Which Side Are You On? | Sunday Message

Hey there, thanks for listening to the great glory part just a ministry supported by harvest partners on Greg Laurie encouraging you if you want to find out more about harvest ministries. To learn more about how to become a harvest partner, just go to harvest.org. Once I'll grab a seat and turn in your Bibles to first Kings chapter 18 that's right after first Kings 17.

If you don't know where to turn. The title of my messages, which side are you on or talking of course about Elijah the prophet, and it's a series recalling Elijah the power to stand and were looking at how one man's life made a difference and Israel had gone off the rails are actually and morally. Whatever you call the real spiritually. You'll go off the rails morally to. That's exactly what they had done instead of worshiping the true and living God would been so good to them, they turned to false gods.

He turned to idols and specifically in their case they turn to bail and Ashtoreth, and in fact it was Jezebel the Queen who brought the worship of bail into Israel.

Ahab was a spineless man who was really manipulated by effectively. The wicked witch of the West.

Jezebel so that they're in charge and everything is going the wrong direction. Enter Elijah who enters the picture with boldness and courage and throws down the gauntlet, I would have some of you feel like you're the only one around who speaks up for your faith. Maybe it's in your family.

Maybe it's in your workplace or your campus or your neighborhood or wherever, but you feel all alone and that's probably how Elijah felt she wasn't the only one, but he felt like it at times over there to read no.

One of the most well-known stories and all of the Bible.

This is where there up in Mount Carmel.

This is bigger than the thriller in Manila. This is bigger than the rumble in the jumble jungle not jumbo there's no jumble.

These are fights from days gone by the don't want to talk about this is that shootout at the Carmel chorale. This is where Elijah stands up amount Carmel and throws down a challenge and says let's as the real God to answer us by fire and appropriate challenge considering the fact that they will in theory was the God of the elements, the God of the sun, the God of the rain, the God of everything, and so let's go ahead and just let God answer us himself fire from heaven. Can you imagine if you had the power to call fire down from heaven.

Elijah did use it on two occasions. One is amount Carmel.

The other is when a Kings sent a captain of 50 soldiers to arrest Elijah was up on the hill and the captain said Elijah man of God.

The king says come down from that hill right now.

Elijah says a prime amount of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 soldiers well. He was a man of God, and fire came down. Now another poor guy is tasked with doing the same thing. He comes up to Elijah up and then releases all men of God. The king says come down from there. Elijah says if I'm a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your 50 soldiers. He was still a man of God they got torched to the third. Guys like hi sir, Mr. Elijah look I just know my job here and I career would happen to be other guys would you pretty please come down. There's pictures of my family look.

Elijah says okay because it is angel of the Lord said Elijah go into so we had this ability meant if I had the ability to call fire down from heaven, there would be some torched people on the freeway rights the crazy things people to come in over eight lanes right or you know tailgating you the whole time work that things that people do and there would be some torched people using cell phones do, especially people using cell phones on the freeway, which is the reason they do a lot of crazy things that they do affect an interesting story in the New Testament James and John aptly described as the Sons of thunder were upset because a certain city in Samaria was not hospitable to Jesus and the disciples they said, Lord, shall we call fire down from heaven on them, as Elijah did. Jesus is like for guys, I didn't come to torched people. I came to see people that is if you don't even know what kind of spirit hereof to make a statement like this, but Elijah never use this ability for a personal purpose or to vent his anger. He did it when the Lord called them to do.

Where did Elijah get this courage that he had reviewing back and some my given the first message of you taking notes number one, Elijah stood continually in the presence of God. Elijah stood continually continually in the presence of God.

He said to King Ahab is the Lord God lives first Kings 17 one is the Lord God lives, before whom I stand, there will not be rain, but according to my work.

These are the living God. He was aware of the fact that he constantly was in the presence of God. And when you stand in the presence of God. You will not bow before any other person. Proverbs 28 one says the righteous are as bold as a lion. Secondly, Elijah was a man of prayer, James 517 says Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain in the land for 3 1/2 years. Again he prayed in the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crop. It was Elijah's prayer and private, that was a source of his power in public. Let me say that again it was Elijah's prayer in private. That was a source of his power in public.

