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2 Kings 9 (Part 1) Bible Study (Jehu Anointed King of Israel) | Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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Second Kings Chapter 9. I'm curious to know if anyone
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here saw the recent Wall Street Journal article about Bible
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sales recently. Anybody read that?
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If you have lift your hand. Nobody read it.
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Yes, one couple people. Well, if you haven't read it, it
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was a December report and it was a review of Bible sales in the
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United States. In 2024.
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There was a 22% increase of Bible sales in comparison to
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2023. And so the first ten months of
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2024 there were 13.7 million Bible sales in this country.
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And the report also said that from one particular bookstore
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manager, she expressed by way of personal testimony that she's
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she has seen so many first time buyers coming into her store
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primarily looking for the Scriptures.
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And when asking about why they were buying the Bible, there was
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a large number of people who are admitting that they were on a
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quest for something. Can you guess what that quest is
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for? Truth is a good answer, but more
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specific hope. People are looking for hope.
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And that shouldn't surprise us in our age, right?
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With the growing global chaos and the cultural confusion
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that's surrounding us, people are desperately looking for some
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answers. And a lot of those sales are
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coming from Gen. Z, which is so encouraging
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because so many people have written them off and just
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thought that there are lost cause.
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All, even secular reporters and analysts are saying otherwise.
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People are hungry. They're looking for answers, and
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they're not getting answers from gurus or celebrities or secular
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prophets. And I wanted to say, if you are
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here today listening or in person, and you're starting out
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on that quest, know that this church is dedicated to
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explaining and expounding the Bible.
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And we hope and pray that what you hear week after week will
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guide you through the truth and it will provide you greater
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clarity and confidence. And the Lord has been faithful
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to us week after week, hasn't he?
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He has been so good to us. And tonight, as we come to this
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book, as we usually do, we continue in our study of
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Elijah's efforts to complete what Elijah granted to him and
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passed on to him, particularly in the area of appointing
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specific leaders who will be God's instruments of judgment
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against the people of Israel. And we read and studied last
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week that Elisha crowned Hazael to be the next king of Syria.
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And tonight, as we approach this chapter.
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We will witness how this man named Jehu will become the new
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king of Israel. So if you're there, meet me in
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verse one of Second Kings Chapter 9.
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Let's read the first 3 verses together.
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Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets
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and said to him, Tie up your garments and take this flask of
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oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead.
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And when you arrive, look there for Jehu, the son of
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Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, and go in and have him rise from
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among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber.
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Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say,
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Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.
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Then open the door and flee. Do not linger, Lord, we come to
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this word, but we ask yet again that you would help us
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understand this word. As you open the minds of the
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disciples in Luke chapter 24, we pray that you would give us that
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same gift. Open our minds and as we sang,
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surely you make the woeful heart singing.
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We pray that what we discover here will only add to our praise
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and also add to our worship as living sacrifices dedicated and
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consecrated to the person of Jesus Christ.
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We trust you now. In Jesus name we pray.
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Amen. Hazael has been anointed.
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He has already occupied the throne in Syria and began his
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work to harass the people of Israel.
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But that is not all that God has in mind.
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And dealing with this stubborn people, there is a king to arise
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from among the brethren, Jehu, who will occupy the throne and
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do the bidding of the Lord in terms of discipline.
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Now, interestingly, Elijah, though he was in Syria to
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proclaim Hazaela's king, does not do the same concerning Jehu
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in Israel. He delegates that task to one of
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his students and we're not given an explanation, we're not told
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why he dispatches one of his pupils to perform this awesome
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responsibility. And though there isn't immediate
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explanation, there is a great clue within this chapter that
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can help us understand why Elijah is doing it this way.
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We didn't read it, but let's turn to it quickly.
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It's in the same chapter, but look at verse 15 of Second Kings
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9. What you have here is what Jehu
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tells those who learn of his anointing.
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Accept it and celebrate it, right?
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And so this is what we read in Second Kings 99 verse 15.
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But King Joram now pause. Joram is just another name for
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Jehoram, who is the current king of Israel.
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But. King Joram had returned to be
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healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him
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when he fought with Hazael, King of Syria.
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Pause again. That's what we learned in the
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last few verses of chapter 8, that the king of Israel went to
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war with Hazael. He was injured, and so he
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retreats to Jezreel to recover. But notice what we read here,
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the second part of this verse. So Jehu said, if this is your
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decision, pause yet again, sorry.
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In other words, because the people learn of his anointing in
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his immediate context, and they said, yes, you are our next
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king. He goes, OK, if this is your
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decision, notice his instruction.
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Then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in
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Jezreel. In other words, let let's make
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sure that this isn't get to who? Who's in Jezreel?
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The king of Israel, who's recovering.
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We can't let him know. We can't give him any
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inclination that his government is threatened, though in reality
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is ready to be toppled. And so he tells his group,
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listen, keep it to yourselves. We have to plan strategically
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and carefully in order for us to be successful.
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So he wants to keep this discreet.
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And I am persuaded that Elijah sending one of his students is
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for the same purpose. He wants to ensure that
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everything is under the radar. Now we saw in chapter 8 how
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Elijah was very well known, not just among his own people, but
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even even among the neighboring nations.
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When he arrived in Damascus, what did we learn?
