1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:04,760 Second Kings Chapter 9. I'm curious to know if anyone 2 00:00:04,760 --> 00:00:09,960 here saw the recent Wall Street Journal article about Bible 3 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:12,600 sales recently. Anybody read that? 4 00:00:12,840 --> 00:00:14,240 If you have lift your hand. Nobody read it. 5 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:17,520 Yes, one couple people. Well, if you haven't read it, it 6 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:22,160 was a December report and it was a review of Bible sales in the 7 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,640 United States. In 2024. 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,720 There was a 22% increase of Bible sales in comparison to 9 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,680 2023. And so the first ten months of 10 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:40,400 2024 there were 13.7 million Bible sales in this country. 11 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:47,080 And the report also said that from one particular bookstore 12 00:00:47,080 --> 00:00:52,160 manager, she expressed by way of personal testimony that she's 13 00:00:52,280 --> 00:00:55,800 she has seen so many first time buyers coming into her store 14 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,480 primarily looking for the Scriptures. 15 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,760 And when asking about why they were buying the Bible, there was 16 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:06,200 a large number of people who are admitting that they were on a 17 00:01:06,240 --> 00:01:11,160 quest for something. Can you guess what that quest is 18 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,360 for? Truth is a good answer, but more 19 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:20,920 specific hope. People are looking for hope. 20 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:24,800 And that shouldn't surprise us in our age, right? 21 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:29,680 With the growing global chaos and the cultural confusion 22 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:33,000 that's surrounding us, people are desperately looking for some 23 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:36,680 answers. And a lot of those sales are 24 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:39,880 coming from Gen. Z, which is so encouraging 25 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,760 because so many people have written them off and just 26 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:44,360 thought that there are lost cause. 27 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,920 All, even secular reporters and analysts are saying otherwise. 28 00:01:49,080 --> 00:01:51,160 People are hungry. They're looking for answers, and 29 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:55,800 they're not getting answers from gurus or celebrities or secular 30 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:59,400 prophets. And I wanted to say, if you are 31 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,840 here today listening or in person, and you're starting out 32 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:07,760 on that quest, know that this church is dedicated to 33 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,000 explaining and expounding the Bible. 34 00:02:10,639 --> 00:02:13,840 And we hope and pray that what you hear week after week will 35 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:18,120 guide you through the truth and it will provide you greater 36 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:22,360 clarity and confidence. And the Lord has been faithful 37 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:23,840 to us week after week, hasn't he? 38 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:28,480 He has been so good to us. And tonight, as we come to this 39 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:31,600 book, as we usually do, we continue in our study of 40 00:02:31,600 --> 00:02:37,480 Elijah's efforts to complete what Elijah granted to him and 41 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,840 passed on to him, particularly in the area of appointing 42 00:02:40,840 --> 00:02:45,600 specific leaders who will be God's instruments of judgment 43 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:51,440 against the people of Israel. And we read and studied last 44 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:57,960 week that Elisha crowned Hazael to be the next king of Syria. 45 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:01,160 And tonight, as we approach this chapter. 46 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:07,200 We will witness how this man named Jehu will become the new 47 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,720 king of Israel. So if you're there, meet me in 48 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:12,680 verse one of Second Kings Chapter 9. 49 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:14,960 Let's read the first 3 verses together. 50 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:20,440 Then Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets 51 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,680 and said to him, Tie up your garments and take this flask of 52 00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:28,000 oil in your hand, and go to Ramoth Gilead. 53 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:31,640 And when you arrive, look there for Jehu, the son of 54 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:37,040 Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, and go in and have him rise from 55 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,240 among his fellows, and lead him to an inner chamber. 56 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:44,560 Then take the flask of oil and pour it on his head, and say, 57 00:03:44,800 --> 00:03:48,720 Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel. 58 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:56,440 Then open the door and flee. Do not linger, Lord, we come to 59 00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,440 this word, but we ask yet again that you would help us 60 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:03,920 understand this word. As you open the minds of the 61 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:07,360 disciples in Luke chapter 24, we pray that you would give us that 62 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:11,000 same gift. Open our minds and as we sang, 63 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,160 surely you make the woeful heart singing. 64 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,959 We pray that what we discover here will only add to our praise 65 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:23,000 and also add to our worship as living sacrifices dedicated and 66 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:25,480 consecrated to the person of Jesus Christ. 67 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,760 We trust you now. In Jesus name we pray. 68 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:33,000 Amen. Hazael has been anointed. 69 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:37,760 He has already occupied the throne in Syria and began his 70 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:41,320 work to harass the people of Israel. 71 00:04:42,280 --> 00:04:44,640 But that is not all that God has in mind. 72 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:49,920 And dealing with this stubborn people, there is a king to arise 73 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:55,320 from among the brethren, Jehu, who will occupy the throne and 74 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:58,520 do the bidding of the Lord in terms of discipline. 