Elijah: Taking a Stand

"Let's get ready to rumble!" is the trademarked phrase used to introduce the featured bouts on televised boxing events. This phrase is notably used by American boxing announcer Michael Buffer who had it trademarked. The full version of the famous quote is: For the thousands in attendance... and the millions watching around the world... ladies and gentlemen... (dramatic pause) LLLLLET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

At the 1999 Indianapolis 500, Buffer served as guest public address announcer, and changed the phrase to "Let's get ready for racing!" The trademarked quote has been used extensively in the media to hype almost every type of sporting event. Perhaps “Let’s get ready to rumble!” was first used thousands of years ago at the Battle at Mt. Carmel.

The phrase conjures up images of a great battle about to begin and that is exactly where we are in the life of Elijah the beginning of a great battle.
King Ahab and the nation of Israel have been trying to please God and Baal for too long. Elijah has brought the message that it is time to stop wavering and make a choice. Elijah has brought the challenge and has announced, “Let’s get ready to Rumble!”

TICKETS: Free of charge
LOCATION: Outdoor Arena at base of Mt. Carmel
EXPECTED ATTENDANCE: The nation of Israel and assorted others
WEATHER: Sunny, No Clouds, No Rain. Same as the past 3+ years!
TIME: The battle is expected to begin at about 9:00 am
MATCH UP: The Idol Baal vs. Yahweh the God of Israel
COMPETITION: Sudden Death (First to bring fire wins!)
HOME TEAM CAPTAIN: King Ahab
HOME TEAM LINEUP: 450 Prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah
VISITING TEAM CAPTAIN: Yahweh
VISTING TEAM LINEUP: Elijah

19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel's table." 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." But the people said nothing. 22 Then Elijah said to them, "I am the only one of the LORD's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers by fire—he is God." Then all the people said, "What you say is good."
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire." 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it. Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. "O Baal, answer us!" they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.

On the surface it doesn’t look like a fair fight. Plus the home team gets to go first and the first to score wins match. The prophets of Baal prepare their sacrifice and begin praying at about 9:00 in the morning. Their prayers go unanswered for nearly three hours.

27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.

At noon Elijah begins to make fun of them. They respond by trying even harder. They dance with more crazy dances. They yell even louder. They jump even higher, but none of it works and finally after nearly 6 hours of futile activity Elijah steps to the plate.

30 Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD, which was in ruins. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come, saying, "Your name shall be Israel." 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, "Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood." 34 "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.

Elijah not wanting to be out done and desiring perhaps to put on a good show for all that are in attendance. Elijah prepares the altar and has everything soaked with lots of water. This is going to make it very hard to start a fire in deed. After all this is done, Elijah steps back and prays.

36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: "O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

It’s a simple prayer, “O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."

38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, "The LORD -he is God! The LORD -he is God!"

And in the instant that Elijah ended his prayer, fire from above came down and consumed everything! The sacrifice, the wood, the altar, the water, and the earth around the altar! Victory was God’s and the people fell to the ground and worshiped God.

40 Then Elijah commanded them, "Seize the prophets of Baal. Don't let anyone get away!" They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.

GAME OVER

God used Elijah on this day to begin to change the world. This was the start of the cleansing of the nation of Israel from all idol worship. From an ordinary man from humble beginnings, a kingdom and its people are about to be changed.

Want to be a make a difference in your world?

Remember that a divided allegiance is as wrong as idolatry.

God instructs us that you can not serve two masters. Jesus tells us we must choose to be with Him or you are against Him. People, this world has come to the place once again of declaring brazenly, that Christ and other religions are one in the same. We need these to become the Days of Elijah where individuals stand up and take a stand for Christ.

Want to be a make a difference in the world? Take a stand.

Remember that your most effective weapon or tool in taking a stand will be prayer.

Want to be a make a difference in the world?

Then never underestimate the power of one life, no more matter how small, how young, how old. There is power in one person that is dedicated to God.

Want to be a make a difference in the world?

Begin today with a simple prayer and take a stand. No divided allegiance.

Make your life one that is dedicated to God for there is no God like Jehovah.