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Final sermon in the 1 Kings Series (March 5, 2006 to April 15, 2007):
Recap of 4-15-07
1 Kings 22:51 – 2 Kings 1:1-18
1. Two common failures of God’s people regarding the future:
-seeking counsel from the wrong unbiblical sources as Ahaziah did
-not inquiring of the Lord at all (Joshua 9:14; James 3:13-17
2. Our God is a jealous God. Exodus 20:5; Deuteronomy 4:24; 6:13-15; Exodus 34:14-His name is “jealous.”
3. There are two kinds of jealousy: 1) a negative kind which expresses itself in envy and malice, a mean kind of jealousy; and 2) “zeal to protect a love relationship” (J.I. Packer). God’s jealousy is of the second kind.
4. Because of God’s jealousy over us we should be “personally and passionately devoted to Jesus Christ” (Oswald Chambers). Whatever stands in the way of our devotion to God must be addressed whether it be service, devotion to our conviction, or devotion to a cause. Devotion to Christ must come first, then service, etc. 5. Two examples of those passionately devoted to Christ are Paul (see Philippians 3) and Mary (sister of Martha and Lazarus).
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Many Convincing Proofs (Easter 2007)
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Recap of April 8, 2007 - Easter Sunday - (Luke 24:13-35)
1. The disciples were not looking for the resurrection. They didn’t understand until after Jesus was resurrected what it was that Jesus was trying to tell them (John 2:19ff; Mark 8:31; 9:9; 9:31). They were in effect the first skeptics. He gave them many convincing proofs that He was alive from the dead (Acts 1:1-3).
2. Two of these first skeptics were the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus appears physically and bodily to them, alive from the dead, though His identity was divinely hidden from them.
3. They were downcast because, while they believed Jesus was a prophet, they had hoped that He was the Messiah who would deliver Israel from sin and from the domination of Rome. His crucifixion and death seemed to belie that.
4. Jesus showed them from the Old Testament that the Messiah had to suffer before He would enter His glory. Some Old Testament passages would include (Psalms 2, 16, 22, 110; Isaiah 53).5. The evidences for the resurrection include: the empty tomb, the presence of the guard, Jesus’ many appearances to more than 500 people, the change in Peter and others from being fearful and discouraged to being bold and triumphant, lack of any challenge on the Day of Pentecost (less than two months after the crucifixion and resurrection), the change to Sunday worship, the reliability of the gospel writers, mentions in secular historians. (see Robert J. Morgan, Beyond Reasonable Doubt).
Recap of April 8, 2007 - Easter Sunday - (Luke 24:13-35)
1. The disciples were not looking for the resurrection. They didn’t understand until after Jesus was resurrected what it was that Jesus was trying to tell them (John 2:19ff; Mark 8:31; 9:9; 9:31). They were in effect the first skeptics. He gave them many convincing proofs that He was alive from the dead (Acts 1:1-3).
2. Two of these first skeptics were the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus appears physically and bodily to them, alive from the dead, though His identity was divinely hidden from them.
3. They were downcast because, while they believed Jesus was a prophet, they had hoped that He was the Messiah who would deliver Israel from sin and from the domination of Rome. His crucifixion and death seemed to belie that.
4. Jesus showed them from the Old Testament that the Messiah had to suffer before He would enter His glory. Some Old Testament passages would include (Psalms 2, 16, 22, 110; Isaiah 53).5. The evidences for the resurrection include: the empty tomb, the presence of the guard, Jesus’ many appearances to more than 500 people, the change in Peter and others from being fearful and discouraged to being bold and triumphant, lack of any challenge on the Day of Pentecost (less than two months after the crucifixion and resurrection), the change to Sunday worship, the reliability of the gospel writers, mentions in secular historians. (see Robert J. Morgan, Beyond Reasonable Doubt).
Sunday, April 01, 2007
An Influential Life
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Recap of 4-1-07 (1 Kings 22: 41-50)
1. Jehoshaphat loved the Lord and His Word. His concern for spiritual things led to religious reforms, social reforms, military reforms, and political success.
2. He instituted judicial reforms based upon the fear of the Lord, reminding those in authority that they were to please the Lord above all. They were judging to please the Lord, not people.
