1 KINGS 16:1-4
INTRODUCTION: GOD, WHO IS OUR LOVING FATHER, WANTS TO BLESS HIS CHILDREN ABAUNDANTLY. AS FATHER HE WANTS TO MEET OUR EVERY NEED AND GRANT SOME OF OUR DESIRES. AS HIS CHILDREN HE EXPECTS US TO WALK WORTHY OF THE VOCATION WHEREWITH WE HAVE BEEN CALLED. IF WE ARE TO BE THE RECIPIENTS OF THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE FOLLOW HIS MANDATES. WHENEVER WE GET TO THE POINT THAT WE FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD AS THE GIVER OF EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT; AS THE SOVEREIGN GOD OF THE UNIVERSE; THE LORD AND SAVIOR OF OUR LIVES, WE RUN THE RISK OF EXPERIENCING SHORT CIRCUTS IN OUR LIVES. WE MAY LOOK GOOD, BUT FOR JUST SO LONG. WE MAY SING GOOD, BUT FOR JUST SO LONG. WE MAY SHOUT, PREACH, AND PRAY GOOD, BUT FOR JUST SO LONG. WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN SHORT CIRCUITED FROM GOD. AND WHEN SIN CAUSES A SHORT CIRCUIT, DAY LIGHT BECOMES MID-NIGHT, HAPPY DAYS ARE FILLED WITH MISERY, SONGS OF JOY HAVE NO MEANING, HOPE IS AMPUTATED, PEACE IS CASTRATED, AND JOY IS FRUSTRATED. YES MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN SIN CAUSES YOUR BLESSINGS TO BE SHORT CIRCUITED.
I. THE TEXT
CHAPTER SIXTEEN DEALS WITH THE SINFULNESS OF A NATION. THE KINGS OF THIS CHAPTER WERE SPIRITUALLY DEAD, AND AS A CONSEQUENCE THE PEOPLE FOLLOWED THEIR LEADERS INTO A CESSPOOL OF SIN. THEIR BEHAVIOR WAS SO TRETCHOROUS THAT THEY PROVOKED GOD TO ANGER. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT’S A DANGEROUS THING TO PROVOKE GOD TO ANGER. 2 KINGS|22:17 SAYS “BECAUSE THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ME, AND HAVE BURNED INCENSE UNTO OTHER GODS, THAT THEY MIGHT PROVOKE ME TO ANGER WITH ALL THE WORKS OF THEIR HANDS; THEREFORE MY WRATH SHALL BE KINDLED AGAINST THIS PLACE, AND SHALL NOT BE QUENCHED.”
THE KING AND THE NATION CONTINUED TO INGORE THE GOD OF THEIR FATHERS. THE GOD WHO HAD BEEN SO GOOD TO THEM. THE GOD, WHO WOKE THEM UP IN THE MORNING, AND STARTED THEM ON THEIR WAY. THE LONGER YOU IGNORE GOD, THE DEEPER YOU WILL SINK INTO WHATEVER YOU ARE ENGAGED IN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT YOUR BLESSINGS WILL BE SHORT CIRCUITED.
BAASHA PERPETUATED THE PRATICE OF CALF WORSHIP, WHICH WAS GROSS IDOLATRY. IT IS EVIDENT THAT BAASHA AND THE PEOPLE WOULD RATHER HAVE A god THEY COULD SEE, AS OPPOSED TO THE GOD WHO MADE THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. LEVITICUS 26:1 SAY’S, “YE SHALL MAKE YOU NO IDOLS NOR GRAVEN IMAGE, NEITHER REAR YOU UP A STANDING IMAGE, NEITHER SHALL YE SET UP ANY IMAGE OF STONE IN YOUR LAND, TO BOW DOWN UNTO IT: FOR I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.”
GOD WILL NOT SUFFER HIS CHILDREN TO PUT ANYTHING BEFORE HIM. ISAIAH 42:8 SAY’S, “I AM THE LORD: THAT IS MY NAME: AND MY GLORY WILL I NOT GIVE TO ANOTHER, NEITHER MY PRAISE TO GRAVEN IMAGES.” IN OUR WORLD TODAY, WE HAVE PUT OUR JOBS, HOMES, POSITIONS, MONEY, AND A HOST OF OTHER THINGS BEFORE OUR GOD, AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS THAT IS SIN.
