Considering Curses 2 Kings 2:16-25

Sermon Nuggets Week of April 5, 2010

Sermon Nuggets Mon April 5-

Theme- Curses

Verses 2 Kings 2:16-25

Considering Curses

My chaplain supervisor at Hennepin Country General shared a situation which was very unusual. A few years earlier he was called into a case involving a young adult female who came very ill and not eating. The physicians did various tests to discover the source of the problem. They couldn't find anything physically wrong. They consulted with a psychiatrist and he didn’t have a salutation. They invited the Chaplain to visit with her and see if something might be discovered. He admitted it was a puzzling case.

Finally, her father suggested the reason may be a curse that her grandfather placed on her. It seemed that her grandfather, who lived in the Northern Minnesota woods, did not want her dating. One night she snuck out with a boy. Grandfather was so displeased he placed a curse upon her. Of Course, the physicians discounted that but every day she was getting closer to death.

One day in walked this character, described as being very dirty, very unkept, a long beard and long white hair. He went up to his granddaughter and gave some mumbo jumbo and left. The girl immediately took a turn for the better and was shortly released. Her condition and her recovery stumped the doctors.

It was not uncommon for superstition to be part of the beliefs of people that are somewhat unlearned and uncultured. There are also examples in other parts of the world of people practicing various curses and blessings. Maybe we are beginning more familiar with incantations since many in Haiti are involved with devil worship and witchcraft. Voodoo is practiced to call upon spirits and Voodoo dolls often come with curses on another. Some will be in much fear for those who have experienced their powers. Many missionaries will talk about overt evil spiritual powers that will inflict suffering and injury on others. People live in tremendous fear.

There are different meanings for the word, curse. Someone might have a handicapped and say he is cursed with this malady or illness. To feel afflicted about something can be thought to be a curse, even if it has no spiritual connotations. However, curse is the general word for calling down of evil on another. To swear is to use the name of God or of some holy person or thing as an exclamation to add force or show anger.

When Elisha begins his new ministry he is met with some challenges right away. From a prelude to not being accepted by the prophet students to problems the town is facing to being made fun of.

Change brings it’s own challenges. Not all things that someone does is necessarily the best even though God might use it. We are seeing today stories that relate to curses and the involvement of the prophet Elisha. The Scriptures are realistic-not only are they filled with the blessings and joy of God's mercy, but we are left with strong warnings and examples of God's judgments.

What are some of the circumstances and conflicts that you are facing these days? Do you see it has a curse, or circumstance that leads to ultimate blessing? What can be done to improve your response to what you cannot change?

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues April 6

Verses: II Ki 2:16-18 "Look," they said, "we your servants have fifty able men. Let them go and look for your master. Perhaps the Spirit of the LORD has picked him up and set him down on some mountain or in some valley." "No," Elisha replied, "do not send them."

17 But they persisted until he was too ashamed to refuse. So he said, "Send them." And they sent fifty men, who searched for three days but did not find him.

18 When they returned to Elisha, who was staying in Jericho, he said to them, "Didn't I tell you not to go?"

The Curse of Change

Today I am thinking of the problem that surfaces too often in our society that is at the heart of the underlying problem for Elisha at the beginning of his ministry. The former prophet, Elijah, was well received and people did not want to follow the prophet of God. They wanted their old one back. It was God that decided a change was in order, not Elijah, nor Elisha. Change is hard for people. Change can be a curse that stops or resists what God seeks to do.

Very often because of unwillingness to change, or an inability to change or adapt, God has to remove leaders and replace them in order to bring in the new or fresh anointing and manifestation of his Spirit.

Luke 5:37-39 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.

No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.

And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'"

Elijah didn’t die, God took him. Elisha was committed to the Lord; he was committed to learn from Elijah; he was faithful; he loved his teacher, his mentor, his friend. When the chariots of fire swept down and separated him from Elijah he responded in shock and cried out. He didn’t really want it to happen, even though he knew it was going to happen that he would be taken. But when reality set in Elisha was willing to take up the mantle. He was willing to take over the responsibility, not by his choice, but by the Lord’s appointment.

What happened when he went to face Elijah followers? They didn’t want to believe it. They didn’t want him as their leader. They didn’t believe him. They didn’t accept him. It was the curse of change. They didn’t want change but wanted Elijah back and couldn’t believe the Lord had taken him as Elisha said. .

What changes and what doesn’t? It is obvious the law of God did not change. The power of God did not change. Sin in the land did not change. The Word of God does not change. But the ways of God in that day did change. The culture changed and the person to lead them was different and did not do things the same way, even though God’s hand was on them both.

I’m not suggesting one was right and one was wrong, but their roles were different and the way the prophets responded were going to change. Change comes hard for many people. We like things the way it’s always been. There are churches which know the basics and stick with them. There are churches which in order to go with the times changes the very message and Word of God. There are people for whom even when the Spirit of God has left that group continue to control and manipulate their ways far beyond the will of the Lord. If we are going to be partakers of this fresh movement of God we must become adaptable.

Much of what we have become accustomed to in the church has been the designs of men, Godly men, Godly women but still just men and women used of God. But what ministered to people in cultural ways changes. Music changes, design changes, buildings change, dress changes, ways of teaching, technology, styles all change based on the people and their personalities, experiences and subculture. The ways of doing things in the urban areas are different than the ways of rural. Ways of different ethnic groups are not the ways of others. But even as independent farmers are forced to resign their way of life so do things change within our rural area. People move in and the ways of doing things change.

Unfortunately many times we become like the children of Israel and we become enamored with the things, or methods, or tools, that God has used and when he is through with them instead of giving them up and moving on we find ourselves worshipping them and losing the presence and the anointing of God. It is a concern that when God is finished with the tool, and has chosen other tools, rather than to let go of the old and receive the new we try to force the new into the old because we don’t want to change.

