Latest / Meadows Baptist Church Podcast / When God Has Nothing Good to Say - 10/4/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

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When God Has Nothing Good to Say - 10/4/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch · Meadows Baptist Church Podcast

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Welcome to the podcast of Meadows
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Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North
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Carolina. We're so glad you joined us
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today. If you enjoy today's message, be
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sure to subscribe, follow, and share
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with your friends. Now, let's join
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Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from
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God.
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>> Oh, that's good. You glad you're saved
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this morning? Amen.
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>> Amen. Well, take God's word. Turn with
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me to the book of First Kings, chapter
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22.
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First Kings, chapter number 22.
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Amen. If you want to brag on the Lord,
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don't let me get in your way. Amen.
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First Kings chapter 22. find you place
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if you would stand on reference to the
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reading God's word if you're able don't
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have to but if you're able invite you to
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stand with us this morning
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thankful for that night 2009
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August Bible school Greater Vision
1:17
Baptist Church Miller Street North
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Carolina God saved my soul amen he's
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made a difference in my life I ain't
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never been the
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never will be the same.
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>> Ain't never going to get over it either.
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Amen.
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>> Oh, it's good to be saved.
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>> Oh, bless your name.
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First Kings chap 22 verse number one
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where we'll begin reading.
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The Bible says, "And they continued
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three years without war between Syria
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and Israel. It came to pass in the third
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year that Jehoshaphat, the king of
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Judah, came down to the king of Israel.
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The king of Israel said unto his
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servants, "Know ye that Rayoth and
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Gilead is ours. We be still, and take it
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not out of the hand of the king of
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Syria." And he said unto Jehoshaphat,
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"Wilt thou go with me to battle to
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Ramoth Gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to
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the king of Israel, "I am as thou art,
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my people as thy people, my horses as
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thy horses." And Jehoshaphat said unto
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the king of Israel, Inquire, I pray
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thee, at the word of the Lord today. And
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the king of Israel gathered the prophets
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together about 400 men, and said unto
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them, Shall I go against Raoth Gilead to
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battle, or shall I forbear? And they
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said, "Go up, for the Lord shall deliver
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it into the hand of the king." And
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Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a
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prophet of the Lord besides that we
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might inquire of him?" And the king of
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Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, "There is
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yet one man, Micaiah, the son of Imla,
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by whom we may inquire of the Lord, but
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I hate him, for he doth not prophesy
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good concerning me, but evil." And
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Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say
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so." Then the king of Israel called an
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officer and said, "Hasten hither Micaiah
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the son of Imla." And the king of Israel
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and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah said,
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each on his throne, having put on their
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robes in a void place in the entrance of
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the gate of Samaria, and all the
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prophets prophesied
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before them. Our father, we come before
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you this morning and ask humbly, God,
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that you would help us, Lord. I'm not
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trying to get in the way of this
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service. And Lord, you know my heart
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this morning, God, if there's somebody
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that needs to share, Lord, what's on
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their heart, I pray they do that after
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we finish praying. But God, I ask most
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importantly this morning, God, that your
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will would be done. I pray you'd get
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glory and honor unto yourself. I pray
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that your son would be exalted, Lord.
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The church would be encouraged and
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strengthened this morning, God. We need
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something from you, God. We don't need
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to hear from me, Lord. We don't need to
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hear from anybody's opinions, Lord. But
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God, we need to hear from you this
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morning. And God, I ask humbly that you
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would speak to every heart and get glory
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unto yourself. Save the sinner that's
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nearest hell this morning. God, you
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know, there may be some, Lord, that
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might not make it the rest of this day
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today. God, we don't know what tomorrow
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holds. Lord, we ask God today that your
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hand, God, would intervene in the life
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of that sinner today. And Lord, I pray
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God for all those who are saved here
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this morning. you would help us to
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strengthen ourselves, Lord, for the
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battle that's at hand, God, to die to
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ourselves, Lord, and to give you glory
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and honor and make sure that we're
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living in accordance with your word and
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your will. And Lord, I pray most of all,
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God, that you'll get glory out of
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everything that's said and done in this
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service today. And what you do, we'll
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give you thanks for it because we ask it
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in Jesus' name. And God's children say
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it.
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>> You can be seated this morning. Thank
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you for standing.
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First Kings chapter number 22 opens to
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us a passage of scripture with two men
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being the main characters in this text.
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One by the name of Ahab and the other by
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the name of Jehoshaphat. And if you know
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your Bible this morning, you are aware
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of the fact that Jehoshaphat at this
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time is king of the uh southern kingdom
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over Judah and Ahab is king over that
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northern kingdom that is the 10 tribes
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of Israel. We know that it was divided
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because of the seed of Solomon, the
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division, the sin of Solomon that
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divided the nations. Those 12 tribes
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became 10 and two. And there would be a
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total of about 40 different rulers that
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would reign over these two tribes. I
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believe if my if my mind serves me
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right, um I believe there was 19 in the
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northern kingdom and 20 in the southern
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kingdom. And all of these different
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kings, the northern kingdom never did
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have a good king. Every one of them was
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evil. and wicked in the sight of God.
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But out of those 19 or 20 that was in
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the southern kingdom, only eight of them
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were righteous. And what we find in this
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text here is a a mixture. What this
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mixture is that Jehoshaphat was one of
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those eight righteous kings. He did
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write in the sight of the Lord. And the
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Bible tells us that in the latter part
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of this chapter concerning his life, but
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Ahab being one of the kings of the
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northern kingdom, he was a wicked man.
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And we find the Bible describes to us in
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another place that Ahab was the most
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wicked king that ever reigned over the
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northern tribes of Israel. The Bible
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literally describes his wickedness as
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being greater of any that preceded him
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or any that would follow after him. And
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Ahab is a very wicked individual. But
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what we find in this text immediate
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before this text in chapter number 21
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and in verse number 27 we find a foxhole
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repentance that takes place in the life
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of Abraham. You or Ahab in this text and
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you say what do you mean by that? Well,
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it's almost as if in this text Ahab for
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a moment in time comes to himself and
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realizes his sinful state. I want you to
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notice what the Bible says in chapter 21
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and verse 27. And it came to pass when
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Ahab heard those words that he ran his
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clothes and put sackcloth upon his flesh
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and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went
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softly. And the word of the Lord came to
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Elijah the Tishbite, saying, Seeest thou
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how Ahab humbleth himself before me,
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because he humbleth himself before me. I
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will not bring the evil in his days, but
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in his son's days will I bring the evil
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upon his house. And so what we find here
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in this chapter number one by way of
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introduction you'll see that there is a
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period of rest or a rest period here in
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verse number one the Bible says and they
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continued three years without war
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between Syria and Israel. Now you
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remember there several weeks ago we
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preached a message there about victory
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in the valley where the Lord gave the
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children of Israel victory over the
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Syrians. Matter of fact, he gave Ahab
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victory over the Syrians in two
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different places. And what did God say?
