🙏🛐Answer to Prayer - 5🛐🙏 ✝️📖Devotional Series - 45👉✝️ "Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust." 1 Kings 18:38 During the time of Elijah, the children of Israel were in a state of extreme spiritual decline. Jezebel was a worshiper of Baal; therefore, anti-God Baal worship was established throughout the land of Israel. Intense persecution of God’s prophets began. Many were killed, and many others had to hide in caves and dens to save their lives. During this extreme situation, the responsibility fell upon Elijah to prove that God is the truth and Baal is a lie. He undertook a very courageous task. He challenged King Ahab, saying, "Let us take proof of who the true God is. Build an altar, cut a bull into pieces, and arrange it on the wood, and I will do the same. Neither of us shall set it on fire; then let the prophets of Baal call upon the name of their god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. The one who answers by fire, He is the true God." Thereupon, the prophets of Baal prepared a bull and arranged it on the wood, calling upon the name of Baal from morning until noon; according to their custom, they cut themselves with knives and lances until blood gushed out, but nothing happened. No fire fell. Finally, Elijah repaired the broken altar of the Lord and built an altar with twelve stones, arranged a bull on it, and prayed to God. Then God sent fire from above and accepted the burnt offering. Consequently, the prophets of Baal were put to death, and the nation of Israel turned back to God. "Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ." **2 Corinthians 2:14**