75 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,200 Now, interestingly, Elijah, though he was in Syria to 76 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:08,640 proclaim Hazaela's king, does not do the same concerning Jehu 77 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:13,480 in Israel. He delegates that task to one of 78 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:18,400 his students and we're not given an explanation, we're not told 79 00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,640 why he dispatches one of his pupils to perform this awesome 80 00:05:22,640 --> 00:05:26,560 responsibility. And though there isn't immediate 81 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,520 explanation, there is a great clue within this chapter that 82 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,680 can help us understand why Elijah is doing it this way. 83 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,480 We didn't read it, but let's turn to it quickly. 84 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:41,280 It's in the same chapter, but look at verse 15 of Second Kings 85 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:44,120 9. What you have here is what Jehu 86 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,280 tells those who learn of his anointing. 87 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,320 Accept it and celebrate it, right? 88 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:54,240 And so this is what we read in Second Kings 99 verse 15. 89 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:58,320 But King Joram now pause. Joram is just another name for 90 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,800 Jehoram, who is the current king of Israel. 91 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:04,840 But. King Joram had returned to be 92 00:06:04,840 --> 00:06:08,400 healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him 93 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:11,080 when he fought with Hazael, King of Syria. 94 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,360 Pause again. That's what we learned in the 95 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,920 last few verses of chapter 8, that the king of Israel went to 96 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,120 war with Hazael. He was injured, and so he 97 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:24,440 retreats to Jezreel to recover. But notice what we read here, 98 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:28,560 the second part of this verse. So Jehu said, if this is your 99 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:30,800 decision, pause yet again, sorry. 100 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,080 In other words, because the people learn of his anointing in 101 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,720 his immediate context, and they said, yes, you are our next 102 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,040 king. He goes, OK, if this is your 103 00:06:39,040 --> 00:06:40,880 decision, notice his instruction. 104 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:46,280 Then let no one slip out of the city to go and tell the news in 105 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:50,640 Jezreel. In other words, let let's make 106 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,680 sure that this isn't get to who? Who's in Jezreel? 107 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:57,120 The king of Israel, who's recovering. 108 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,520 We can't let him know. We can't give him any 109 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,640 inclination that his government is threatened, though in reality 110 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,440 is ready to be toppled. And so he tells his group, 111 00:07:07,560 --> 00:07:10,720 listen, keep it to yourselves. We have to plan strategically 112 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,040 and carefully in order for us to be successful. 113 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:15,720 So he wants to keep this discreet. 114 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:21,400 And I am persuaded that Elijah sending one of his students is 115 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,640 for the same purpose. He wants to ensure that 116 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:29,480 everything is under the radar. Now we saw in chapter 8 how 117 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,000 Elijah was very well known, not just among his own people, but 118 00:07:33,000 --> 00:07:35,040 even even among the neighboring nations. 119 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,640 When he arrived in Damascus, what did we learn? 120 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,080 The king of Syria heard of it very quickly and try to summon 121 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:44,000 him, though he did not come for the king of Syria, Ben Haddad, 122 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,800 remember that this man could not go anywhere without being 123 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,200 recognized and noticed and new spreading that he was in the 124 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:54,040 neighborhood. And so in understanding this, he 125 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,080 is wise. I'm not going to personally go 126 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,080 to Jehu and anoint him. That would be too suspicious. 127 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:02,240 That would invite a quick investigation. 128 00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:06,240 Instead, I'm going to take one of my students to do the job for 129 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:10,200 me. And here we have one of the rare 130 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:14,880 occasions where we learn that being so well known has its 131 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:23,320 disadvantages and how God looks for unknown servants to do great 132 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,120 things. At times you and I should be 133 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:32,039 comforted by the fact that we don't need large followings and 134 00:08:32,039 --> 00:08:36,240 we don't need so many people to acknowledge us in order to be 135 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:39,440 recruited by God to do notable things for His Kingdom. 136 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,600 Here you have this unnamed student who will go out and do 137 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,360 an awesome thing. It is a great responsibility to 138 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,520 appoint and anoint somebody into a specific office. 139 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:52,280 And this young man is going to do it. 140 00:08:53,560 --> 00:08:54,720 And I know that there are some people. 141 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:57,640 This is mainly for those who want to be used by God. 142 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:01,200 There is always that temptation that in order for me to do 143 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:06,040 something effective and worthwhile, I have to try to 144 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:10,040 make myself known. I have to try to gain notoriety 145 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,920 or some attention. I I need to be recognized in 146 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,960 some way, but instead of being preoccupied with that, be 147 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:23,320 preoccupied with knowing God. Just know God, love him, seek 148 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:28,240 him, honor him whoever you are, wherever you are, Let God take 149 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:30,360 care of the rest. Let the Lord take care of the 150 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:33,280 rest. We don't know anything about 151 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:37,800 this student, but I think that there are insights in these 152 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:41,200 first 3 verses, specifically with Elijah's instructions to 153 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:46,800 him that give us some kind of idea of his qualities that made 154 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:49,920 him a candidate to go and do this specific work. 155 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:52,760 So I want you to consider at least two things that I think 156 00:09:52,760 --> 00:09:56,960 are applicable to us if we long to be summoned by the Lord to 157 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,400 serve him in any way he sees fit. 158 00:09:59,760 --> 00:10:05,160 The first thing that I noticed is that this young servant was 159 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:07,800 available. He was available. 