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He said it was so that all the nation
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might know that I am the Lord. And that
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thou thyself, Ahab, might know that I am
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the Lord. But what we discover in this
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chapter is that Ahab here in the text
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has not changed his mind. What we
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discover is later on in the text that
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Ahab is just as bad as he's ever been.
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And I want to say this to you this
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morning. Turning over a new leaf is not
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going to help you. Amen. You need more
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than just a fresh start. Amen. You need
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more than rehabilitation. You need
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regeneration. Amen. You say, "What is
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that, preacher? That's oldtimey Holy
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Ghost salvation." Amen. And when you get
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that, then you can deal with the
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problems that are in your life. But we
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notice in this text, out of this restful
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period, you see there comes a righteous
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pursuit that's mentioned in verse number
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three. Jehoshaphat comes down to Israel
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there in the text to meet uh meet Ahab.
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And the Bible said in verse three, "And
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the king of Israel said unto his
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servants, know ye that Ramoth and Gilead
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is ours and we be still and take it not
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out of the hand of the king of Syrian."
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So the Assyrians are currently dwelling
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in one of the cities here that belong to
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those 10 tribes. Matter of fact, this
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city Rayoth, if you look it up
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geographically speaking, it now
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presently belongs to the province of
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Syria. But this tribe of Manasseh, this
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city of Rayoth belonged to them. It was
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a part of their promised allotment. And
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so the Bible says here that their
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righteous pursuit is described that they
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are going to go and take back something
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that belongs to them. And I'm all for
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this morning getting back what the
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world's taken from us.
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>> Amen. We need to take and recover the
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ground that the world has taken away
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from the people of God. And so we see
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this restful period brings about a
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righteous pursuit. Then we know to stay
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with me. Verse number four, we notice a
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regal partnership that's mentioned. The
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Bible said in verse four, and he said
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unto Jehoshaphat, "Wilt thou go with me
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to battle to Ramoth Gilead?" And
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Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel,
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I am as thou art. My people as thy
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people, my horses as thy horses. And so
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for this moment in history here, we
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discover that the 10 tribes of that
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northern kingdom and the two tribes of
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the southern kingdom are united under
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the rulership of Ahab and of
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Jehoshaphat. And so these royalties in
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this text have decided to lock arms for
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the greater good. But you remember what
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I said that Jehoshaphat was a righteous
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king. He was a holy king and a king that
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feared God. But we know that Ahab was a
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wicked man in this text. And obviously
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their partnership is brought together
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because their pursuit is right. But let
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me say this to you this morning. Just
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because somebody who's wicked gets the
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right mindset does not mean that we're
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going to lock arms with them.
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>> Amen.
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>> You hearing me? Just because somebody
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gets the right direction in mind, if
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their character does not approve that,
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we're not going to hold hands and lock
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arms with them and join in affinity. And
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that's Jehoshaphat's mistake in this
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text. But you notice out of this regal
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partnership, you see Jehoshaphat's
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righteousness begins to display itself.
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Notice in verse number five, and
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Jehoshaphat said unto the king of
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Israel, that is Ahab, inquire, I pray
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thee, at the word of the Lord today. And
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so out of this regal partnership,
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Jehoshaphat requests a precept. And you
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say, what do you mean? Well, he says,
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inquire at the word of the Lord. He
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said, we need to hear from God. Amen.
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And wouldn't you agree this morning, you
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and I need to hear from God in this day
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and time. But I notice what happens in
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this text. You see, Jehoshaphat asked
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this question, the king of Israel. In
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verse number six, he says, "He gathered
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the prophets together." Now, I want to
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say this to you this morning. If you're
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a casual Bible reader, you'll miss the
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point that's being made in this text. He
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gathered the prophets together. In verse
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six, about 400 men. Now, these 400
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prophets that are mentioned are Ahab's
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prophets. These are prophets that belong
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to Ahab.
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>> They've not been schooled by Elijah.
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They've not been brought in with Elisha
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in the school of the prophets. But these
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men are not prophets of God, but they
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are prophets of Baal and prophets of
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Asharoth. But because of events prior to
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this chapter, they have mingled
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themselves in with the religion of
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Judaism, and they are calling upon the
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name of Jehovah. But it does not change
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who they really belong to. Now, I want
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to say this to you this in this day and
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time that about anybody and everybody
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will call on the name of Jesus for about
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anything. But I want to tell you this.
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It does not change who they are on the
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inside. Amen. And what we what we see in
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this text that though there's 400 of
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them, notice what Jehoshaphat says in
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verse number seven. They tell him there
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in verse six, the Bible says, they
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answer and say, you shall I forbear.
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Shall I go to battle or shall I forbear?
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Ahab says, "And they said, go up, for
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the Lord shall deliver it into the hand
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of the king." Now, all that sounds fine
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and good, but Jehoshaphat notices they
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something wrong. Look what he says in
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verse 7. And Jehoshaphat said, listen to
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this now. Is there not here a prophet of
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the Lord besides that we might inquire
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of him? There's 400 men here, and 400
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men all say the same thing. But
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Jehoshaphat being that righteous king
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that he was, he sees something in all of
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them. Amen.
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>> That they're bought and paid for by the
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king
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>> and that they're religious psychopants.
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In other words, they're just going to do
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whatever the king's already set his
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heart to do. They've decided that
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whatever the king wants, well, it helps
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our pocketbook if we just go his
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direction. But Jehoshaphat says, he
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said, "I wanted a precept." And he said,
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"I'm going to get one." And he said,
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"You going to have to find me a real
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prophet."
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>> Amen.
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>> Amen. And listen to what your Bible
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says. He said, "Is there not here a
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prophet of the Lord besides that we
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might inquire of him?" And verse number
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eight, "And the king of Israel said to
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Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man,
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Micaiah, the son of Imla, by whom we may
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inquire of the Lord." Notice this
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statement, "but I hate him." And I want
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to preach on this thought this morning
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out of that next phrase in verse number
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eight. He says, "But I hate him, for he
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doth not prophesy good concerning me."
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And I want to preach on this thought.
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All right? I want to preach on the
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thought when God has nothing good to
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say.
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When God has nothing good to say. You
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see, in this text, we find a man, two
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men here in this text that are fixing to
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go to battle. One has decided that his
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men and all of those around him says,
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"The Lord says it's all right. We're
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going to go on to battle." But
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Jehoshaphat says, "I can see right
14:47
through them. And I know that there's
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something that's just not right about
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what they're saying. Is there not here a
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real prophet? Is there not here a real
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man of God? And Ahab says, "There is
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one, but I don't really like him.
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I just don't like what he has to say."
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And I want to give you four things this
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morning out of this text on when God has
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nothing good to say. Now, let me say
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this to you this morning. I believe that
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most of the nations of the world and
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majority of the people in this day and
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time, the way nations are running, I'm
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not going to say down personally. I
15:20
could take it to that level, but I could
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say this this morning. There are many
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nations that God could find nothing good
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to say about them
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>> just simply because they have not
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acknowledged even the existence of God.