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The king of Syria heard of it very quickly and try to summon
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him, though he did not come for the king of Syria, Ben Haddad,
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remember that this man could not go anywhere without being
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recognized and noticed and new spreading that he was in the
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neighborhood. And so in understanding this, he
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is wise. I'm not going to personally go
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to Jehu and anoint him. That would be too suspicious.
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That would invite a quick investigation.
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Instead, I'm going to take one of my students to do the job for
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me. And here we have one of the rare
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occasions where we learn that being so well known has its
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disadvantages and how God looks for unknown servants to do great
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things. At times you and I should be
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comforted by the fact that we don't need large followings and
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we don't need so many people to acknowledge us in order to be
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recruited by God to do notable things for His Kingdom.
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Here you have this unnamed student who will go out and do
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an awesome thing. It is a great responsibility to
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appoint and anoint somebody into a specific office.
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And this young man is going to do it.
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And I know that there are some people.
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This is mainly for those who want to be used by God.
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There is always that temptation that in order for me to do
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something effective and worthwhile, I have to try to
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make myself known. I have to try to gain notoriety
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or some attention. I I need to be recognized in
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some way, but instead of being preoccupied with that, be
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preoccupied with knowing God. Just know God, love him, seek
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him, honor him whoever you are, wherever you are, Let God take
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care of the rest. Let the Lord take care of the
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rest. We don't know anything about
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this student, but I think that there are insights in these
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first 3 verses, specifically with Elijah's instructions to
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him that give us some kind of idea of his qualities that made
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him a candidate to go and do this specific work.
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So I want you to consider at least two things that I think
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are applicable to us if we long to be summoned by the Lord to
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serve him in any way he sees fit.
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The first thing that I noticed is that this young servant was
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available. He was available.
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Look at verse 2 says here verse one.
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Rather in the initial command, Elijah says tie up your
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garments. In other words, stop what you're
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doing, get your shoes on, and get going.
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This required this young man to do what?
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To prioritize the purpose of God, to abandon whatever he was
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doing at this moment, and to make sure that he did what God
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called them to do. And So what I see here is
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something so important. I see here that there must be a
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willingness to sacrifice. For the Lord, in order for us to
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be a significant impact for the Lord, if we want to be
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positioned, if we want to be prepared to make any impact, we
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have to be willing to make any sacrifice.
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This is a small sacrifice, but small sacrifices count.
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And in this case, this man had to stop what he was doing, stop
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what he had planned, and to make this priority number one.
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That's what I mean by availability, making God's
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purposes in your life ultimate priority, preeminent above
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everything else. And that's what this young man
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does here. So let me say this as kindly as
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possible. God does not seek people who
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view serving Him as an inconvenience.
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God does not recruit people who see anything connected to His
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Kingdom in terms of service or ministry as an inconvenient
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thing. He looks for those who see as
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the greatest honor and joy in their lives to please Him in any
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way that He sees fit for your life.
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That's who He looks for. And there's another quality here
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that I see about this man, not just his availability, but
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something equally important, his dedication.
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Notice in verse 1 he says tie up your garments and take this
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flask of oil in your hand and go to Raymouth Gilead.
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And the follow up command is quite striking.
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And when you arrive, look there, Look there for Jehu, the son of
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Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. This is not King Jehoshaphat, by
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the way. This is a different Jehoshaphat.
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This is not the one who ruled in Judah.
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This is just a different individual, the same name.
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So Jehu is not of royal descent. This is different Jehoshaphat.
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But notice the instruction. He's in Reymouth.
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Gilead, young man. But you have to look there for
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him. When you get to this town, it is
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your duty to be discreet, diligent and patient to locate
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him. And then anoint him.
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He could not afford to give in to any fear because it was a
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dangerous thing to anoint somebody as a king while there
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was a king and you couldn't give up due to any frustration.
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God looks for committed men and women and it is only through
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commitment will any person in God's Kingdom taste of the full
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fruit of their labor and dedication.
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People give up too easily these days.
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I've seen many over the years who get excited about starting a
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new thing or heading in this direction or starting this
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project, but very few stick with it.
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So I want to counsel you to cultivate a certain mentality.
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And here's the mentality that we all need that whatever God has
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called you to do, you do it with all your might.
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And the only way you would stop doing it is if He tells you to
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stop doing it. If He clearly closes the door.
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And you realize that he is leading you elsewhere.
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Cultivate that mentality. This young man needed it.
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When you get there, look there. Be loyal to this cause.
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Loyalty in our day is becoming weaker and weaker in every
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sphere may not be so in the Church of Jesus Christ.
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So he was supposed to go and look, go look.
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You have work to do. Go investigate the scene.
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And though there can be more said about these instructions, I
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think the most impressive thing about this young man is not
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necessarily found in these first 3 verses.
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They're found in the fourth verse.
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Look at the fourth verse with me.
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So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth
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Gilead saying what's there? He was a young man.
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That blesses me because it informs me that God not only is
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willing to recruit obscure individuals, he's willing to
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enroll young people as well. Now as much as that's an
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encouragement, it's also a challenge.
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What's the challenge? The challenge is this, that this
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example among many leaves young people no excuse to strive to be
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fit for God's service. There's no excuse.