160 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,920 Look at verse 2 says here verse one. 161 00:10:10,920 --> 00:10:15,120 Rather in the initial command, Elijah says tie up your 162 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,000 garments. In other words, stop what you're 163 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:21,520 doing, get your shoes on, and get going. 164 00:10:22,600 --> 00:10:25,000 This required this young man to do what? 165 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:28,800 To prioritize the purpose of God, to abandon whatever he was 166 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:32,040 doing at this moment, and to make sure that he did what God 167 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:34,720 called them to do. And So what I see here is 168 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:37,640 something so important. I see here that there must be a 169 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,640 willingness to sacrifice. For the Lord, in order for us to 170 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:46,680 be a significant impact for the Lord, if we want to be 171 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:49,760 positioned, if we want to be prepared to make any impact, we 172 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,080 have to be willing to make any sacrifice. 173 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,680 This is a small sacrifice, but small sacrifices count. 174 00:10:57,360 --> 00:11:01,600 And in this case, this man had to stop what he was doing, stop 175 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:04,680 what he had planned, and to make this priority number one. 176 00:11:04,680 --> 00:11:07,640 That's what I mean by availability, making God's 177 00:11:07,640 --> 00:11:11,640 purposes in your life ultimate priority, preeminent above 178 00:11:11,640 --> 00:11:13,800 everything else. And that's what this young man 179 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:16,880 does here. So let me say this as kindly as 180 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:20,040 possible. God does not seek people who 181 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,400 view serving Him as an inconvenience. 182 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:29,400 God does not recruit people who see anything connected to His 183 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:33,120 Kingdom in terms of service or ministry as an inconvenient 184 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:35,480 thing. He looks for those who see as 185 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:39,440 the greatest honor and joy in their lives to please Him in any 186 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,360 way that He sees fit for your life. 187 00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:45,360 That's who He looks for. And there's another quality here 188 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,080 that I see about this man, not just his availability, but 189 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:51,880 something equally important, his dedication. 190 00:11:52,880 --> 00:11:55,520 Notice in verse 1 he says tie up your garments and take this 191 00:11:55,520 --> 00:11:58,440 flask of oil in your hand and go to Raymouth Gilead. 192 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:01,160 And the follow up command is quite striking. 193 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:07,400 And when you arrive, look there, Look there for Jehu, the son of 194 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:10,880 Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi. This is not King Jehoshaphat, by 195 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:12,480 the way. This is a different Jehoshaphat. 196 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:14,320 This is not the one who ruled in Judah. 197 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:16,360 This is just a different individual, the same name. 198 00:12:16,680 --> 00:12:20,960 So Jehu is not of royal descent. This is different Jehoshaphat. 199 00:12:21,200 --> 00:12:22,800 But notice the instruction. He's in Reymouth. 200 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:26,080 Gilead, young man. But you have to look there for 201 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:28,720 him. When you get to this town, it is 202 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:34,800 your duty to be discreet, diligent and patient to locate 203 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:36,840 him. And then anoint him. 204 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:41,000 He could not afford to give in to any fear because it was a 205 00:12:41,000 --> 00:12:43,240 dangerous thing to anoint somebody as a king while there 206 00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:47,720 was a king and you couldn't give up due to any frustration. 207 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:53,240 God looks for committed men and women and it is only through 208 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:58,080 commitment will any person in God's Kingdom taste of the full 209 00:12:58,080 --> 00:13:01,000 fruit of their labor and dedication. 210 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:05,880 People give up too easily these days. 211 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,040 I've seen many over the years who get excited about starting a 212 00:13:10,040 --> 00:13:13,040 new thing or heading in this direction or starting this 213 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:17,200 project, but very few stick with it. 214 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:21,800 So I want to counsel you to cultivate a certain mentality. 215 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,880 And here's the mentality that we all need that whatever God has 216 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,680 called you to do, you do it with all your might. 217 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,800 And the only way you would stop doing it is if He tells you to 218 00:13:30,800 --> 00:13:33,920 stop doing it. If He clearly closes the door. 219 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,080 And you realize that he is leading you elsewhere. 220 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:42,200 Cultivate that mentality. This young man needed it. 221 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:46,280 When you get there, look there. Be loyal to this cause. 222 00:13:47,000 --> 00:13:50,280 Loyalty in our day is becoming weaker and weaker in every 223 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:54,160 sphere may not be so in the Church of Jesus Christ. 224 00:13:55,520 --> 00:13:58,160 So he was supposed to go and look, go look. 225 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,240 You have work to do. Go investigate the scene. 226 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:03,600 And though there can be more said about these instructions, I 227 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:05,800 think the most impressive thing about this young man is not 228 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:08,240 necessarily found in these first 3 verses. 229 00:14:08,680 --> 00:14:10,560 They're found in the fourth verse. 230 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:12,600 Look at the fourth verse with me. 231 00:14:12,600 --> 00:14:15,960 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth 232 00:14:15,960 --> 00:14:20,120 Gilead saying what's there? He was a young man. 233 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:25,520 That blesses me because it informs me that God not only is 234 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:29,120 willing to recruit obscure individuals, he's willing to 235 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,920 enroll young people as well. Now as much as that's an 236 00:14:32,920 --> 00:14:34,640 encouragement, it's also a challenge. 