3. When faced with an overwhelming situation he led the people in seeking the Lord in prayer. He acknowledged God’s person, His power, His help to them in the past, and finally acknowledged their poverty (they had no power and no plan). Their hope was in the Lord. Having committed all to the Lord they were to stand, God would go to battle for them and give them the victory.
Recap of 4-1-07 (1 Kings 22: 41-50)
1. Jehoshaphat loved the Lord and His Word. His concern for spiritual things led to religious reforms, social reforms, military reforms, and political success.
2. He instituted judicial reforms based upon the fear of the Lord, reminding those in authority that they were to please the Lord above all. They were judging to please the Lord, not people.
3. When faced with an overwhelming situation he led the people in seeking the Lord in prayer. He acknowledged God’s person, His power, His help to them in the past, and finally acknowledged their poverty (they had no power and no plan). Their hope was in the Lord. Having committed all to the Lord they were to stand, God would go to battle for them and give them the victory.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
When The Crowd Is Wrong, Pt 2
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Recap of 3-25-07 (1 Kings 22:10-40)
God’s sovereignty:
-Acts in concert with human freedom and does not negate human responsibility for our actions
-acts in concert with our nature (example: Ahab, Judas Iscariot)
-“isn’t thwarted by human or Satanic opposition”
-doesn’t negate the need to pray
-“can override our choices” James 4:13-16
-“may allow us to experience adversity or success to mature us and show the world how we handle either one.”
-is an encouragement to us because it means God has everything under control (Acts 4:24-31)
-includes “what He causes to happen (His directive will) and what He permits to occur through secondary causes (His permissive will).”
(Sources: Compact Guide to the Christian Life; Systematic Theology by Berkhof; Basic Theology by Ryrie)
Recap of 3-25-07 (1 Kings 22:10-40)
God’s sovereignty:
-Acts in concert with human freedom and does not negate human responsibility for our actions
-acts in concert with our nature (example: Ahab, Judas Iscariot)
-“isn’t thwarted by human or Satanic opposition”
-doesn’t negate the need to pray
-“can override our choices” James 4:13-16
-“may allow us to experience adversity or success to mature us and show the world how we handle either one.”
-is an encouragement to us because it means God has everything under control (Acts 4:24-31)
-includes “what He causes to happen (His directive will) and what He permits to occur through secondary causes (His permissive will).”
(Sources: Compact Guide to the Christian Life; Systematic Theology by Berkhof; Basic Theology by Ryrie)
Sunday, March 18, 2007
When The Crowd Is Wrong
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Recap of 3-18-07 (1 Kings 22:1-9)
1. When we don’t decisively deal with the sin in our lives, it becomes a continuing problem we must deal with. We must “put to death” the deeds of the body, the sinful nature (Colossians 3:5; Romans 8:12-13; 13:14). We must separate from the people, places, and things which lead us into sin.
2. We must beware of entangling alliances; false teaching, business, politics, marriage (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) which can lead us into paths we should not take.
3. When we have an important decision to make we must be sure to get the most godly counsel we can get. Those we seek out for counsel should be growing in the Lord and in the Word, should be serving, should be growing in the character of Jesus Christ (i.e. the Fruit of the Spirit).
Recap of 3-18-07 (1 Kings 22:1-9)
1. When we don’t decisively deal with the sin in our lives, it becomes a continuing problem we must deal with. We must “put to death” the deeds of the body, the sinful nature (Colossians 3:5; Romans 8:12-13; 13:14). We must separate from the people, places, and things which lead us into sin.
2. We must beware of entangling alliances; false teaching, business, politics, marriage (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) which can lead us into paths we should not take.
3. When we have an important decision to make we must be sure to get the most godly counsel we can get. Those we seek out for counsel should be growing in the Lord and in the Word, should be serving, should be growing in the character of Jesus Christ (i.e. the Fruit of the Spirit).