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They don't even recognize Jehovah as
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God. And when he looks at them, there is
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nothing good that he can say about them
15:38
this morning. And I I will let me just
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do this. Take it down personally. I
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think there's many sinners lives this
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morning that when you look at their
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life, they have absolutely nothing that
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can be said good about them because they
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do not know God. Number one, and the
15:52
Bible says there's what? None good, know
15:54
not one. Amen. And so the goodness in us
15:57
is his goodness imparted to us. Amen.
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And so God in this text has nothing good
16:02
to say. But you know what? I find
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something that is a resounding theme all
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the way down through history even before
16:08
Christ's coming all the way back to Cain
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and Abel's days is this truth. Number
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one, when God has nothing good to say,
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you see one thing that reveals itself
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always and that is the hatred of the
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sinner.
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The hatred of the sinner. You say, "What
16:25
do you mean?" WELL, WHEN GOD SPEAKS a
16:27
word that is not desirable, always
16:30
sinners alike, they always come out with
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a with a a a burden and a a really a
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bitterness against the things of God.
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>> And you notice in this text, the hatred
16:40
is mentioned. Ahab literally says in the
16:42
text, Micaiah, he says, "He's the only
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one that I know of that's going to give
16:46
us a word from God." He says, "But I
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hate him.
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>> I don't like him." Notice what he says
16:51
about him. He hates number one, his
16:53
person. Look what he says. I hate him.
16:56
He said, "I don't like what he's about.
16:58
I don't like what he looks like. I don't
17:00
like the way he carries himself." Amen.
17:02
I just don't like him. You ever been
17:04
around somebody like that? You just
17:05
don't like him. No, y'all are wearing
17:07
your halos. Okay? Truth is, you've all
17:10
thought that before.
17:12
>> Now, that's not good. Amen. It ain't
17:14
good for any of us. But I'm telling you
17:16
the truth. Ahab didn't like his person.
17:18
Number two, because he did not like his
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prophecy. Look what he says. He says in
17:23
verse number eight, "But I hate him
17:26
colon for he does not prophesy good
17:29
concerning me." He said, "Every time I
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go to him to get a word from God, he
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never has anything good to say about
17:37
me." Now, there's some of you here this
17:39
morning, you probably thinking, if
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you've been here for a little while, you
17:42
probably thinking by this time, can this
17:44
preacher ever preach anything
17:45
encouraging? I can, but the Lord won't
17:48
let me. Amen. And so what I'm giving you
17:50
this MORNING IS JUST LIKE the story of
17:52
Micaiah here in this text. He's not
17:55
wellliked by society. But you know who
17:57
else wasn't wellliked by society. Jesus
18:00
wasn't wellliked by society. He told his
18:03
disciples, he said, "Marvel not that the
18:04
world hates you." He said, "No, that it
18:06
hated me before it hated you." And when
18:08
we look at reality this morning and we
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think about who we're called to be,
18:12
sinners do not like who we are.
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>> Amen.
18:16
>> Sinners do not like what we have to say.
18:18
Amen.
18:20
>> They don't like it when you walk up to
18:21
their door and you ask them if they go
18:23
to church somewhere and you ask them if
18:25
they know the Lord Jesus Christ as their
18:27
savior. YOU'VE MESSED UP THEIR DAY.
18:30
>> You know why? BECAUSE THEY WERE
18:32
COMFORTABLE AND COZY IN THEIR HOUSE
18:33
UNTIL SOMEBODY BREACHED their privacy.
18:36
>> But you know what? Every time Ahab has
18:39
come to Micaiah, he's had the same word.
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And what you discover in this text is is
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that Jehoshaphat rebukes Ahab in the
18:46
text in verse number nine. He's a softy.
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Amen. But I'll say this, he still does
18:51
rebuke him softly. In verse number
18:52
eight, he said, "I hate him for he does
18:54
not prophesy good concerning me. He
18:56
hates his person. He hates his
18:58
prophecy." Jehoshaphat said, "Let not
19:00
the king say so. A dayhab, don't talk
19:02
about him like that. We need to hear
19:03
what he has to say." And look what
19:05
happens in the text. Well, they come
19:07
here in the text to make a long story
19:09
short. All the prophets of God give
19:11
their proph All the prophets of Baal
19:12
give their prophecy and they're all in
19:14
agreement. And let me say this, just
19:16
because the majority is all in agreement
19:17
does not mean they're right.
19:19
>> Amen. 400 of them all decided the same
19:22
thing. Gee, I wonder why. Because they
19:24
was all getting paid from the same
19:25
person.
19:28
>> Amen, friends. You know that's right.
19:30
Amen. That's the reason why our
19:31
government's so wicked.
19:33
>> Both branches. Amen. What I'm looking at
19:36
here in this text is these prophets were
19:38
paid off. And Micaiah, the Bible says
19:40
that he speaks to them. He said in verse
19:43
14, "As the Lord liveth, what the Lord
19:44
saith unto me, that will I speak." So he
19:47
came to the king, the king of Israel
19:49
asked him, "Shall we go against Rama
19:51
Gilead to battle, or shall we forbear?"
19:53
Notice what he says. "And he answered
19:54
him, go and prosper, for the Lord shall
19:57
deliver it into the hand of the king."
19:58
Now, for a minute, it seems like Micaiah
20:00
is in line with them. But you know what
20:03
king the king of Israel knows that that
20:05
ain't right because look what he says to
20:08
him in verse number 16. And the king
20:11
said unto him, "How many times shall I
20:12
adjure thee that thou tell me nothing
20:14
but that which is true in the name of
20:16
the Lord?" Ahab says, "I'm serious. You
20:18
going to have to tell me the truth." You
20:20
know why sometimes it's hard for the
20:22
servants and people of God to tell the
20:24
truth because they know the person
20:25
that's asking for it really don't want
20:27
to hear it.
20:30
>> Micaiah is going to lay it out there
20:31
here in just a minute. Listen to what he
20:33
says. King Ahab speaks to him in verse
20:36
17. And here the Bible says that Micaiah
20:39
speaks to him in verse 17. He said, "I
20:41
saw all Israel scattered upon the
20:43
hills." Notice this statement, "As sheep
20:45
that have not a shepherd, and the Lord
20:46
said, these have no master. Let them
20:49
return every man to his house in peace."
20:51
And so what discovers here in this text
20:53
is as the story goes on. The Micaiah
20:57
tells this story that he sees a vision
20:59
in heaven and the Lord says, "All right,
21:01
who's going to go and tell Ahab to go to
21:03
battle for me because he needs to die,
21:07
so to speak." You can study the text,
21:09
find it for yourself. But this is what
21:11
Ahab says about Micaia. And this is
21:13
where I want to get to for the moment.
21:15
Notice verse number 18. And the king of
21:18
Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, "Did I did
21:20
not did I not tell thee that he would
21:22
prophesy no good concerning me, but
21:25
evil?" You see, Ahab hated his person.
21:28
He hated his prophecy. But you know what
21:30
he really hated about Micaiah was his
21:33
persistence.