237 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:37,480 What's the challenge? The challenge is this, that this 238 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:42,600 example among many leaves young people no excuse to strive to be 239 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:45,680 fit for God's service. There's no excuse. 240 00:14:46,320 --> 00:14:51,200 It's possible. It's possible to be available, 241 00:14:51,320 --> 00:14:55,960 prioritizing God above all of the things and dedicated this 242 00:14:55,960 --> 00:15:00,080 young man did. Why can't you And there are many 243 00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,440 young people within Christendom who love to quote First Timothy 244 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:08,040 412 in defense of their youth in connection to ministry, right? 245 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:11,720 Let no one do what despise your youth. 246 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:12,760 It's a powerful. Verse. 247 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:19,240 But I rarely hear people quote Philippians 220 and 21 that 248 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:21,000 highlights Timothy's credentials. 249 00:15:21,600 --> 00:15:24,800 Can we turn that together in the New Testament Philippians 220? 250 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:28,480 Look what Paul says about the same young man Timothy, that he 251 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:32,160 told to not let. Anyone despise him for his 252 00:15:32,160 --> 00:15:36,720 youth? People believe that Timothy was 253 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:41,080 in his late 30s, early 40s, so that gives many people. 254 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,360 Hope to be considered young at that age. 255 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:48,360 Philippians 2/20/21. Notice what Paul says for I have 256 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:51,040 no one like him. Wow. 257 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:56,360 I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your 258 00:15:56,360 --> 00:16:01,120 welfare, for they all seek their own interests, not those of 259 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:05,480 Jesus Christ. I love this passage for many 260 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,240 reasons, because it not only shows me that Timothy was fit 261 00:16:09,240 --> 00:16:13,000 for God's service, it shows me that he excelled in character 262 00:16:13,000 --> 00:16:15,600 and dependability. He excelled in it. 263 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,080 And what was the secret, according to Paul's words, that 264 00:16:19,080 --> 00:16:22,480 all of his interests were aligned with those of Jesus 265 00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:24,680 Christ. All of his interests. 266 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:28,560 Whatever Jesus wanted, Timothy wanted. 267 00:16:30,040 --> 00:16:31,960 Whatever Jesus longed for, Timothy longed for. 268 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:34,400 Whatever Jesus loved, Timothy loved. 269 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,400 Whatever Jesus hated, Timothy hated. 270 00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:45,240 And notice this character trait, this devotion to Christ was so 271 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:49,080 real in Timothy's life that out of all the partners that Paul 272 00:16:49,080 --> 00:16:53,120 had, he selected the young man to go and minister to the 273 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:59,800 Philippians, the young man. It's not difficult to see how 274 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:05,640 availability and dedication open doors for this young man in 275 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:09,480 Second Kings 9. And with Timothy, it's no 276 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:13,760 different for any of us. Your job is not to open doors. 277 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:18,200 Your job is to open your heart to the degree that Jesus is 278 00:17:18,200 --> 00:17:21,599 everything to you. And those are the best kinds of 279 00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:26,040 servants in his Kingdom. This young man would go, let's 280 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:29,320 read it now from Second Kings 94 down to verse six. 281 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,000 So the young man, the servant of the prophet, went to Ramoth 282 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,600 Gilead. And when he came, behold, the 283 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:36,760 commanders of the army were in council. 284 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,520 And he said, I have a word for you, O commander. 285 00:17:39,800 --> 00:17:41,720 And Jesus said, To Which of us all? 286 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:44,720 And he said to you, O commander, oh, this young man has 287 00:17:44,720 --> 00:17:48,160 authority. Respect, but authority. 288 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:49,640 I have a word for you, O commander. 289 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:52,760 Which one of us to you, O commander? 290 00:17:54,240 --> 00:17:57,520 So he arose and went into the house, and the young man poured 291 00:17:57,520 --> 00:18:01,960 the oil on his head, saying to him, Thus says the Lord, the God 292 00:18:01,960 --> 00:18:07,520 of Israel, I anoint you king over the people of the Lord over 293 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:10,200 Israel. Now he's going to continue on, 294 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:15,480 but I can't help but under score something that he says in this 295 00:18:15,480 --> 00:18:21,360 initial prophecy. I want you to get another glance 296 00:18:21,360 --> 00:18:26,400 of how the young prophet describes the people of God in 297 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:28,640 verse 6. What does he say? 298 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:36,040 I anoint you king over the people of the Lord over Israel. 299 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:41,040 He could have said the people of Israel, but he said specifically 300 00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,640 the people of the Lord, saying why is that important? 301 00:18:44,640 --> 00:18:45,680 Aren't they the people of the Lord? 302 00:18:46,120 --> 00:18:48,880 You wouldn't think so if you watch how they live at this 303 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,200 time. What was their spiritual 304 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:53,680 condition like? They were idolatrous. 305 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:59,600 They were ungrateful. They were stubborn and Despite 306 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,800 that, God was still willing to acknowledge this group at this 307 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:09,400 time of history as His people. Why? 308 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,520 Because He is a God who keeps His Word. 309 00:19:13,080 --> 00:19:15,680 Why? Because He is a covenant keeping 310 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:19,120 God. And it wasn't because of their 311 00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:21,560 faithfulness. They didn't even meet the base 312 00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:25,360 requirement of faithfulness. It's because He promised. 313 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:29,440 He promised Abraham something, and he promised Isaac, and he 314 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,240 promised Jacob, and he promised David something. 