I do not like some of the change. I do not like some of the methods many younger people are using. I do like some of it. But what is far more important to me is the doctrine which does not change; the word of God which does not change; and the call of God on one’s life, not in terms of popularity, but in terms of truth. How that truth is communicated and celebrated is open to change with each new generation. Those who don’t recognize God in it will be like the sons of the prophets who could not accept that God was through with the old and went into the mountains to try and find Elijah’s body.

In other words trying to keep alive something and an anointing whose time is over. How do we know what God is done with, and what he’s doing now? The same way it’s always been: Where we see the movement of God and people’s lives are being changed for salvation, righteousness and good works, those whose passion for God and His Word is growing, then God is doing a good thing even if it is in news ways and with new people. Even if God used different methods in the past doesn’t mean it isn’t time for a change if it is of the Lord. Don’t hang on to what God has taken away.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds April 7, 2010

Verse: II Ki 2:19 The men of the city said to Elisha, "Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive."

The Curse of Sin

After the people acknowledged Elisha as the prophet God choose, they brought before him the problem with the water in Jericho. Remember Jericho was the first city taken by the armies of Israel as they went into the Promised Land. When Joshua fought the battle of Jericho not only did he walk around the city once for 7 days, and 7 times on the 7th day, but at the sound of the trumpet, the walls fell down. Joshua 6:26 reads, "At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath: 'cursed before the Lord is the man who undertakes to rebuild this city. At the cost of his firstborn son will he lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest will he set up its gates."

The fulfillment of that prophetic curse was seen in I Kings 16:34 "In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid it's foundations at the cost of his firstborn son, Abriam, and then he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son, Segub, in accordance with the word of the Lord spoken by Joshua, son of Nun."

The word of the Lord was spoken by his prophet and Jericho was cursed. Part of that curse apparently carried over to the bitter water. A school of the prophets were residing there now. They saw the miraculous power that Elisha demonstrated returning from the other side of the Jordan as he used Elijah's mantle and touched the river. They saw it part so he was able to cross on dry ground. The prophets realizing the Lord's power was with Elisha asked him to take away the curse of Jericho hoping that God would heal the water and allow the land to produce again.

Cursing was introduced in Genesis 3 as a result of sin. The curse of God was judgment against man's disobedience. It was in response to Adam and Eve's fall. It was the result of punishment when they did not heed God's warning to not touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. So when they disobeyed there was judgment of God that fell in the worse way upon mankind. Adam was judged by being driven from the presence of God and from the relationships they enjoyed in Paradise.

There was a curse that came upon man and woman and the serpent, and later for the murder of Able, Cain was cursed and made to be a wanderer.

We all know the great theological treatise. "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall; Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the Kings horse and all the king’s men couldn't put Humpty together again."

Did you know that this rhyme is over 1,000 years old and had appeared in 8 differing European languages? It began as a riddle. It asked the question, "What, when broken can never be repaired, not even by strong or wise individuals? Regardless of how hard we try a broken egg can never be put back together again. We simply have to learn to live with the mess and consequences of its fall.

The sinful fall of man is the story of Humpty Dumpty. None of the Kings creatures can do anything about the fall, nor can any part of creation put man together as he was created. Adam and Eve are no longer perched on the lofty plane of paradise, but broken as a result of the fall. Because of sin our lives are out of control, changes come faster than our ability to cope. Broken eggs are an appropriate symbol.

Jericho now looked nice, but the problem lay in one of the most fundamental parts of any town or village. It had bad water, not just bitter, but also caused death and prevented the crops and the land from producing crops. Man looks on the outward appearance, God looks upon the heart.

Does Jericho become a symbol of so many people that we see..well adjusted happy, but underneath hurting, crying, and destroyed people because of sin and the effects of the curse of sin and not having fellowship with God has hindered the most joyful relationship they could possibly have. It is at the heart and unless the heart is pure and clean the whole stream is poisoned and the life is barren.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs April 8, 2010

Verses- II Kings 2:20-22 "Bring me a new bowl," he said, "and put salt in it." So they brought it to him.

21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'"

22 And the water has remained wholesome to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.

The Cure of Sin�

The prophets of Jericho turned to Elisha in their need for fresh water. Elisha hears their request and gives them instructions to go and get a new bowl and put in salt. They do so. If God is the one that gives the curse (as he did through Joshua) then only God can give the cure. Elisha is his prophet now at this place in time, and gives instruction to the prophets who in turn demonstrate obedience and faith. This is a picture of how our curse is handled with God.

God provided for us the sacrifice for our sin. He took upon himself ways of making it right, by the grace of Jesus Christ who died on the cross and rose again to give us forgiveness. When we hear the good news of salvation we respond to it by obedience and faith. We cannot do anything to earn our salvation. It is an act of God. We receive it,accepted it and trust it.

Juan Ortiz imagined the meeting Jesus had with Zacchaeus. Perhaps we might picture Jesus today coming up to Zacchaeus saying, "Well, it's so good to meet you. I would like to have a few words with you, sir, if I may. I mean could you possibly look at your calendar--after all I know that you are very busy man--but maybe I could have an appointment? Is there a time when it would be convenient?" Jesus never said anything like that.He looked up into the Sycamore tree and gave an order, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, I am going to your house today."

When you are Lord, you don't give people choices. Salvation is not a choice it is a command. Zacchaeus now had to decide what to do with the command. He had to obey it or disobey it. To obey means he had to acknowledge that Jesus had authority in his life. If Zacchaeus disobeyed he would be the authority in his own life. Would he be willing to turn from sin and follow Christ by faith? After they were eating Jesus said to Zacchaeus "Salvation has come to your house."

There may be some symbolic or prophetic meaning of the new pot and the salt of Elisha's request. Some suggest that the new pot represents the wineskins that Jesus is talked about in his parable. God makes us new creatures when we are forgiven by his grace. The salt perhaps symbolizes purity and preservation. That is the effect that we are to have on the world. We are to be pure and preserve righteousness for God's Kingdom.

