Homiletic Review 1 Kings 18:30 And Elijah said to all the people, Come near to me. And all the people came near to him… The altar, the sacred possession of all the twelve stones which Elijah rebuilt to represent the whole of Israel. Broken down and deserted. Apply to practical desertion of worship. I. WHEN WORLDLINESS OR ANY OTHER SIN ABSORBS THE SOUL AND PRAYER IS ABANDONED. Scepticism as to reality and answer to prayer allows the fires to go out and the altar to go to decay. When even preaching usurps the place of worship, so monopolising time and attention that worship is reduced to a minimum. II. RESTORATION — EFFECTED BY CALLING TO REPENTANCE, AND VINDICATION OF THE HONOUR OF GOD, Fire must come from heaven to rekindle, and special descent of the Holy Spirit of prayer and supplication will be the answer to diligent seeking. III. RESTORATION OF THE FAMILY ALTAR A SPECIAL DEMAND OF OUR TIME. General decay thereof. Sad results. Blessed effects of restoring. (Homiletic Review.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. |
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