TAMPA (FBW)—Rather than seeking just blessings of God, Baptists need "fresh fire from heaven," James J. Kibelbek told messengers in the annual convention sermon during the 142nd th meeting of the Florida Baptist State Convention.

The pastor of First Baptist Church, Port Charlotte preached from 1 Kings 18:17-39 concerning the prophet Elijah’s battle with the 850 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, calling the account a "typological illustration of the conflict between good and evil, between God and Satan, between the powers of light and the forces of spiritual darkness."

The famous passage demonstrates "that the world is in search for some answers, the world is in search for the identity of the one true God. They want to discover who He is. And it is the objective of Christ’s church to reveal to the world who that one true God is," Kibelbek declared.

The prophets of Baal demonstrated the sincerity of their beliefs by their impassioned prayers and cries to their god, even including cutting themselves and jumping on the altar. Kibelbek said that if "sincerity determined truth and enthusiasm was a sign of spirituality, fire would have rained from heaven."

Kibelbek warned that, like the prophets of Baal, too many Baptists also replace religious activity in place of truly seeking the presence of Jesus in their lives.

"Our calendars are filled to overflowing with events, services, special emphases, conferences and programs. Our intentions are good. And many of our services are filled with enthusiasm and excitement. ... And, in the final analysis, there is precious little or no fire."

Like the nation of Israel during Elijah’s day when King Ahab and Jezebel ruled, America is mostly governed by political leaders who defend immorality and a "pagan nation steeped in idolatry and godless activity," Kibelbek declared.

"What we need at this critical time in our history as a nation and as a convention is a manifestation from heaven of a life changing presence of Jesus Christ among us," he said.

Echoing Tommy Green’s president’s message concerning the exclusivity of the Gospel, Kibelbek preached, "There is but one God, and His name doesn’t happen to be Buddha; there is but one God, and His name doesn’t happen to be Confucius; there is but one God, and His name doesn’t happen to be Muhammad or Allah."

Noting that the fire is representative of diety, Kibelbek defined and described the fire, and noted the detriments and directions to the fire.

Kibelbek said that many Christians seek the "water" of God, which represents His blessing, before seeking the fire. "I’m afraid in our pursuit of Christ, or what we label the pursuit of Christ, we have pursued the blessings of God in lieu of the person of Jesus. ... When we are filled with Jesus’ Spirit, we will pursue God in worship, we will have the heart of Jesus and therefore seek souls for His glory."

The evidence of God’s fire among Christians is the "unmistakable awareness of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man," he noted.

"When the fire falls, there will be a fresh sense of sin and unworthiness on our part. When the fire falls, God’s people will no longer be comfortable in their sin and compromising lifestyle. When the fire falls, masks of religious pretense will be melted. ... When the fire falls God’s people will function as light and salt to a dying world."

Decrying "Madison Avenue tactics" used in churches to lure the unchurched, Kibelbek said, "Our world has access to all the technology, social programs and activities you church or mine could ever possibly offer them. What they don’t have is a manifestation of diety."

The directions to the fire include the acts of confession, consecration and communion, Kibelbek preached.

"Florida Baptists, make it an objective of your life, let’s make it an objective of our wonderful convention to pursue Jesus, to go after Him, in order that our thirsty world may have the water of life, Jesus Christ," Kibelbek concluded.