Do you live in the middle, playing both sides out of fear or confusion? Who will you follow? This message dives deeper in revival. Learn how to spark revival in your own heart as well as others. It only takes one person, a spark, to start a spiritual revival. God will do the rest.

Do you live in the middle, playing both sides out of fear or confusion? Who will you follow? This message dives deeper in revival. Learn how to spark revival in your own heart as well as others. It only takes one person, a spark, to start a spiritual revival. God will do the rest.

For some people the future looks bleak to them because of issues around the world and situations that they personally face. I suggested last week that we focus not on the problem but on the one who can breathe life and revival into every situation or problem you face. We should not focus on ourselves or on the problems we might be facing, but solely on God Almighty. We are to focus on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith who suffered and died so that whosoever would believe will be saved.

Let me be clear, the basis of all the world’s problems is sin: unconfessed sin, unrealized sin, hidden sins. Sins that have slowly become acceptable, excused, rationalized as being ok. The sin of spiritual rebellion towards God Almighty started in the garden with Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience. Sin manifesting itself as selfishness, pride, disobedience, the sin of spiritual compromise, the lack of honoring God, the inappropriate lack of faith in times of trouble and stress, the disregard of life, along with and the worship of anything that takes away or distracts from the worship of the Lord to name a few.

Preaching in churches has, over time, lost the focus of God Almighty’s hatred towards sin. The message of God’s Grace is important but in doing so much, some have inadvertently accepted a socially liberal idea of the Gospel, a social liberal lifestyle, and views regarding sin. Sin may no longer be a concern to them, because of the Grace of God.

The message of God’s Love, Mercy and Forgiveness is important. The message of salvation and faith in Christ is important, but so is God’s hatred of sin, disobedience and the lack of honoring God and his righteousness.

As people of God, the Israelites were to be witnesses of God and an influence to others, not the other way around. Instead, the people of God were influenced to worship and accept the false gods of other nations.

As we learned last week the people of God were speechless when asked who will you follow? God or Baal? The people of God had drifted into spiritual compromise and sin, embracing both. They no longer sought the Lord with all their hearts.

In 1 Kings 18:21 Elijah asks the people of God that simple question. Who will you follow? The people said nothing. It is a question that is at the bases of how we should look forward regarding spiritual liberal attitudes in life. It is a question we need to consider regarding our spiritual walk with Christ the Lord.

What do you believe and how does that belief, and that faith in Christ motivate you today?

We all will make mistakes. We all will sin. We are not perfect. However, that is not a license or excuse to sin. We must always strive to prioritize the Lord and worship of him in our heart every day.

If God is LORD, then we should serve him, follow him, worship him and trust him in every situation. Know that he, who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

The story in 1 Kings 17 and 18 is where Elijah, the prophet of God, and the prophets of Baal has a contest. A contest about whose God will answer by fire from heaven. A contest to prove whose God is truly God Almighty. The so-called god of the prophets of Baal did nothing, even after hours of yelling, cutting themselves and pleading. Elijah prays a simple prayer and fire from heaven comes down and consumes everything (1 Kings 18:38-39).

God was about to use Elijah to:

1. Confront evil and the worship of false gods.

2. Reveal his power and provide a witness that he alone is God Almighty.

3. Spark a spiritual revival and remove the evil influence, at the same time.

Last week I said that there were 3 different types of people in these 2 chapters of 1 Kings. First, the devoted servant of God. Second, the servants of evil, the Baal worshipers. Third, those people in the middle who were wavering between two opinions. People who needed to decide what they believed in their hearts and who they will serve with all their heart.

We must not live in the middle. We need to decide what we hold true in our heart and live with spiritual conviction no matter what others might think or say. God is not interested in or will accept divided worship or divided devotion. God desires you to be a faithful, devoted servant of God. He desires all your heart and not simply a part.

Elijah professed that he was the only one of the Lord’s prophets left but we know that God had reserved many prophets of God who had not bowed to Baal. Elijah was not the only prophet of God left in Israel, but he was the prophet of God that God is about to use to bring revival, back to the hearts of the people.

In Chapters 17-19 of 1 Kings, we see that Elijah did what the Lord told him to do. Elijah was not perfect. He is human just like you. Elijah became fearful and ran away. Elijah took his Spiritual eyes off the Lord and focused on himself. Fear not, faith took hold of his heart.