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Not For Sale, Pt 2
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Recap of 3-11-07 (1 Kings 21:1-14)
1. It takes a tough-minded man or woman to be the person God expects us to be. A person who won’t compromise or go soft on the things which are important to God: tough-minded about the Word of God, about our connection with the past and with the future, about sin (especially our thought life), about respecting other people, about fulfilling our God-given role in marriage, and
-tough-minded about our choices
2. God, through Elijah, calls Ahab to account for his sin. A day of reckoning always comes. When we choose to make sin our master we will reap the destruction that sin causes. For the believer that means loss of temporal fellowship with God (not our salvation which is secure), loss of the joy, peace and divine direction that are meant to enrich our lives. In extreme cases it can mean loss of our physical lives (1 Corinthians 11:30). For the unbeliever it means eternal separation from God.3. According to A Compact Guide to the Christian Life by K.C. Hinckley, temptation comes in three areas: temptation to renounce Christ, when we forget that our position in Christ is secure and that our eternal life is secure; temptation to illicit desire (lust, greed, covetousness, gluttony, power, ambition) when try to fill our need for love and respect, for importance, and to fit in in those things rather than realizing that these needs are met by the Lord; temptation of frustrating circumstances (to despair, give up, to be cynical, to get angry).
Recap of 3-11-07 (1 Kings 21:1-14)
1. It takes a tough-minded man or woman to be the person God expects us to be. A person who won’t compromise or go soft on the things which are important to God: tough-minded about the Word of God, about our connection with the past and with the future, about sin (especially our thought life), about respecting other people, about fulfilling our God-given role in marriage, and
-tough-minded about our choices
2. God, through Elijah, calls Ahab to account for his sin. A day of reckoning always comes. When we choose to make sin our master we will reap the destruction that sin causes. For the believer that means loss of temporal fellowship with God (not our salvation which is secure), loss of the joy, peace and divine direction that are meant to enrich our lives. In extreme cases it can mean loss of our physical lives (1 Corinthians 11:30). For the unbeliever it means eternal separation from God.3. According to A Compact Guide to the Christian Life by K.C. Hinckley, temptation comes in three areas: temptation to renounce Christ, when we forget that our position in Christ is secure and that our eternal life is secure; temptation to illicit desire (lust, greed, covetousness, gluttony, power, ambition) when try to fill our need for love and respect, for importance, and to fit in in those things rather than realizing that these needs are met by the Lord; temptation of frustrating circumstances (to despair, give up, to be cynical, to get angry).
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Not For Sale
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Recap of 3-4-07 (1 Kings 21:1-14)
It takes a tough-minded man or woman to be the person God expects us to be. A person who won’t compromise or go soft on the things which are important to God:
-tough-minded about the Word of God
-tough-minded about our connection with the past and with the future
-tough-minded about sin (especially our thought life)
-tough-minded about respecting other people-tough-minded about fulfilling our God-given role in marriage
Recap of 3-4-07 (1 Kings 21:1-14)
It takes a tough-minded man or woman to be the person God expects us to be. A person who won’t compromise or go soft on the things which are important to God:
-tough-minded about the Word of God
-tough-minded about our connection with the past and with the future
-tough-minded about sin (especially our thought life)
-tough-minded about respecting other people-tough-minded about fulfilling our God-given role in marriage
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Battle Belongs To The Lord
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Recap of 2-25-07 (1 Kings 20:1-43)
1. God is bigger than anything we face. He gives victory against overwhelming odds. It is our job to be obedient and faithful to His Word.
2. As we face the challenges before us:
-we must think about our lives and decisions from God’s point of view. We must have in mind God’s view.
-we must not be small in our thinking. We have a big God, we must pray big.
-we must have in mind the people we will hurt by our decisions
-we must understand that Satan looks for where we are vulnerable (fear, lust, pride, etc.)and attacks along that line.
Recap of 2-25-07 (1 Kings 20:1-43)
1. God is bigger than anything we face. He gives victory against overwhelming odds. It is our job to be obedient and faithful to His Word.
2. As we face the challenges before us:
-we must think about our lives and decisions from God’s point of view. We must have in mind God’s view.
-we must not be small in our thinking. We have a big God, we must pray big.
-we must have in mind the people we will hurt by our decisions
-we must understand that Satan looks for where we are vulnerable (fear, lust, pride, etc.)and attacks along that line.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Road to Restoration
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Recap of 2-18-07 (1 Kings 19:13b-21)
1. To help Elijah to deal with his discouragement and despair, God first provided him with food, water, and rest. Now He gave him work to do.