That's really God's courage. Thirdly, Elijah knew Scripture and acted on it. Others statement given to us in Deuteronomy 11 were God warned Israel turn to idols he would send the drop to their land and so he knew what the word of God said so what he did was based on Scripture. Fourthly, Elijah faithfully delivered the message.

This is not an easy message to deliver everybody you're going to experience a great God brought an many of you are going to die even a great audience. Good night God bless Mike drop right now, then who wants to give a message like that and of the same way.

It's hard for us sometimes to tell people what the Bible says about final judgments and how Christ is the only way that the father or maybe we have a discomfort with certain areas of Scripture, but if we want to serve the Lord in representing. We need to give his truth and not edited or varnish it or whitewash it or anything else. Also, number five, Elijah was a man of faith and obedience. So after he throws down the gauntlet in the court of Ahab and Jezebel Lord says okay let's go you're leaving and he sends them to a little brook called share he has to go off the grid action man has to be quiet is this is an outdoorsy kind of rough-and-tumble kinda guy and now he has to go.

Basically, be silent and wait on the Lord. He could complain he could have said nobody did exactly what God called him to do. You know we live in an instant gratification culture today. Don't wing you download everything or we both just download it happened a few seconds, you can get your news real time on the feed on your phone you consented. Texan food is on the way you want to watch a movie.

Over the days blockbuster we go to Blockbuster and rent these things called videotapes member the statement be kind rewind member that psych ancient history. Then there were DVDs all TBD and so you could get an account with Netflix and they would send you a DVD and then he would watch it and he would return the DVD and so forth. And then it became downloadable in our everything is downloadable, who even looks at DVDs anymore so were used to getting things quickly, immediately.

Amazon same day delivery, whatever you need, you can have it now, so it's hard.

God says to us, slowdown. But God is is timing. You know, when you see a work of God that is working.

It's always the right person in the right place at the right time. Just as important as the will of God is, is the timing of God. We read over in Isaiah 41, 40, 31, they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Notice that God energizes us as we wait upon and maybe the reason you're so tired and worn out and depleted is because you haven't taken time to just wait on the Lord to sit before the Lord your always on the go, always moving, always active. Sometimes it's good to just sit that's what Elijah did for a prolonged period of time.

Then the Lord said, I want to go over some windows. Allison asked her for free food and live there for a while and he did it. Any obeyed the Lord and God was getting him ready. He was preparing him for what was still. I had so now we come to first Kings 18 verse two and were introduced to a man named Obadiah. Meanwhile, the family become very severe in Samaria. So Ahab summoned Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace and then we have this very important statement. Obadiah was a devoted follower of the Lord once when Jezebel had tried to kill all the Lord's prophets, Obadiah get 100 of them into caves, soap Elijah is making his way to the palace and here comes Obadiah who's in charge of the palace of the king. But then this detail is Atticus. We could quickly save all in charge of the palace of the king. That's a wicked king.

This is a corrupt men all know it says he's a devoted follower of the Lord God often places his people in positions of significance. Think of Joseph there in the court of the Pharaoh giving him advice. Daniel afford to kings advising them as well. Nehemiah the cupbearer of the king with the king's trust was able to take a position he had been in use it for God's glory and help to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and the king even funded. It was amazing and so God will often place his people in these important positions. I think sometimes we think you know when you become a Christian.

Now you need to serve the Lord, and you probably should be a pastor or a preacher or maybe work in a church that from these just go hang around at the church all day in criticize other people right now.

No, that God has a calling for many people.

God is not called us to isolate but to infiltrate this and we need Christian teachers in our schools today right when he Christian doctors.

We need Christian businessmen.

We need Christian lawyers, especially Christian lawyers. We need Christian mayors and congressmen and senators and Christians in politics and I think about some of the people I've gotten to know in Washington DC were strong believers like Sen. Marco Rubio, former Congressman Trey Gaudi Sen. Tim Scott and I talk with these guys and I prayed with these guys and see how they have their faith in God puts people in amazing places about Alice Cooper writing just written a book you know Le Lyndonville and Allison Jesus. Is it possible that God could place his man in the middle of rock music to be an influence on other people out. The answer is yes.

