FIREFIGHT
Ignite Series #3
February 18, 2007
Mike Matijevich
mmatevich@aol.com

Intro:
- Convictions shape conduct/ how we behave.
- Our culture of political correctness- holds if you are sincere then that is all that counts.
- Convictions must be tethered to truth. (Absolute truth) (John 14:6 Jesus is truth)
* What is conviction? A strong belief… trust… it is being on fire for God.
Today three groups of people here:
1. Half the crowd - have CONVICTIONS tethered to truth - make Paradise go
2. Small group have convictions in the OPPOSITE realm- don't believe biblical record, or a God???
(* Glad you are here partly why we are here)
3. Small group that really DON"T have ANY convictions. (Double-minded people, unstable- one foot in the world one foot in heaven)
* Long time ago the Prophet Elijah talked to group three.
* Let's say today you decide to STOP straddling the fence, take off the mask of hypocrisy.
* What would that look like- how would it play out?
Context-
Ahab running the show- married the wrong person Jezebel (Baal worshipper) influenced Ahab to worship Baal (in Israel) to sex, idols.
Elijah comes along tells them no rain for three years.
Thus no rain drought- back comes Elijah- interactions with Ahab…

I. CONVICTION ALWAYS IGNITES CONFLICT (1 Kings 18:17-18)

A. 18:17-18 Ahab blames Elijah for the problem- (just like us)
1. We blame others instead of saying, "Thank you Lord for convicting me of __________."
a. When guilty we point out in others what we see in us.
b. Blaming boomer, gen. excusers
NOTE: If you are on fire for God- you will experience conflict… if you are NOT experiencing a cross- pull then check out your spiritual temperature.
(The Christian life is described as a WAR, RACE, CONFLICT between good & evil, flesh & spirit)

II. CONVICTION SEARS A MESSAGE (1 Kings 18:19-20 )
Note: We love messages - email, voice mail, etc.
I send a MESSAGE out every day- people are checking us out.
They want to see something real- BECAUSE their life is NOT working!
* Could people that don't know Jesus see Jesus in you?

III. CONVICTIONS SPARKS A DECISION (1 Kings 18:21-29)
18:21
* How long (group three) will you stop between two opinions?
How long will you straddle the fence?
How long can you say you love God & God's enemy at the same time?
* We need to follow God because He is God- NOT because He can give us all the things of the world.
* 18:22-26 See it…
* Group three you call upon your gods but they don't answer…
- Sex answer me, another affair
- Possessions answer me- just another thing will satisfy me
* 18:27 "Trash talk" originated with Elijah
18:28-29

* 18:30-35 Elijah's set up of the altar & sacrifice… (v33-35 water dowsed sacrifice)
18:37-38 Fire came down - (the people wanted water not fire) fire got their attention.
* 18:39 Elijah wins
Cp. James 5:17 "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."
- Like passions as we are… just like us
But He was a man that
- PRAYED- Not my will but your will be done
- AVAILABLE
- OFFERING- Wood, water, & a "bull" - we have a lot of that!

CONCLUSION:
Group three- "How long will you halt (stop) between two opinions?