Elisha goes to the source of the problem, not the lake, but the spring. He applies the salt to the spring water and the water is cured and purified and is preserved. The water and the land and the ground become good because the cause of the problem is solved. Elisha said "This is what the LORD says: 'I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.'"

It was healed by the Word of God that Elisha met the desperate need of Jericho. How are we to find away of getting right down into the springs and motives of the hearts of men with transforming power and of changing their inward outlook and the attitude and ways of thinking?

Jesus offered a cure that could transform the heart of man. "He that believeth on me,' He said, 'out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' (Jn 7:38,39)

It is by grace that the waters were cured and the curse against Jericho was removed. It is by grace the curs of sin on our lives is removed because the requirement of God has been made. By faith we respond

and receive Him.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri April 9, 2010

Verses- II Kings 2:23 From there Elisha went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, some youths came out of the town and jeered at him. "Go on up, you baldhead!" they said. "Go on up, you baldhead!"

24 He turned around, looked at them and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Then two bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.

25 And he went on to Mount Carmel and from there returned to Samaria.

The Consequences of Evil

This second story is a difficult one. It is related to the consequences of sin. It alludes to the spread of evil even among the young and the message of judgment and consequences for sin.

Elisha was God's prophet walking to the town of Bethel. That city was headquarters of idolatry in Samaria. On first reading this can appear to be a story that some naughty boys were calling him names. We might conclude that Elisha’s reaction was an over reaction calling a curse upon them and she bears appear and 42 youths are mauled.

Having read some commentaries the background leaves a different impression. I appears they are reciting the sentiment of people still choosing Baal over Jehovah. They might be liked to a mob of youth ready to do harm.

This past Monday Joshua, our host in India, showed me picture of the many churches and pastors he is training through his school. He should be a picture of one church and the second picture how it was burned to the ground by extreme Hindus. The last picture was how it was being rebuild.

I have talked to people who were beaten by mobs of extreme Hindus and justice was not done as the police did nothing. But God will avenge his own sooner or later.

According to some commentators the Hebrew word in this passage is more appropriately translated young men, not young children. It is believed they are around 14-20 years old. We would call them a teenaged gang today. It is a situation which implies some risk to the life of the prophet. Many of the violent crimes today are committed by young people 14-21 years. They are also seeing many crimes committed by younger children each and every year.

Also consider ‘God's anointed’ meant something. It was serious to attack such a person. When people ridicule and attack God’s anointed there will be consequences. My mind goes to the time when Jesus was facing the cross. They dressed him up as king and gave him a crown of thorns and bowed before him Hail, King of the Jews." They were not hailing him as King of the Jews they were making fun of God. The Bible teaches God will avenge those who have done harm to His anointed.

At Bethel they did not want the Word of the Lord. A story like this in the Scripture can serve to remind us that there is a grim element of judgment to those who reject the Word of God or seek to do harm to God’s anointed. Even the New Testament teaches us that if we will not receive the gracious ministry of blessing by which God seeks to cleanse and renew our lives, then the love and mercy of God which is freely offered to us either to accept or reject, either to honor or insult, is turned into its opposite and will bring judgment and damnation upon us instead of blessing.

Notice the consequence! Elisha called down a curse. The curse is honored by the Lord and some she bears come out of the woods and mauls the group. This serves to speak to us of judgment for sinful actions. God hates sin. These boys were responsible for their actions.

We live in a day when people do not own up to their own responsibilities. All the laws in the world will not change God. We say to ourselves things like "I'm only human." "Everybody does it," "This is the age we live in". "I did what I had to do." "Nobody's perfect." When you tell yourself those things then it is time for confession of sin.

One of the strange facts of the universe is that God will never tolerate sin, but he will forgive it. And when we are forgiven, it is as if our dark and moldy house has just had all its windows flung open to the June breeze.

We are under the curse unless under his offer of grace. We feel the effects of sin- that is the curse. We are offered the cure of sin that is forgiveness. If we reject it we will experience the consequences of our sin and that is the judgment of God.

I look forward to the day when the curse will be removed. But Jesus has removed it at the cross and makes justification available to all who repent and trust Him.

Pastor Dale

Pass it On 2 Kings 2:1-15

Sermon Nuggets week of March 29 2010

Sermon Nuggets Mon March 29, 2010

Theme- Pass it On

Verses- 2 Kings 2:1-15

Mantle Carriers

Two quotes: “The error youth is to believer that intelligence is a substitute for experience, while the error of age is to believe that experience is a substitute for intelligence.”

Secondly, from Edgar Master’s Spoon River Anthology: “In youth my wings were strong and tireless, But I did not know the mountains. In age I knew the mountains But my weary wings could not follow my vision-- Genius is wisdom and youth...”

As one grows older there are lessons of life that are understood differently from those who have never gone through them. I can know truth by reading the Bible. I understand truth by living through experiences when those truths are applied to life experiences in many ways.

We transition today from the life of Elijah to the life of Elisha. God instructed Elijah, the fiery prophet of God to mentor and prepare Elisha for the position of being a prophet. Nothing is said about who was helpful for Elijah in his earlier days. But we learn lessons of life from others in direct or indirect ways.

When I came to Stanchfield and asked people how they came to the church the names of Melvin and Amy Christenson were mentioned as folks to took them in, made them feel welcome, visited them and introduced them to others to get to know them. Even when I met them in their older years I found they invited people in their home for meal.