By the way, and Alice told me that he shared the gospel with Johnny Depp. He told me that he gave a Bible to Marilyn Manson. I said to the burner anything is a no-no. He was able to get it you know so God can do these things I just wrote this book that already mentioned or been doing interviews of this last week about it. My more than one occasion people eventually why would a pastor write a book on rock music, rock music is evil and these people have sold their souls to the devil. Number one, you can't sell your soul to the devil, just in case you didn't know you can't. Your soul is not yours to sell. The Bible says your soul belongs to God right so here's the thing, even if you open your heart to evil. If you call on Jesus Christ.

He can forgive you a break in the so-called deal that you had with the devil but you know so that this is sides of this is in the book that you know Pro rock music or anti-rock music. This is a book about how God reached people who were at the top of their careers to climb to the top of the mountain of fame and realize there was nothing there. Some made the wrong choices in their lives became a cautionary table story like the people I write about in a chapter called the 27 club who died at the age of 27 Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, Jim Morrison of the doors and then later Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and anyone else but then there are stories of redemption because no one is beyond the reach of God so this is something why do I do all the stuff you good weather to just preach what you why would you write a book like a buddy to make a movie like this over here because I want to reach as many people as I possibly can in every pond I can fish so let's fish in the ocean. Let's vision this pond.

Let's vision this late. Or let's outsource even this crop work and that piece of land over there and reach as many as we possibly can. Not everyone is called to be Elijah Sommer called to be an Obadiah we might do with her compromisers. Why do you say that God put them there in the Bible says he was a deeply committed man to the Lord. Think of Queen Esther, you know you can see she was her compromisers. She lives in a beauty contest that sinful really well. Looks like the Lord had his hand in all those events and she ultimately became the queen and it's an interesting thing.

She didn't want to think everybody on Jewish just in case you didn't know she kept it to herself until she needed to use her influence for good and ended up saving the Jewish people because God had put her there for such a time as this.

Some of us are called to be Elijah's.

Some of us are called to be Obadiah's, but every one of us is called to use our influence for God glory God's glory were ever we are in is an interesting story when Jesus was talking about how John would live on longer and how Peter would die.

Peter didn't like what he was hearing and he said about John what about him. And Jesus said what is that to you. Follow me sometimes like they were on you will agree with that will Lord says was sent to you. You follow me, don't worry about how well someone is doing it somewhere else or if they're not meeting your expectations and just make sure your using your life to bring glory to God or the Lord's place to stay in your lane of focus right so Obadiah goes back and says they had just choose back. Elijah the prophet is gonna hard the midseason Harry dude with a crazy close in the wild look yes he wants to talk to you so Ahab can't wait to confront Elijah first Kings 18 verse 16 so Obadiah went to the deli help that Elijah had come, and Ahab went out to meet Elijah when Ahab saw him, he exclaimed so is that really you troublemaker of Israel.

Elijah replied I didn't make any trouble for Israel, you and your family are the troublemakers for you've refused to obey the commands of the Lord, and you worship the image is a bail instead.

There interesting statement Ahab calls Elijah the troublemaker of Israel through troublemakers from a root word that means one who wreaks havoc or brings a pestilence or as a play.

The Hebrew word is snake snake in the grass. Elijah, the one that's because all the chaos you're like a walking flagman and why you even hear ledges as I'm not the walking plague. You are, you're the one that brought this upon yourself and I just think about the difference is likely we need more troublemakers like this today, right because the church is the only hope for America. The church say why do you say that because the church established by Christ himself as the restraining force in the world today. You know I mentioned earlier there were called to be salt and light in the world, and salt in the first century was used as a preservative.

It was used to stop the rotting of the meat, and in many ways the church stands and we speak out against what is wrong. We speak up for what is true and the antichrist can even be revealed until the church is caught up to meet the Lord in the air because were told in Thessalonians, he who now restrains will continue to do so until he is taken out of the way and then the wicked one will be revealed whom the Lord will destroy with the brightness of his coming. And speaking of the work of the Holy Spirit through the church where the restraining force.