315 00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:38,320 And what you find from Genesis to Revelation is that God is 316 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:39,680 constant. He is the same. 317 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:44,160 His people are not. They deviate, they're fickle, 318 00:19:44,280 --> 00:19:46,640 they're inconsistent. And yet, though we are 319 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,160 disappointed with the people, we are to be inspired because 320 00:19:49,160 --> 00:19:53,160 periodically the Scriptures by the Spirit reminds us that in 321 00:19:53,160 --> 00:19:56,400 spite of all of this, God is going to keep His word. 322 00:19:57,120 --> 00:20:00,640 God is going to be faithful. God is going to complete what He 323 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:02,880 promised. That's what we're confronted 324 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:03,920 with. That's the beauty of reading 325 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,760 your Bible through and through. You're spending thousands of 326 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:08,240 years and you're still seeing the same. 327 00:20:08,240 --> 00:20:14,200 God, the same conviction, the same heart, He doesn't change. 328 00:20:14,360 --> 00:20:18,960 We change even though we're in covenant with Him, we change, He 329 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,480 doesn't. And one of the strongest 330 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:25,160 statements I believe, that solidified the incomparable 331 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:29,880 constancy of God is in the writings of Jeremiah. 332 00:20:31,000 --> 00:20:34,280 I want you to see what Jeremiah says of the same people hundreds 333 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:38,760 of years after this time. Look at Jeremiah 31 and I want 334 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:52,820 you to see verse 37. Thus says the Lord, if the 335 00:20:52,820 --> 00:20:56,460 heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth 336 00:20:56,460 --> 00:21:01,740 below can be explored, then I will cast off all the offspring 337 00:21:01,740 --> 00:21:06,200 of Israel for all that they have done, declares the Lord. 338 00:21:06,840 --> 00:21:13,120 Wow, what a verse in a book that is primarily about judgement. 339 00:21:14,520 --> 00:21:17,520 Jeremiah being one of the final voices before the people of 340 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:21,200 Judah go into exile, and with all these warnings and all these 341 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:25,920 scathing things being said somewhere in between, we read 342 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:29,000 that through Jeremiah. God says, can you measure the 343 00:21:29,000 --> 00:21:33,760 heavens, take a measuring tape and go up into space and figure 344 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,720 out the span of it? Can you explore the depths of 345 00:21:36,720 --> 00:21:39,600 the earth and figure out the mysteries below? 346 00:21:42,120 --> 00:21:45,040 If you can't do that, then I will cast off my promises to 347 00:21:45,040 --> 00:21:47,480 this people, Israel. And notice he said something 348 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:49,880 again. For all that they have done is 349 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:53,000 despite it, all that they've done, all the corruption, all 350 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:55,320 the evil, all the abominations, I will. 351 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:59,960 Keep my promise to this people say, well, that's the Old 352 00:21:59,960 --> 00:22:01,800 Testament. No, that's what Paul says in the 353 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:04,320 New Testament. And why did you say in the New 354 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:06,000 Testament? For many reasons, including this 355 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:09,720 reason to tell the people who are being introduced to this God 356 00:22:09,840 --> 00:22:11,480 through the gospel of Jesus Christ. 357 00:22:11,560 --> 00:22:15,160 Hey, you can trust the God of this gospel because look how he 358 00:22:15,160 --> 00:22:17,000 is with this people called Israel. 359 00:22:18,520 --> 00:22:21,240 You knew covenant believers. You can be anchored in your 360 00:22:21,240 --> 00:22:24,520 security and the salvation and the promises and the blessings 361 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:25,800 of God. Why? 362 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:27,200 Because look how he has been throughout. 363 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:29,600 History. And look how he's still the same 364 00:22:29,600 --> 00:22:31,560 towards his people even to this day. 365 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:34,560 He said something to them and he kept his word. 366 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:38,240 He still has his word for them. And so you can trust him for 367 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:40,040 your life in this covenant as well. 368 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:44,520 So no matter what, the people of Israel, both in the past and 369 00:22:44,520 --> 00:22:46,520 still today, remain the. People of the Lord, if you have 370 00:22:46,520 --> 00:22:48,240 a problem with that language then you have a problem with 371 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:53,880 Romans 11. But the statement in context of 372 00:22:53,920 --> 00:22:55,720 Jesus anointing has another meaning. 373 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:00,520 This is the people of the Lord, right? 374 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:02,760 That says something about God's character, but it also says 375 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,120 something about J, who in what sense? 376 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:09,360 J who had to learn immediately right off the gate as a new 377 00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:13,960 leader of this people, that this people don't belong to him, they 378 00:23:13,960 --> 00:23:17,400 belong to God. And you see a similar thing in 379 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:19,720 the context of the church concerning leaders, what they 380 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:21,960 leaders, what they're supposed to have before them at all 381 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,360 times. I'm reminded of the words of the 382 00:23:24,360 --> 00:23:28,800 Apostle Paul to the elders. Of the church in Ephesus, and in 383 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:32,120 his departing words he says the following in Acts 2028. 384 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:36,240 Lean in and pay attention. Pay careful attention to 385 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:40,600 yourselves and to all the flock. I love that all the flock, not 386 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:46,320 just some of the flock, all the flock in which the Holy Spirit 387 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:48,960 has made you Overseers. Pause. 388 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:54,080 The word. Overseers, bishops, pastors are 389 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:58,960 all synonymous, elders included. Those all mean pastors. 390 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:01,960 I just have to say this, elders in the church are not an 391 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:04,480 Advisory Board to the main pastor of the church. 392 00:24:05,240 --> 00:24:09,240 Every elder is a pastor. Every elder is a pastor. 393 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:11,400 I know many, many churches don't function that way. 394 00:24:11,520 --> 00:24:14,760 You have a pastor who usually teaches every week, and then you 395 00:24:14,760 --> 00:24:18,520 have the elders who are kind of, they're obviously Christian, but 396 00:24:18,520 --> 00:24:20,520 they're not really shepherding and they just kind of help out 397 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:22,440 and keep the pastor accountable. Wrong. 