Sunday, June 7th 2020 | Avon Wesleyan Church Online | Full Worship Service | Prayer: Strengthening Our Foundation | Does Prayer Really Change Things?
Get. Support with The Tabitha Project. https://www.avonwesleyanchurch.com/thetabithaproject Online Giving. www.avonwesleyanchurch.com/avonwesleyanchurch-give tithe.ly: https://get.tithe.ly/download-tithely-app tithe.ly Individual App Links: Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ly.tithe.tithely Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/tithe-ly/id694740700 Online Giving Link: https://tithe.ly/give_new/www/#/tithely/give Church Center. https://avonwesleyan.churchcenter.com/home App Links: Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ministrycentered.churchcenter&hl=en_US Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/church-center-app/id1357742931 Luke 18.1-8 “The moment Ahab saw Elijah he said, “So it’s you, old troublemaker!” “It’s not I who has caused trouble in Israel,” said Elijah, “but you and your government—you’ve dumped GOD’s ways and commands and run off after the local gods, the Baals. Here’s what I want you to do: Assemble everyone in Israel at Mount Carmel. And make sure that the special pets of Jezebel, the four hundred and fifty prophets of the local gods, the Baals, and the four hundred prophets of the whore goddess Asherah, are there.” So Ahab summoned everyone in Israel, particularly the prophets, to Mount Carmel. Elijah challenged the people: “How long are you going to sit on the fence? If GOD is the real God, follow him; if it’s Baal, follow him. Make up your minds!” Nobody said a word; nobody made a move. Then Elijah said, “I’m the only prophet of GOD left in Israel; and there are 450 prophets of Baal. Let the Baal prophets bring up two oxen; let them pick one, butcher it, and lay it out on an altar on firewood—but don’t ignite it. I’ll take the other ox, cut it up, and lay it on the wood. But neither will I light the fire. Then you pray to your gods and I’ll pray to GOD. The god who answers with fire will prove to be, in fact, God.” All the people agreed: “A good plan—do it!” Elijah told the Baal prophets, “Choose your ox and prepare it. You go first, you’re the majority. Then pray to your god, but don’t light the fire.” So they took the ox he had given them, prepared it for the altar, then prayed to Baal. They prayed all morning long, “O Baal, answer us!” But nothing happened—not so much as a whisper of breeze. Desperate, they jumped and stomped on the altar they had made. By noon, Elijah had started making fun of them, taunting, “Call a little louder—he is a god, after all. Maybe he’s off meditating somewhere or other, or maybe he’s gotten involved in a project, or maybe he’s on vacation. You don’t suppose he’s overslept, do you, and needs to be waked up?” They prayed louder and louder, cutting themselves with swords and knives—a ritual common to them—until they were covered with blood. This went on until well past noon. They used every religious trick and strategy they knew to make something happen on the altar, but nothing happened—not so much as a whisper, not a flicker of response. Then Elijah told the people, “Enough of that—it’s my turn. Gather around.” And they gathered. He then put the altar back together for by now it was in ruins. Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes of Jacob, the same Jacob to whom GOD had said, “From now on your name is Israel.” He built the stones into the altar in honor of GOD. Then Elijah dug a fairly wide trench around the altar. He laid firewood on the altar, cut up the ox, put it on the wood, and said, “Fill four buckets with water and drench both the ox and the firewood.” Then he said, “Do it again,” and they did it. Then he said, “Do it a third time,” and they did it a third time. The altar was drenched and the trench was filled with water. When it was time for the sacrifice to be offered, Elijah the prophet came up and prayed, “O GOD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, make it known right now that you are God in Israel, that I am your servant, and that I’m doing what I’m doing under your orders. Answer me, GOD; O answer me and reveal to this people that you are GOD, the true God, and that you are giving these people another chance at repentance.” Immediately the fire of GOD fell and burned up the offering, the wood, the stones, the dirt, and even the water in the trench. All the people saw it happen and fell on their faces in awed worship, exclaiming, “ GOD is the true God! GOD is the true God!” Music Credits. “Yes And Amen” words and music by Anthony Brown, Chris McClarney, and Nate Moore © Thankyou Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) and Remaining portion is unaffiliated CCLI License # 1401365 / 20128176 “The Blessing” words and music by Chris Brown, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe, and Steven Furtick © 2020 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) and Remaining portion is unaffiliated CCLI License # 1401365 / 20128176 “Living Hope” words and music by Brian Johnson and Phil Wickham © Bethel Music Publishing and Remaining portion is unaffiliated CCLI License # 1401365 / 20128176 “Your Glory” words and music by Leslie Jordan ©2011 Integrity's Praise! Music CCLI License # 1401365 / 20128176