Amy’s stroke kept her from cooking or cleaning, so all of this responsibility fell on Melvin. It would have been easy to just stay at home and use his energy to care for Amy but that was not their heart. They prayed for people, had Bible studies, gave some money. I wondered after they passed away who would take up that mantle. In one sense no one could be Amy and Melvin. But in another sense that spirit of serving the Lord and reaching out to others is a needed ministry in every church. That attitude of serving instead of being served is a sign of spiritual maturity. The culture has moved in years to pay people to do ministry instead of the emphasis that we all do ministry together for God.

In our passage today we see a great saint being taken from earth and the continued ministry fall upon his servant, Elisha. Elisha takes the mantle, or cloak, of Elijah and continues the ministry to which God had called him.

This week we will look at characteristics important in passing that ministry to another.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues March 30- Perseverance

Verses- II Kings 2:1-6 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal.

2 Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to Bethel." But Elisha said, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," Elisha replied, "but do not speak of it."

4 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, Elisha; the LORD has sent me to Jericho." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.

5 The company of the prophets at Jericho went up to Elisha and asked him, "Do you know that the LORD is going to take your master from you today?" "Yes, I know," he replied, "but do not speak of it."

6 Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here; the LORD has sent me to the Jordan." And he replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you."

Demonstrating Perseverance.

Elisha was a student for 8 years and also a servant. He was from a wealthy farming family He had servants himself as a foreman of work detail, but when the call of God came upon his life, he left it all to follow God's will. He was willing to be a servant himself and give up his inheritance and money. But after a while the novelty of doing something easily wears off for most adventuresome spirits. There is a time when what seemed excited to do is no longer fun. That is when persistence and perseverance to complete and carry on a worthy task makes one effective.

Living out the Christian life in a church setting for years is an illustration of the perseverance of the believer. So many new converts quit. They drop out of church, and their faith is no longer important to them. People want to know: Is this stuff really true? Does it really work in the tough situations of life?

When a couple's child dies, does their faith carry them through, or is it based on happy results to prayer requests? When financial struggles come, or marital difficulties arise perseverance is a characteristic developed when one matures in the Lord.

The gospel is a life-long proclamation, not a half-hour message. It is the persistent and patient walk with the Lord in the good and the bad

times that add to one's effectiveness.

Part of Elisha's training was to be patient and persistent. Each time Elijah instructed Elisha to stay in the town, Elisha was not to be dissuaded. He was persistent in following him to the end. He was persistent in his learning in his love and in his service, even through difficulty and inconvenience, and grief.

A Moravian missionary named George Smith when to Africa. He had been there only a short time and had only one convert, a poor woman when he was driven from the country. He died shortly afterward on his knees, praying for Africa. He was considered a failure.

100 years later his mission counted more than 13,000 living converts who had sprung from the ministry of George Smith and the way God used that poor woman who turned her life over to the Lord. It is not important what we accomplish with our life, as it is that we be faithful to God and persistent in what we know his will to be. It is God that gives the increase. It is God who moves in the hearts of others. That is what makes one effective to the Lord.

Part of persistence is obedience to what you believe is God's will and task for you and not to quit.

Elizabeth Elliot says, "Throughout the Bible..when God asked a man to do something, the methods, means, materials and specific directions were always provided. The man had one thing to do: obey."

Elisha stayed with Elijah since he was called to be a servant and a student. He knew that the Lord was going to take his master from him. He knew as did all the rest of the seminary students, these sons of the prophets that Elijah’s work on the world was done. Who was going to carry it on? God had picked Elisha. Elisha was willing to obey, and persistent in the tasks before him.

One doesn’t have to be preparing for full time Christian service. I have been ministered best by the persistent commitment laymen and women at Stanchfield who love the Lord and use their gifts year after year. It is a witness to our community. It is not always fun or easy. But it is godly to be persistent in doing His will when we feel like it or not.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Weds March 31

Verses- II Kings 2:7-10 Fifty men of the company of the prophets went and stood at a distance, facing the place where Elijah and Elisha had stopped at the Jordan.

8 Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up and struck the water with it. The water divided to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, "Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?" "Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit," Elisha replied.

10 "You have asked a difficult thing," Elijah said, "yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours-- otherwise not."

Demonstrates Desire

There are many in ministry, or with church responsibilities, that look at their service as a job and many who look at it as a calling. Elisha knew his position was a calling from God. But he also knew that he needed to learn some things from his mentor, Elijah. It was his desire to be an effective servant of God.

What is in the heart of a person? Is it advancement, is it performance, is it money, is it fame? We not only saw the commitment of Elisha at the time of his calling, but the desire of his heart to be passionate in service.

“What is it I can do for you”, the older asks the younger.

Elisha had just witnessed a miracle. He knew about the parting of the sea in the wilderness wanderings. He knew about the parting of river Jordan when the people entered into the promised land. Now in this passage Elisha watches as Elijah takes his cloak and rolls it up and touches the river and watches it part. They walk across on dry ground.

How do you teach someone how to do that? What skills does one learn about parting water? Never has that been taught in seminary or Sunday School class. That is only given by God as a gift.

But what we see in the student is not a desire to be better than Elijah but the passion to service with the same zeal for the Lord and to do ministry with excellence. There are skill we learn and abilities and gifts that one does not learn. It is given by God. Likewise it is important to learn lessons in church, mission or ministry. We can learn how to teach better, use study skill to understand the Bible, how to send out cards of encouragement or make visits. But the touch of the Spirit of God on a life desiring to be used is not something to be taught, but to be caught.

What do people do to improve in their jobs? There are those who learn all they can and seek to apply what they see in others that are doing it well. They learn by example.

When people have coaches in some sport they want to improve their skills but realize they have something the other doesn’t have. There are God given gifts and there are fundamentals and advanced techniques that one learns by watching those he or she admires.

What does Elijah see in Elijah? A power from God to be certain, but a desire to be all God wants him to be. He sees a relationship that Elijah has with God that Elisha wants with all his heart. To walk and talk with the Lord is beyond books and lectures. It is vital in witnessing the intimacy and living it out in the spirit.