In chapter 19 we learn that Jezebel has had it out for the prophet Elijah because God answered Elijah’s prayer with consuming the sacrifice by fire and having the prophets of Baal being killed. Jezebel wanted Elijah dead.

‘Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night.

The Lord Appears to Elijah and the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”’ (1 Kings 19:1-10, NIV).

Elijah was obedient to the work God had him do. It was a great spiritual victory that day and the power and presence of God was revealed in a way that is undeniable.

Some of the people turned to worship the Lord as God, but not everyone experienced revival that day. King Ahab, Jezebel, and others still rejected God, even as the power and presence of God was so undeniable. The words and threats from Jezebel caused Elijah to run for his life. Elijah runs away in fear.

It is almost as if Elijah believed the threat of Jezebel to be greater than God Almighty’s ability to provide and protect him from physical harm.

I shared last week that the world does not need to see believers wavering between two opinions. The world does not need to see believers living in fear. The world does not need to see spiritually weak, lukewarm believers. The world needs revival. Churches need revival. America needs spiritual revival.

As believers we need to take a stance against evil and spiritual lukewarmness.

People need to see the power and presence of God in our lives, in our families, in the workplace, in schools, in the leadership of companies, the government and most of all in the church. But not everyone will believe.

We are not to live in the middle. We are not to live a spiritual compromised life. We are not to live in fear. We should always take to heart the warning in Revelation to the church of Laodicea.

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15).

We should take to heart the warning in Revelation to the church of Sardis. Revelation 3:1-2 “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die”.

The believers’ heart and life should be spiritually awake and on fire for God. Like Joshua we must hold on to the truth of God in our hearts. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

Just as the Apostle Paul tells Timothy, “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

To live in the middle means living without Godly convictions. To live in the middle is living neither hot or cold. Wavering between two opinions is living in the middle. We must not live in the middle. Elijah was not living in the middle, yet in some manner Elijah must have become weary in well doing. Elijah took his eyes off God and focused on the threat of Jezebel. Elijah had become afraid, spiritually tired, spiritually depressed. He must have felt spiritually alone and could not see God in the moment.

At times after a great spiritual victory, a spiritual attack or test of some kind will often come your way.

How will you respond? Will you stand firm in faith or become spiritually lax for a moment, spiritually weary and let your guard down where fear might captivate your thoughts and heart for a moment. That is what I believe we see here with Elijah, in chapter 19. Elijah may become spiritually spent. The great spiritual victory may have caused him to let his guard down a bit. He might have become spiritually depleted, weary, and ready to give up and die at the thought of Jezebel wanting to see him dead. However, God has not and will not give up on Elijah. Elijah needed rest. He needed food and nourishment. Elijah needed to hear the question: “What are you doing here Elijah?”

God did not give up on Elijah and He will not give up on you. The Lord had provided all Elijah needed for the past three and a half years of the drought. The Lord will provide all Elijah needs now.

The Lord will also provide all your needs, both today and in the future just as he has in the past. Elijah was provided food by ravens and water by a stream during the drought. Later he was provided food and water by a widow who had only enough for herself and son’s last meal. But God provides for all of them. Elijah had witnessed the deliverance and power of God in the past. But in this moment, he is discouraged, fearful and physically drained.

Now the angel of the Lord provides Elijah food and water not once but twice. You might think God’s provision of food and water might have encouraged Elijah and remove the fear in his heart, but not yet. Elijah will travel forty days to the mountain of God and here the lord asks Elijah a simple question. What are you doing here, Elijah?"

It is a question that is so revealing. It is a question we need to answer. It is a question we need to ask ourselves today. It is a question that should get us to think. A question that maybe we should ask ourselves:

• What am I doing in this place?

• Who do I trust in this situation?

• Lord, what would you have me do?

Elijah had prayed that he would die, but God never answered Elijah prayer to die, in fact Elijah is one person in scripture who is taken up into heaven in a chariot of fire without dying.

May I suggest not hearing an answer, or God not answering your prayer can be a good thing.

In 1 King 19 we see Elijah vents his fear and frustration to God. Elijah appears to unburden his heart to the Lord and is now in a place to hear from God. It is here at the mountain of God that Elijah has a personal encounter with God. It is here at the mountain of God where Elijah is ready to hear from God.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13).

It is here that God reveals himself in a gentle whisper. You might think to look for God in a powerful wind, in a great earthquake, in a blaze of fire such as Moses experienced. Do not look to the Lord to answer in only big ways. For Elijah, God reveals himself in a gentle whisper. In the quietness of the moment, God is present. Friends, God can and will reveal himself to you in any situation you find yourself.