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It's possible. It's possible to be available,
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prioritizing God above all of the things and dedicated this
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young man did. Why can't you And there are many
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young people within Christendom who love to quote First Timothy
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412 in defense of their youth in connection to ministry, right?
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Let no one do what despise your youth.
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It's a powerful. Verse.
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But I rarely hear people quote Philippians 220 and 21 that
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highlights Timothy's credentials.
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Can we turn that together in the New Testament Philippians 220?
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Look what Paul says about the same young man Timothy, that he
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told to not let. Anyone despise him for his
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youth? People believe that Timothy was
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in his late 30s, early 40s, so that gives many people.
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Hope to be considered young at that age.
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Philippians 2/20/21. Notice what Paul says for I have
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no one like him. Wow.
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I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your
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welfare, for they all seek their own interests, not those of
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Jesus Christ. I love this passage for many
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reasons, because it not only shows me that Timothy was fit
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for God's service, it shows me that he excelled in character
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and dependability. He excelled in it.
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And what was the secret, according to Paul's words, that
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all of his interests were aligned with those of Jesus
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Christ. All of his interests.
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Whatever Jesus wanted, Timothy wanted.
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Whatever Jesus longed for, Timothy longed for.
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Whatever Jesus loved, Timothy loved.
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Whatever Jesus hated, Timothy hated.
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And notice this character trait, this devotion to Christ was so
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real in Timothy's life that out of all the partners that Paul
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had, he selected the young man to go and minister to the
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Philippians, the young man. It's not difficult to see how
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availability and dedication open doors for this young man in
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Second Kings 9. And with Timothy, it's no
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different for any of us. Your job is not to open doors.
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Your job is to open your heart to the degree that Jesus is
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everything to you. And those are the best kinds of
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servants in his Kingdom. This young man would go, let's
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read it now from Second Kings 94 down to verse six.
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So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth
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Gilead. And when he came, behold, the
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commanders of the army were in council.
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And he said, I have a word for you, O commander.
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And Jesus said, To Which of us all?
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And he said to you, O commander, oh, this young man has
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authority. Respect, but authority.
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I have a word for you, O commander.
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Which one of us to you, O commander?
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So he arose and went into the house, and the young man poured
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the oil on his head, saying to him, Thus says the Lord, the God
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of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord over
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Israel. Now he's going to continue on,
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but I can't help but under score something that he says in this
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initial prophecy. I want you to get another glance
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of how the young prophet describes the people of God in
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verse 6. What does he say?
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I anoint you king over the people of the Lord over Israel.
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He could have said the people of Israel, but he said specifically
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the people of the Lord, saying why is that important?
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Aren't they the people of the Lord?
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You wouldn't think so if you watch how they live at this
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time. What was their spiritual
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condition like? They were idolatrous.
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They were ungrateful. They were stubborn and Despite
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that, God was still willing to acknowledge this group at this
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time of history as His people. Why?
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Because He is a God who keeps His Word.
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Why? Because He is a covenant keeping
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God. And it wasn't because of their
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faithfulness. They didn't even meet the base
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requirement of faithfulness. It's because He promised.
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He promised Abraham something, and he promised Isaac, and he
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promised Jacob, and he promised David something.
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And what you find from Genesis to Revelation is that God is
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constant. He is the same.
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His people are not. They deviate, they're fickle,
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they're inconsistent. And yet, though we are
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disappointed with the people, we are to be inspired because
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periodically the Scriptures by the Spirit reminds us that in
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spite of all of this, God is going to keep His word.
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God is going to be faithful. God is going to complete what He
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promised. That's what we're confronted
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with. That's the beauty of reading
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your Bible through and through. You're spending thousands of
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years and you're still seeing the same.
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God, the same conviction, the same heart, He doesn't change.
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We change even though we're in covenant with Him, we change, He
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doesn't. And one of the strongest
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statements I believe, that solidified the incomparable
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constancy of God is in the writings of Jeremiah.
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I want you to see what Jeremiah says of the same people hundreds
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of years after this time. Look at Jeremiah 31 and I want
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you to see verse 37. Thus says the Lord, if the
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heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth
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below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring
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of Israel for all that they have done, declares the Lord.
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Wow, what a verse in a book that is primarily about judgement.
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Jeremiah being one of the final voices before the people of
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Judah go into exile, and with all these warnings and all these
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scathing things being said somewhere in between, we read
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that through Jeremiah. God says, can you measure the
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heavens, take a measuring tape and go up into space and figure
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out the span of it? Can you explore the depths of
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the earth and figure out the mysteries below?
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If you can't do that, then I will cast off my promises to
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this people, Israel. And notice he said something
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again. For all that they have done is
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despite it, all that they've done, all the corruption, all
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the evil, all the abominations, I will.
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Keep my promise to this people say, well, that's the Old
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Testament. No, that's what Paul says in the
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New Testament. And why did you say in the New
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Testament? For many reasons, including this
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reason to tell the people who are being introduced to this God
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through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
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Hey, you can trust the God of this gospel because look how he
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is with this people called Israel.
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You knew covenant believers. You can be anchored in your
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security and the salvation and the promises and the blessings
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of God. Why?
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Because look how he has been throughout.
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History. And look how he's still the same
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towards his people even to this day.
