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Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013). American pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, born in Ventura, California. After graduating from LIFE Bible College, he was ordained by the Foursquare Church and pastored several small congregations. In 1965, he took over a struggling church in Costa Mesa, California, renaming it Calvary Chapel, which grew from 25 members to a network of over 1,700 churches worldwide. Known for his accessible, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, Smith embraced the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s, ministering to hippies and fostering contemporary Christian music and informal worship. He authored numerous books, hosted the radio program "The Word for Today," and influenced modern evangelicalism with his emphasis on grace and simplicity. Married to Kay since 1947, they had four children. Smith died of lung cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through Calvary Chapel’s global reach and emphasis on biblical teaching
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Sermon Summary
Chuck Smith preaches on I Kings 18, emphasizing the dire spiritual condition of Israel, which had turned away from God and was influenced by 450 prophets of Baal. He highlights the need for a purging fire from the Holy Spirit to cleanse sin and reveal the true God, contrasting the futile efforts of Baal's prophets with Elijah's simple yet powerful prayer that called down fire from heaven. The sermon illustrates that before rain and restoration can come, there must first be a genuine return to God and a cleansing of the heart.
Scriptures
I Kings 18
"THE GOD WHO ANSWERS BY FIRE" I. ISRAEL'S CONDITION. A. Completely backslidden. 1. 450 Prophets for BaaI. 2. One for God. B. Inward corruption about to ruin nation. C. Hearts alienated from God. D. Hearts hardened against God. 1. Three years no rain. E. Elijah did not challenge the God who answers by rain. 1. Get hearts right & rain will come. 2. Needed fire first for purge. II FIRE OF HOLY SPIRIT TWOFOLD EFFECT. A. Purge out sin. B. Convince of true God. Ill BAAL'S PROPHETS. A. Long Prayers. B. Great demonstrations. C. No fire. Ill ELIJAH A. Short prayer of faith. B. Fire of God.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013). American pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, born in Ventura, California. After graduating from LIFE Bible College, he was ordained by the Foursquare Church and pastored several small congregations. In 1965, he took over a struggling church in Costa Mesa, California, renaming it Calvary Chapel, which grew from 25 members to a network of over 1,700 churches worldwide. Known for his accessible, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, Smith embraced the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s, ministering to hippies and fostering contemporary Christian music and informal worship. He authored numerous books, hosted the radio program "The Word for Today," and influenced modern evangelicalism with his emphasis on grace and simplicity. Married to Kay since 1947, they had four children. Smith died of lung cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through Calvary Chapel’s global reach and emphasis on biblical teaching