398 00:24:24,040 --> 00:24:27,280 Every elder according to the Bible, is a pastor and they 399 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:30,960 share equal authority. I don't know why I had to say 400 00:24:30,960 --> 00:24:32,200 that. Just had to get that out there 401 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:38,920 in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers to care for 402 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:41,960 the Church of God, which he obtained with his own. 403 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:46,960 Blood. Well, I spoke about pastors, so 404 00:24:46,960 --> 00:24:51,640 let me stay there a little bit. I am so moved by this truth that 405 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:55,480 it is the Holy Spirit who is the agent that calls, identifies, 406 00:24:55,480 --> 00:24:57,680 and raises up pastors in the local church. 407 00:24:58,800 --> 00:25:03,280 Don't you see that in which the Holy Spirit has made you 408 00:25:03,280 --> 00:25:07,000 overseers? Who's the one that positions 409 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:11,840 elders in a church? God himself, God himself. 410 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,720 So the position of a pastor is not something you necessarily 411 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:18,800 pursue as much as it pursues you. 412 00:25:20,840 --> 00:25:23,200 It chooses you. You don't choose it. 413 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:27,560 I don't know why. Anybody would choose it without 414 00:25:27,560 --> 00:25:32,840 God's approval and leading. He chooses you. 415 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:35,960 That's beside the point. I want you to see how Paul 416 00:25:35,960 --> 00:25:40,880 speaks of the church to these elders who are called to oversee 417 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:42,600 it. To care for what? 418 00:25:42,760 --> 00:25:45,760 Not the Church of Ephesus, the Church of God. 419 00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:51,160 Wow. Viewing the church in this way, 420 00:25:51,160 --> 00:25:55,440 Paul is being very intentional. Should revolutionize the way 421 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:57,920 leaders minister in their churches. 422 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:02,880 If properly understood, it will revolutionize the way you 423 00:26:03,160 --> 00:26:09,080 preach, the way you counsel. It will do something to your 424 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:11,600 humility. It will strengthen and anchor 425 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:14,760 your commitment. It will inspire a reverence. 426 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:19,600 Elders, this is the Church of God. 427 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:23,000 Now I know most people here are not pastors. 428 00:26:23,000 --> 00:26:25,520 So this is relate to you. Absolutely it should. 429 00:26:26,120 --> 00:26:28,440 It should transform all of us in the way we view the bride of 430 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:29,560 Christ. In what way? 431 00:26:30,240 --> 00:26:32,800 This is not just a gathering of people who have nothing to do on 432 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:35,960 a Friday night. This is a gathering of people 433 00:26:35,960 --> 00:26:40,560 who have been purchased by God with His blood. 434 00:26:43,600 --> 00:26:46,680 Think about that every time you come through those doors. 435 00:26:47,560 --> 00:26:49,280 Think about that when there's conflict. 436 00:26:49,640 --> 00:26:52,480 Think about that when there's ministry opportunities. 437 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:56,360 Think about that when you greet one another and you fellowship. 438 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:02,080 I am with the people who've been purchased by the blood of God. 439 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:07,480 Jehu, you're going to be the new king. 440 00:27:08,120 --> 00:27:11,600 But remember, this is the people of the Lord. 441 00:27:14,080 --> 00:27:16,240 Let's come back, because he's not finished with that. 442 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:22,320 Verse seven of Second Kings 9 Jehu, though he would be a 443 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,440 leader to care for this people, is under a unique dispensation, 444 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:29,160 because though a leader, he is called to be an instrument of 445 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:30,760 judgement. And we see that in verse 7. 446 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:35,840 And you shall strike down the House of Ahab, your master, so 447 00:27:35,840 --> 00:27:39,760 that I may avenge on Jezebel the blood of my servants, the 448 00:27:39,760 --> 00:27:42,960 prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord. 449 00:27:43,240 --> 00:27:46,800 For the whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off 450 00:27:46,800 --> 00:27:51,440 from Ahab's every male bond, or free in Israel, and I will make 451 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:54,720 the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam the son of Nabat, 452 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:57,440 and like the House of Bashah the son of Ahisha. 453 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:02,240 And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the territory of Jezreel, and 454 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,720 none shall bury her. Then he opened the door and 455 00:28:05,720 --> 00:28:10,080 fled. So what's the essence of this 456 00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,720 prophecy? Utter destruction is coming to 457 00:28:12,720 --> 00:28:16,360 the House of Ahab. He is going to be rooted out and 458 00:28:16,360 --> 00:28:18,840 he is going to be disintegrated. Him and his descendants. 459 00:28:18,840 --> 00:28:22,560 There will be no one left. And not only will this people, 460 00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:25,240 this group, this house, know an end. 461 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:28,720 Jezebel specifically will know a disgraceful fate. 462 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:32,960 Though a queen, she will not have an honorable death. 463 00:28:33,000 --> 00:28:37,760 Or recognition for her life. She will be eaten by the dogs. 464 00:28:38,880 --> 00:28:40,800 We haven't seen Jezebel for a while, right? 465 00:28:40,800 --> 00:28:43,000 At least I mentioned her name. This might surprise you. 466 00:28:43,000 --> 00:28:46,080 She's still alive at this point in our study of Second Kings. 467 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:47,880 She's just been a little. Quiet. 468 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,800 But things are going to change for Jezebel very quickly. 469 00:28:54,840 --> 00:28:58,360 And though we might have forgotten of her, God didn't. 470 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,680 And you would think here, right as he gives this indictment. 471 00:29:04,560 --> 00:29:08,320 That the indictment against the House of Ahab is caused by what 472 00:29:08,760 --> 00:29:11,720 this family institutionalizing Bill worship. 473 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,800 But that's not what he says. Look back again at verse 7 for 474 00:29:15,800 --> 00:29:18,400 the reason why judgement is coming to this house. 475 00:29:19,400 --> 00:29:23,840 The second part so that I avenge on Jezebel the blood of my 476 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:27,840 servants, the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of 477 00:29:27,840 --> 00:29:32,840 the. Lord, God feels a very special 478 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:36,840 way about His servants and how they are treated. 479 00:29:38,720 --> 00:29:43,840 Whether they are treated with favor or with injustice, God 480 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:48,080 cares deeply about how His servants are treated. 