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He said something to them and he kept his word.
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He still has his word for them. And so you can trust him for
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your life in this covenant as well.
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So no matter what, the people of Israel, both in the past and
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still today, remain the. People of the Lord, if you have
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a problem with that language then you have a problem with
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Romans 11. But the statement in context of
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Jesus anointing has another meaning.
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This is the people of the Lord, right?
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That says something about God's character, but it also says
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something about J, who in what sense?
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J who had to learn immediately right off the gate as a new
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leader of this people, that this people don't belong to him, they
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belong to God. And you see a similar thing in
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the context of the church concerning leaders, what they
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leaders, what they're supposed to have before them at all
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times. I'm reminded of the words of the
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Apostle Paul to the elders. Of the church in Ephesus, and in
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his departing words he says the following in Acts 2028.
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Lean in and pay attention. Pay careful attention to
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yourselves and to all the flock. I love that all the flock, not
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just some of the flock, all the flock in which the Holy Spirit
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has made you Overseers. Pause.
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The word. Overseers, bishops, pastors are
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all synonymous, elders included. Those all mean pastors.
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I just have to say this, elders in the church are not an
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Advisory Board to the main pastor of the church.
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Every elder is a pastor. Every elder is a pastor.
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I know many, many churches don't function that way.
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You have a pastor who usually teaches every week, and then you
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have the elders who are kind of, they're obviously Christian, but
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they're not really shepherding and they just kind of help out
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and keep the pastor accountable. Wrong.
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Every elder according to the Bible, is a pastor and they
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share equal authority. I don't know why I had to say
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that. Just had to get that out there
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in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for
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the Church of God, which he obtained with his own.
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Blood. Well, I spoke about pastors, so
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let me stay there a little bit. I am so moved by this truth that
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it is the Holy Spirit who is the agent that calls, identifies,
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and raises up pastors in the local church.
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Don't you see that in which the Holy Spirit has made you
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overseers? Who's the one that positions
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elders in a church? God himself, God himself.
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So the position of a pastor is not something you necessarily
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pursue as much as it pursues you.
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It chooses you. You don't choose it.
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I don't know why. Anybody would choose it without
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God's approval and leading. He chooses you.
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That's beside the point. I want you to see how Paul
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speaks of the church to these elders who are called to oversee
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it. To care for what?
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Not the Church of Ephesus, the Church of God.
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Wow. Viewing the church in this way,
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Paul is being very intentional. Should revolutionize the way
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leaders minister in their churches.
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If properly understood, it will revolutionize the way you
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preach, the way you counsel. It will do something to your
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humility. It will strengthen and anchor
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your commitment. It will inspire a reverence.
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Elders, this is the Church of God.
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Now I know most people here are not pastors.
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So this is relate to you. Absolutely it should.
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It should transform all of us in the way we view the bride of
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Christ. In what way?
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This is not just a gathering of people who have nothing to do on
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a Friday night. This is a gathering of people
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who have been purchased by God with His blood.
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Think about that every time you come through those doors.
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Think about that when there's conflict.
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Think about that when there's ministry opportunities.
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Think about that when you greet one another and you fellowship.
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I am with the people who've been purchased by the blood of God.
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Jehu, you're going to be the new king.
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But remember, this is the people of the Lord.
27:14
Let's come back, because he's not finished with that.
27:17
Verse seven of Second Kings 9 Jehu, though he would be a
27:22
leader to care for this people, is under a unique dispensation,
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because though a leader, he is called to be an instrument of
27:29
judgement. And we see that in verse 7.
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And you shall strike down the House of Ahab, your master, so
27:35
that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants, the
27:39
prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord.
27:43
For the whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off
27:46
from Ahab's every male bond, or free in Israel, and I will make
27:51
the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam the son of Nabat,
27:54
and like the House of Bashah the son of Ahisha.
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And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and
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none shall bury her. Then he opened the door and
28:05
fled. So what's the essence of this
28:10
prophecy? Utter destruction is coming to
28:12
the House of Ahab. He is going to be rooted out and
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he is going to be disintegrated. Him and his descendants.
28:18
There will be no one left. And not only will this people,
28:22
this group, this house, know an end.
28:25
Jezebel specifically will know a disgraceful fate.
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Though a queen, she will not have an honorable death.
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Or recognition for her life. She will be eaten by the dogs.
28:38
We haven't seen Jezebel for a while, right?
28:40
At least I mentioned her name. This might surprise you.
28:43
She's still alive at this point in our study of Second Kings.
28:46
She's just been a little. Quiet.
28:50
But things are going to change for Jezebel very quickly.
28:54
And though we might have forgotten of her, God didn't.
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And you would think here, right as he gives this indictment.
29:04
That the indictment against the House of Ahab is caused by what
29:08
this family institutionalizing Bill worship.
29:12
But that's not what he says. Look back again at verse 7 for
29:15
the reason why judgement is coming to this house.
29:19
The second part so that I avenge on Jezebel the blood of my
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servants, the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of
29:27
the. Lord, God feels a very special
29:32
way about His servants and how they are treated.
29:38
Whether they are treated with favor or with injustice, God
29:43
cares deeply about how His servants are treated.