21:34
Over and over and over again, he said,
21:38
"I told you what he's going to say. I
21:40
TOLD YOU WHAT THAT PREACHER DOWN THERE
21:42
WAS GOING TO SAY WHEN I WENT TO HIM.
21:44
when we inquired, "HE HAS NOTHING GOOD
21:46
TO SAY ABOUT ME." Let me just be real
21:49
with you. I don't have anything good I
21:50
can say about myself. Amen. And the
21:53
truth is, there's none of us that can
21:55
say anything good about anybody because
21:57
the only goodness in us is from him.
22:01
>> AND SO MICAIAH'S TELLING THE TRUTH IN
22:03
THIS TEXT. AND HE TELLS AHAB, the Bible
22:06
says here in the text, he warns him of
22:08
this lying spirit that the Lord is going
22:10
to send and put in the mouth of all of
22:12
Ahab's prophets, God in the text in
22:15
verse numbers 22. And the Lord said unto
22:17
him, wherewith and he said, I will go
22:19
forth, that is this lying spirit, and I
22:21
will be a lion spirit in the mouth of
22:23
all his prophets. And he said, thou
22:25
shalt persuade him and prevail also. Go
22:28
forth and do so. And Micaiah said in
22:30
verse 23, "Now therefore, behold, the
22:32
Lord hath put a lying spirit in the
22:34
mouth of all these thy prophets, and the
22:36
Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee."
22:39
Micaiah tells him the whole story. He
22:42
says, "This is what's going to happen to
22:43
you." And he said, "You're going to do
22:45
this. This is how it's going to happen.
22:47
This is why it's going to happen, and
22:48
this is the way it's going to happen."
22:50
He tells him every bit of that. But
22:52
notice what happens in the text. Verse
22:54
24. But Zedekiah the son of Chinah went
22:57
near and smoked Micaiah on the cheek.
22:59
Now, who is that? Zedekiah is one of
23:01
those 400. So, we see number one, when
23:04
God has nothing good to say, there is
23:06
the hatred of the sinner that's
23:07
manifest. But I want to say this. Second
23:09
of all, number two, there's the harm of
23:11
the servant that is given. You say,
23:14
"What do you mean?" Well, notice what
23:16
happens after he gives the word from
23:18
God. But Zedekiah the son of Chinaw went
23:20
near and smoke on the cheek and said
23:23
which way went the spirit of the Lord
23:24
for me to speak unto thee. You know what
23:27
he's doing? He's making fun of him.
23:29
>> He's saying all 400 of us agree on the
23:31
same thing and you're saying something
23:33
totally different off the wall. That
23:34
sounds crazy. He said you tell me when I
23:37
slap you which way the spirit of God
23:39
sent my hand to hit you in the face.
23:43
You say, "What is that?" Well, it's the
23:44
harm of the servant of God. Who's he
23:47
harmed by? Number one, he's harmed by
23:48
false prophets. You know who real
23:50
preachers are attacked by more than
23:52
anybody else?
23:53
>> The false ones.
23:55
>> That's right.
23:56
>> Let me say this. That goes down to your
23:57
level. If you're a real child of God,
23:59
you know who's going to attack you more
24:00
than anybody else? The counterfeit.
24:03
>> Somebody who don't have the spirit of
24:04
God on the inside. They're going to
24:06
attack you. They're going to worry you
24:07
out. They're going to worry you to death
24:09
because they don't like what you have to
24:11
say.
24:12
>> Amen.
24:12
>> They don't like how you live. They don't
24:14
like the God you serve. And they may
24:16
even say to serve the same God that you
24:17
do. But the truth is when you look at
24:20
their life, does it line up with that
24:21
book?
24:22
>> Come on.
24:23
>> Amen.
24:24
>> And so the first injury that was smitten
24:26
to this given to this man after that he
24:28
prophesied the truth was by a false
24:30
prophet. And let me say this, a false
24:32
prophet will be the first one to rear
24:33
their head against the truth when it's
24:35
given.
24:36
>> You listening? But notice not what not
24:38
only what happens from the false prophet
24:40
here, the harm of the servant, but you
24:42
see the fixed punishment that's given.
24:44
The Bible said Micaiah speaks against
24:46
Zedekiah in verse 25. He prophesies
24:48
against him. Behold, thou shalt see in
24:50
that day when thou shalt go into an
24:52
inner chamber to hide thyself. He says,
24:54
"Look, friend, you're going to realize
24:55
that what I said was from God one of
24:57
these days." And let me say this. I I
24:59
can tell you the truth from now until
25:00
the day I die. But there's coming a day
25:02
when the truth's coming to call.
25:04
>> Are you listening to me? I'm saying,
25:06
friend, I'm not just telling you
25:08
something to hear myself talk. Amen. I
25:10
don't like to do this. Amen. in the
25:12
sense of hearing myself talk. I'm trying
25:14
to tell you the truth to warn you to
25:15
flee from the wrath to come.
25:17
>> Amen.
25:18
>> In spite of all THAT ARE AGAINST THE
25:20
TRUTH, LOOK WHAT HE says in verse 26.
25:23
The king of Israel said, "Take Micaiah
25:24
and carry him back unto Ammon, the
25:26
governor of the city, and to Joash the
25:28
king's son, and say, thus saith the
25:30
king, put this fellow in the prison, and
25:32
feed him with bread of affliction, and
25:34
with water of affliction until I come in
25:37
peace." You know what he's saying here
25:38
in this text? He's saying, "You take him
25:40
back where I got him from."
25:42
>> You know why he had such readily
25:44
available access to Micaiah? Because he
25:47
was already locked up.
25:49
He'd already heard too much. He got
25:51
tired of listening to that. You know
25:52
what he did? He locked him up. Just like
25:54
Herod did when he got tired of John the
25:56
Baptist. And you know what? Even when
25:58
John the Baptist was in the prison, you
26:00
know what he was doing? He was telling
26:01
those prison guards, he was calling out
26:03
the sin of Herod. And you know what
26:04
Herod got tired of hearing it. And so,
26:06
you know what THEY DID? THEY CUT OFF HIS
26:08
HEAD. THAT'S RIGHT.
26:09
>> CUZ THEY GOT TIRED OF HEARING THAT VOICE
26:11
of one that would speak out against the
26:13
sin that would warn of the judgment. I'M
26:16
SAYING, FRIEND, THEY FIX their
26:17
punishment. But I want to say this. In
26:19
spite of those false prophets and in
26:21
spite of that prison that he was in, I'm
26:23
thankful his prophecy was still
26:25
faithful.
26:26
>> Look what he says. The last words of
26:28
Micaiah here in the text in verse number
26:30
27 he said you could he said in verse 27
26:33
the king said thus said the king put
26:34
this fell in the prison and feed him
26:36
with bread of affliction with water of
26:38
affliction. Notice this statement this
26:40
statement of pride by Ahab until I come
26:42
in peace. He said I'm going to make it
26:45
back here. I've done defeated him twice.
