LAWTON CHURCH OF GOD, LAWTON, OKLAHOMA

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66 THE TEST OF GENUINE RELIGION

TEXT: The God that answereth by fire, let Him be God. 1 Kings 18:24 .

1. THE SOURCE OF TROUBLE

This scripture is connected with a most critical period in the history of Israel , particularly Samaria ’s three and a half year’s drought and subsequent calamity. The cause of their trouble was that they had “forsaken the commandments of the Lord,” “and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.” Sin invariably brings trouble and calamity, and the curse of God. God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” God “will render to every man according to his deeds . . . Unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile.”

2. THE FAITH OF ELIJAH

We are eager to form the acquaintance of the man who can, by his prayers, lock up the heavens so there is no dew or rain for the space of three and one-half years, and bring down the fire of God, and again unlock the heavens so that there is an abundance of rain. Elijah was one of the most rugged characters in Hebrew history He was utterly separated from the people and entirely devoted to God; was uncompromising; yielded unfaltering obedience, was resolute and earnest; dared to stand alone; and was strong in faith. He not only trusted in God but God trusted him.

3. THE SUPREME TEST

“The God that answereth.” The religion of Jesus Christ does not consist in forms and ceremonies and mere outward morality. There must still be the manifestation of something supernatural—the answer of God. We are told not to believe every spirit. The touchstone whereby the genuine may be distinguished from the counterfeit; the false from the true, is by the power of the Gospel that saves men from sin. The salvation of the Son of God is the only thing in all the world that can save men from sin, and if a man is not saved from sinning he is not saved at all. A sinning religion is the devil’s religion, and is a counterfeit, no matter what the pretenses or ritualism may be. Does The peculiar tenet or the religion you profess or believe in, save you from sin? If not, it is a farce and a delusion. His name is called Jesus because He saves his people from (not in) their sins “He that committeth sin is of the devil . . . Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil.” This is the dividing line—the children of the devil commit sin, and the children of God do not commit sin.

4. THE FIRE

We still have the promise of the answer by fire. “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” The fire signifies refining and purification—never pardon—and comes to God’s people as a second experience, as on Pentecost. Fire penetrates, transforms, attracts, consumes, gives light, welds, is a source of power, and heat, and sets fire. There is something intense about fire, and is vastly different to much of the contemporary cold, fireless churchianity. Not painted fire, nor wildfire, but Holy Ghost fire which comes from heaven; this is an actual necessity—the imperative need and glorious privilege of all Christians.