Elisha's heart desire is to have a double portion of his spirit. A double portion does not mean twice as much power as Elijah but rather to be considered as his son who will receive his spiritual inheritance. He is asking for the blessing and for the spiritual power that his mentor had. He knew he had more to learn. Elisha felt that there was yet something he needed if he was to face the task alone. Till then his only comfort and hope was to stay by Elijah.

The desire of the heart of Elisha was to have the Spirit of God like he had seen in Elijah. It wasn’t for personal advancement or envy, but to be a tool effective for the service of God.

To learn all we can is important in any job or responsibility. To do things well and with excellence is admirable when one applies himself or herself. But spiritual desire comes when you realize God is God and you want Him more than anything else, not for what you can do, but for who He is. It comes not by our choice nor by our training but by the grace of the Lord responding to the desires of our heart.

That is what Elijah tells his student. This is a gift from God. Ask for it. Desire it. And let God give you what God wants to give you. Be ready and willing to receive whatever God has for you while you continue your journey with the tasks at hand. And what it is God gives to you, do it with excellence and let Him take it from there.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Thurs April 1- Faith

Verses- 11 Kings 2:11-14 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

12 Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.

13 He picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan.

14 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

Demonstrating Faith

The Spiritual power of God is not something one obtains by teaching or learning certain principles. One does not observe another and practice what he does and automatically receive the supernatural infilling of the Spirit of God. God doesn't work that way. However the example of faith is something people can see in others and evaluate in their lives as others are living in believing God and His word and power. Does one perform duties and techniques learned from men, or trust in what God chooses to do in His people?

The important thing about growing in faith is not so much how much faith someone has, but rather the object in which faith is placed. There comes a time in Elisha’s training when he moves from what he can learn from Elijah to what he learns from God.

When I went on my first airplane ride I was quite nervous. I had seen others fly. I had heard their experiences. I would watch as planes would go up and down, but this idea of being in mid air with something that weights tons didn’t seem to make any sense, since I also understood about gravity.

However, learning a bit about aerodynamics helped in my growth of understanding. But the time came when I needed to get on the plane. I did what I could to help lift the plane in the air by pulling up on the arm rests on the seat. I thought about the point of no return where it is too late to turn back- one either flies or crashes. I prayed to the Lord for safety.

After awhile people were walking about the plane and standing and visiting with friends. The stewardess was delivering drinks and then passing out food (this was a number of years ago).

The more I started to understand about planes and experience them the more my faith in them grew. I trusted it with my life. It is now an enjoyable experience. If I had no faith in planes, regardless of how safe they were I would not have experienced their benefits personally. If the plane I was to get on was faulty and had no gas, no matter how much faith I had in it I would be in danger for the object of my faith was deficient.

Elisha learned about God by watching Elijah live out his faith. He trusted in God. The time came when Elisha did not just go through the motions but took that step from the faith of his friend to his own commitment of trusting in God and learning along the way more about Him.

The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Rom 10:17

The more we know the Lord the more faith grows until we trust and obey, not based on our good works, but relying on the power of God to work through us His way and in His timing.

People can go to classes, Bible study groups and training seminars for many years and some do. But that does not assure anyone of the power of the Holy Spirit. One learns more about God, but the time times to exercise faith in not one knows but in the person of Christ and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit since Christ dwells within. One is far more likely to discover God's power while on your knees and in personal communication with the Lord from the Bible.

We see in a most dramatic manner that Elijah is translated in a unique and different way than anyone else on this earth. He was a fiery personality, and in that same bold manner the Lord takes him to heaven in a whirlwind separated by a fiery chariot with horses. Elisha tears his clothes, expresses grief and picks us the mantle of Elijah and returns to the river Jordan believing God has place His hand upon him. He exercises his faith by taking this clock of Elijah and God parts the water just like he did with Elijah.

Elisha was not to go in the power of Elijah, or in the wisdom of Elijah, or in the intelligence of Elijah, or in the experience and training that he had, but in the power of the Lord and the wisdom of God, and the leading of the Spirit. He knew Him whom he trusted.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Fri April 2

Verses- II Ki 2:14-15 Then he took the cloak that had fallen from him and struck the water with it. "Where now is the LORD, the God of Elijah?" he asked. When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over.

The company of the prophets from Jericho, who were watching, said, "The spirit of Elijah is resting on Elisha." And they went to meet him and bowed to the ground before him.

Participation

There is no indication here that Elijah died the human and normal death of the rest of us. The Lord translated him from his life to the next. When the prophets looked for a body, they found none. His resurrection came much earlier than the rest of the world. But the mantle was left. Elisha picked it up and continued the ministry. Now that he had been called and trained, it was time for him to participate and get involved in the ministry to which God called him. He went boldly on.

Many can come up with excuses not to serve by thinking they don’t have enough training, they don’t have the gifts of their predecessor, they aren’t smart enough, or talented enough, but God uses those who are willing to participate.

I recently spoke on Moses and the burning bush last fall. One pastor entitled his sermon, “Any Ol’ Bush Would do”. It wasn’t about one of our former presidents. It was about God meeting Moses in the wilderness through a burning bush. There really wasn’t anything special about the bush as it was the power of God through the bush. Any ol’ bush would do if God chooses to show his wonder and miracles through it.

The same would be true of people God chooses. Any person would do if God chose them for some task or purpose. People in our society would run back that bush and charge admission to look at it in some museum or possibly charge $1,000 for a sliver of it. They would make it into an idol. God is desirous of glory for Himself alone.

The Bible says that the Spirit gives gifts as he wills to whomever he wills. Such power is an act of grace. God only can answer such a prayer. The power that Elisha sought was not for Elijah to give. Elijah does tell him that if he can witness his departure then God will grant him his prayer.