Imagine if we were suddenly taken from this earth overnight how easily evil could spread rapidly, quickly, with no one speaking up.

No one saying a thing and so you can see how our influence is still needed in our culture.

So Elijah says okay Ahab, here's the deal, first Kings 1819 summoned all of Israel to join the amount Carmel along with the 450 prophets a bail and 400 prophets of Ashtoreth who are supported by Jezebel, Elijah like these odds 851 bring out all your false prophets. Let's get up there and mount Carmel tell Israel to show up, you know, bring their popcorn milk duds. A let's do this thing, let's have it out. Let's have this battle right out it was the battle of the gods. Here's what amazes me is Ahab agrees to this. Now why would he think he had any advantage over Elijah bail his God of the elements of the weather was kind of his right. He had not brought the rain. When Elijah said it would not rain.

Why does he think a little ADR that bail would be able to send fire from heaven.

Why would he agree to this thing and put all Israel up there to watch it simple answer of center before I'll say it again. Sin makes you stupid. This is the biggest mistake of Ahab's life to agree with this idea first Kings 1820 so Ahab summoned all of Israel in the province amount Carmel Elijah stood in front of them and said how much longer will you waiver hobbling between two opinions of the Lord is God, follow him. Bail is God, then follow him look at this, but the people were completely silent.

Their silence was deafening.

Why because they worship many gods and they did not want to stop so he let let's go. Let's see who has the real God. Elijah looked at Ahab and he said say when no that was the quality of the Johnny Ringo and tombstone secure film reference only got it. All the guys this guy's just guys like tombstone right anyway. So here it is first Kings 1826.

They prepared one of the bulls placed it on the altar and called in the name of bail from morning till noon time shouting old Bill answer us. But there was no reply of any kind, and then they danced hobbling around hobbling around the altar that they may practice kind of funny really gets funnier by the way, so there'd been screaming at hobbling doing everything, Bill.

Hear us now. We may laugh at that listened this idol worship is alive and well today. Oh sure, they worshiped bail. They worship*but do we not worship idols today. This is why John and some of his last words that he gave to the church after walking with the Lord for many years, said little children, keep yourselves from idols listen.

An idol is not merely an object code includes that an idol is anyone or anything that takes the place of God in your life.

Then repeat that an idol is anything or anyone that takes the place of God in your life. Answer this question. What get you out of bed in the morning. Some people say breakfast.

Okay this on a better answer, but I would be really passionate about what you get fired up about what is the thing that you think about more than any other think that potentially Israel consider this an idol is not necessarily a bad thing. It's a good thing that you made into a God thing. It's a good thing you made into a God thing, meaning it might be good.

There's nothing wrong with a career or something wrong with making a living is nothing wrong with a lot of things that were involved in, but if that becomes the most important thing that literally can become an evil thing you've allowed a good thing to become a God thing and it's taken the place of God in your life is one way to find out what people are passionate about. Check out their social media by the way employers are doing this now more when someone comes in and applies for a job they go check out their social media order they post on twitter or they talk about on Facebook.

What are they will get a photo so they post on Instagram you know this is of interest to them because the Bible says your posts are, there will your heart be also doesn't say exactly that. It actually says what were your money is, there will your heart be also. But I think it could include your post as well. I know Christians that used to post about their faith and they would use their social platforms to share the gospel and that of Scriptures and then something happened. I don't know what and they became these crazy renting people and everything's in caps the RIGHT and if you want to make it even crazier reverse it out of black sorts of white letter even better read letters against a black background you're ranting about this you're ranting about. That is our losing followers wants to hear your rants anymore.

What happened your focus changed. Good that thing that you're so obsessed with now actually become your idle you can make yourself God in your life. You effectively worship yourself.