WHENEVER WE TRUST MORE IN THINGS, OR GIVE OUR TIME TO THINGS, MORE THAN WE DO TO GOD, GOD WILL ALLOW US TO SOMETIMES STEW IN THE JUICES OF OUR OWN CONSEQUENCES. IN OTHER WORDS, WE WILL GET JUST WHAT WE DESERVE.
BAASHA AND HIS FAMILY WOULD HAVE TO PAY A SEVERE PRICE FOR THEIR SINFUL DEEDS. WHILE WE MAY OFTEN THINK THAT OUR SINS AFFECT ONLY US, THEY ALSO AFFECT THOSE AROUND US.
II. SIN
SIN IS EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING THAT DISPLEASES GOD, OR THAT DISRESPECTS GOD, OR THAT DESPISES GOD, OR THAT DISHONORS GOD, OR THAT DISDAINS GOD.
GOD SEES ALL SIN AS SIN. GOD DOES NOT DEAL IN MISDOMEANORS. ALL SINS ALL FELONIOUS OFFENSES TO GOD, AND HE IS THE JUDGE AND THE JURY IN PRONOUNICING MAN GUILTY, AND PASSING SENTENCE.
THREE POINTS AND I WILL LEAVE YOU ALONE. FIRST, AS CHILDREN OF GOD, THE PRACTICE AND PLEASURE OF SIN SHOULD NOT BE AMONG OUR DESIRES, JAMES 4:17 SAY’S, “THEREFORE TO HIM THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD, AND DOETH IT NOT, TO HIM IT IS SIN.” IN OTHER WORDS, IF IT’S RIGHT TO OBEY GOD, THEN IT’S WRONG AND SINFUL TO DISOBEY GOD. SECOND, SIN MOVES GOD TO TURN HIS EARS AND CLOSE HIS EYES TO OUR PRAYERS, ISAIAH 1:15 SAY’S,”AND WHEN YE SPREAD FORTH YOUR HANDS, I WILL HIDE MINE EYES FROM YOU: YEA, WHEN YE MAKE MANY PRAYERS, I WILL NOT HEAR.” THIRD, SIN SHAMES US BEFORE OTHERS, VERSE 3 SAY’S, “I WILL TAKE AWAY THE PROSPERITY OF BAASHA, AND THE PROSPERITY OF HIS HOUSE. VERSE 4 SAY’S, HIM THAT DIETH OF BAASHA IN THE CITY, THE DOGS SHALL EAT; AND HIM THAT DIETH IN THE FIELDS SHALL THE FOWLS OF THE AIR EAT.” IN OTHER WORDS, YOUR BLESSINGS WILL SOON BE SHORT CIRCUITED.
· SIN CAUSES A FEAR IT CANNOT REMOVE.
· A HEARTACHE IT CANNOT EASE.
· A STORM IT CANNOT STILL.
· A PROBLEM IT CANNOT SOLVE.
· A BURDEN IT CANNOT LIFT.
· SIN CAN REPLACE LOVE WITH LUST.
· JOY WITH SORROW.
· COMFORT WITH PAIN.
· PEACE WITH CONFUSION.
· ASSURANCE WITH ANXIETIES.
· HONOR WITH DISGRACE.
MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, WHEN SIN IS IN OUR LIVES, WE NEED TO SAY LIKE DAVID, “CREATE IN ME A NEW HEART, O GOD; AND RENEW A RIGHT SPIRIT WITHIN ME. RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION; AND UPHOLD ME WITH THY FREE SPIRIT.”
I KNOW A MAN FROM GALILEE, IF YOU ARE IN SIN, HE WILL SET YOU FREE. THE SAME GOD THAT SHORT CIRCUITS YOUR BLESSINGS, HAS THE POWER TO RESTORE POWER.