26:46
I'll do it again. But listen to what
26:48
Micaiah said in verse 28. And Micaiah
26:51
said if thou return at all in peace the
26:53
Lord hath not spoken by me. And he said,
26:55
'Hearken, oh people, every one of you.
26:57
Micaiah said, 'If you come back at all,
27:00
God didn't speak by me.' You know why
27:02
Micaiah said that? Because he ain't
27:04
concerned about his own reputation. He
27:06
was more concerned about the word of
27:08
God.
27:09
>> I really don't care. And let me say this
27:11
to you this morning. If you're saved by
27:12
the grace of God, you don't really care
27:14
what people think of you.
27:15
>> Amen.
27:17
>> The truth's all that matters.
27:19
Now, I'm for you having a good testimony
27:21
this morning, and you need to, and you
27:23
should live righteously and holy and
27:25
honorable before God. But the truth is,
27:27
you need to take a good dose of I don't
27:29
give a rip and quit worrying about what
27:31
everybody thinks about you.
27:33
>> The truth is the truth, and we're to
27:35
stand ON IT AND NOT APOLOGIZE FOR IT.
27:38
>> If it puts our head in a charger, Amen.
27:41
And the king standing there laughing at
27:42
us. I want to tell you this. JESUS WAS
27:44
PLEASED WITH HIM. AMEN. HE SAID,
27:46
"THERE'S NOT A MAN BORN GREATER THAN
27:48
ONE, GREATER OF WOMAN THAN JOHN THE
27:50
BAPTIST." HE WAS PLEASED WITH HIS
27:52
MINISTRY. AND I'D RATHER HIM BE PLEASED
27:54
WITH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY THAN ANYBODY
27:56
APPROVE OF WHAT I HAVE TO PREACH TO YOU.
27:58
AND YOU OUGHT TO FEEL THE SAME WAY ABOUT
28:00
YOUR LIFE.
28:03
>> I want to say this. When God has nothing
28:05
good to say, the sinners are going to be
28:06
hating.
28:07
>> That's right. Amen.
28:08
>> But let's just be real. The saints are
28:11
going to be hurting, too.
28:14
You say, "Preacher, what do you mean?"
28:15
Well, I'm afraid my babies I'm afraid I
28:18
may live to see it, but I know my babies
28:19
may live to see a day of
28:22
>> the church being hurt in this country.
28:25
>> Why? Because the hatred of sinners is
28:27
getting worse and worse in our land.
28:28
That's
28:29
>> right.
28:30
>> Notice what happens here in the text.
28:31
Are you with me this morning? Say amen.
28:33
>> Amen.
28:34
>> We see out of the US, the king tells
28:38
Joash, you feed him bread of affliction,
28:40
water of affliction. That simply means
28:41
dirty water. He said, "You go get water
28:43
out of the muddy puddle and you go get
28:45
the driest bread that we wouldn't even
28:47
feed to the dogs and you give that to
28:48
him to punish him for it just enough so
28:51
he can live." And the Bible says in the
28:54
text verse 29, "The king of Israel,
28:56
Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up
28:58
to Rayoth Gilead." And I I wonder in my
29:01
mind, this is just a side thought. I
29:02
wonder if Jehoshaphat's like, "Man,
29:05
I really I know what he said and I
29:08
believe what he said. Why am I doing
29:10
this?
29:12
You know what? I think there's a lot of
29:13
righteous people in this country is
29:15
going along with things just because
29:16
they're trying to keep the peace.
29:20
>> You better stop worrying about keeping
29:21
the peace.
29:23
>> I'm telling you the truth. Because
29:25
Jehoshaphat goes on in this text, look
29:28
what happens. Verse 30, "And the king of
29:30
Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I will
29:31
disguise myself." So I want to show you
29:33
thirdly, we see when God has nothing
29:35
good to say, there's the hatred of the
29:37
sinner. There's the harm of the servant.
29:39
But I see this thirdly, this always
29:40
happens when God doesn't have a good
29:42
word to say to humankind. You see,
29:46
thirdly, there's a hiding. You say,
29:48
"What do you mean there's a hiding?"
29:49
Well, there's a hiding from the sword.
29:52
You see, the word's already been given.
29:54
He said, "Look, you're going to die."
29:56
But look what he says in verse 30.
29:57
Joshuat, he tells Josh, "I'm going to
29:59
disguise myself and enter into the
30:02
battle and put thou on thy robes." And
30:04
the king of Israel disguised himself and
30:06
went into the battle. So you see his
30:08
disguise. He makes himself as a common
30:10
soldier in the text. And out of that you
30:13
see the desire of the Syrians in verse
30:15
31. But the king of Syria commanded his
30:18
30 and two captains that had rule over
30:19
his chariot saying fight neither with
30:21
small nor great save only with the king
30:23
of Israel. You know what they had one
30:25
job to do? And it was to take out Ahab.
30:28
You see that in the text. Ahab's
30:30
disguised himself. You know what it
30:32
seems like his plan should work. You
30:34
know what Ahab has done? He's put
30:36
Jehoshaphat Jehoshaphat on a platter to
30:38
die.
30:40
>> You say, "What do you mean? He's got his
30:41
royal robes on. Ahab's disguised
30:44
himself." Let me say this to you. This
30:45
world, friend, you yoke up and offended
30:47
to this world, they'll send you out to
30:49
the battle and roads just so you they
30:50
can watch you die.
30:52
>> Amen.
30:53
>> You listening? And so out of this, it
30:55
looks like his plan's coming together.
30:58
His their desire is just to take out the
31:00
king. And so Jehoshaphat's wearing the
31:02
robes. Verse 32 it said when they saw
31:05
the captains of the chari when the
31:06
captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat
31:08
that they said surely it's the king of
31:10
Israel and they turned aside to fight
31:12
against him and Jehoshaphat cried out. I
31:14
can hear that that feminist manly voice
31:17
crying out in that
31:23
>> he's so weak. He's righteous but he's
31:25
weak.
31:27
>> And so he cries out and they're like man
31:29
that ain't Ahab. Look at the text. Said
31:33
Jehoshaphat cried out in verse 33. And
31:35
it came to pass when the captains of the
31:37
chariots perceived, notice this, that it
31:39
was not the king of Israel that they
31:40
turned back from pursuing him. You say,
31:43
"What does that mean?" Well, they
31:45
realized that the one with the king's
31:47
robes on wasn't Ahab. Notice verse 34.
31:51
The Bible said, "And a certain man drew
31:52
a bow at a venture." Now, you don't need
31:54
to miss this. Are you listening to me?
31:57
>> Some of you, are you listening to me?
31:59
Say amen. Amen.
32:00
>> The Bible says that he drew a boat back
32:02
at a venture. You know what that word,
32:03
that phrase at adventure means? It means
32:05
at random. It means this old boy,
32:10
>> he ain't aiming at nothing.
32:13
>> He's just shooting the bow at random.