You don't say it out right. You know my Greg coordinate no you don't do that. But in effect you to Romans 125 says they treated the truth about God for a lie. They worshiped and served the things God created instead of the creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise. Maybe it's worshiping your body you attend the first Church of the perfect physique by just getting your body into the perfect shape of hundreds of photos of yourself on Instagram doing the trout out you know the child trout girls, now girls do it more than guys that little thing when you pursed her lips and look at the Cameron site. I don't know it's weird looking than me or maybe you get plastic surgery to try to look how you look on your social media both when you use a certain kind of filter go for it, you can nip it, talk it tightknit touted colorant.

Whatever don't become obsessed with your body or with yourself.

Be obsessed if you will about Jesus Christ.

That's Irma six others bow at the altars of pleasure even others at the altars of possessions or feign your idle could be a car could be a house could be close a good beat so many things or can be money.

You know sometimes you will say the Bible says money is the root of all evil. Actually, the Bible does not say that as of the Bible does say the love of money is the root of all kinds of people. There's a difference is never the love of my money's not evil, money is not good money is neutral. The good of the evil of money all depends on what you do with it.

So the love of money or maybe another way to put it been obsessed with money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money goes on to say in first Timothy 610, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.

See, it's a big deal to God to be number one in your life. Think about the 10 Commandments from moment okay so commandment number one. Thou shall not murder right now is not number one knowest thou shall not commit adultery. That's a bad one but is not number one. Nor is it thou shall not steal or even those and articulate Lord's name in vain. Commandment number one is have no other gods before me know if we were to reprioritize the commitments we might change the order. But God says that would thing at the beginning of this conversation, let me say don't have another God before me because if you have another God before him that for all the problems start to see if God is number one in your life.

Everything will finance proper balance.

If he's not number one in your life.

Everything will be in chaos. I want to be number one why the Lord says Ezekiel 20, verse four because I'm a jealous God. I've heard people say I can follow a God who is jealous.

Hey, his jealousy is an indication of his love for you.

Not all jealousy is bad speaks of a relationship God say I wanted exclusive relationship with you.

What you think of your husband came and said honey I love you we been married 20 years but I have five girlfriends now. Are you cool with that. You're not cool with that honey this is a frying pan or you cool with this is yeah know you wanted exclusive relationship with your husband or your boyfriend or your girlfriend or your wife and God says I want you to be mine and only mine. I don't assure you is some false God.

So I this is what I'm asking of you.

Here's the thing that was happening with Israel alike to says your wavering or hobbling between two opinions.

Think they wanted to have their cake and eat it too. I'm so joking I don't know why that's a problem I've had cake and eat that. But you know the ideas I want the best of both worlds here was her thing. All we believe in God we believe in Jehovah but I don't know.*Heal, cool, nice fringe benefits. See Ashtoreth the goddess of fertility.

There's a lot of immoral things that will I don't know if they are immoral as part of the worship we kinda want to do that to so don't think we don't do that in the church today is. People say I'm a Christian, but I'm having sex before marriage when second you can't do that. God says in Scripture. This is the will of God. Even your sanctification abstain from immorality know no.

The Lord told me it was okay no I didn't Sears and I want to have it all all go to church on Sunday worship the Lord would then I'll go do this other thing though her someone else writes it will you know we love each other so were living together. It's a test run before we get married earlier living in sin and rebellion against God and actually want to know something. Statistically, studies have shown the couples who live together have a far higher divorce rates than those who don't want to sabotage a potential marriage then lived together to.

Here's my point people are trying to live into the world so I love the Lord would really go party will get drunk. Organist Mo Guida know this is what Elijah Zink stop living in two worlds of the Lord is God, then follow him to Bales God and follow him make a choice right now and it's still true today. Still true today. The Bible says go big or stay home actually doesn't say that, but it's a good thought. And really here's what Elijah St. of the Lord is God, then you should follow him. Joshua gave a similar charge the Israel back in Joshua 2415. Standing before the people he said to them, choose the day whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or will will be the gods of the Amorites.

As for me and my family. We will serve the Lord make that stand in your home. Husbands listen to me. Be a man of God stand up and say in your home. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord why'd you do the same thing as your children need you to do this desperately because only a generation passed after Joshua made that statement. We read in Judges 210 but another generation grew up and they worship the false God, sing, it's as good as your generation so you need to pass this on to your children and to your grandchildren. That's our job as we get older we gotta do it. And then there's those young people we pass it on to their going to get older that is going to be there job and then their children and their grandchildren than on it goes, but we need to make sure we do our job and passes the torch of the truth of God's word in a relationship with Christ onto the next generation first Kings 18 verse 27.