Indeed God's plan was to empower Elisha. A willing and humble spirit was what God wanted from Elisha. That would be one difference between a bush and a human. We can disobey and be filled with selfish and evil desires. An inanimate object is as God created it to be.

God came upon Elisha as he returned to the same Jordan river and touched the water with Elijah's cloak. Like before, it separated. There was nothing magical about the cloak or mantle. Interestingly, God did not give to him the special power of Elijah until he needed it. He often makes men wait in faith for a gift until the very moment that it is required.

As a minister I admire many people God had marvelously used in different areas. I wish I could evangelize like Billy Graham, or be involved with social concerns like James Dobson, or be as astute to political and Christian responsibilities like Chuck Colson, but that is unrealistic and that is not want God wants of Dale Cope. He has not given me their ministry and has not given them my ministry. He has not given you my ministry or given to me yours. He wants us to use all of our interests today and together in the power of the spirit.

The world ranks people one way, God ranks them differently. He doesn't rank by occupation: Rahab was a hero of the faith and she was a prostitute. He doesn't rank by notoriety; the protagonists of Jesus' parables were unknowns.

Just as in a relay race one passes the baton to another as they all run their course for their team. The concept of discipleship is for a time one takes the baton given to them by God, usually from someone who went before us, and carry it with faithfulness and humility until we pass it on to another. Get in the race. Do so with the willingness to do our best and watch what God chooses to do in and through us. God is not calling you to do everything, but I believe he is calling you to do something.

There are those who have gone on before us that have influenced us in ways that God used. There will be those who follow us for whom God want us to invest time and ministry to will be a blessing to the next generation. Carry the baton with a willingness to glorify God. Then pass it on.

Pastor Dale

Greener Grass 1 Kings 21

Sermon Nuggets week of March 22, 2010

Sermon nuggets -Mon March 22

Theme- Greener Grass

Verses- I Kings 21:1-6
1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
2 Ahab said to Naboth, "Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth."
3 But Naboth replied, "The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers."
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, "Why are you so sullen? Why won't you eat?"
6 He answered her, "Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, 'Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"

Greener Grass

There was a young man at the movie theatre who went out to get popcorn. Returning he leaned over and asked the woman sitting on the aisle, “Did I step on your feet when I left?”
Ready to accept his apology smiled and said, “Why as a matter of act, you did.”

“Good,” explained the man squeezing past her, “Then this is the right row.”

There are a number of people that can only see their world through their own eyes. They are completely oblivious as to the concerns and considerations of others. We come in conflict very early in life. We do not always get our own way. We are born with an egocentric world that lack self discipline and real enjoyment.

If a person does not know how to control his desires he falls prey to the snares of lust, gluttony, intemperance, laziness and other vices.

Have you ever practiced the discipline of fasting? During this season many within liturgical churches practice Lent. It is an observance for 40 days to deny oneself of some thing they enjoy, or a habit they wish to change, as means of preparing themselves spiritually for Easter. Often it is not eating meat on Fridays or giving up smoking or desserts for that period of time. Many will chose to say no to some other pleasures which they enjoy, to reflect on how Jesus denied himself of his heavenly pleasures and even fasted in the wilderness before His public call and temptation by Satan.

It is not a bad idea to say no to your feelings of indulgence. It is good to deny yourself things that are fine just for the purpose of controlling your wants. It is part of learning to do what you know to be right even if you don’t feel like doing it. Cultivating discipline in the physical life helps us become discipline in the spiritual life.

We have been talking about Elijah for the past weeks. There are three more times that his name is mentioned in the Old Testament. Twice he comes as a prophet from God to give words of judgments to the King. Kings are seldom questioned or contradicted. One in such power finds it hard to say no to his desires and wants for his personal benefits.

As a background to this passage it has been six or seven years since King Ahab had seen Elijah. King Ahab desires some property that he does not own. He wants to make a garden from the adjoining land belonging to Nabath. But his neighbor does not want to sell for religious reasons and to honor his family since this was an inheritance from his ancestors.

Ahab is frustrated and mopes around the palace. His wife, the wicked queen Jezebel notices this. With his consent she uses her powers by committing a crime. Through lying, bribery and murder the king gets what he wants.

Not only is God a God of forgiveness but also a God of vengeance. Elijah serves to remind us of this through uttering judgments on the King and his wife.

Elijah speaks judgment upon this royal family.

It does us all well to think of areas of our lives where we need to confess and repent of sinful ways and desires.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Tues March 23, 2010

Verses- I King 21:4-7
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, "Why are you so sullen? Why won't you eat?"
6 He answered her, "Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, 'Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.' But he said, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'"
7 Jezebel his wife said, "Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

From Desire to Envy

The heart of the King moves from desire to envy. Naboth lives next door to one of the palaces. Ahab thinks it would be nice to have a vegetable garden and looks around and the grass is always greener on the other side. When he realizes this land he wants doesn’t belong to him he inquires about the possibility of getting it. There is some bargaining going on and rightly and fairly the King offers Naboth a better piece of land elsewhere or even money on a fair trade. So far there isn’t any problem. Wanting something you do not have is not necessarily a sin. We would never buy anything if that were the case. The acquiring of possession however seldom if never satisfies.

Naboth is one of the Jehovah worshippers it appears. Perhaps he was one who heard the might of God on Mount Carmel and returned to his faith in God. Maybe he was a secret follower all his life. Either way the context indicates he sought to keep the laws of the Lord. But for a vow made and family rights the property was more than just a piece of land it was part of a religious and family commitment to keep it.

Lev 25:23 taught, “The land must not be sold permanently because the land is mine and you are aliens and my tenants.”

When the land was divided at the time of Joshua various people claimed the land as from the Lord. Numbers 36:7 “So shall not the inheritance the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.”