Do not limit God by how you think he will reveal himself. First, you must allow yourself to be in a place to receive. Second, you must be in a place to listen and willing to receive. Third, you must be willing to act upon what God has for you.

Once God reveals himself to Elijah; God once again asks Elijah, “What are you doing here, Elijah?"

The Lord gives Elijah clear instructions of what to do "Go back the way you came” (1 Kings 19:15).

Get back on track. Get back to where you should be spiritually. Get back to being spiritual witness of God to others.

Elijah was to anoint several people, one of which was Elisha, to succeed Elijah as a prophet of God. God was not finished with Elijah. God had more work for him to do.

God is not finished with you either no matter what you think. No matter what you have done. Go to God. Allow the Lord to feed you spiritually and rest in his presence. Allow yourself to be in a place to receive. Be willing to listen and willing to receive. Act upon what God has for you. Seek the Lord, listen for what God has for you to do- and then do it.

One of Elijah’s complaints was that he felt alone serving God. You are not alone and God let Elijah know that he was not alone.

“Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him” (1 Kings 19:18).

God was now about to have Elijah train up his own successor. Only after having hearing from the Lord and experiencing a personal encounter with God did God tell Elijah to go back the way you came. It is after a personal spiritual revival; God encourages Elijah to once again do all he could to advance the kingdom of God in people’s lives.

We all need a spiritual revival. If you are living in fear or on the run as Elijah was, get spiritually fed. Draw close to him and listen. If you have drifted away from serving the Lord; if you are spiritually spent, weary or feel alone, the Lord has a word for you today. Go to the mountain of God. Go to the Lord and be spiritually nourished by the word of God. Allow the Holy Spirit to refresh you in your spirit as you remain quietly in His presence.

Revival will only happen in a person’s heart if they will avail themselves to the power of God.

The person who refuses to believe, the person who refuses to listen or wait upon the Lord, the person who refuses to draw close to the Lord, the person who is not open or willing to consider God, will not experience a change of heart. They will not be inspired to worship God with all their heart. That person will not experience spiritual revival in their heart, and they will remain far from God and on the run, due to a lack of faith.

However, if that person places their faith in Christ, they will no longer live apart from God, rather they will become a child of God and experience a spiritual revival within their heart and soul that will change their eternal destiny.

How to experience spiritual revival

Do you want to experience spiritual revival? Many Christians today may fall into this area, and need to experience a spiritual revival. A spiritual revival that brings about a burning desire to see God move in people’s lives everywhere. Do not simply look for a burning bush or some big spiritual experience. Look for a quiet place and listen. Be open to God’s voice even in a still small gentle whisper. Listen and respond each day. Draw strength and encouragement from the word of God

I want that in my life. This will only happen as we seek the Lord with all our heart and pray for revival. It will happen if we place ourselves in a position to receive from the Lord. It will happen if we participate in preparing for revival and humbly seek the Lord with all our heart.

I want to close with these words that I have shared the last several weeks.

• Let us always remain faithful.

• Let us never forget, no matter the cost we are to run the race with perseverance.

• Let us fix our eyes of Jesus.

• Let us remove any hindrances and spiritual entanglements that will cause us to stumble.

• Let us always remember the faith of those believers who are part of the cloud of witnesses and how their faith speaks and encourages us to press on and fulfill the call of God in our lives.

• Let us never think lightly the cost Jesus paid for our redemption from the bondage of sin and death.

• Never forget the spiritual liberty you enjoy by faith in Christ.

• May we never shrink back in faith, and never forget to press forward in faith and victory. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

Know that your life and faith in Christ will speak volumes, even after you have died, and you are with Christ in glory. Be spiritually inspired each day. Pray for spiritual revival. Expect spiritual revival. Live spiritually revived each day as you are strengthened by the word of God. Do not live wavering between two opinions. Live in such a way that you inspire others to seek the Lord with all their heart. Worship the Lord together. Be an active participant in spiritual revival. Be a catalyst of spiritual revival. Live everyday as the day Christ is returning.

Suggested Praise and Worship

YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED

If this message has been helpful to you, we’d be grateful for your support. A small gift of $5 can help us reach our goal of helping people grow in faith, heal, laugh, and thrive—both locally and globally. It’s because of people like you that this ministry can offer hope, help, encouragement, and a closer walk in faith with God.

This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.