FIRE TRIANGLE: Text: I Kings 18:30-39 Intro:

A fire requires three basic components – fuel, air and heat. To control the fire, at least one of them must be removed. Fuel can be removed by prescribed burning or clearing a fire line Air can be removed from small fires by covering them with foam or dirt Heat is usually removed from a fire by applying water Aim: For us to be zealous/passionate for God. Psalm 69:9 Passion for your house burns within me, so those who insult you are also insulting me.

I. HEAT There was 3 and a half years of drought, no rain The brook or river where Elijah used to drink dried up already The Lord must be so angry not to give them rain for 3.5 years because the Israelites worship Baal-v 18 The Lord’s prophets were killed-v 13 The leader/king whom He raised (Ahab) was wicked being influenced by his wife Jezebel 1Ki 21:25 But there was no one like Ahab who sold himself to do wickedness in the sight of the LORD, because Jezebel his wife stirred him up.

1Ki 16:31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Elijah took his stand for the Lord 1Ki 19:14 And he said, "I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life."

II. THE FUEL Elijah offered a bull as a burnt sacrifice to the Lord-v 33, 38 He repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down-v 30 He took 12 stones according to the number of the sons of Jacob-v 31 He built an altar in the name of the Lord-v 32 Elijah’s life was a living sacrifice itself, the rest of the prophets were killed and only him was left The cause for fire to fall was for the people to know that the Lord is God-v 37 He wanted them to turn their hearts back to Him-v 37

1Ki 18:1 And it came to pass after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, "Go, present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the earth." III. THE AIR/OXYGEN The presence which consumed the burnt sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the dust. Lev 9: And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. 1Ch 21:26 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering

2Ch 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. IV. KINDS OF CHRISTIANS BASED ON ZEAL 1.Seducer/Manipulator(Jezebel) 2.Undecided (Ahab)-easily influenced by manipulators 3.Lukewarm (Obadiah)- He didn’t reform Ahab but Ahab wasn’t able to pollute him 4.Cold Ones- (Israelites)- They turned their hearts away from God and worshipped Baal 5. Persuaders (Prophets of Baal) 6. Believers Only- They are convinced but not converted -They are not followers.

7. Hot ones (Elijah)- All out -Not taking a break or time out -Not knocked out by pressures against him V. FACTORS THAT SUPPRESSED OR EXTINGUISH FIRE Separation from other components No fuel. Lack of the Word of God No Fellowship from other Christians No heat, cooled off, down, discouraged CHALLENGE: Are you zealous for the Lord? What makes you cold? CONCLUSION: Psalm 69:9 Passion for your house burns within me, so those who insult you are also insulting me.

Who can save the lost Who can heal all sickness Who can make me new No one else but Jesus There’s no other name There’s no other name We lift You high, higher than all others We lift You high, higher than all else For great are You Lord and worthy of all the Glory and honor and praise

Who can make me whole Who can take all my sin Who can cleanse this heart No one else but Jesus You are my God, The Great I am And You are the rock on which I stand And You reign, You reign o Lord You reign, You reign