Growing up in Detroit allowed me to see the difference of attitude about homeland. In a mobile environment people loved their homes, but it wasn’t a big deal to move. But I noticed out in the country when land was homesteaded by the early Swedish immigrants and farms have been part of the family for years there is a greater attachment and commitment of keeping it in the family. It is not uncommon for people to retire and return to their roots of the childhood or of the grandparents in Stanchfield.

Yet in Israel there was more that type of thinking since this land was not just for the sake of historic nostalgia. It was a gift from God to them. That is why there is fighting going on over the West Bank or Palestinians. The Jewish people reclaimed the land given back according to the laws of Leviticus and saying it is God given and we must buy, steal or force it back into our possession. So even though Naboth was offered better land he could not sell his rights.

He also had a right of protection to his property by the existing government. Ahab was King and even though he was cruel God ordained leadership and civil government to uphold the rules so to provide order and peace. Stealing by anyone’s standards is not acceptable. He was suppose to be protected by the laws of the land and even the King could do nothing about it. So Ahab couldn’t get what he wanted and envy resulted. He moped around.

Desire leads to covetousness and covetousness is a sin. He wanted his neighbor’s property. It did not belong to him. He was unable to buy or trade it. He had enough of his own but there is something about not having what you want that makes it more attractive.

Do you eve see that in yourself? Children are especially that way. Someone can’t have a bicycle or motorcycle or a new dress, or can’t go on a date and the mop and pout because they can’t get what they want. Not only that if someone else has it they feel envious. Wanting something that someone else has is breaking one of the 10 commands. Not just desires it, but starting to feel envy is also holding something against the other for having what we want.

Many adults do that also n a different level. Maybe it is something they cannot afford and they think about it until it affects their attitude. Many are wrapped up in personal possessions with disillusionment that if only I can have it, it will make my day but it never does because then there is something else they want and then something else and this desire is never satisfied.

Jezebel saw her husband in this mood. She comes up with a plan. Her standards certainly aren’t to protect he rights of the citizens. Her value system is what the King wants the King gets. It is a matter of power. The issue becomes bigger than a plot a land.

Pastor Dale

Sermon nuggets Weds March 24, 2010

Verses-
I King 21:7-13 Jezebel his wife said, "Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I'll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city with him.
9 In those letters she wrote: "Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. 10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them testify that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death."
11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth's city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them. 12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people.
13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, "Naboth has cursed both God and the king." So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.

Envy to Sin

Growing up there was a controversy between private and public rights of land. If government deemed property worthy of public interest they could take someone land or property for a price. This principle is now called eminent domain. In the United States, it's limited by the Bill of Rights, which grants a right to due process of law and fair compensation when the government takes a person's property. A public purpose can include anything from building a new freeway ramp to declaring your soggy back acres a protected wetland.

Of course this can and is easily abused not only in public life but in private sectors as well. Many developers will force older people out of their homes “for the good of the community” sometimes for a fair price and often not. Desires turn into envy which turns into greed and falls into sin. Many are innocent victims whose rights and properties are stolen though for the books it is done in legal ways.

This story of Naboth’s land being taken comes after legal means have been exhausted so the King can get a vegetable garden. The queen sees Ahab moping around and tells him to cheer up she will get the land for him. Jezebel hypocritically proclaims a day of fasting. Although she personally denies the laws of Jehovah she uses this fast as means to falsely accuse Naboth. She instructs the elders of the city to set up Naboth so that two witnesses can testify against him claiming he cursed God and King That way he can be stoned to death and that is exactly what happened.

We are told citizens are guaranteed the right of a fair trial. The King’s family sideswipes the law and affect the whole city into a charade just so Ahab can get a vegetable garden Elders are willing to be bribed and follow the dictates of immoral and lying queen. Scoundrels and scum are more interested in money than lives. They lie in front of the tribune and claim to have heard him curse God and king, which he would never do. They publically keep the law by stoning him to death. He was an innocent victim. With Naboth gone the land was now available to King Ahab. Power over the innocent is achieved once again.

Desire turns to envy which turns into sin in order to get what does not belong.

King David committed adultery and in order to cover up his sin brings Bathsheba’ husband, an honorable and righteous soldier back from war so he could sleep with his wife and think the child was his. But out of duty to God and country he refused to sleep with his wife because of his vow during battle. David arranges he be put in the front lines and kills and then marries his widow and she has his baby.

Kings manipulate and kill people for their wants. This is what happened to Jesus. The High Priest Caiaphas wanted his innocent victim, sinless son of God killed and since Jesus did no wrong the best they could do was have two witnesses bribed with money to tell lies that Jesus committed something worthy of death.

History repeats itself over and again. The strong get their way at the expense of the weak. King Henry the 8th killed Sir Thomas More, a bishop, by false witnesses because he refused to acknowledge the Kings marriage after he divorced one of his wives.

There are many unfair stories of lying ad cover ups and even deaths to fill envious desires for material things. Powerful people use whatever means they can to get what they want and sin grows. There are many defenseless victims who lose houses, land, money property and even lives. It isn’t’ fair. But there is one who keeps the final books. There comes a day of reckoning. It is God who is the final judge.

Perhaps in a less dramatic way but no less sin stealing and cheating become means of acquiring things that do not belong to us. It can be as serious as stealing cars, snowmobiles or money. It can be as simple as lying on filling out our time sheet or income tax forms.

Influencing others to get what we want is common. To do so in deceitful and sinful ways results in activity opposed by God.

The Psalmist prays Ps 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Pastor Dale

Thurs March 25, 2010

Verses-I King 21:15-20 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead."
16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth's vineyard.
17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite:
18 "Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood-- yes, yours!'"
20 Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!" "I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD.

Exposed

The Lord sends Elijah to this vineyard and there he meets with the King. Ahab is thrilled that he has the land finally for his garden. “So here you are my enemy” says Elijah.

