THE LORD HE IS GOD!
SERIES: PART I
A Call to the Altar of Decision from 1 Kings 18
“When all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, ‘The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God.’”
— 1 Kings 18:39
In an age of divided loyalties, spiritual indifference, and mounting confusion about truth, there comes a divine confrontation—an altar moment. The message in 1 Kings 18 captures the very heart of such a moment as the prophet Elijah stands before a divided nation and calls out to them to choose the Lord. In fact, the prophet would be so obedient that it would shake the heavens and sear the earth with holy fire. This is not just a scene from ancient history. This is a mirror held up to our time. Either God is our Lord or not!
🔥 The Context: A Nation Caught Between Two Opinions
The people of Israel, once faithful to the covenant, had drifted into syncretism—serving Yahweh with their lips, but Baal with their hearts. Elijah’s words pierce through time:
“How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if baal, then follow him.”
— 1 Kings 18:21
Elijah doesn’t ask for tolerance or spiritual compromise. He draws a line in the sand. This is a campaign of clarity, not confusion. It’s not about picking sides in a political or cultural war—it’s about returning to the One who alone is worthy.
The Cry of a Convinced People
Few declarations in Scripture carry the thunderous finality of this one:
“The LORD, He is God!”
It’s not merely a statement of belief—it’s the confession of a people who have just witnessed heaven open, fire descend, and truth explode across a nation in doubt. This cry is born from confrontation, clarity, and conversion.
In this blog series, we will explore why this moment mattered then, and why it matters now. We will unpack biblical theology, prophetic symbolism, historical context, and spiritual application for every age group, grounding everything for clarity and accuracy.
⚡ The Contest: Fire from Heaven
Elijah stages a dramatic confrontation on Mount Carmel: two altars, two prayers, two outcomes. The prophets of Baal call on their god from morning till evening—no answer. No voice. No fire.
But Elijah repairs the broken altar of the LORD—twelve stones for twelve tribes, a symbol of national repentance and covenant identity. He drenches the altar with water to eliminate any doubt. Then he prays a short but thunderous prayer:
“Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.”
— 1 Kings 18:37
God responds with fire from heaven—consuming not just the sacrifice, but the stones, dust, and water. It is a supernatural verdict. A divine endorsement. The people have no choice but to cry out:
“The LORD indeed is God; the LORD indeed is God.”
— 1 Kings 18:39
The Historical and Cultural Backdrop of 1 Kings 18
A. Israel’s Spiritual Compromise
Israel was not atheist—they were syncretists, blending the worship of Yahweh with allegiance to Baal. This wasn’t due to ignorance but rather cultural pressure, political compromise, and spiritual decay. Baal, widely regarded in Canaanite religion as the storm and fertility god, was credited with bringing rain and agricultural prosperity. Thus, when God sent Elijah to declare, “As the LORD the God of Israel lives… there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word” (1 Kings 17:1), He directly confronted the false claim of Baal’s power. The drought wasn’t merely a punishment; it was divine evidence that Baal was powerless. God was unmasking idolatry and reclaiming the hearts of His people by proving His supremacy through creation itself. This climatic standoff culminated at Mount Carmel, where Yahweh’s fire from heaven would seal the truth in the sight of all.
B. The Prophet Elijah
Elijah’s name means “My God is the LORD” (Hebrew: Eliyahu). His very identity is a challenge to Israel’s confusion. In a world where names were declarations, Elijah stood as a living rebuke to national idolatry.
“Elijah then came near to all the people and said, ‘How long will you go limping with two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.’ But the people did not answer him a word.” — 1 Kings 18:21
Their silence reveals their guilt and uncertainty—just like many today, caught between cultural gods and the living God.
📢 The Campaign:
Proving God’s Authority in a Culture of Confusion
This moment is more than a miracle—it’s a message. God doesn’t just want to be believed in; He wants to be known, trusted, and followed. The fire on the altar is a revelation of His nature:
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He is a God who answers—not with silence, but with power.
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He is a consuming fire—not just in judgment, but in passion and presence.
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He is singular—there is no other God beside Him (Isaiah 45:5).
This is a campaign for supremacy—not of dominance, but of truth and salvation. When God shows up, the lies collapse.
The Altar and the Fire:
Divine Symbolism and Theology
A. Rebuilding the Broken Altar
“Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob…” — 1 Kings 18:31
Elijah’s restoration of the altar is symbolic of covenant renewal. The number 12 represents wholeness, unity, and God’s people. This was not just a physical act—it was a prophetic call to return to God’s original design.