2. The importance of work:
-it is a gift to us, a part of creation before the Fall, an extension of God’s work
-it brings a sense of worth, accomplishment, dignity
-it brings the respect of our neighbors, essential to spreading the gospel
-the Bible warns against idleness
-by working we meet our own needs, as well as the needs of God’s work and others
-our purpose in work is to glorify God
3. The third way God ministered to Elijah’s need was by providing him with someone to share the work.
Recap of 2-18-07 (1 Kings 19:13b-21)
1. To help Elijah to deal with his discouragement and despair, God first provided him with food, water, and rest. Now He gave him work to do.
2. The importance of work:
-it is a gift to us, a part of creation before the Fall, an extension of God’s work
-it brings a sense of worth, accomplishment, dignity
-it brings the respect of our neighbors, essential to spreading the gospel
-the Bible warns against idleness
-by working we meet our own needs, as well as the needs of God’s work and others
-our purpose in work is to glorify God
3. The third way God ministered to Elijah’s need was by providing him with someone to share the work.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Five Dangers to Avoid, Pt 2
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Recap of 2-11-07 (1 Kings 19:8-13a)
1. There are five dangers to our spiritual health and vitality we must be aware of. To fail to recognize them is to invite discouragement and despair. They are:
-the danger in taking our eyes off the Lord and onto our circumstances
-the danger of estimating the enemy of our souls and falling for his schemes
-the danger of neglecting the physical (rest/relaxation/food), for the physical affects the emotional and spiritual
-the danger of success and pride, failing to give God credit, a sense that we are indispensable to Him and His work
-the danger of addiction to the spectacular, the dramatic, in our spiritual lives, not realizing that God more often than not, works in the ordinary
2. We must learn an appreciation for God’s work in the ordinary things of life. We cannot always be on the mountaintop or have mountaintop experiences. Most of what God accomplishes He accomplishes through ordinary people doing the ordinary things that make life. To be faithful in the ordinary is to be faithful indeed.
Recap of 2-11-07 (1 Kings 19:8-13a)
1. There are five dangers to our spiritual health and vitality we must be aware of. To fail to recognize them is to invite discouragement and despair. They are:
-the danger in taking our eyes off the Lord and onto our circumstances
-the danger of estimating the enemy of our souls and falling for his schemes
-the danger of neglecting the physical (rest/relaxation/food), for the physical affects the emotional and spiritual
-the danger of success and pride, failing to give God credit, a sense that we are indispensable to Him and His work
-the danger of addiction to the spectacular, the dramatic, in our spiritual lives, not realizing that God more often than not, works in the ordinary
2. We must learn an appreciation for God’s work in the ordinary things of life. We cannot always be on the mountaintop or have mountaintop experiences. Most of what God accomplishes He accomplishes through ordinary people doing the ordinary things that make life. To be faithful in the ordinary is to be faithful indeed.
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Five Dangers to Avoid
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Recap of 2-4-07 (1 Kings 19:1-7)
1. Despite Elijah’s victory on Mt. Carmel a threat from Jezebel sends him into a tailspin and he despairs of life, feeling overwhelmed and like he can’t take anymore. His state is not unlike that of many Christians today.
2. From the heights of great victory to the depths of despair can happen in a moment when we are unaware of the dangers waiting to assail our spiritual life and health. There are five altogether. The first three are:
-the danger in taking our eyes off the Lord and onto our circumstances
-the danger of estimating the enemy of our souls and falling for his schemes
-the danger of neglecting the physical (rest/relaxation/food), for the physical affects the emotional and spiritual.
Recap of 2-4-07 (1 Kings 19:1-7)
1. Despite Elijah’s victory on Mt. Carmel a threat from Jezebel sends him into a tailspin and he despairs of life, feeling overwhelmed and like he can’t take anymore. His state is not unlike that of many Christians today.
2. From the heights of great victory to the depths of despair can happen in a moment when we are unaware of the dangers waiting to assail our spiritual life and health. There are five altogether. The first three are:
-the danger in taking our eyes off the Lord and onto our circumstances
-the danger of estimating the enemy of our souls and falling for his schemes
-the danger of neglecting the physical (rest/relaxation/food), for the physical affects the emotional and spiritual.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Between Two Opinions, Pt 2
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Recap of 1-28-07 (1 Kings 18:25-46)
The kind of person God uses:
1. God is not interested in our ability but in our availability.
2. God chooses a person who is undaunted by overwhelming odds or circumstances because they are convinced of the reality of God.