Are you bored yet again gets really good look at your Bible reading from the new living translation about noon time Elijah began mocking them. I just like that statement because I am a mocker and I'm glad I'm not the only mocker out there. Elijah began mocking them a decision to shout louder.

He is a God. Maybe he's daydreaming or relieving himself, folks.

This is in the Bible.

That's actually what he said in the original language maybe are gods in the I don't know the eternal outhouse right now, or is the living translation puts it, maybe your God sitting on the toilet I was but that was confronted so that's actually what he was implying he was joking all.

Maybe he's away on a trip.

Or maybe he's asleep and you need to wake him up. Verse 28 so they shouted louder and following their normal custom cut themselves with knives and swords until the blood gushed out.

They raved all afternoon until the time of the evening sacrifice. I love the statement but still there was no sound, no reply response and amazing that's how it is with false gods. You can never make them happy.

Give her liquidity he God always angry right is false gods are not real. There, slicing themselves trying to appease these false gods in. Sometimes this can even enter into the Christian life. Or we get this weird idea about God that we have to do a bunch of stuff to earn his fever. Just make the sacrifice of August/myself up to this other thing in and then God will hear my prayer, God hears your prayers because you come to him through Jesus Christ.

That said, I have access to the throne of God through the blood that Christ shared so when I'm doing well and I'm doing all the things a Christian to do. God hears my prayer when I fall short when I failed God still hears my prayer. If all repent of my sin come to him call on his name. These gods could not hear them because these gods were not real Sangha put applause great good about fire coming from Evan next week is right so just pause the story at this moment in Christ will see what the Lord did. But here's the thing I want to close with light touch on this already. God wants an exclusive relationship with you. Why would you settle for a cheap substitute which is after things this world offers that were told will make us happy and they don't think they make us more miserable or really longing for is a relationship with God himself, and he showed how serious he is about this relationship by sending his son to suffer and die on a cross for your sins so you could be forgiven so you can come into a relationship with him. He not only promises you live beyond the grave and he does what he promises you live during life. Medical science can potentially add years to your life but only Christ can add life to your years. My wife Kathy just had the opportunity to lead her and to the Lord. She's 101 years holds raising you know you say that studs are pretty unlikely that you will come to faith that much later in life, but 101 years old.

No one is beyond the reach of God and she prayed with her and and prayed and Kathy told me that she said pray these words after me, Lord Jesus come into my life or give the of all of my sins and she said in my am prayed. Forgive me of all of my senses. She was just repeating that she was understanding and so now she knows that her and is ready to meet the Lord. How wonderful that is owner if you know that right now if you're sure your sin is forgiven. If you're certain you'll go to heaven when you die you have this relationship with Jesus.

Have you been trying to live in two worlds working out really well is it your living in a miserable no man's land of compromise and I strongly urge you to make a choice right that's your event for your rat if you're living in two worlds appear living two lives you're living the worst possible version of the Christian life. The worst that so it's kind of all Internet. It was five you spring now Lord we want to be in your side. We want to follow Jesus, and if there are any idols in our lives. Lord we may not think there are but there may be what you show us what they are and help us to re-prioritize to put you at the forefront of our life again, we are more important to us and anything else you the one we get up for in the morning. You're the one were fired up about your the one we want to talk about more than anything else. Lord we want you to be the Lord God of every area of our life, and I praying the Lord for any that if joint is who may not know you. They may not have a relationship with you.

They don't have the hope of heaven, let this be the moment they believe in Jesus Noller had served out of praying, if you want Christ to come into your life better to just pray a prayer similar to the prayer. My wife prayed with her and she say Lord Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner but I know that you're the Savior who died on the cross for my sin and rose again from the dead.

I am sorry for my sin and I choose to follow you from this moment forward in Jesus name I pray. They met and then God bless you.

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