MOUNTAIN TOP EXPERIENCES IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Message two

Part 3

MOUNT CARMEL- THE POWER OF GOD

1^stKings 18:17-40

Introduction: In the last two messages we look at Elijah’s challenge. He challenged the potentate or King Ahab and he challenged the people. The people met at Mount Carmel along with the king and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal. As I said previously, Elijah never asks for the king to do such and such, he commands it to be done. It is done just like he commanded.

Ahab accuses Elijah of being the one who troubled Israel. He was basically calling Elijah a snake in the grass so to speak. But in reality and Elijah does not pull any punches that Ahab and his fathers lead the nation to a new state religion and that religion is Baal worship. It is the law of the land. That in itself is not making it right. Let’s suppose that Islam becomes the new leading religion of America. This is a real possibility. Should we support this because it is the law of the land and that is exactly what the followers of Islam wants? They will be not happy accommodating Christianity and the cults of America. They want death to all unbelievers of Islam. This religion as a state religion will not tolerate folks like us. It is all them or death to us. This is exactly what is happening to children of Israel in that day. Baal was the official religion. The true and living God was ignored. But you cannot ignore the Lord forever. Ahab ignored God but God knows and will act in what brings Him the greatest honor and glory.

The people showed up according to the command of Elijah and at the place of Elijah’s command. But they were cowardly silent. Elijah wants to know why they are stuck between who was really God. Silence when you should speak up is wrong and sinful.

Matthew 10:33

“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.”

Be very careful when you should stand up for Jesus but are silent. There are times when you should not speak. No matter what you say will be twisted and used against you. Jesus did not answer His critics at the day of His trial and death. But God used that to close the mouths of the gainsayers. 1^st Peter 2:21-23

“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously”

Today we are going to look at the third part of this challenge. It is his challenge to the prophets. Let’s look at verses twenty-two through twenty-four.

But before we actually look at these false prophets in this passage, we need to see some facts about false prophets. Today we are flooded with many, many false prophets. Some of them even call themselves Christians. I don’t want to appear to repeating some material over and over again but I must answer the question of what is a Christian? It literally means a follower of Jesus Christ. Or you could say that this person is Christ like. I said this recently and it bears repeating that all Christians are saved but not every saved person is a Christian. Let me be transparent now. There are many times that I am just saved but not Christ like. The times when a person shines the most for the Lord is the times when we are like Christ most. We must follow all His commands. I do not have to go over all the commands that we have in the Scriptures but I can say this: There are many commands that we need to become more familiar in order to be more Christ like. What did Jesus tell His disciples at the Last Supper or last table talk before His arrest?

John 14:15

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

John 15:14

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”

Some of these false prophets or preachers really look good. They sound good but they are wickedly wrong in trying to deceive people. I want to quote something else our Lord said in the book of Matthew. Matthew 7:21-23

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

Once again I will not give my opinion but prove my point with the plain Word of God. This will be the basis for this part of the Mount Carmel experience of Elijah where the power of God is seen. But I must give you a few facts in regards false prophets, preachers or teachers. In fact, this introduction will be the entire message. Let’s turn to the book of 2^nd Peter. It is an excellent book in dealing with false teachers, preachers or in the case of Elijah, false prophets.

-> CHARACTERISTICS OF FALSE TEACHERS

Privily bring in damnable heresies

2^nd Peter 2:1

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

False teachers do not boldly declare their false teaching. They slip it in. They want to find common ground you agree on, and then slip in their heresies. Many times they do this by having a Bible study in their home. They will start off sounding good and then they will insert a small grain of error. This error will grow and grow at each “Bible study”.

Covetous 2^nd Peter 2:3,14

"And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:"

Many false teachers are after money. Look at leaders in some of these movements. Find out about their excesses and luxuries. I was thinking of that famous television evangelist that is known to stay in thirty thousand dollar a night hotels in Europe. This particular man drives and/or owns many luxury automobiles or owns many luxury homes. His average giver is a little old lady living on Social Security. He wants more and more send in.

A man of God should not to live above the means of the average person in his church. This does not mean that we should be dirt poor if that is the average person in our church. It does mean that we ought to be very sensitive to what others perceive about us.

Immoral 2^nd Peter 2:10,14

"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children"

Some of the false prophets

Critical of godly teachers 2^nd Peter 2:10b

"…Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities."

False teachers try to get credibility by criticizing godly leaders.

