How long shall ye halt between two opinions?

Rev. Peter Tuchyna

1 Kings 17:1-6 ; 1 Kings 18:1-2 ; 1 Kings 17-46 .

From the days of the tower of Babel (Genesis 10 and  Genesis 11) the sons of Noah, (especially Ham, Genesis 9 and Genesis 10),

who were miraculously saved by God during the flood, were again departing from serving, worshiping and acknowledging

the lordship of the One true God.

(It is important to note that some nations, which God commanded to Moses and Joshua to destroy, were descendents

of Ham, Genesis 10:6-18).

Nimrod build a city and the tower of Babel, which was a square building measuring 196 x 196 x 196 meters.

King Nabuchadnezar and Nabopolassar attempted to extend the complex to 354 x 354 x 354 meters, as it was uncovered

in the year 1887.

The Babylonians were very knowledgeable. They were considered to be the teachers of the world.

They were brilliant mathematicians with perfect knowledge in geometry. They recognized as it is known now as

Pythagoras theorem and they recognized Rudolf’s number 3.14.

They invented the hexadecimal system, which we still use today to measure the time, hours, minutes, and seconds and also

to measure angles.

They divided a year into 12 months, one month into four seven day weeks and 12 hour days with 4 three hour “watches”.

It was a very advanced nation in knowledge of natural laws, economy, politics with a great military skill and might. Their

influence was felt a very far off.

When God confounded the tongue of the people at the tower of Babel, He sent a message to future generations that human

knowledge and human achievement will lead mankind not only to pride but also into ultimate rebellion represented by the

introduction of worship directed towards another creation or imagined beings in all uncleanness.

The image of Baal - Baalpeor – Marduch – Moloch, was originally represented by man’s sexual organ. A female

counterpart represented by female sexual organ was called Istar, Astharod, Asher or Ashtoreth (the goddess of fertility).

Later on the form of their statues changed to animal forms (Numbers 22:41 ; Numbers 25:3-18 ; Judges 2:13 , Judges 6:30 ,

1 Kings 16:32-33 .)

The abomination, the violence, the uncleanness and unwillingness to change a lifestyle even in the future generations, led

God in His foreknowledge to say to Abram in Genesis 15:17-21 , that one day in the future Abram’s descendents, who will

listen to the commandments of God, ( Genesis 18:19 ) will receive the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmorites, Hittites,

Perizzites, Rephaims, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebuzzites as a heritage. It was confirmed by God on several

occasions Genesis 17:7-8.

Some years later after the promise was given to Abram, God said to Moses, who suppose to lead Israel into the promised

land and to posses it, ( Deuteronomy 20:17-18 ), thou shalt utterly destroy them namely the Hittites, Amorites, the

Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, that they teach you not to do after all their abominations.

It was a tragedy that Israel did compromise and not only that Israel did not destroy those nations, but Israel also gradually

adopted their lifestyle.

• They practiced the sacrifice of children Jeremiah 19:5; 2 Kings 21:6.

• King Solomon even build a place for sacrifice 1 Kings 11:5, 7,33.

• They accepted and practiced homosexual lifestyle 1 Kings 14:24.

• They were involved in orgies supported by strong drink (alcohol), drugs and prostitution.

Is it possible that Israel fell so low, that it departed from the clean, prosperous, blessed and joyful lifestyle in the presence

of God into such a misery and spiritual, physical and moral deprivation?

Do you know why it happened? They become lukewarm.

For convenience sake, for financial gain, for prestige and for the admiration towards “higher civilization”, for their

unwillingness to lose a favour with more powerful, more educated, more influential people, they lost the zeal for God, the

fervor for God and the sensitivity and will to remain holy.

Elijah said in 1 Kings 18:21, how long halt ye between two opinions? And the people answered him not a word.

How did he know that they were between two opinions?

Just look at the children attending the “groves and temples” of Baal and Moloch with all the filth and uncleanness

and look at the empty chairs of prayer meetings, the silent voices and tearless eyes of parents and you understand

what it means to stand between two opinions.

When Elijah looked at the altar, he saw that it was broken down, 1 Kings 20:30. The purpose of the altar is to sacrifice on it.

Broken down altar means no sacrifice was brought and offered unto the One true God.

Where there are two opinions the altar is broken down, the sacrifice is not. Comfort, pleasure, compromise, jealousy,

uncleanness and slavery replaced the sacrifice. When Elijah looked around, nobody came to stand next to him. Nobody

moved to repair the broken down altar.

It is time to call upon the name of the Lord as Elijah did, 1 Kings 18:24. It is time to repair the broken down altar.

That’s your prayer life.

It is time to recognize the power of God working through the water baptism in the name of ( what Elijah has done as a

shadow of the future water baptism) Jesus. It is time to call for the fire of God to descend from heaven.

Behold, greater than Elijah is here. John the Baptist said, I baptize you for repentance, but after me cometh he, whom I am

not worthy to touch his shoelaces, He will baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire.

Who cares that Elijah was alone on the Mt. Carmel? Who cares that the rest of Israel was staring at him and making fun and

commented about his appearance, his dress, his behaviour, his presentation, his activity and his service?

What matter is it that he had a close relationship with God and that he came in the name of the Lord and that he called on the

name of the Lord, that he brought the sacrifice and that he repaired the broken down altar unto the name of the Lord and

finally that God manifested His presence in the midst of the majority of backslidden, carnal, unclean and lukewarm Israel.

If you would like to spread good news, do not talk about politics or the state of the economy; do not talk about

superannuation or investment.

Tell me that the Lord Jesus manifested Himself in the midst of people as his servants call upon His name.

Tell me that somebody repented, tell me that somebody was baptized in the name of the Lord and tell me that somebody

received the Holy Ghost. Tell me about the fire of God, the fire of the Holy Ghost consuming a living sacrifice and accepting

the souls of men and women prepared to please Him, that many may join the heavenly hosts of angels rejoicing exceedingly.

Rise up Elijah! In the name of the Lord, rise up the men and the women of God.

Do not allow your life and the life of your children to be taken and destroyed by Moloch. The descendents of the nations,

who sacrificed their children in the days of Elijah, are still sacrificing their children in our days, as we are their witnesses.

Do not envy their knowledge, do not admire their military might, do not covet their wealth and do not adopt their lifestyle.

Rise up and call upon the name of the Lord! Move away from the midst of “Baal” and his servants!

Tell God, what you want and watch the fire of the Holy Ghost to consume its sacrifice.

In the name of the Lord… in the name of Jesus destroy the unclean things and the servants of Baal (Moloch).

Recognize and apply the authority of the Word of God and the power of the name of Jesus in your life, involvement and

ministry.

With Jesus you are always the majority.