29:50
And in in case you mistake this for how God feels about His
29:53
spokesman, that's not what verse 7 says.
29:57
He does distinguish the prophets of the Lord, but he also
30:00
includes what? All his servants, all his
30:04
servants. So every single one of us,
30:07
preacher or not a preacher, God keeps in mind what people do to
30:12
his servants. What does that teach you?
30:15
And I reminds us that when we are not treated well, to leave
30:19
vengeance to God. That's what it teaches me.
30:24
Leave. It to the Lord.
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And I believe this observation, among others, was preserved in
30:30
the Scriptures to bring hope and encouragement to persecuted
30:34
believers in Jesus Christ. Believers who may feel like
30:39
they're tormentors evaded justice because after they did
30:44
what they did, they seem to go on with life without
30:46
consequence. You know what this teaches us?
30:50
Teaches that the Lord does not forget.
30:53
He doesn't forget even though he does not execute his justice
30:56
immediately there was delay between Jezebel's persecution
31:02
and her ugly fate. But what's so fascinating is how
31:07
this young man who expands on what?
31:09
Elijah said, echoes what Elijah said to Ahab when he confronted
31:15
him at neighbor's vineyard. It's so similar when you compare
31:18
Second Kings nine with First Kings 21, it's almost word for
31:22
word that the general idea is there.
31:24
What's going to happen to the House of Ahab?
31:25
What's going to happen to Jezebel?
31:28
So all the way back from First Kings 21 to this point, God
31:31
didn't forget a thing. He remembers how every single
31:35
one of his prophets were murdered.
31:39
We're chased out of their homes. We're living in caves because of
31:43
this woman. And so God would bring about
31:45
justice on their behalf. You will inevitably be
31:50
mistreated, sometimes from professing Christians, sometimes
31:52
with those who hate Christians and are outside of the church.
31:56
In any case, leave even the idea, the meditation of what
32:01
should be done to him, to the Lord.
32:04
He'll take care of it in due time.
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Verse 8. I want us to look at a couple
32:09
more things from the latter portion of this prophecy.
32:13
For the whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off
32:16
from Ahab every male bond or free in Israel, and I will make
32:21
the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam, the son of the
32:23
band, like the House of Bash of the son of Ahijah.
32:25
In other words, the extinction, those houses no longer exist.
32:30
That will be the same for Ahab. And what I love about this,
32:33
before we move on, is how this exchange ends.
32:37
So, Jay, who is there with these other commanders?
32:39
Because remember that war with Syria, Says you, O commander, I
32:43
got a word for you. He summons him.
32:46
They go into a private room. He pours oil on his head.
32:48
He gives him this word. Look at verse 10.
32:50
This. This made me smile.
32:52
The last part. Then he opened the door and
32:54
fled. What does that tell you?
32:58
Here's what it tells me. He obeyed.
33:00
He obeyed everything Elijah told him.
33:04
He went right away. He searched for Jehu.
33:08
He. Found Jehu, he gave him the word
33:10
that he's supposed to give him and.
33:12
He paid attention to where he fled the moment he finished.
33:18
Now, in the same way we are not granted explanation for why
33:21
Elijah sent this man to begin with, we are not granted any
33:26
clues necessarily for why he told this young man to flee
33:29
immediately after he gave this prophecy.
33:33
Was it because it was dangerous? Yeah, that's a that's a good
33:36
answer because in First Samuel 16, when Samuel was told,
33:40
listen, stop crying about Saul, I have another king in mind,
33:44
fill your horn with oil and go down there.
33:47
What was Samuel's protest? If Saul hears of this, I'm a
33:50
dead man. So again, it, it was dangerous,
33:54
even if you were a prophet, to anoint anybody to be a king when
33:58
there was a king still occupying the throne.
34:00
So it could be that Elijah was saying, look, you need to, you
34:02
need to flee right away. Or it could be for another
34:07
undisclosed temptation. We are not certain.
34:09
But you know what? We are certain about this theme
34:12
here of a young man who is commanded by a man of God, who
34:17
represented the word of God. How in a certain context?
34:22
To flee, young man. Flee.
34:28
Flee. Don't linger, don't stay, don't
34:30
entertain. Run.
34:32
That sound familiar? It should, because another young
34:37
man that we talked about earlier in this Bible study was also
34:39
told to flee, but in a different context.
34:41
Do. You remember the?
34:42
Command at least one of them. There's two, but I have this one
34:45
in mind. Second Timothy 222 So flee What?
34:50
Youthful passions? Youthful lusts in some
34:57
translations. Which means what?
35:02
Any idea what youthful passions mean?
35:05
What's the popular answer? Sexual morality, right?
35:11
Is that what Paul meant in that context?
35:15
It could definitely include that.
35:16
I think it's appropriate to use that to, say, flee from sexual
35:19
sin. But if you look at the context
35:22
of Second Timothy 2, it includes something else.
35:24
So let's turn to Second Timothy 2.
35:32
If you haven't noticed, much of what we discover in our Bible
35:36
study is when we look at very well known passages in light of
35:39
their context. Have you noticed that?
35:42
I've noticed it? Second Timothy 2.
