The Water Is the Problem

Notes: The Water Is the Problem
1 Kings 18
SPEAKER:
Levi Lusko
WORSHIP TEAM:
Harvest Worship Band
Thursday, August 25, 2016 — 7:00 p.m.

In 1 Kings the nation of Israel is split into the Northern and Southern kingdoms. Ahab was a horrible king of the north. He married Jezabel who tried to wipe our true God out of Israel. Elijah was raised up in this time.

Elijah has been called the mightiest of the miracle working prophets.

Elijah goes to their palace and said it will not rain until he said it will.

It did not rain for three years. 

Water in the Old Testament was a symbol of Gods blessing.

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 NKJV
[13] 'And it shall be that if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul, [14] then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.

Rain meant life and death during this time.

1 Kings 18:20-41 NKJV
[20] So Ahab sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together on Mount Carmel. [21] And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. [22] Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. [23] Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. [24] Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken." [25] Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it." [26] So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even till noon, saying, "O Baal, hear us!" But there was no voice; no one answered. Then they leaped about the altar which they had made. [27] And so it was, at noon, that Elijah mocked them and said, "Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is meditating, or he is busy, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." [28] So they cried aloud, and cut themselves, as was their custom, with knives and lances, until the blood gushed out on them. [29] And when midday was past, they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice. But there was no voice; no one answered, no one paid attention. [30] Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. [31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Israel shall be your name." [32] Then with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD; and he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed. [33] And he put the wood in order, cut the bull in pieces, and laid it on the wood, and said, "Fill four waterpots with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood." [34] Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time; and he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. [35] So the water ran all around the altar; and he also filled the trench 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 Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. [37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again." [38] Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. [39] Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" [40] And Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal! Do not let one of them escape!" So they seized them; and Elijah brought them down to the Brook Kishon and executed them there. [41] Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."

In the passage, the people were merely spectators. Elijah asked the people to just add water.

John 2:7 NKJV
[7] Jesus said to them, "Fill the waterpots with water." And they filled them up to the brim.

John 4:14 NKJV
[14] but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."

Living water is all God asks us to add to many of our life's situations.

1. God can do the impossible, He often calls on us to do the impractical.

God will let the stack against us get to the impossible so we have to trust in Him.

Where did the water come from that the people had to pour out for Elijah? The people had to pour out the very thing that they needed.

2. It's giving, not keeping, that leads to receiving.

Proverbs 11:24 NKJV
[24] There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty.

Generosity breaks the back of greed.

Giving leads to receiving. 

3. You will never experience all God has until He has all you are.

No man can serve two masters.

Philippians 2:17 NKJV
[17] Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

God wants us to know, empty vessels can be filled up.

4. When prayer goes up, power comes down.

Satan shakes his knees when he sees the weakest Saint on their knees.

1 Kings 18:41 NKJV
[41] Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain."

In God's economy we need to hear it, before we can see it. You have to pray it and hear God answer it before you see it.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NKJV
[14] if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. [15] Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.

The gospel is not behave and earn, it is believe and receive.