32:15
And look what the Bible says. And a
32:17
certain man drew a bow at a venture and
32:19
smoked who? The king of Israel between
32:21
the joints of the harness. Now, I tried
32:24
to study this, but I couldn't find
32:25
nothing about it. Okay? And so, this is
32:27
what I'm going to give you. All right?
32:29
The king has disguised himself. He's got
32:32
warriors armor on and he's on a chariot.
32:35
He looks like just like anybody else in
32:37
the army. And one of the Syrians just
32:40
fires an arrow and it just happens to
32:43
find Ahab. But not only does it happen
32:45
to find Ahab, it finds him in a place
32:48
where two pieces of his armor meet.
32:53
>> It goes between his armor
32:56
>> and kills him.
32:58
Look what your Bible says. Verse number
33:00
34, it says, "He, wherefore he said unto
33:03
the driver's chariot," turn thine hand
33:05
and carry me out of the host, for I'm
33:06
wounded. And the battle increased that
33:08
day, and the king was stayed up in his
33:10
chariot against the Syrians, and died at
33:13
even, and the blood ran out of the wound
33:15
into the midst of the chariot. You see,
33:17
Ahab in this text, he was defeated by a
33:20
random arrow.
33:21
>> Let me tell you, that arrow wasn't
33:23
random,
33:23
>> right? He was defeated by a divinely
33:27
directed arrow to commit his death. You
33:30
say, "Preacher, what are you saying?"
33:31
I'm saying you cannot hide from the
33:33
judgment of God. You cannot escape your
33:35
condemnation. The Bible says that the
33:38
wrath of God abides on you right now if
33:40
you're lost without God. And I submit to
33:42
you, you he won't have to look to find
33:44
you. He knows where you're at. And I
33:47
DON'T CARE HOW MUCH ARMOR YOU GOT ON
33:49
SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING. HE CAN GET AROUND
33:51
ALL OF THAT. HE'S NOT GOING TO BE
33:53
HINDERED WHEN IT COMES TIME FOR YOUR
33:55
JUDGMENT. THERE'S NOT GOING TO BE A
33:57
SINGLE SOUL OF MAN. THERE'S NOT GOING TO
33:59
BE ONE LEFT OUT. EVERY SOUL THAT'S SAVED
34:01
WILL GO INTO ETERNITY AND LIVE FOREVER
34:04
and ever IN A PLACE CALLED HEAVEN. BUT
34:06
EVERY SOUL THAT'S LOST WITHOUT GOD. ARE
34:08
YOU HEARING ME? WE'LL ENTER INTO A
34:10
CHRISTLESS ETERNITY TO DWELL IN A PLACE
34:13
CALLED HELL. AND NO ONE WILL SLIP
34:15
THROUGH THE CRACKS.
34:18
>> His defeat brought his death. You see
34:21
this arrow that was shot at random, took
34:24
Ahab out in this text. And you say,
34:26
"Preacher, what does that mean?" Well,
34:27
it don't matter. Hey, when God has when
34:30
God has nothing GOOD TO SAY, YOU BETTER
34:32
REALIZE IT AIN'T GOING TO do you any
34:34
good to hide from the sword that's
34:36
coming today on this earth. When the
34:37
judgment of all judgments, the
34:39
tribulation of all tribulations is going
34:41
to BE PRESENT ON THIS EARTH. And the
34:43
sword, friend, IS GOING TO COME TO THIS
34:45
EARTH. And the souls of MEN ARE GOING TO
34:47
DIE ONE RIGHT AFTER ANOTHER. THEY'RE
34:50
GOING TO BE KILLED and taken. AND THE
34:52
BIBLE SAYS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HIDE
34:53
THEMSELVES in the mountains and in the
34:55
rocks and they're going to WISH FOR
34:56
DEATH, BUT THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE
34:58
TO FIND IT. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE THE
35:00
SWORD, FRIEND, CAN'T FIND WHERE YOU'RE
35:03
AT.
35:04
>> AMEN.
35:05
>> You can't hide from it.
35:08
>> That's why I plead the blood of Jesus.
35:10
>> In my hand, no price. I bring SIMPLY TO
35:13
THE CROSS I CLING. I HAVE NO OPPORTUNITY
35:16
OR NO ABILITY TO SAVE MYSELF THIS
35:18
MORNING, BUT ONLY FOR THE BLOOD OF
35:21
JESUS. I'VE ESCAPED THE JUDGMENT HAND OF
35:23
GOD. I'M NOT HIDING FROM THE SWORD THIS
35:26
MORNING. JESUS TOOK MY SIN ON CALVARY
35:29
AND TOOK MY JUDGMENT AND BLESS HIS NAME.
35:31
I'M NOT HIDING THIS MORNING, BUT I CAN
35:34
STAND LIKE THE PROPHET AND I CAN PRO
35:36
PROCLAIM TO YOU THAT JUDGMENT'S COMING.
35:39
But thank God, those of us that are
35:40
saved, we'll never know what that
35:42
sword's like. As far as I can see in the
35:45
text, brother Shane is Ahab's only one
35:47
dies in this battle.
35:50
>> You know why that is?
35:53
Because Micaiah said it was going to
35:54
happen.
35:57
>> I'm going to give you this and I'm done.
35:59
I'm going to say it does you no good,
36:01
child of God, to hide from the sword.
36:04
>> You say, "What do you mean, preacher?"
36:06
I'm saying when God has nothing good to
36:07
say. You know what? His word is still
36:10
the word of God.
36:12
>> Are you listening? His word is still the
36:15
word of God and you cannot hide from
36:18
him.
36:19
>> You can't escape his all-seeing eye. I
36:22
give you this and I'm done. We see when
36:24
God has nothing good to say, there's the
36:26
hatred of the sinner. There's the harm
36:28
of the servant. There's those that try
36:30
to hide from the sword. But I want to
36:31
give you this and I'm done. There's the
36:34
honor of the scriptures. You say, "What
36:36
do you mean?" Well, the Bible says in
36:38
verse number 35 that he died at evening.
36:42
The blood ran out of the wound into the
36:44
midst of the chariot. The image is that
36:46
as Ahab's stayed up in his chariot, he's
36:49
wounded with that arrow went through his
36:51
armor and he's cripped up in that
36:53
chariot and he doesn't even go home from
36:56
the battle. You know, that's the tragedy
36:58
about sinners. They'll spend all their
37:00
life fighting themselves. That's right.
37:02
>> And they don't even get to go home from
37:03
the battle.
37:04
>> They'll die in their own pool of blood.
37:08
Ahab's cribed up in that chariot. And
37:10
the Bible says that the blood dripped
37:12
out of his body into the floor of that
37:14
chariot and it literally falls through
37:16
the cracks of the chariot. You say,
37:18
"Preacher, what is that?" Well, it's
37:20
significant. I I want you to keep that
37:21
in your mind. It says that the blood ran
37:25
into the midst of the chariot, and there
37:26
went out a proclamation, listen to this,
37:28
throughout the host about the going down
37:30
of the sun, saying, "Every man to his
37:32
city and every man to his own country."