481 00:29:50,080 --> 00:29:53,840 And in in case you mistake this for how God feels about His 482 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:57,480 spokesman, that's not what verse 7 says. 483 00:29:57,920 --> 00:30:00,520 He does distinguish the prophets of the Lord, but he also 484 00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:04,920 includes what? All his servants, all his 485 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:06,880 servants. So every single one of us, 486 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:12,360 preacher or not a preacher, God keeps in mind what people do to 487 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:15,400 his servants. What does that teach you? 488 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:19,560 And I reminds us that when we are not treated well, to leave 489 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:23,400 vengeance to God. That's what it teaches me. 490 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:26,040 Leave. It to the Lord. 491 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:30,280 And I believe this observation, among others, was preserved in 492 00:30:30,280 --> 00:30:34,840 the Scriptures to bring hope and encouragement to persecuted 493 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:39,840 believers in Jesus Christ. Believers who may feel like 494 00:30:39,960 --> 00:30:44,880 they're tormentors evaded justice because after they did 495 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:46,840 what they did, they seem to go on with life without 496 00:30:46,840 --> 00:30:50,320 consequence. You know what this teaches us? 497 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:52,920 Teaches that the Lord does not forget. 498 00:30:53,480 --> 00:30:56,840 He doesn't forget even though he does not execute his justice 499 00:30:56,840 --> 00:31:02,160 immediately there was delay between Jezebel's persecution 500 00:31:02,360 --> 00:31:07,120 and her ugly fate. But what's so fascinating is how 501 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:09,520 this young man who expands on what? 502 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:15,720 Elijah said, echoes what Elijah said to Ahab when he confronted 503 00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:18,680 him at neighbor's vineyard. It's so similar when you compare 504 00:31:18,680 --> 00:31:22,200 Second Kings nine with First Kings 21, it's almost word for 505 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:24,320 word that the general idea is there. 506 00:31:24,680 --> 00:31:25,920 What's going to happen to the House of Ahab? 507 00:31:25,920 --> 00:31:27,360 What's going to happen to Jezebel? 508 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:31,600 So all the way back from First Kings 21 to this point, God 509 00:31:31,600 --> 00:31:35,560 didn't forget a thing. He remembers how every single 510 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:38,000 one of his prophets were murdered. 511 00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:43,160 We're chased out of their homes. We're living in caves because of 512 00:31:43,160 --> 00:31:45,800 this woman. And so God would bring about 513 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:50,200 justice on their behalf. You will inevitably be 514 00:31:50,200 --> 00:31:52,840 mistreated, sometimes from professing Christians, sometimes 515 00:31:52,840 --> 00:31:55,720 with those who hate Christians and are outside of the church. 516 00:31:56,040 --> 00:32:01,720 In any case, leave even the idea, the meditation of what 517 00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:03,240 should be done to him, to the Lord. 518 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:06,360 He'll take care of it in due time. 519 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:09,920 Verse 8. I want us to look at a couple 520 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,280 more things from the latter portion of this prophecy. 521 00:32:13,720 --> 00:32:16,880 For the whole House of Ahab shall perish, and I will cut off 522 00:32:16,880 --> 00:32:21,440 from Ahab every male bond or free in Israel, and I will make 523 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:23,360 the House of Ahab like the House of Jeroboam, the son of the 524 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,920 band, like the House of Bash of the son of Ahijah. 525 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:29,960 In other words, the extinction, those houses no longer exist. 526 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:33,240 That will be the same for Ahab. And what I love about this, 527 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:36,640 before we move on, is how this exchange ends. 528 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:39,920 So, Jay, who is there with these other commanders? 529 00:32:39,920 --> 00:32:43,040 Because remember that war with Syria, Says you, O commander, I 530 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:46,040 got a word for you. He summons him. 531 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:48,560 They go into a private room. He pours oil on his head. 532 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,520 He gives him this word. Look at verse 10. 533 00:32:50,520 --> 00:32:52,160 This. This made me smile. 534 00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:54,920 The last part. Then he opened the door and 535 00:32:54,920 --> 00:32:58,160 fled. What does that tell you? 536 00:32:58,160 --> 00:32:59,840 Here's what it tells me. He obeyed. 537 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:02,600 He obeyed everything Elijah told him. 538 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:08,040 He went right away. He searched for Jehu. 539 00:33:08,040 --> 00:33:10,320 He. Found Jehu, he gave him the word 540 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:12,000 that he's supposed to give him and. 541 00:33:12,480 --> 00:33:17,080 He paid attention to where he fled the moment he finished. 542 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:21,800 Now, in the same way we are not granted explanation for why 543 00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:25,920 Elijah sent this man to begin with, we are not granted any 544 00:33:26,040 --> 00:33:29,600 clues necessarily for why he told this young man to flee 545 00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:31,480 immediately after he gave this prophecy. 546 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:36,920 Was it because it was dangerous? Yeah, that's a that's a good 547 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:40,640 answer because in First Samuel 16, when Samuel was told, 548 00:33:40,840 --> 00:33:44,440 listen, stop crying about Saul, I have another king in mind, 549 00:33:44,840 --> 00:33:47,120 fill your horn with oil and go down there. 550 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:50,960 What was Samuel's protest? If Saul hears of this, I'm a 551 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:54,080 dead man. So again, it, it was dangerous, 552 00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:58,440 even if you were a prophet, to anoint anybody to be a king when 553 00:33:58,440 --> 00:34:00,160 there was a king still occupying the throne. 554 00:34:00,160 --> 00:34:02,920 So it could be that Elijah was saying, look, you need to, you 555 00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:06,800 need to flee right away. Or it could be for another 556 00:34:07,000 --> 00:34:09,960 undisclosed temptation. We are not certain. 557 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:12,840 But you know what? We are certain about this theme 558 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:17,400 here of a young man who is commanded by a man of God, who 559 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:20,880 represented the word of God. How in a certain context? 560 00:34:22,280 --> 00:34:27,440 To flee, young man. Flee. 561 00:34:28,400 --> 00:34:30,360 Flee. Don't linger, don't stay, don't 562 00:34:30,360 --> 00:34:31,760 entertain. Run. 563 00:34:32,679 --> 00:34:37,040 That sound familiar? It should, because another young 564 00:34:37,040 --> 00:34:39,400 man that we talked about earlier in this Bible study was also 565 00:34:39,400 --> 00:34:41,320 told to flee, but in a different context. 