And in the thirty and eighth year of Asa king of Judah began Ahab the son of Omri to reign over Israel: and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty and two years. And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him. And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served baal, and worshipped him. And he reared up an altar for baal in the house of baal, which he had built in Samaria. And Ahab made a grove; and Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel that were before him. In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn, and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the Word of the LORD, which He spake by Joshua the son of Nun. (1 Kings 16:29-34)
While Asa reigned in Judah, Zimri removed Baasha and destroyed his family and then was himself taken down by the people, all at the hand and direction of the LORD. Omri prevailed and became king of Israel, establishing Samaria as the capital of Israel. His son Ahab followed his father as king of Israel and married Jezebel, the daughter of the king of Sidon. He served baal, a false god of the Sidonians and did evil in the sight of the LORD, worse than Zimri and Omri who each had been worse than those before. During the reign of Ahab, Hiel rebuilt Jericho just as God had foretold in the days of Joshua who had destroyed it. All had been done as God had said it would be in Israel.
Each of the kings of Israel goes further and further away from God and His Commandments. Baasha had overthrown Jeroboam and was himself deposed with the loss of all his family. Zimri was struck down, burning the palace down around his head, because the people rose against him. Omri set up Samaria as the new capital of Israel but continued to walk in the ungodly ways of those before him. His son Ahab was even worse and his worship of the false god baal is evident of not only the influence of Jezebel but also his total departure from the ways of the LORD. God was testing and judging Israel during the reigns of all her bad and ugly kings.
The purpose of the Christian on the earth is to reach the lost with the Gospel, teach all nations whatsoever He has commanded, and preach the Word at all times and in all places. Those who are as we once were, are as badly in need of Christ and the good news of forgiveness through repentance, and the new birth which comes from faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, as we were before we were redeemed by God. Our missions, ministry, and discipleship should be for God’s glory and not our own, to bring lost people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to grow those in Christ in their relationship and walk with the LORD. If we are only about that which we can do, and only for our legacy and accomplishments, then we will be no better than Ahab who sought his own path and went his own way, instead of the ways of God. We are to walk in the path which God reveals unto us, even if that path seems to be contrary, and it often will be, to what the world expects or thinks our way should be. The ways of God are not our ways, and if we walk in them we will be just as contrary to the ways of the world as God is. God calls us to a higher standard, that we may lift Him up before men, and then He may draw others to Himself that they might be saved. The world will hate us, but God will be glorified in our worship and obedience of Him who is our Creator, Redeemer, and King.
While we are here, God has commanded those of us who are His saints and know Him to go out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
Each of the kings of Israel goes further and further away from God and His Commandments. Baasha had overthrown Jeroboam and was himself deposed with the loss of all his family. Zimri was struck down, burning the palace down around his head, because the people rose against him. Omri set up Samaria as the new capital of Israel but continued to walk in the ungodly ways of those before him. His son Ahab was even worse and his worship of the false god baal is evident of not only the influence of Jezebel but also his total departure from the ways of the LORD. God was testing and judging Israel during the reigns of all her bad and ugly kings.
The purpose of the Christian on the earth is to reach the lost with the Gospel, teach all nations whatsoever He has commanded, and preach the Word at all times and in all places. Those who are as we once were, are as badly in need of Christ and the good news of forgiveness through repentance, and the new birth which comes from faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, as we were before we were redeemed by God. Our missions, ministry, and discipleship should be for God’s glory and not our own, to bring lost people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and to grow those in Christ in their relationship and walk with the LORD. If we are only about that which we can do, and only for our legacy and accomplishments, then we will be no better than Ahab who sought his own path and went his own way, instead of the ways of God. We are to walk in the path which God reveals unto us, even if that path seems to be contrary, and it often will be, to what the world expects or thinks our way should be. The ways of God are not our ways, and if we walk in them we will be just as contrary to the ways of the world as God is. God calls us to a higher standard, that we may lift Him up before men, and then He may draw others to Himself that they might be saved. The world will hate us, but God will be glorified in our worship and obedience of Him who is our Creator, Redeemer, and King.
While we are here, God has commanded those of us who are His saints and know Him to go out into this world to reach the lost that they might be saved from sin. He desires that His people strive to be holy and obedient unto Him that we might minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as He provides. We serve others, equipped with the Word of reconciliation and righteousness, rightly divided and fitly spoken, that they may see Christ in us, the hope of Glory. Our God has commanded us to love one another with an unfeigned love, even as He first loved us, and to disciple one another in the Word of God so that we may all grow in grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Our Lord has commissioned those who are His with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to go where He sends us in the power of the Holy Spirit. As we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness through repentance and reconciliation with the Father through faith in His Son, that those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah of God might have life in His Name.
God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. God calls you to faith in Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with God, forgiveness from God, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God who is God the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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