1. 1 Kings 18 False Prophets vs A True Prophet
Not all prophets are of God. There are false prophets who call people away after other gods (Deuteronomy 13)
Three years of drought did not seem to soften the hearts of King Ahab or the Israelites. Today we’re going to look at some aspects of True Prophets vs False Prophets.
In 1 Kings 18 we read about a dramatic event where the Lord, through Elijah – the True Prophet - powerfully showed Israel that He is a living God and that Elijah was truly his Prophet - as opposed to the powerless idol Baal & the Priests of Baal – upheld by Jezebel - that most of the people worshiped.

2. From the Bible Dictionary: Significance of Elijah
Elijah was the last prophet with the sealing power before the time of Jesus Christ
The prophet spoken of in Malachi 4:5-6
The Prophet who appeared along with Moses and conferred the keys of the priesthood on Peter, James & John (Matt 17:3)
He also appeared on April 3rd in the Kirtland temple and conferred the same keys on Joseph Smith & Oliver Cowdery.
The Jews today at Passover, set an empty seat at their table, waiting for Elijah to return as promised in Malachi 4 not understanding that he already has returned
Who was Elijah - significance of Elijah the Prophet - BD Elijah - Elijah was the last prophet with the sealing power before the time of Jesus Christ, the prophet spoken of in Malachi 4:5-6, the Prophet who appeared along with Moses and conferred the keys of the priesthood on Peter, James & John (Matt 17:3) He also appeared on April 3rd in the Kirtland temple and conferred the same keys on Joseph Smith & Oliver Cowdery. The Jews today at Passover, set an empty seat at their table, waiting for Elijah to return as promised in Malachi 4 not understanding that he already has.
our prophet today holds the same sealing power as Elijah (see D&C 110:13–16 ; 132:7 ).
Who was Elijah?
Significance of Elijah

3. 1 Kings 18:1-16 Set up to the Showdown Meet me at Mt Carmel
1 And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
 2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.
 3 And Ahab called Obadiah, which was the governor of his house. (Now Obadiah afeared the Lord greatly:
 4 For it was so, when aJezebel bcut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.)
 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, Go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.
 6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
 7 ¶And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?
 8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
 9 And he said, What have I sinned, that thou wouldest deliver thy servant into the hand of Ahab, to slay me?
 10 As the Lord thy God liveth, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.
 11 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.
 12 And it shall come to pass, as soon as I am gone from thee, that the Spirit of the Lord shall acarry thee whither I know not; and so when I come and tell Ahab, and he cannot find thee, he shall slay me: but I thy servant fear the Lord from my youth.
 13 Was it not told my lord what I did when Jezebel aslew the prophets of the Lord, how I hid an hundred men of the Lord’s prophets by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water?
 14 And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here: and he shall slay me.
 15 And Elijah said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, I will surely shew myself unto him to day.
 16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him: and Ahab went to meet Elijah.

4. Watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkCkKK_tOfQ&app=desktop
Video: Elijah and the Prophets of Baal 8:02

5. Follow up on the Showdown
1 Kings 18:18-40
Follow up on the Showdown
Follow up on the Showdown
1 Kings True prophets will not try to “trick” you.
1 Kings 18:17 What’s Ahab’s question for Elijah? What’s wrong with the question?
Who did Elijah say were really responsible for the drought? Why? (see 1 Kings 18:18 ).
Give an example of how you think some people today have the attitude Ahab showed.
These verses have inspired many sermons, for the wicked usually blame someone else for their misfortunes. Elijah had no power by himself to bring on the famine. He was only the agent of the Lord. Ahab and his policies were the true cause of Israel’s distress, but the king refused to accept that responsibility.
Before the confrontation starts – Elijah has a question for Israel - 1 Kings 18:21
What did Elijah mean when he said Israel was halting between two opinions?
What were those two opinions

6. What do you have to choose between in today’s world?
“Literally, [the phrase means] ‘How long hop ye about upon two boughs?’ This is a metaphor taken from birds hopping about from bough to bough, not knowing on which to settle.
Perhaps the idea of limping through lameness should not be overlooked. They were halt, they could not walk uprightly; they dreaded Jehovah, and therefore could not totally abandon him; they feared the king and queen, and therefore thought they must embrace the religion of the state.
Their conscience forbade them to do the former; their fear of man persuaded them to do the latter; but in neither were they heartily engaged; and at this juncture their minds seemed in equipoise, and they were waiting for a favourable opportunity to make their decision. Such an opportunity now, through the mercy of God, presented itself.” ( Commentary, 2:457.)
What are the two opinions we must choose between today?
How do they compare to Elijah and the prophets of Baal: Which side is more numerous? Which side has the power to save? Which side boasts, but has no saving power?