3. God chooses a person who is not impressed with their own power but the power of God to act in seemingly hopeless/impossible situations.
4. God chooses ordinary people and uses them in extraordinary ways.
5. God chooses people who will not quit when the going gets rough.
Recap of 1-28-07 (1 Kings 18:25-46)
The kind of person God uses:
1. God is not interested in our ability but in our availability.
2. God chooses a person who is undaunted by overwhelming odds or circumstances because they are convinced of the reality of God.
3. God chooses a person who is not impressed with their own power but the power of God to act in seemingly hopeless/impossible situations.
4. God chooses ordinary people and uses them in extraordinary ways.
5. God chooses people who will not quit when the going gets rough.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Between Two Opinions
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Recap of 1-21-07 (1 Kings 18:20-24)
1. Elijah confronts the problem of the double mindedness among the people of God. They were dividing their allegiance between God and Baal. God’s hates divided allegiance and Elijah calls the people of God to make a choice.
2. Divided allegiance occurs repeatedly in the scripture and is a problem to this day. In the history of Israel and of the church the people of God are challenged to follow Him alone:
-Moses, Exodus 32:26
-Joshua, Joshua 24:15
-Jesus, Matthew 6:24
-James, James 1:8; 4:4-6
3. Some of the gods of the land today that seek to divide our allegiance to God: sex, celebrity, alcohol/drugs, uncontrolled pursuit of expansion/materialism, theological compromise at the service of political correctness, etc.
Recap of 1-21-07 (1 Kings 18:20-24)
1. Elijah confronts the problem of the double mindedness among the people of God. They were dividing their allegiance between God and Baal. God’s hates divided allegiance and Elijah calls the people of God to make a choice.
2. Divided allegiance occurs repeatedly in the scripture and is a problem to this day. In the history of Israel and of the church the people of God are challenged to follow Him alone:
-Moses, Exodus 32:26
-Joshua, Joshua 24:15
-Jesus, Matthew 6:24
-James, James 1:8; 4:4-6
3. Some of the gods of the land today that seek to divide our allegiance to God: sex, celebrity, alcohol/drugs, uncontrolled pursuit of expansion/materialism, theological compromise at the service of political correctness, etc.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Profiles In Leadership
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Recap of 1-14-07 (1 Kings 18:1-19)
1. God had strategically placed a believer in the very palace of King Ahab named Obadiah. At the risk of his life, Obadiah hid 100 prophets of God and supplied them with food and water.
2. Obadiah exemplified several truths:
-he had a different kind of courage than Elijah, God needs those also who work quietly, behind the scenes
-God places us in the positions we are in primarily to be His representative, to use our influence, privilege to serve Him
3. Ahab called Elijah the troubler of Israel. The wicked never see their own actions as the source of their troubles, but blame God or believers instead. Those who stand for God will always be accused of causing strife/divisions. Nevertheless we must stand for God’s truth.
Recap of 1-14-07 (1 Kings 18:1-19)
1. God had strategically placed a believer in the very palace of King Ahab named Obadiah. At the risk of his life, Obadiah hid 100 prophets of God and supplied them with food and water.
2. Obadiah exemplified several truths:
-he had a different kind of courage than Elijah, God needs those also who work quietly, behind the scenes
-God places us in the positions we are in primarily to be His representative, to use our influence, privilege to serve Him
3. Ahab called Elijah the troubler of Israel. The wicked never see their own actions as the source of their troubles, but blame God or believers instead. Those who stand for God will always be accused of causing strife/divisions. Nevertheless we must stand for God’s truth.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Our Sufficient God
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Recap of 1-7-07 (1 Kings 17:2-24)
1. The trials of life can cause questions in the minds of God’s people:
-will He take care of us?
-will He meet our needs?
-can we trust Him?
2. God answers those questions and uses trials in the lives of His people:
-to strengthen our faith
-to learn that He is sufficiency for any situation
-to learn that He is faithfulness-to prepare us for greater usefulness
Recap of 1-7-07 (1 Kings 17:2-24)
1. The trials of life can cause questions in the minds of God’s people:
-will He take care of us?
-will He meet our needs?
-can we trust Him?
2. God answers those questions and uses trials in the lives of His people:
-to strengthen our faith
-to learn that He is sufficiency for any situation
-to learn that He is faithfulness-to prepare us for greater usefulness
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