B. The Drenched Sacrifice and the Fire
The water-soaked altar represents human impossibility. No one can fake fire on wet wood. The moment God sends fire, it is a divine statement: I alone am God. I do what no idol can.
“Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and even licked up the water that was in the trench.” — 1 Kings 18:38
This is not just judgment—it is vindication of God’s supremacy.
The Theological Weight of Fire from Heaven
Throughout Scripture, fire signifies God’s presence, power, and purity:
- Genesis 15:17 – God ratifies covenant with Abraham through fire.
- Exodus 3:2 – God speaks to Moses from a burning bush.
- Leviticus 9:24 – Fire from God confirms a true sacrifice.
- Acts 2:3 – Fire represents the Holy Spirit filling believers.
Thus, fire from heaven on Carmel is a covenantal confirmation, not just spectacle. God is calling His people back to Him with unmistakable power.
🕊️ The Message for Today: Your Altar, Your Fire
We all build altars—our time, money, allegiance, and attention testify to what we worship. The challenge of Elijah still echoes: If the LORD is God, follow Him.
No halfway discipleship.
No compartmentalized Christianity.
No double-minded loyalty.
The image captures Elijah under a beam of divine fire—a silhouette of surrender. He doesn’t just speak truth; he stands under it. This is what the Church must do today: rebuild the altar, call for the fire, and declare without shame…
“The LORD, He is God!”
💬 Application:
Modern-Day Carmel Moments: Where Heaven Still Answers by Fire
Mount Carmel is not just a location in biblical history—it is a spiritual metaphor for the present moment. Just as Elijah called a wavering nation to choose between the living God and dead idols, so today God calls each of us to confront the altars in our lives. These modern-day Carmel moments are divine invitations to realign, repent, and rekindle.
Here are three altar moments that remain relevant for every heart, in every age:
1. The Altar of Identity: Who Tells You Who You Are?
In today’s age of curated personas, digital echo chambers, and shifting cultural norms, the question of identity is under siege. Are you defined by popular opinion, political allegiance, or personal insecurity? Or are you defined by the unchanging Word of God?
“But now thus says the LORD, he who created you… Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” — Isaiah 43:1
God doesn’t just affirm you—He names you. He created you in His image and claims you for His glory. Baal promised relevance; Yahweh delivers revelation. Choose today to stand at the altar of identity and declare: I am who God says I am.
2. The Altar of Priorities: What Has First Place in Your Life?
The people of Israel didn’t reject God outright—they simply made room for other gods. Today, the idol of convenience, comfort, and personal success often climbs the altar meant for God.
“But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” — Matthew 6:33
Will you sacrifice your convictions on the altar of cultural convenience? Or will you let the holy fire of God reorder your life and consume all lesser loves? The altar of priorities is where we return to first love.
3. The Altar of Surrender:
Are You Waiting for Fire, or Are You Willing to Burn?
Revival is not just something we long for—it is something God births through surrendered lives. Elijah didn’t just ask for fire—he became the altar by putting his entire reputation and safety on the line.
“I appeal to you therefore… to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” — Romans 12:1
Don’t wait for revival to come from elsewhere. Be the altar. Be the offering. Let God’s Spirit set you ablaze, not just for personal blessing, but for public testimony.
Each of us stands at our own Mount Carmel. Will we waver between opinions, or will we choose the fire of God over the fog of compromise? May our lives echo the declaration of the repentant crowd:
“The LORD indeed is God!”
The Campaign: Return to the Fire
This blog is more than a devotional—it’s a divine campaign.
Campaign Verse:
“Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.” — 1 Kings 18:37
Let every post, prayer, and proclamation echo Elijah’s cry:
“The LORD, He is God!”
🛐 Benediction Prayer
O Sovereign LORD, You who answer by fire, rekindle the flame in our hearts. Let every divided affection be consumed, and every false altar be torn down. May our generation cry once again, not from fear, but from faith: “The LORD, He is God!” And let Your holy fire fall—on our lives, our churches, and our culture. In the name of Jesus, the fullness of Your glory revealed, Amen.
📌 Final Appeal
Let this not be a moment of mere inspiration, but of decision. Build again the altar. Call upon the name of the LORD. And prepare for the fire—not to destroy you, but to define you.
The LORD, He is God.
That changes everything.
Soon To Come In Their Respective Series:
- Rebuilding Altars in a Digital Age
- Fire or False Fire? Discerning Today’s Prophets
- Raising Modern-Day Elijahs: Parenting with Conviction
- Youth on Carmel: Choosing God in High School
- Family Altars: The Forgotten Revival Center
Grace & Peace
Faithquake Ministries (FaceBook)
Dr. John Roberts THD