35:47
If you want to know where Timothy is, it's with all the
35:50
other epistles that have the letter T, Titus and
35:56
Thessalonians. But look at Second Timothy 2, 22
35:59
So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith,
36:04
love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure
36:08
heart. Now people interpret youthful
36:11
passions as sexual indulgences or temptations because we equate
36:16
youthful impulses with that which is not wrong.
36:20
But the word passions or even lust is broader than that.
36:23
All it really means is the cravings of the flesh, the
36:26
desires of the flesh, and when you look at the surrounding
36:29
commands that Paul gives to this young man, who was it in the
36:32
context of a pastor who is occupying the pasture, it you
36:36
see something interesting. Look at verse 14.
36:39
Remind them of these things and charge them before God not to
36:42
quarrel about words which does no good, but only ruins the
36:46
hearers. Look at verse 15.
36:48
Do your best to present yourself to God as one to prove the
36:51
worker who has no need to be ashamed rightly handling the
36:54
word of truth. So so far we're we're told here
36:58
that Timothy was to tell his congregation don't get involved
37:02
and and arguments about words. We'll talk about that in a
37:05
moment right after he says Timothy, it's your job to
37:08
rightly handle the Bible. You know, people quote and
37:11
preach the Bible doesn't mean that they're rightly handling
37:13
it. You understand that right.
37:15
You have to be careful how you interpret things.
37:17
Now look what he says in verse 16, but avoid irreverent Babble.
37:21
He's on it again, irreverent Babble.
37:24
What does he mean? For it will lead people to more
37:27
and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene.
37:30
Among them are Himenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from
37:33
the truth. So we have an idea here that
37:34
this irreverent Babble are conversations that lead people
37:39
away from the truth of the Scriptures.
37:41
But it's not. Not just that we quoted Second
37:44
Timothy 222, but look at verse 23 right after he says flee
37:47
youthful passions. Notice what he says have nothing
37:50
to do with foolish ignorant controversies.
37:54
You know that they breed quarrels.
37:57
So we see this pattern. Timothy don't get into these
38:01
arguments. Timothy rightly handled about
38:04
with Timothy don't get into these conversations that are on
38:07
fruit With Timothy don't get into this foolish, ignorant
38:10
controversies and conversation. It leads to arguments and in
38:16
between that we have this command flee youthful passions.
38:21
Here's what I think. Youthful passions primarily
38:24
means that Timothy was to one. It means many things.
38:28
I believe one was to resist the temptation to adopt trendy
38:35
teachings that were false and contrary to the Bible.
38:40
Timothy was to. Flee.
38:43
From the urge perhaps, of seeking to develop new theology
38:52
and to be inventive in his doctrine to look for something
38:57
quote UN quote fresh and different and secretive codes to
39:03
uncrack. So to speak.
39:04
Yeah, Timothy, avoid getting into unfruitful debate about
39:11
things that lead to no conclusions.
39:13
Conclusions that are clear in the Bible veer away from these
39:17
people that are devoted because they find pleasure in arguing
39:22
about matters that don't even really deal with the truth or
39:26
twist the truth, or find some basis in the truth, but lead
39:30
elsewhere. Resist that youthful passion of
39:38
one trying to make more than what the Word of God tells you
39:43
to make of it right. Do young pastors face that
39:47
temptation? They look out on YouTube, they
39:50
look out on podcasts and they see what's popular.
39:52
They see what's getting the clicks.
39:53
They see what's filling up stadiums and and they look over
39:55
into their church and they don't see it's barely filled.
39:58
Maybe I can, maybe I can bring in some of these controversies
40:01
or discussions or ideas. Maybe maybe that will make me a
40:04
little bit more successful. Flee.
40:08
Stick with the Bible and rightly handle it, Timothy.
40:13
But not just that. Even if that's not a problem for
40:15
you to get into, these conversations that people are
40:19
are. Addicted to and.
40:21
Spend all their time and energy in.
40:23
It's not saying don't get into fruitful, constructive
40:26
conversations of theology. That's not what he's talking
40:28
about at all. He's talking about things that
40:31
lead you away from the truth. In other words, Timothy, if you
40:34
can generalize it, this is the broader application.
40:36
Flee from distractions. Flee from unfruitful, harmful
40:46
distractions. Youthful passions.
40:50
Does it include sexual sin? Sure it does, but the context
40:53
suggests something else. And why is this important?
40:57
Why is it important for Timothy not just to flee sexual sin, but
41:01
to flee things that would deviate him from his call, his
41:04
purpose? Look at verse 21 of Second
41:06
Timothy 2. Therefore, if anyone cleanses
41:09
himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a
41:11
vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the
41:16
Master. Of the house ready for every
41:18
good work. Verse 22 so flee youthful
41:21
passions. You want to be better positioned
41:24
to be used by God. Flee these things.
41:27
Timothy see we've limited this to a flee pornography.
41:32
Flee a flirtatious woman. No, no, it's deeper than that.
41:37
Flee harmful distractions because God wants to use you.
41:41
I'm not talking about hobbies. I'm not talking about fun
41:44
things. Please.
41:45
I always have to give that warning because people mishear
41:47
what I'm saying talking about things in the Bible here that
41:49
are issuing warning about God wants to use you young man.
41:54
So flee these things. But here's the problem too with
41:57
many Christians, they only hear flee, flee, flee and they don't
42:00
know where to flee to. OK, I'm running for this.