37:35
So the king died and was brought to
37:37
Samaria. They buried the king in
37:39
Samaria, and one washed the chariot in
37:42
the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked
37:44
up his blood, and they washed his armor.
37:47
And I want you to notice this last
37:48
phrase, according unto the word of the
37:51
Lord, which he spake.
37:54
You see, all of this happened just
37:56
exactly like God said it would. No less
37:59
than three prophecies are given about
38:01
Ahab's death. I want you to write these
38:02
in your margin if you could. probably
38:04
already there. But chapter number 20
38:06
verse 42, chapter 21 verse number 19,
38:09
and chapter number 22 and verse 17. I
38:11
want you to listen to what these
38:12
prophecies say. All of these are
38:15
fulfilled in this one moment. Chapter
38:18
number 20 and verse number 42. The
38:20
prophet cries out to Ahab and he says,
38:23
"And he said unto him, thou thus sayeth
38:25
the Lord, because thou has let go out of
38:27
thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter
38:29
destruction, therefore thy life shall go
38:31
for his life, and thy people for his
38:34
people." You know who's the only man
38:36
that died in this battle that day? Was
38:39
Ahab. You know who's still alive?
38:42
Binhad.
38:44
all the Syrians and all the Israel
38:47
Israelites.
38:48
Ahab died for the Syrians, for the
38:51
Israelites, and for Benhad because of
38:53
his sin. That's
38:54
>> right.
38:55
>> Prophesied of notice this chapter number
38:58
21 verse number 19. Elijah is
39:02
prophesying this three different men
39:03
that are given. Some say that the
39:04
prophecy in chapter 20 is Micaiah. Could
39:07
be. But notice chapter 21 and verse
39:09
number 19. You see, Ahab stole the
39:13
vineyard of Nabboth, right? You remember
39:14
he killed Nabboth. Look what the Bible
39:17
said in verse 19. He tells Elijah, "Thou
39:19
shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus
39:21
sayith the Lord, hast thou killed and
39:22
also taken possession, and thou shalt
39:25
speak unto him, thus sayith the Lord, in
39:26
the place where dogs licked in the lick
39:28
the blood of Nabboth, shall dogs lick
39:30
thy blood, even thine."
39:33
the same place where the dogs
39:36
where he killed Nabboth and he laid over
39:39
dead. God said, "You're going to be in
39:41
that same place and those same dogs are
39:44
going to lick your blood."
39:48
Notice this and I'm done.
39:51
You see, Micaiah had word too, didn't
39:53
he?
39:55
And remember what he said in verse 17 of
39:57
chapter 22. He said, "I saw all Israel
40:01
scattered upon the hills as sheep that
40:03
have not a shepherd, and the Lord said,
40:05
"These have no master. Let them return
40:07
every man to his house in peace." What
40:10
was the word that was given to the
40:11
Israelites after the battle was fought?
40:13
In verse 36 of chapter 22, and there
40:16
went out a proclamation throughout the
40:17
host about the going down of the sun,
40:19
saying, "Every man to his city and every
40:22
man to his own country." It happened
40:24
exactly like he said it would.
40:27
>> Amen. And the Bible says in verse 38,
40:29
they washed the chariot in the pool of
40:31
Samaria. The dogs licked up his blood.
40:33
They washed his armor. And I give you
40:35
this statement. And the truth of all of
40:38
this message is found in one word in
40:40
verse 38. And it's that word according.
40:43
According unto the word of the Lord
40:44
which he spake. Do you realize that
40:47
everything in this Bible is true?
40:49
>> Right.
40:51
>> Here's our problem. We don't like what
40:53
God has to say. We don't like the person
40:56
that says it. We don't like the prophecy
40:57
that it tells and we don't like the
40:59
persistence of those that give it. But
41:00
let me tell you something. Just because
41:03
God has nothing do nothing good to say
41:05
doesn't mean that it's not his word.
41:06
>> That's right. Amen.
41:09
>> Just because God can't say anything good
41:11
about you don't mean it's not true.
41:15
>> We've got it somehow in our deluded mind
41:19
that anything negative against us, well,
41:22
that must not be God.
41:25
I'm talking about saved people. We think
41:27
that when conviction comes, well, I
41:29
ain't been doing that. That must not be
41:32
the voice of God. But you know what you
41:34
find when you open that book? His word
41:37
starts speaking. And you know what you
41:39
find out? That that thing that you
41:42
thought God had nothing good to say
41:43
about you, that must not be God. You
41:45
find out it was him after all.
41:49
>> You know why that is? You said,
41:50
"Preacher, I thought when I got saved,
41:52
God was he would forgive." And he does.
41:54
He does. He cleanses. He draws you near
41:56
unto himself. But you know what part of
41:58
getting close to God is? Is the closer
42:00
you get to him, his the brightness of
42:03
his reflection.
42:04
>> That's right.
42:05
>> Starts to show up all of your
42:06
imperfections.
42:08
>> And you know what his word begins to
42:10
tell you? You better deal with that.
42:14
You better fix that.
42:16
You may be here this morning. You're
42:18
lost.
42:20
I want to tell you the truth today.
42:23
The truth is for every one of us this
42:25
morning, just because God has nothing
42:27
good to say does not mean that he's not
42:30
right about you.
42:32
>> Does not mean that he's not right about
42:34
me. I can promise you this morning, he's
42:36
right.
42:38
>> And not only is he right, but what he
42:40
says will
42:42
you listening? It will come to pass
42:45
>> right
42:46
>> as we all stand, every heads bowed and
42:48
every eyes closed.
42:51
when God has nothing good to say.
42:58
You see,
43:01
truth about your life and mine this
43:02
morning is this.
43:05
If you spend it living for yourself,
43:08
you're going to stand before him one of
43:09
these days. Upon the authority of that
43:11
book, you better listen to me. You will
43:13
stand before him one of these days. And
43:16
if you are lost, you will stand before
43:18
him and have to give an answer for
43:20
yourself why you refused his blood.
43:23
And this is what you're going to find.
43:25
You're going to find there's no answer
43:26
to give.
43:28
You know what you're going to have to
43:30
say?
43:31
God, I really don't like you.
43:35
I really don't like what you're saying
43:36
about me.
43:41
You say, "Preacher, I would never say
43:43
that in the face of God." There will be
43:45
millions who stand before God's face and
43:47
say that
43:49
>> the rich man in hell still thought that
43:51
Lazarus was his servant. He said,
43:54
"Father Abraham, you send Lazarus, he
43:56
still belongs to me anyway.
44:00
Send Lazarus, he may dip the tip of his
44:01
finger in water and cool my tongue."
44:04
Truth is, if you leave this world in
44:06
your pride, God will let you live
44:07
throughout eternity in your pride.
44:12
And he's right.
44:15
You'll be in a good place when you
44:17
realize he's right. Let me say this.
44:19
You'll be in a better place when you
44:21
realize he's right and you do what he
44:22
says.
44:24
She's going to play this morning. I've
44:25
got one question. Sinner, why do you
44:27
wait?
