Well, hey there, tiny theologians. I'm Mr. Truman, and I'm super-duper glad you're here with me today

for day 16 of our Jesse Tree journey.

Today's story has a bit of drama, a lot of bold faith, and a fire from heaven.

That'll make your heart sit up and listen.

Now go ahead and grab your Day 16 Jesse Tree card and your altar ornament.

Got them? Great. Let's begin. Today we're talking about a prophet named Elijah. Now a prophet is someone God sins to speak his truth to his people. And in

Elijah's day, the people had started worshipping a false

god named Bail. And that broke God's heart, because he wanted their love, not their pretending.

So Elijah challenged the prophets of Bail to a big showdown on Mount Carmel. He said,

let's build two altars, one for Bail and one for the Lord.

And we'll each pray to our God. And the one who answers with fire from heaven, that's the real God.

Well, the prophets of Bail went first. They shouted and danced and even cut themselves, but no fire came,

not even a flicker. Then Elijah stepped forward. He rebuilt the altar to the Lord,

poured water all over it just to be sure everyone knew this is no trick, and prayed.

Let me read part of what happened from 1st Kings 18.

Here's what Elijah prayed.

Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God.

Here's what happened next.

Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones, and the

soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.

Whoa, that fire didn't just light the altar.

It consumed it.

...