 why he cause them to wait? 14:46 My faith, my friends, 14:47 faith is what brings us closer to God. 14:53 If we want to build our faith, 14:55 we must exercise that faith. 15:00 The faith of Elijah is steadfast ensure 15:04 and he points to the prophet to go 15:07 and the prophet goes 15:08 and finally the prophet comes back and says, 15:10 I see a cloud about the size of a man's hand. 15:14 And immediately Elijah goes to King Ahab and says 15:17 King we've got to get out of here. 15:20 It's going to let loose and rain 15:23 such as it's never rained before. 15:26 And the Bible tells us 15:28 that Elijah led the King down. 15:30 It started to rain 15:32 and the horses even were confused 15:36 by instinct of the direction they should go. 15:39 And the Bible says that Elijah 15:41 grabbed a holt of the bridle of the horses 15:45 and let them all the way back to the palace 15:48 where he deposited Ahab. 15:51 Now my friend if that isn't a miracle of God, 15:53 I don't know what is because God answers prayer. 15:59 My friend right on the heel of this comes another story. 16:04 He is tired, Elijah has just been up all day, 16:09 he has been working hard for God. 16:13 And he is now led the King chariot back 16:18 and now he is exhausted and he lay sleeping, 16:23 but the showdown isn't over. 16:28 Oh! Yes, King Ahab's wife Jezebel says 16:32 this is not a good thing. 16:34 I cannot have this prophet showing up our prophets 16:38 and so she had a message sent to Elijah 16:41 which simply said this. 16:44 By tomorrow may God due to you 16:48 or due to me rather, 16:50 if you're head is still on you tomorrow, 16:53 you will die Elijah. 16:57 Now Elijah could have stood up and said 17:01 take the queen back the message, 17:04 message received. 17:06 But I'm not afraid, for I serve the living God. 17:09 He just had called fire out of heaven from God. 17:11 He had just slew 17:13 four and hundred fifty of the false prophet. 17:16 He had run all the way back to the palace 17:20 leading the Kings horses. 17:21 And now the queen gives him a death threat 17:27 and he runs scarred. 17:31 The Bible tells us that he left 17:35 and he ran and he ran and he ran and he ran, 17:40 until he was so exhausted 17:43 that he falls down by that brook 17:45 where the angle as you well know 17:48 feeds him by bringing the raven 17:51 and bringing the food. 17:54 God is good to take care of his prophet 17:56 even in the midst of disappointment 17:59 and discouragement. 18:01 My friend there is a lesson that we can learn from this. 18:04 That when we get tired, when we grow weary, 18:09 our faith can lapse and we can grow discouraged. 18:15 Another lesson that we can learn 18:18 is the lesson of faithfulness to God. 18:21 Elijah didn't ask how, 18:24 he just followed the leading of God 18:26 and we're to follow the leading of God as well. 18:29 There is an old song that simply says, 18:31 amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, 18:34 that saved a wretch like me. 18:37 I once was lost but now I'm found, 18:39 was blind, but now I see. 18:44 You see we need to understand our condition. 18:48 As the people of God did there, 18:50 when they denounced Baal 18:51 and proclaimed the living God 18:53 as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 18:55 When they shouted together the Lord, He is God, 18:59 the Lord He is God. 19:02 And believe me, it wasn't just words off their lips, 19:05 it was melted and sunk 19:08 and written in their very hearts. 19:11 They knew they had been in the presence of God. 19:15 You and I can know when we've been 19:16 in the presence of God too my friend. 19:19 Each and everyday of our lives, 19:21 we can live in the presence of God. 19:26 God was faithful, 19:27 in the midst of a death threat 19:29 Elijah abandons and runs. 19:32 It appears he abandons God, 19:33 he runs scared rather than 19:36 praying that God will protect him, he flees. 19:40 But though we may run from God, 19:43 God will never leave us or forsake us. 19:48 And that's a promise that you and I 19:49 can go to the bank on each and everyday. 19:52 Now whether we'll take it at face value, 19:55 that's up to each one of us to decide. 19:58 God will never force us to accept Him as Lord 20:02 and Savior of our lives. 20:04 He will never force us to do that. 20:06 He will make Himself available 20:08 just as Elijah made himself available 20:11 to be the prophet of God and to follow Him. 20:14 God will use each one of us, 20:18 if we'll just let Him. 20:22 The final showdown, the final showdown here 20:26 on this earth will be over worship. 20:30 Whom do we serve? 20:33 Do we serve the living God or do we not? 20:39 Well, whether you take it straight from Star Wars 20:41 or you take it from television, 20:43 each and everyday they has the bad guys appear to win 20:46 before the good guy rushes into the rescue. 20:49 The war of the Great Controversy is different 20:51 because God has already won. 20:55 The major battle is over. 20:58 There are still skirmishes here and there. 21:00 God is waiting for us to choose. 21:03 And as He said in the Book of Joshua, 21:05 choose you this day who you will serve. 