44:29
Why do you wait? There's no reason to.
44:34
The only thing that's keeping you from
44:35
getting saved is your pride.
44:40
That's the only thing. The only reason
44:42
that you have not asked Jesus to forgive
44:45
you of your sin and save your soul, THE
44:47
REASON YOU ARE STILL living the same
44:49
life and that very life's going to take
44:51
you to YOUR DEATH WHERE JUST LIKE AHAB,
44:53
THE DOGS WILL LICK UP YOUR BLOOD IN THE
44:56
JUDGMENT OF GOD. AND WHAT'LL HAPPEN TO
44:58
YOU IS YOU'LL LIVE OUT YOUR LIFE AND
45:00
YOU'LL do that because OF YOUR STINKING
45:02
ROTTEN PRIDE.
45:06
Why would you do that?
45:09
Why would you do that? Let me plead with
45:11
you this morning something. You see,
45:16
God is speaking to your heart this
45:18
morning. He showed you your sin. He may
45:21
have even showed you your future,
45:24
what it looks like.
45:26
You may God may have even revealed to
45:29
you where you're going to end up if you
45:32
continue down that path.
45:35
But I can tell you this. If he's
45:36
revealed to you where you're headed,
45:39
he's also revealed to you what can
45:41
happen to you. You say, "What do you
45:43
mean, preacher?" Well, I'm saying he's
45:44
revealed to you there's an alternate
45:46
path.
45:48
There's a way of escape. There's
45:50
deliverance that's offered.
45:53
Why would you refuse that?
45:55
Why? Say, "Preacher,
45:58
God showed me my path this morning. He
46:00
showed me where I'm headed.
46:03
Preacher, I know that I'm lost. Would
46:05
you pray for me? There's nobody looking
46:07
around but me. I got to ask you,
46:11
preacher, I'm lost. Would you pray for
46:12
me? I want you to slip your hand up and
46:14
hold it high.
46:15
If you're not saved, preacher, I'm not
46:17
saved.
46:20
God sees that little hand.
46:23
Someone else.
46:26
Preacher, I'm not saved. I don't know
46:27
Jesus.
46:30
There's people on this altar praying for
46:31
you. There's people in our seats praying
46:34
for you.
46:38
There's some precious little widow
46:39
ladies at home watching over the
46:40
internets praying for you.
46:46
We love you this morning.
46:48
Said, "Preacher, but you ain't said a
46:50
thing to comfort me." I'm telling you
46:51
what'll comfort you is when you get on
46:53
this side of it. There is no comfort on
46:56
the side you're on. There is no peace.
46:59
Say, "Preacher, maybe if YOU MADE ME
47:01
FEEL A LITTLE BETTER ABOUT MYSELF." I'M
47:03
TELLING YOU, THERE'S NOTHING TO FEEL
47:05
BETTER about
47:06
until you get saved BY THE GRACE OF GOD
47:09
AND HE DOES A WORK ON THE INSIDE AND
47:11
CHANGES YOU FROM WHO YOU ARE INTO WHAT
47:14
HE WANTS YOU TO BE. THERE'S NOTHING TO
47:16
FEEL BETTER ABOUT.
47:19
And I can promise you, you'll feel worse
47:21
than you do right now when you're in
47:22
hell.
47:28
How about it center? These people on
47:30
this altar people's come even since
47:33
moment ago and they're praying for you.
47:36
Why would you wait?
47:39
Jesus is calling.
47:44
Say, "Preacher,
47:47
be honest. I I made a profession
47:50
ago.
47:52
Preacher, my life doesn't reflect
47:54
salvation.
47:56
And I know that.
47:58
Preacher, I'm not really sure if I'm
48:00
saved, but I know I'm right not right
48:01
with God. Would you just pray for me?
48:03
Pray Pray God will help me.
48:06
You be honest this morning. Slip your
48:08
hand up.
48:10
There's nobody looking but me.
48:14
Be honest.
48:22
some on this altar. We're in no hurry.
48:37
Let me tell you something, Sinner. That
48:38
that alcohol, that drug,
48:44
that sensuous lifestyle you're living,
48:47
you're never going to find peace in it.
48:52
You'll get to the bottom of that bottle.
48:55
You'll take the last pill. You'll shoot
48:58
the last shot.
49:00
You'll be with that individual the last
49:01
time.
49:04
And you'll still be without God.
49:08
The tragedy is you going to walk out of
49:10
here lost.
49:16
Father,
49:20
Lord, I just fill my soul this morning,
49:22
God. I know we don't go off feelings,
49:24
but
49:26
Lord, you spoke to my heart a while ago
49:27
in that song we sing in Sweet Hour of
49:29
Prayer.
49:32
That last verse,
49:38
one of these days we'll shout while
49:40
passing through the air,
49:42
Lord, you spoke to my heart.
49:46
Lord, the tears began to flow. And I'm
49:48
thinking about that day,
49:51
Lord. When passing through the air, I'll
49:53
say farewell.
49:56
Bye out of this world.
49:59
Bye of to the will of the flesh. Bye of
50:01
to sin and Satan and self.
50:07
And Lord, I won't never pray again
50:09
because Lord, I'll be in your presence
50:12
and I'll see you face
50:14
and I'll shout. But I'll lift my voice
50:16
and say farewell. Farewell sweet of
50:19
prayer.
50:21
Lord, I pray God to tear us not a person
50:23
in here, Father, that's going to die
50:25
without you,
50:27
Lord, to know that peace that one of
50:29
these days our faith will become sight.
50:31
I pray you wouldn't let them leave lost
50:32
today.
50:34
And God, I pray for the children of God,
50:36
that you would help us to realize.
50:39
Lord, as the Apostle Peter said, for
50:41
even here and unto where you called,
50:43
that as Christ suffered for us, that we
50:45
should follow in his steps.
50:48
Lord, you told us in your word, "Yay,
50:50
and all that will live godly in Christ
50:51
Jesus shall suffer persecution."
50:55
That this world will hate us. But God,
50:58
I'm thankful they can't they can't harm
50:59
us spiritually. They can't take our joy.
51:03
He can't take our soul. Lord, help us to
51:06
live in light of that. Help us to be
51:09
assured, to be settled, to be
51:12
established. God, in spite of what the
51:14
world says about the truth, we proclaim,
51:17
God, that it is the truth. Lord, I love
51:20
you in Jesus name. God's children said,
51:24
>> "Amen."
51:26
>> Thank you for joining our service today.
51:28
We'd love it if you join us in person
51:31
the next time you are able at Meadows
51:33
Baptist Church. Our physical address is
51:36
2988
51:37
Stewart Road in Walnut Cove, North
51:40
Carolina. Our service times are Sunday
51:43
school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday morning
51:45
worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday evening
51:48
worship at 6:00 p.m. and Wednesday
51:50
evening Bible study at 700 p.m. For more
51:53
information, visit us at
51:55
meadowsbaptisturch.com.
51:57
Thanks again for tuning in.