7. Significance of the Showdown with Baal
Baal was god of fertility
He was the god that made crops grow by giving rain, sun, good soil etc.
This was really a way to show that the Lord - not Baal - had power over the elements
Significance of the Showdown with Baal
Of special importance in this story is the idea that Baal was supposed to be the god of fertility, meaning he was the god that made crops grow by giving rain, sun, good soil, and so on. Baal should have been able to send the people rain, but he couldn’t because he is a false god and has no power (see D&C 29:28–29). So there was no rain for three years—just as Elijah had said. So the incident in this chapter --is really a way to show that the Lord—not Baal—has power over the elements.

8. Why do you think Elijah let them go first?
Why do you think Elijah let the prophets of Baal try first?
How long did the prophets of Baal try to get their god to answer them? (see vv. 26–29 ).
Why Did the Priests of Baal Cut Themselves as They Called Out to Their God?
Apparently they thought this act of self-abasement would endear them to their god, get his attention, and prove their sincerity. One ancient author told of antics very similar to these that he observed in Gaza in Roman times:
Why did they cut themselves?

9. Let’s talk about the Fire
So now its Elijah’s turn - What did he do first? 1 Kings 18:31-37
Why did Elijah propose calling fire down from heaven as a test of the true God (see vv. 23–24 )?
“The fire proceeding from Jehovah, was not a natural flash of lightning, which could not produce any such effect, but miraculous fire falling from heaven, as in [ 1 Chronicles 21:26 ; 2 Chronicles 7:1 ] (see [ Leviticus 9:24 ]), the supernatural origin of which was manifested in the fact, that it not only consumed the sacrifice with the pile of wood upon the altar, but also burned up the stones of the altar and the earth that was thrown up to form the trench, and licked up the water in the trench.
Through this miracle Jehovah not only accredited Elijah as His servant and prophet, but proved Himself to be the living God, whom Israel was to serve; so that all the people who were present fell down upon their faces in worship, as they had done once before, viz. at the consecration of the altar in [ Leviticus 9:24 ], and confessed ‘Jehovah is God.’” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 3:1:249.)

10. Do you think they were really convinced?
1 Kings 18:39
Do you think they were really convinced?
Are they really Convinced?
Notice the reaction of the people in 1 Kings 18:39. Write about what most convinces you that “The Lord, he is the God.”
Why do you think the Lord answered Elijah with such an impressive display of His power (see vv. 36–39

11. What was Jezebel’s reaction?
1 Kings 19:1-2
So after the Showdown – What’s Jezebel’s reaction? 1 Kings 19:2
What was does Elijah do?
v3-7

12. What are you doing here Elijah?
1 Kings 19:10, 14
Elijah? 1 Kings 19:3-8 Elijah flees
These verses show how powerful and corrupt Jezebel was. Even after the miraculous fire from heaven, this woman was moved only to anger and swore she would take Elijah’s life in revenge. Elijah fled, first into the territory of Judah (at Beersheba) and then to Mount Horeb (or Sinai) 150 miles further south.
Elijah was either fasting or receiving food provided by the Lord during this period. If Elijah truly went without food for forty days, as verse 8 suggests, then he had an experience similar to that of Moses (see Exodus 24:18 ; 34:28 ; Deuteronomy 9:9–25 ) and the Savior (see Matthew 4:2 ). And like Moses at Sinai, Elijah there received revelations.
It must have been very lonely for Elijah during this period. Men were seeking his life, he felt himself to be the only faithful prophet left in Israel, and he was hiding in a cave. - Prophets get discouraged too!!

13. A lesson in perspectives
1 Kings 19:11-13, 18
Kings 19: Elijah Learns More about the Holy Ghost
The Lord then proceeds to teach Elijah a little more about the Holy Ghost and how the Lord works
1 Kings 19:11-13
Elder Boyd K. Packer taught, “The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all” (“The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53).
• What are some of the distractions that can cause us not to hear or focus on the voice of the Spirit?
• What can we do so that we are more receptive to this still, small voice in our lives?
Elijah’s response - V14 “I even I only am left and they seek my life”
1 Kings 19:15, 18 – the Major Lesson:
Don’t let discouragement get you down - the Lord knows more than you do in this whole operation - Go to work - get busy - and let the Lord take care of the rest.

14. A lesson in perspectives
Don’t let discouragement get you down
Even prophets get discouraged
Follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost
Get up, forget yourself & go to work

15. It is important to not only Hear the voice of the Spirit but to Follow what we re told
How does the Lord help us through our own discouragements & disappointments?
It’s important to not only hear the voice of the Spirit but to get up and follow what we are told
Encouraged, Elijah returned at the Lord’s request and completed his assigned mission.

16. Goodbye to Ahab Goodbye to Elijah Hello Elisha
Chapters 19-22
Chapters 1-4
Goodbye to Ahab
Goodbye to Elijah
Hello Elisha