Rebuild.

It was the fire heard round the world.

Mount Carmel is such a sobering lesson that we are still relearning thousands of years later. The lesson, while it has countless layers, can be summed up as this —

If you step upon the mountain after the Lord has refined you, nothing can stand against you. But if you ascend the mountain prematurely, that is, before you have finished your preparation under the Spirit of God, it will expose you.

This is the danger of stepping into opportunity without preparation — we will face demon princes that we have not gained authority over. We will hear the words, "Jesus I know, Paul I know, but who are you?" 

And while the Holy Spirit will use those moments of failure to teach us, He will ultimately lead us back to the classroom of preparation. He will show us through these "opportunities" turned encounters that we cannot run ahead of Yahweh and succeed. 

When I think of Carmel, I am reminded of what a chaotic dynamic was atop that mountain. You had the priests of Baal under the sorcery of Jezebel. A Phoenician princess, turned Israeli queen who worshipped the devil and brought those vile rituals to God's holy city. Not a good idea to mock the God in whose land you are a mere tenant. You had Ahab who had turned his back on Yahweh, because of his demon-lusting wife. And who did this abomindable couple use as the glue to hold this horrid mess together? The people of Israel.

And then there is Elijah…our heroic wild card.

Like all stories of Christ-ordained redemption, there is always a faithful one that God raises up who has not kissed the ring.

Despite the Lord backing him, the severity of what Elijah had to face was still massive. He undoubtedly felt alone on that mountain. Surrounded by demon-possessed priests, a king and queen that consistently threatened his life, complete with a compromised and idolatrous people that were of no help at all. This hellacious package was then gift-wrapped with an oppressive famine. 

I can only imagine had Elijah not been fully prepared by God, that dynamic on Mount Carmel would have finished him.

It's an essential reminder to each of us…if we have not submitted to that cave of presence, then the mountain will crush us.

But notice what Elijah did. He not only rebuilt the altar of Yahweh, but he called for mass repentance and an end to the famine, while simultaneously jeering at fallen principalities, their altar and their priests. He did all of this while seemingly standing alone. 

That kind of strength is not mortal and can only come from being filled by the One True God. And that kind of indwelling can only be achieved through total surrender. Elijah understood that his life was not his own and for God to move mightily through a leader, that concept must be reconciled before the mountain top.

And submitted Godly leadership looks like something. For Elijah it looked like him stepping into chaos, and bringing order and clear instructions. While there was a clashing of kingdoms and doctrines, Elijah focused on the message of simple repentance. While the priests of Baal did all of their shouting, dances, distractions, and shows, Elijah quietly rebuilt the altar of the Lord.

Where there was confusion of worship and power, he cut through it all by stating simply, “The God who answers by fire, He is God.”

Elijah bent his head and prayed to the One who would settle the matter once and for all.

And fire fell. 

Elijah was not reacting to demons, he fixed his eyes upon the Lord. He boldly laid a clear infrastructure that was tried and tested by the patriarchs before him. And in the midst of all the rebellion, confusion and witchraft, God arose with clarity.

This type of leadership only comes from complete preparation. Elijah didn’t know how it would all unfold on that mountain; he just knew God was calling Him there and it would be settled there. 

But in the heat of the pressure, Elijah brought uncompromising order, covenant wisdom, clear instruction, and humility laced with savagery. The result was that false prophets were slaughtered, lies were exposed, rain came down and repentance poured out.

God used one man who had endured the full length of preparation to bring justice upon a mountain and align an entire nation.

Now imagine what would have happened under the leadership of one who had not surrendered to that preparation? 

More chaos. More disorder. Fear. A lack of understanding. No knowledge or infrastructure. Failure. And none of those aforementioned attributes reflects an all-powerful, all-present, all-knowing, all-ruling God who delights in the law of both creation and man. And God does not compete with rebellious thrones; He falls upon a well-laid altar and brings revelation of Himself.

That is why it is so dangerous to appoint and send ourselves before Yahweh has deemed that our preparation is complete. And in these last days we will each inevitably be led to another version of Mount Carmel, possibly alone. And beloved, that is not the moment we want to discover that we are not ready. 

It was the fire heard round the world, and it is here again.

May the Lord find each of us fully surrendered. Ready to ascend the mountain of God and rebuild His altar once more. And just like in the days of Elijah, the God who answers by fire is God.

And to you priests of Baal and Asherah, the Bride has but one thing to say to you,

“I AM has sent us, and we will not bow.”

Biblical Account of Mount Carmel: 1 Kings 18

Biblical Account of the Sons of Sceva: Acts 19:11-20

Supporting scriptures: Isaiah 40:3, Jeremiah 10:23, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Esther 4:12-14, Galatians 6:7, Psalm 105:15