Remember that earlier Jezebel was looking for Elijah to kill him. Notice the change of focus. “It wasn’t you who found me, but I have found you.” Who is looking for whom? Who is guilty and in hiding? Elijah is no longer afraid of the King or his wife. He met the Lord as we mentioned earlier and faith is strong again. We see God continues to use Elijah and his abilities to carry out the work. He is strengthened and there are tasks for him to perform

Vs. 20 Notice how he puts that, because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. Sold yourself to evil. Bargained away his soul so to speak.

I was in a play called Dr. Faustus which is an old morality play from Christopher Marlowe. R. Faustus sells his soul to the devil for things of the world. He is about to die and Mephistopheles (Satan) allows him to live a few more years and during that time his finds a beautiful woman, gets lots of money. He achieves fame as a physician, acquires respected intelligence and wisdom. He becomes politically powerful. But the time comes when his days are up. In anguish we see him descending into hell.

There comes a time we are faced with our folly, our evil, our sin. There comes a times when we see life the way God sees it and self is uncovered. The lies are exposed. Our evil is seen for what it is. For some that time comes early like Denny Hecker, or Bernie Madoff, or Tom Peters. For others it isn’t revealed until folks stand before God but justice will prevail as God will have his way.

Many will do evil acts like Ahab. Many more will do selfish, prideful and greedy acts which ignore Christ. Our world is telling us a lie and too often truth is drowned out by lies.

There is another part of the story. Naboth was innocently killed. But that is not forgotten by God. He is omniscient. He is all knowing. He is the one who said “Vengeance in mine”. Does not a sparrow fall to the ground and the Father knows it?

Yes, there are innocent martyrs. Our hearts cry out, “unfair, unfair.” There were 3 million Jews gassed to death in Germany. Men women and children. There are churches burned in Nigeria with believers in them this month. There are drug lords in Columbia and Mexico killing journalist who will report against them. There are judges bribed to give verdicts in favor of the powerful and rich. There are bad police and greedy preachers.

I wish we could understand this with the eyes of the Lord and not eyes that are so focused on this world that we are blinded to eternal truth. When God promises us protection and care it is not necessarily protection and care from earthly powers. We may be beaten and slandered an lose law suits, and fired unjustly. That is not what we are protected from. The word say, “o not fear that which can kill your body, but that which kills both body and soul”

I would much rather be Naboth falsely accused and stoned to death than Ahab standing in a garden condemned by God. But few people understand that. They would much rather be Ahab the winner than Naboth the loser. Satan blinds their eyes and they sell their souls to evil. Sin must be reckoned with. Ahab stands condemned for his sin.

Pastor Dale

Sermon Nuggets Friday March 26, 2010-


Verses I King 21:17-29
17 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 18 "Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth's vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it. 19 Say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?' Then say to him, 'This is what the LORD says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth's blood, dogs will lick up your blood-- yes, yours!'"
20 Ahab said to Elijah, "So you have found me, my enemy!" "I have found you," he answered, "because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD.
21 'I am going to bring disaster on you. I will consume your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel-- slave or free. 22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin.' 23 "And also concerning Jezebel the LORD says: 'Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.'
24 "Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds of the air will feed on those who die in the country."
25 (There was never a man like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."

From Condemnation to Death

Nobody likes to hear bad news. Warnings to turn from sin before it is too late are not taken as good news. When Elijah confronts the King with his sin and the consequences of their actions Elijah had become his enemy and Ahab wanted him killed. Now this last time of meeting Elijah reveals again the sin of the murder of Naboth the Kings neighbor. There will be death and destruction to the household of Ahab.

The consequences for Ahab are dramatic however for his sins. He will lose all ties with the Kingdom. All his family will be killed and Jezebel will be killed. The dogs will eat her flesh. That is the worse public humiliation -instead of these vast tombs that kings and queens are buried in. But more than that, they lose their own soul.

To be out of eternal fellowship with the Lord is the worse of all consequences. That is exactly what happens. As we conclude the book of 1 Kings and read more into 2 Kings we see the drama played out. Within three years Ahab disguises himself as a common soldier and in battle an arrow flies and hits him between the folds of his armor. He suffers watching his men lose the battle. He loses his life and his body is lying in a pool blood. Surrounding his body are scavengers, not pets like we think, but more like the coyotes, curs lapping up the blood of Ahab.

Jezebel later is thrown from a balcony by her servants and her blood splattered all over the wall surrounding the palace and horses trample over her. The dogs came and ate away all her flesh so only the bones stood.

Ahab had 70 sons in Samaria, the capital of Israel, the Northern Kingdom. All had their heads put in a basket. Jehu, the commander of the armies, killed everyone who remained in the house of Ahab as well as all his chef advisors and close friends and priests leaving him no survivors.

We see the truth of the warning of James. “but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14-15) This story is the illustration of the truth of the consequences of yielding to sinful desires.

There is however a glimmer of hope in the last 3 verses of this chapter. It shows Ahab for the first time in Scripture coming to repentance. He tears his clothes and humbled himself before the Lord. So God by his mercy relents and says the disaster to Ahab’s household will happen after he dies. We see the demise of his family in the stories of 2 Kings. The Lord’s judgment was delayed.

It was too bad that humility was only for a short time. If Ahab kept his promises things might have been different. There are consequences to sin. Judgment faces us all. When King David was confronted with his sin with Bathsheba there were consequences, but with his humility and repentance his descendents were established by the promise of God until the coming of Jesus Christ, who will reign forever.

Peter sinned and repented and used of God in dramatic ways to establish the church. Saul met the Lord and had a heart chance and God uses his writing today as Scriptures for our teaching and obedience.

The Lord’s promises for the faithful result in blessing by his mercy. For the one who continues in sin there is warning and then condemnation. This is a message of hope and of despair. Which shall it be? For God is faithful. And will right the wrongs.

I am reminded of the challenge of the words of Joshua when the nation was established in this new land. Deut 30:19 “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live.”

Pastor Dale