As we begin this series, let's take a quick look at Israels history.
Following the reign of King David, his son, Solomon reigned in what scrip. says, in wisdom and the strength of God for approximately 30-35 years before his own decline and downfall.
After Solomon, Israel divides into 2 separate nations - Judah (southern) & Israel (northern) - the Kings of Israel all did evil in the sight of the Lord. They forsook His ways to serve idols, and led the people themselves into idolatry.
Conspiracy and assassination were the methods used in ascension to the throne; a sharp contrast to the anointing that God gave His chosen Kings; David, and Solomon.
Finally, fifty-five years and six kings later, Ahab comes on the scene. The Bible tells us that Ahab did more evil in the sight of the Lord than all who were before him.
What a legacy; to be known as one who has excelled in evil!
In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. 30 Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. 31 He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 32 He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. 33 Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the Lord, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him. 1 Kings 16:29-33
I Kings 16:31 tells us that Ahab considered it ‘no big deal’ to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, who had raised up idols in the land after the death of Solomon; and so little did sin and the
doing of evil matter to Ahab.
Making light of less sins makes way for greater sins, that he even marries Jezebel, a devout worshipper of Baal and the daughter of a king who worshipped Baal.
He marries this wicked woman, who he knew would bring in the worship of Baal, and seemed to marry her with that design. As if it had been a light thing to walk in the sins of Jeroboam, he took Jezebel as his wife(v. 31), she’s a God hater, extremely malicious in her natural temper, addicted to witchcraft (2 Ki. 9:22), and every way vicious. considered 2day:
High Maintence wicked Pysho-babel babe
Ahab built a temple in Samaria, the royal city, because the temple of God was in Jerusalem, the royal city of the other kingdom. He would have Baal’s temple near him, that he might the better frequent it, protect it, and put honour upon it.
He built an altar in that temple, on which to offer sacrifice to Baal, and they acknowledged their dependence upon him and sought his favour.
To sum up the life of Ahab we could say,
Completely ignoring God and living for self.
We've seen people like this in our world. We know folks who fit this description don't we?
Completely ignoring God and living for self.
I think if we look really close, I think we'll see we all have a little Ahab in us. Not nearly to the extreme he took it, but something there.
Ahab walked his own path, did what he wanted to do - we do that from time to time. “Aahhh it’s not that big of deal is it? I live under God’s grace”
Ahab choose to serve and worship other gods - we don’t do anything like that do we? That sounds so harsh. I don’t worship other gods! Really?
I do everytime I place something above God or at a higher priority than Him, or things I even choose to spend more time in or with - we have so many interests, hobbies, things we love to do,
watch on TV, and submerge ourselves totally in to. There are 1000's of things that fit this description.
In every instance, if not done in balance and with the proper
priority in order w/ God, we too serve these other gods - we think they’re serving us, giving us great pleasure, but how naive we are.
Then we look at the people Ahab chose to be with. Jezebel in particular b/c she had the greatest influence on him.
We just talked about influ. a couple of weeks ago, but who we hang out with, spend our time w/ matters. it matters.
It doesn’t mean we forsake all contact w/ those we know who are not true Christ-followers, but it certainly matters what kind of impact is taking place. Now that really matters!
Are you impacting/influ. them w/ the love of Christ or are you using this time w/ them to drop our guard a bit,
b/c “they won’t mind, and I can’t do this at home, so... it’s ok today”
Oh, there’s a little Ahab in us all I’m afraid.
This hard heart that sometimes ignores God and lives for self.
Let's set up this next verse. Baal was worshipped as a weather-god. Later, the weather-god should have been able to strike his priest’s sacrifice with lightning, there on Mt. Carmel. But God would mock this false god by consuming Elijah’s sacrifice with fire from heaven.
In like manner Elijah, first coming on the scene in chapter 17, mocks Baal’s power by announcing that there will be no rain...not even morning dew...until he, Elijah, says so.
“Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word." v.1
Now as a legitimate prophet of God, we know that Elijah didn’t just decide on his own initiative to make this declaration.
That would be stupid - get you killed.
It must have followed very earnest and real-time in prayer, that God told him to go to Ahab and make the announcement. Ahab would understand that it was Elijah’s God who would hold back the rain; but I don’t want you to miss the way God honors the man who is truly close to His own heart. He has promised Elijah that when the rain finally comes, it would be at Elijah’s bidding. (“...there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word.”)
This can only be done by a man who truly loves and seeks God in all and every area of life that his heart is in complete line w/ the heart of God - WOW!
What a contrast to Ahab.
He is the polar opposite - a true follower of the Most High God.
One with a heart after God.
A Heart after God
The Beatitudes do not describe many separate individuals, but rather the characteristics of those who are wholeheartedly,
passionately pursuing God.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were
before you. Matthew 5:3-12
Let’s look at each of these & how they describe those with a heart after God
I. Seek God (3) ...poor in spirit...
Know they don’t know it all
Know they need outside help
2. Mourn Sin’s Results (4) ...they that mourn...
Sad from what they see, not proud of the world
around them - people lost w/out Christ (what do you see in regards to people
when walk into rest... groc.. mall... ballgame...?)
3. Wait for God to Act (5) ...the meek...
Not resisting God’s directions
Following God and letting Him change your life
4. Work to Further God’s Impact (6) ...after righteousness...
Work to satisfy strong desires for what’s right. Balance God’s grace and our good works (“speak truth in love” Eph.4:15)
5. Help Suffering People (7) ...the merciful...
Desire to be a “neighbor” (Luke 10:25-37)
Distributing mercy and relief - Montrose
6. Seek Another’s Best (8) ...the pure in heart...
Pure hearts share service and love
Pure motives, putting others above yourself - known by love
7. Help Strengthen Relationships (9) ...the peacemakers...
Builders, not breakers
bringing people 2gether and to Christ ()
8. Stand Up for What is Right (10-12) ...for my sake...
Does the “unusual” for God - go against the grain/ the world
Taking a stand for God & His ways - Elijah
It’s amazing to see as we study the life of Elijah just how
passionate and obedient and willing he was to move and
stand for God.
Over the next weeks we will see these in Elijah.
What a heart! What an example. study the life of Elijah this summer to learn, glean from God’s Word how to implement
The Elijah Element into our own lives.
It begins in the heart
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