Send the Fire!

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence… and that the nations might tremble… (Isaiah 64:1-2).

The story of how Elijah confronted the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah on Mount Carmel is one of the most memorable moments in Israel’s history (see 1 Kings 18:17-40). Much like today, the spiritual situation was bad—really bad. Immorality, idolatry, and apostasy characterized the times. Many felt that the nation had passed the point of no return. The only alternative left was to hunker down, huddle together, and wait for divine judgment to fall.

God, however, had another plan. He empowered His prophet Elijah to call the nation to repentance and to preach in a way that brought revival to the land. When the story begins, we see a rebellious nation trapped in sin. Elijah stands alone against 850 false prophets. When the story ends, all the people are on their faces crying out in unison: “The Lord, he is God; the Lord, he is God” (v. 39). Revival had come!

The story of what happened on Mount Carmel is not just interesting history. It is a picture of what can happen today when the word of truth is boldly proclaimed and people respond in humble repentance. We can personalize the story, making it applicable for us today, through six simple affirmations.

You know you need a revival when there is famine in the land.

God sent a drought upon Israel that lasted three and a half years (see 1 Kings 17:1; 18:1-2). In the ancient Near East, this was a death sentence. It is important to remember that Baal was a fertility god who supposedly controlled the rain. The people were hungry and thirsty, and their god was unable to help. Revival never comes until we learn that the false gods in whom we trust are impotent frauds, unable to save!

You know you need a revival when there is evil on the throne.

King Ahab did more to provoke the Lord to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. The depth of his wickedness is seen in the woman he married, Jezebel (see 1 Kings 16:29-33). Under the evil influence of this sinful couple, the floodgates were opened and immorality, idolatry, and apostasy rushed in. The problem in government was not just incompetence, gridlock, and mismanagement. No. Things in “Washington” were evil.

You know you need a revival when there is apostasy in the church.

The 850 state-sponsored clergy persons had a theology that said Baal worship was a legitimate way to express one’s spirituality, even in Israel! These were false prophets, ministers of Satan, wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing. It is one thing when evil is in the world. It is another thing when evil is in the church! A boat is made to be in the water. But when water gets in the boat—watch out! It’s a good thing when the church is in the world. But when the world gets in the church—it’s time for God to clean house!

You know you need a revival when there is division in the heart.

During the confrontation on Mount Carmel, Elijah asked the people: “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow him!” (1 Kings 18:21, NLT). It wasn’t that the people had forsaken the true God; they just wanted to follow Baal as well. They were desperately trying to do what Jesus said was impossible: serve two masters (see Matthew 6:24). Revival only comes when we discover the insanity—not to mention the blasphemous sinfulness—of spiritual bipolar disorder. Yes, it’s true: a double-minded person is unstable in all his ways (see James 1:8).

You know you need a revival when there is no fire on the altar.

Elijah got the false prophets to agree to a contest. Two altars would be built: one for Baal and one for the God of Elijah. Wood would be placed on both altars, along with an animal sacrifice. But no fire would be lit. The false prophets would pray to their god and Elijah would pray to his; and “the God who answers by fire, he is God” (1 Kings 18:24).

Elijah the prophet walked up to the altar and prayed, “O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, prove today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant… 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!” (1 Kings 18:36-39, NLT).

You know you need a revival when your spirituality is routine, predictable, and lifeless; when your church says all the right words and believes all the right doctrines, but there is no fire on the altar. Dear friend, the situation in Elijah’s day is strangely similar to ours. How we need the fire of God to fall once again—on our nation, on our church, on our families… but most of all, on me!

Oh! One more thing:

You know you need a revival when you think this message is for someone else!

As you have been reading this blog, you have perhaps been saying to yourself: “I know someone who really needs to hear this message. I think I’ll forward it to them.” That may be the greatest proof possible that you are the one who needs revival!

God of Elijah, hear our cry:

Send the fire!

To make us fit to live or die,

Send the fire!

To burn up every trace of sin,

To bring the light and glory in,

The revolution now begin,

Send the fire!

—William Booth

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