Ignorant of God's Word 2^nd Peter 2:12

"But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption"

They appear to be teachers, but have no true understanding of God's Word. They may know a chapter or a section, but are not well versed with the Bible in its entirety. They have a few pet verses or passages. They do not turn away from their pet scriptures. Bible doctrine is not one or two verses but volumes of scripture. It is line upon line.

Very deceitful 2^nd Pet. 2:13,18

"And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the daytime. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error."

False teachers are smooth talkers who make it easy to swallow their error. They say some truth but poison it by interpreting error. I will be dealing some with their teaching shortly.

Thrive on the weak 2^nd Peter 2:14

"Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children"

New Christians and unlearned Christians are the easy prey of false teachers and cults. That is one reason why we try to help all new believers so they will not be prey to false preachers and teachers.

Make big promises 2^nd Peter 2:19

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."

False teachers paint a mystical fairy-tale type Christianity. One of the worst groups that we have today is the health, wealth and prosperity crowd. They teach that if you are not healthy, wealthy and prospers, then you are not right with God. God cannot trust most of us with wealth. Why? We would forget Him. Bad health makes us to depend upon Him more each day.

-> AREAS IN THAT THEY DECEIVE

Not all of these points will apply to all false teachers. If only one does, that is enough danger to warn us.

1. THE BIBLE

The authority of the Bible is questioned. Is it true? Is it literal or is it symbolic? Is the Old Testament for us? Some false teachers add their leaders or founder's words to the Bible as "inspired". One group says that their leader's words override the Bible if there is a discrepancy.

This Bible means what it says and says what it means. It is not my opinion on the Bible that counts but what does the Bible say on the subject that counts alone. This is God’s infallible Word. I can and will be wrong but this Bible is never and I repeat is never and will repeat once again is never wrong on every subject of life.

2. THE RESURRECTION

This is an essential doctrine to Christianity. Flee anyone who does not believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ. In fact, salvation cannot be separated from the resurrection.

Romans 10:9

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

Liberal movements have tried to explain away all miracles. If a church ties to explain away miracles of the Bible, then it is long past time to leave that church.

3. VIRGIN BIRTH

This is also an essential doctrine in Christianity. The Scripture is very clear about Jesus' virgin birth. If Jesus was not virgin born, then He could have never been our sacrifice for sin. But He was and He is our Saviour from sin.

4. HELL

Many false cults are teaching there is no hell. That takes out the urgency to get saved or get the gospel out. They explain it away by calling it the "grave" or say it is symbolism. One popular evangelist of today said it is no more than separation from God. They tell us that it is just a parable. But they are wrong! They try to symbolize the account of the rich man and Lazarus. The last time I checked, Lazarus was a proper name. Jesus never used any proper names in His parables.

5. WORKS FOR SALVATION

Most false teaching tries to add works to get us to heaven. Its root problem is pride. They want to feel that they have a part in salvation. It is still Jesus plus nothing and minus nothing! Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Titus 3:5

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”

Some false teachers say you must be a member of their denomination, get baptized, speak in tongues, hold out unto the end, etc. They are wrong! One of these false teachers that was very popular in the seventies and eighties, fell in some reproach in the nineties and is almost unheard of today but still around said in his own magazine this statement. I have that magazine. He said that you did not have to speak in tongues to go to heaven but if you don’t speak in tongues you will not go to heaven. He is wrong. Time does not permit me give all the reasons either. That would be going off the beaten path the Lord wants me to go.

6. MAJOR ON FEELINGS - NOT GOD'S WORD

The word "feel" is never used in Scripture in relation to salvation. Doctrines in Scripture are fact, if we "feel" it or not. Feelings are not what makes us saved or keep us saved. Some churches major on feelings and emotionalism. Praise and prayer are emphasized more than preaching and getting people saved. It is just another sidetrack of the devil to get more people into hell. "If it feels good, do it" is the motto of our humanistic, godless society. The liquor and drugs our nation has consumed is all for a "feeling".

Examinations of "feelings-based religion" will show that their beliefs are not in agreement with the Bible. They justify what they do by the circumstances that they face. Often those who are looking for a feeling will say unusual things, such as:

"I do not care what the Bible says, I know what I felt." (What a dangerous statement!)

"You cannot judge the charismatic experience until you have experienced it." (This was taken from the charismatic person.)

Here is the correct Bible position. It is fact (the Bible). It is faith in the Bible. Then you can have the feelings.

Here is the incorrect position of false teachers. It is feelings, then faith in the feelings and then the Bible.

Conclusion: I was laying the groundwork for the challenge of the prophets next time.