42:02
I'm not doing this, but that's not what I said.
42:04
I finish this. Look at verse 22 again.
42:05
Flee through passions and pursue, pursue things.
42:11
Don't just most of people in their understanding of
42:14
Christianity, in their discipline says no, no, no, no,
42:17
no, don't go, don't do, don't say, don't hear.
42:19
No, no, no, no, no, no. Yeah, do that.
42:22
But also pursue other things. Be occupied with good things,
42:25
holy things, constructive things, edifying things,
42:28
spiritual things, right righteousness, faith, love,
42:31
peace. And look at this.
42:32
Pursue what? Genuine Christians, along with
42:36
those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
42:39
It's possible to call on the Lord from an impure heart,
42:41
right? And some people who should be
42:45
used by God are not being used by God because of the people
42:48
that they're with. They're not with those who call
42:51
on the Lord from a pure heart. So they can't hear the Lord as
42:55
they should. All of that just from the little
42:59
observation of this man being told to flee.
43:01
Young men flee, but it's not it. Let's come back to verse 11 as
43:07
we finalize this Bible study. It says here in Second Kings
43:16
911, when Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they
43:22
said to him. Is.
43:23
All well, why did this mad fellow come to you?
43:27
And he said them, you know the fellow in his talk and they said
43:32
that is not true. Tell us now.
43:34
And he said thus. And so he spoke to me, saying,
43:37
Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel.
43:42
Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it
43:47
under him on the bare steps. And they blew the trumpet and
43:50
proclaimed Jehu is king. It's very easy to wrap things up
43:57
at this point, but I want to note with you how these fellow
44:00
governors, leaders in the army, referred to this young prophet.
44:05
What do they call them? Who is Matt translation?
44:09
Who's this crazy guy? What is this crazy guy doing
44:13
here? It's not like they didn't know
44:14
who he was. I'm sure that the sons of the
44:16
prophets were recognizable. You know, some people view
44:22
people who serve God as crazy. Right.
44:25
And it was not just here in the Old Testament.
44:27
Let me remind you of what somebody told Paul when he was
44:30
on trial. I know we were just in the New
44:33
Testament. Let's go back again in Acts 26
44:37
when he stands before Festus on trial, falsely accused by the
44:41
Jews. And Paul, typical Paul, no
44:44
matter where you put him, he's preaching the gospel.
44:47
Put him on a ship, he's preaching the gospel.
44:48
Put him in a jail cell, he's preaching the gospel.
44:51
He goes out to pray in a forest area by the river.
44:55
He's. Preaching the gospel.
44:55
Wherever you find him, he's going to preach the gospel.
44:57
And here he is, standing before Festus, and he's.
45:00
Wrapping up things with his testimony, or at least he's
45:02
interrupted and we read here in verse 24.
45:05
And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus
45:08
said with a loud voice. Paul.
45:11
You are out of your mind. Your great learning is driving
45:17
you out of your mind. OK, so if it happened to the
45:23
prophets of old, if it happened to Paul, if it happened to our
45:26
Lord Jesus, who was what, falsely accused of being crazy
45:31
and demon possessed, why do you get all worked up when people
45:35
say something about you? It's the common testimony of the
45:39
people of God from old to new. But you know what I also take
45:44
from this? I take from this that we
45:47
shouldn't give any people legitimate reasons to be labeled
45:51
as out of our minds. We can't control what people
45:56
say, but may we be Christians who don't give people legitimate
46:00
reasons for us to be labeled as strange because I want you to
46:06
see what Paul says in response to Festus in verse 25.
46:09
But Paul said I'm not out of my mind.
46:12
Most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational
46:16
words. Weird should not be synonymous
46:21
with spiritual. Christians must be rational.
46:26
Rational, how they articulate themselves.
46:29
Let me add to that. They should be socially
46:32
sensitive. They should be presentable.
46:37
They they should be upstanding citizens.
46:40
They should be excellent in their work.
46:43
They should be approachable. They should be kind.
46:47
They should be respected and respectable.
46:50
And in other words, if unbelievers must criticize us.
46:54
Let it be because of what we believe and not because of how
46:57
we behave, right? Let's not have people peeking
47:01
into the church and saying you guys are crazy or seeing how we
47:06
interact with them in the culture and say you guys are out
47:08
of your mind. If they will criticize us.
47:10
Let it be because of what we stand for and what we believe,
47:14
not how we misrepresent the truth.
47:17
Because unfortunately there are many good hearted believers who
47:19
think that all that matters is reading the Bible and studying
47:23
it and being able to quote verses as important as reading
47:26
the Bible is. People are going to read you as
47:32
a representative of Christ, so take every part of your life
47:36
seriously and keep in mind I am an ambassador of Jesus.
47:40
Let that frame how you talk to your neighbors, how you engage
47:44
with a frustrating person at the cash register at the grocery
47:48
store, how you handle yourself at a restaurant with waiters.
47:53
I've mentioned this many, many Bible studies ago I've read and
47:56
I've heard even from people that their worst work day as waiters
47:59
in restaurants as Sundays. Do you know why?
48:01
Because when all the Christians leave church and go into those
48:03
restaurants and they're so demanding and rude, how did that
48:09
happen? That shouldn't be the case.
