Enemies of Revival

Sermon OverviewScripture Passage: 1 Kings 18:1-61 Kings 18:1-6 tells the story of revival in dark days. After a severe drought, God told Elijah that He would send rain upon the earth. This story is a reminder to us that what God has done before, He can do, and will do, again.But there are some enemies of revival we must be aware of, many of whom belong to the Body of Christ.“So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab; and there was a severe famine in Samaria. And Ahab had called Obadiah, who was in charge of his house. (Now Obadiah feared the Lord greatly…)” (1 Kings 18:2-3).Obadiah feared God. However, when it came time to obey God or King Ahab, he chose Ahab, and sought out other solutions to the problem instead of God’s promise. (See 1 Kings 18:5-6.)There are many in our churches today who would, for some reason, rather line up with the enemy than stand with God. They are believers who have compromised and backslidden in their beliefs. In an attempt to befriend the world, they have become salt that’s lost its savor, and stumbling blocks to the saved.King Ahab was deeply religious, praying to idols and gods that fed his own pride and lust. No king, court, or president can thwart the power and plan of God. True corruption comes when the people of God refuse to take a stand.Enemies of revival are confused, and don’t want to understand. The ones who are on the fence will hold back revival.1 Kings 18:22-29 tells the story of the competition on Mount Carmel—God vs. Baal, a false god. But the competition was not even close. No amount of praying and praising from Baal’s prophets could make fire rain down.Adrian Rogers says, “The great danger in America is not that the people of Baal pray; the great danger in America today is the people of God don’t.”Once Elijah called upon the Lord, fire rained down; God answered by fire. This reminds us that revival fire from Heaven is all-consuming, convicting, and converting.Apply it to your lifeIf we want to see revival happen like it did in 1 Kings 18, there must be:1. Solidarity and unity of the people of God2. Separation between the worshippers of God and worshippers of idols3. Sacrifice, which is the Blood of Jesus, our only hope4. Spiritual power, directly from God5. Supplication—precise, powerful, and purposeful prayer