His opponents, and need not fear the issue.

And now he is about to pray. How all would listen as each word smote
upon their ears. He puts God to the proof, and asks Him to show who is
master, Baal or Jehovah. Do we not need more of this kind of prayer?
Would there not be more of it if there was only greater faith? Who is
the God we serve? Have we Elijah's Lord to cry unto? Then how is it we
allow the servants of Baal to triumph over us? Prayer is as great a
power to-day as it ever was, if only we have faith in Him who tells us,
"Knock, and the door shall be opened." Dare we put Him to the test, and
ask for that which is sure to bring glory to Him, feeling that if our
prayers are not answered it is God's name that will be dishonoured more
than ours? Whenever Christians come up to this standard they will
prevail in prayer, and be able to call down celestial fire. Pentecost
will repeat itself whenever the whole Church will wait on the Lord, as
the early Christians did, with one accord. To believe otherwise is to
reckon that God has no care either for His glory or for a perishing
world.

IV.--THE FIRE CONQUERED ALL OPPOSITION. The physical difficulties were
as nothing, it consumed and licked up all. Flesh, stone, wood, and water
alike were wrapped in flame, and appeared no more. Difficulties are fuel
to the heaven-sent fire! Opposition is opportunity to omnipotence. Does
not the history of the Church teach this over and over again? The
Israelites crossed the Red Sea "By crystal walls protected." The three
Hebrew children "walked unburned in fire." Do not let us be afraid of
physical or spiritual difficulties if there is a promise or command.

The prophet wished to have his countrymen converted, and prayed that
their hearts might be turned back, and this miracle convinced them that
Jehovah "was alone among the gods, that all their idols were as nothing
before Him. And what is wanted to bring about moral victories is the
fire from above, the same fire that fell at Pentecost, tongues of fire,
whether we shall see them or not; the people must feel our words to burn
them if we have the heaven-sent fire. Nothing will save England and the
world but this, and do we not read, "Elias was a man subject to like
passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly? Why should not future
writers say Jones or Robinson, or whatever your name is, was a man, and
he prayed, and there was a mighty revival?

All opposition will