48:11
Sunday should be the best day for for restaurants.
48:15
Because we Christians go in there with the fragrance of
48:16
Jesus Christ. So if anybody's going to call us
48:19
anything, let it be for the convictions that we have.
48:21
We stand for righteousness. We believe the gospel not
48:24
because of our poor attitude. Amen.
48:29
So we come back now to the end of this verse. 13.
48:35
Then in haste, every man of them took his garment and put it
48:38
under him on the bare steps and they blew the trumpet and
48:41
proclaimed Jay, who is king. It didn't take much time for
48:44
them to say you're the king, you're the king.
48:49
What does that indicate? It indicates that they are very
48:53
much not pleased with their current king.
48:57
There was no fight. There was no objection,
49:00
unanimous decision of these top governing leaders.
49:04
That prophet said you're the king, you're the king, you're
49:07
the king. And you see this swift shift of
49:12
allegiance when they realize in that moment that Jehu surely
49:17
will be a better option than Joram.
49:21
Certainly Jehu will be able to do something to make this
49:24
country better, more specifically, our lives better.
49:28
That's how they registered this moment, and here's how I want to
49:33
end. If it's true that you see these
49:35
men willing to give themselves over to this newly appointed
49:39
king, though, it was so dangerous to do so, right?
49:42
In essence, this would be a coup.
49:43
What they're about to do would be rebellion.
49:45
Technically recognized as rebellion, but they're willing
49:48
to put their lives at risk because of their dissatisfaction
49:51
with the current regime and their desire of the promise of a
49:55
better ruler if they were willing to do it at such speed
49:59
and such sacrifice. How much more do you know where
50:02
I'm going with this? How much more with the news of
50:05
the arrival of the true king who came 2000 years ago to die for
50:13
his subjects, to rescue us from eternal hell, to deliver us from
50:20
the power of sin? Can I ask this, how did you
50:26
respond to the news of King Jesus making himself known and
50:33
making the claim that he is the ruler of the heavens and the
50:36
earth? How did you respond to that?
50:39
Did it move you to this degree like I did with these men?
50:42
With Jehu, a far inferior king less promising, he was able to
50:50
provide temporary reprieve. You can't compare with the Lord
50:54
Jesus Christ. What did you do in response to
50:57
him being king? Are you still, even after all
51:01
these months or years, are you still reluctant to bend your
51:05
knee? I had to say you are my King.
51:11
You say where is he? I say He came 2000 years ago
51:14
again to die for the sins of his people.
51:17
But now he is resurrected. He ascended on high as seated at
51:20
the right hand of God, ruling all things.
51:24
You say, what has he done? And I already mentioned, but let
51:26
me say it again. He came to be the propitiation.
51:29
He came to be the sacrifice. He came to be the substitute.
51:32
He came to fix what the world has always known, sin and the
51:37
consequences of sin. And not only will He come one
51:42
day to expel sin and the consequences of sin from our
51:46
universe, but He is able to do such a work in your heart right
51:51
here, right now. This King that we are
51:54
anticipating to return, to bring a completion to His redemption
51:59
can right now, right here, change you once you submit your
52:04
life to His governance and allow Him to guide it into the life
52:08
that you always long for. But we're searching in all the
52:10
wrong. Places.
52:15
And you ask, perhaps, what do I do to make him my king?
52:23
And I'm here to tell you, with the authority of the Bible
52:25
before me, that this king commands you to repent and to
52:29
believe on his name that he is the true king who laid down his
52:33
life for all who are willing to recognize his sacrifice on your
52:38
behalf. And from there, this king
52:42
promised his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to move into your life,
52:49
to change and to rearrange and to transform absolutely
52:53
everything. It's not just rescue you from a
52:57
different domain, a domain of darkness, but to then send you
53:00
back into this broken world to represent him and to enjoy the
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shared opportunity of seeing people experience the love of
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this king. That's what this king is all
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about. That's what we are reminded of
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time and time again in the Book of Kings.
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There's a better King coming, but I'm here to say he's already
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came. He already came.
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And every Friday we come to sing to him and to learn about his
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ways. And I invite you, if you're here
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today or listening, if you have not yet submitted to him, that
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today would be the day where he becomes your king.
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Let's pray. Your word is wonderful, Lord.
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It never fails to feed us. It always satisfies.
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What is this sensation that we are experiencing where when we
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learn the truths of this book, it burns in our hearts and it
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causes us to rejoice, It inspires us unto holiness and it
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makes us want to know You more. What is this?
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Surely every time we come to this place to open this word, we
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are, we are swimming in the supernatural.
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This is Your gift to us. We ask, Lord, that the widening
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of our appetite tonight would not return to that place of of
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being so small and inconsistent, stretch our souls and help us
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long for it more and more in our own lives beyond these meetings,
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in our personal walk with you. Thank you, Lord, that we can go
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to 2nd Kings. And yet Second Kings sheds light
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on Second Timothy. This book is your book and we
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acknowledge that together. Lord, as we sing to you, receive
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honor and praise. Be blessed by the sound of our
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voices. We are blessed because of your
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voice and we honor you for it. In Jesus name we pray, Amen and
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Amen, Amen. The praise team will come and
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help us sing about this King.