21:08 But as for me in my house, we will serve the Lord, 21:13 not Baal, not money, not this world, 21:17 not the things this world has to offer, 21:19 but we will serve the living God. 21:23 You and I need to come to the place in our lives 21:26 where each and everyday 21:28 we will make that commitment to Him. 21:33 Not yesterday, or tomorrow, 21:34 but today my friend 21:36 is the day that salvation can come. 21:41 We can also learn from Elijah, 21:46 that when we run from God, 21:47 not only does God not abandon us, 21:50 but God will still take care of us. 21:53 He was beside the brooks, he is right on the shore, 21:57 he had the birds possibly even bringing food 22:01 from the Kings table to Elijah there. 22:07 But God allowed Elijah to get some rest 22:12 and with rest comes strength. 22:15 And with physical strength 22:17 can come physical and spiritual strength. 22:23 Have you ever notice that. 22:24 That when you are tired, 22:27 Bible study and prayer seems more like a chore, 22:30 or it's easier to put it off until tomorrow. 22:33 But my friend, it may not be the showdown 22:36 of Mount Carmel where we're calling 22:37 fire down from heaven, 22:39 but it's a showdown nonetheless 22:40 to invite Jesus into our hearts. 22:43 We may think of that as a little thing, 22:45 but it is no less significant than what Elijah called 22:48 the people of God to commit to on that day. 22:52 That very day he asked them to dethrone their hearts 22:59 and let God have a seat. 23:03 That exactly what you and I can do 23:05 and sometimes when we're tired, 23:07 sometimes when we're physically weak, 23:10 we become spiritually weak. 23:14 And when we get spiritually weak, 23:15 how easy it is to become discouraged. 23:18 When we get discouraged, 23:20 how easy it is to cast disparaging false God. 23:23 Why did you let this happen to me? 23:26 Oh! God, where are you when I need you most. 23:31 God has never left and He has never forsaken us. 23:36 We, who want Jesus in our hearts, 23:41 so, Jesus waits, He feeds us 23:43 He gives us that strength until we're back on our feet 23:46 and when we're back on our feet, 23:48 He continues to woo us 23:51 and to draw us closer and closer to Him. 23:54 Isn't that what the Bible said? 23:56 It said the people when the fire came down 23:59 from heaven and devoured everything. 24:02 They fell on their faces 24:03 in supreme worship to the living God. 24:07 You and I need to understand 24:09 that we have come face to face with God. 24:13 We are at the final showdown, 24:15 the final showdown isn't for a mountain, 24:17 it's not for a hill, it's not for a city, 24:20 it's for a heart and that heart is yours 24:23 and that heart is mine. 24:27 There is a song that says 24:29 that Jesus Christ is Lord of our life. 24:34 And that we crown Him to be Lord 24:37 in that position in our hearts. 24:40 I'll pray that you have prayed that prayer, 24:42 that you've invited Jesus Christ into your heart 24:45 and allowed Him to reign supreme. 24:48 Oh, from time to time, your life will grow weak, 24:51 your spiritual walk with Jesus will grow cool, 24:54 you'll be prone to be discouraged. 24:58 When discouragement comes 25:00 we'll be tempted to just throw in the towel. 25:03 But my friend, don't give way to those feelings. 25:08 When you and I are at our weakest, 25:11 it's when we can become the strongest. 25:16 Don't our children saying Jesus loves me, 25:20 this I know for the Bible tells me so 25:24 little ones to Him belong 25:27 they are weak but He is strong. 25:31 God wants the greatest strength in us, 25:34 not to come from us but to come from Him 25:38 and that is possible 25:41 with total surrender to Jesus. 25:45 And that is possible if we relay waste 25:49 to the altars of our life 25:51 as Elijah did to the altars of Baal there 25:54 that day on Mount Carmel after God answered 25:56 he destroyed them, so that all traces would be gone, 25:59 all remnants would be gone 26:00 and the people wouldn't have opportunity to go back. 26:03 But I pray as he prayed that they would not 26:06 want the opportunity to go back, 26:08 because after all Elijah prayed 26:12 that God would turn their hearts to Him. 26:18 That's all we need today. 26:21 That's all we need everyday 26:24 is to pray that God will take our hearts 26:28 and draw them home. 26:32 God will answer an honest prayer. 26:37 Would you like to share that with me? 26:39 Let's bow your heads as we ask God. 26:42 Father in heaven, we come to You 26:45 to ask You to point our hearts toward home. 26:50 Make us more like You, 26:53 take our hearts, bring us into unity with You 26:59 that our hearts will be cleaned 27:01 and made fresh, 27:03 that we may be represented to God 27:05 the Father just as though we've never sinned. 27:10 We cast down the idols of our hearts 27:12 and ask You to reign supreme from this day 27:15 forward is our prayer in Jesus name. Amen. 27:21 May God continue to give you the strength 27:24 and the courage each and everyday to appoint Him 27:29 Lord of your life and Lord of the day. 27:33 And my friend, I promise you this, 27:35 if you will give your hearts to Him, 27:39 He will here, He will come 27:43 and you will indeed be victorious 27:47 for the greatest showdown that ever lift 27:50 is the showdown for your heart and mind. 27:54 Thank you. |
Revised 2014-12-17