566 00:34:41,320 --> 00:34:42,520 Do. You remember the? 567 00:34:42,520 --> 00:34:45,000 Command at least one of them. There's two, but I have this one 568 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:49,120 in mind. Second Timothy 222 So flee What? 569 00:34:50,440 --> 00:34:57,080 Youthful passions? Youthful lusts in some 570 00:34:57,120 --> 00:35:01,480 translations. Which means what? 571 00:35:02,680 --> 00:35:04,280 Any idea what youthful passions mean? 572 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:08,920 What's the popular answer? Sexual morality, right? 573 00:35:11,200 --> 00:35:12,960 Is that what Paul meant in that context? 574 00:35:15,240 --> 00:35:16,640 It could definitely include that. 575 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:19,720 I think it's appropriate to use that to, say, flee from sexual 576 00:35:19,720 --> 00:35:22,120 sin. But if you look at the context 577 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:24,080 of Second Timothy 2, it includes something else. 578 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:25,680 So let's turn to Second Timothy 2. 579 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:36,080 If you haven't noticed, much of what we discover in our Bible 580 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:39,520 study is when we look at very well known passages in light of 581 00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:41,600 their context. Have you noticed that? 582 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:47,080 I've noticed it? Second Timothy 2. 583 00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:50,400 If you want to know where Timothy is, it's with all the 584 00:35:50,400 --> 00:35:56,000 other epistles that have the letter T, Titus and 585 00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:59,600 Thessalonians. But look at Second Timothy 2, 22 586 00:35:59,600 --> 00:36:04,320 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, 587 00:36:04,320 --> 00:36:08,320 love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure 588 00:36:08,320 --> 00:36:11,640 heart. Now people interpret youthful 589 00:36:11,640 --> 00:36:16,680 passions as sexual indulgences or temptations because we equate 590 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:19,560 youthful impulses with that which is not wrong. 591 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:23,240 But the word passions or even lust is broader than that. 592 00:36:23,400 --> 00:36:26,160 All it really means is the cravings of the flesh, the 593 00:36:26,160 --> 00:36:29,440 desires of the flesh, and when you look at the surrounding 594 00:36:29,440 --> 00:36:32,480 commands that Paul gives to this young man, who was it in the 595 00:36:32,480 --> 00:36:36,720 context of a pastor who is occupying the pasture, it you 596 00:36:36,720 --> 00:36:38,400 see something interesting. Look at verse 14. 597 00:36:39,560 --> 00:36:42,240 Remind them of these things and charge them before God not to 598 00:36:42,240 --> 00:36:46,120 quarrel about words which does no good, but only ruins the 599 00:36:46,120 --> 00:36:48,160 hearers. Look at verse 15. 600 00:36:48,240 --> 00:36:51,120 Do your best to present yourself to God as one to prove the 601 00:36:51,120 --> 00:36:54,960 worker who has no need to be ashamed rightly handling the 602 00:36:54,960 --> 00:36:58,560 word of truth. So so far we're we're told here 603 00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:01,640 that Timothy was to tell his congregation don't get involved 604 00:37:02,040 --> 00:37:05,600 and and arguments about words. We'll talk about that in a 605 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:08,360 moment right after he says Timothy, it's your job to 606 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:11,200 rightly handle the Bible. You know, people quote and 607 00:37:11,200 --> 00:37:13,200 preach the Bible doesn't mean that they're rightly handling 608 00:37:13,200 --> 00:37:15,000 it. You understand that right. 609 00:37:15,000 --> 00:37:17,600 You have to be careful how you interpret things. 610 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:21,400 Now look what he says in verse 16, but avoid irreverent Babble. 611 00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:24,840 He's on it again, irreverent Babble. 612 00:37:24,920 --> 00:37:27,240 What does he mean? For it will lead people to more 613 00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:30,120 and more ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. 614 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:33,400 Among them are Himenaeus and Philetus, who have swerved from 615 00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:34,960 the truth. So we have an idea here that 616 00:37:34,960 --> 00:37:39,000 this irreverent Babble are conversations that lead people 617 00:37:39,000 --> 00:37:40,760 away from the truth of the Scriptures. 618 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:44,320 But it's not. Not just that we quoted Second 619 00:37:44,320 --> 00:37:47,840 Timothy 222, but look at verse 23 right after he says flee 620 00:37:47,840 --> 00:37:50,320 youthful passions. Notice what he says have nothing 621 00:37:50,320 --> 00:37:54,080 to do with foolish ignorant controversies. 622 00:37:54,600 --> 00:37:56,840 You know that they breed quarrels. 623 00:37:57,880 --> 00:38:01,880 So we see this pattern. Timothy don't get into these 624 00:38:01,880 --> 00:38:04,800 arguments. Timothy rightly handled about 625 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,240 with Timothy don't get into these conversations that are on 626 00:38:07,240 --> 00:38:10,240 fruit With Timothy don't get into this foolish, ignorant 627 00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:16,800 controversies and conversation. It leads to arguments and in 628 00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:20,920 between that we have this command flee youthful passions. 629 00:38:21,640 --> 00:38:24,840 Here's what I think. Youthful passions primarily 630 00:38:24,840 --> 00:38:28,280 means that Timothy was to one. It means many things. 631 00:38:28,280 --> 00:38:35,240 I believe one was to resist the temptation to adopt trendy 632 00:38:35,240 --> 00:38:39,760 teachings that were false and contrary to the Bible. 633 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:43,320 Timothy was to. Flee. 634 00:38:43,320 --> 00:38:50,960 From the urge perhaps, of seeking to develop new theology 635 00:38:52,320 --> 00:38:56,560 and to be inventive in his doctrine to look for something 636 00:38:57,120 --> 00:39:03,240 quote UN quote fresh and different and secretive codes to 637 00:39:03,240 --> 00:39:04,480 uncrack. So to speak. 638 00:39:04,480 --> 00:39:11,080 Yeah, Timothy, avoid getting into unfruitful debate about 639 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:13,560 things that lead to no conclusions. 640 00:39:13,760 --> 00:39:17,840 Conclusions that are clear in the Bible veer away from these 641 00:39:17,840 --> 00:39:22,000 people that are devoted because they find pleasure in arguing 642 00:39:22,200 --> 00:39:26,880 about matters that don't even really deal with the truth or 643 00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:30,800 twist the truth, or find some basis in the truth, but lead 644 00:39:30,800 --> 00:39:38,000 elsewhere. Resist that youthful passion of 645 00:39:38,000 --> 00:39:43,080 one trying to make more than what the Word of God tells you 646 00:39:43,080 --> 00:39:47,400 to make of it right. Do young pastors face that 647 00:39:47,400 --> 00:39:50,160 temptation? They look out on YouTube, they 648 00:39:50,160 --> 00:39:52,040 look out on podcasts and they see what's popular. 649 00:39:52,040 --> 00:39:53,080 They see what's getting the clicks. 650 00:39:53,080 --> 00:39:55,880 They see what's filling up stadiums and and they look over 651 00:39:55,880 --> 00:39:58,120 into their church and they don't see it's barely filled. 652 00:39:58,120 --> 00:40:01,760 Maybe I can, maybe I can bring in some of these controversies 653 00:40:01,760 --> 00:40:04,440 or discussions or ideas. Maybe maybe that will make me a 654 00:40:04,440 --> 00:40:07,280 little bit more successful. Flee. 655 00:40:08,400 --> 00:40:10,960 Stick with the Bible and rightly handle it, Timothy. 656 00:40:13,080 --> 00:40:15,840 But not just that. Even if that's not a problem for 657 00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:19,120 you to get into, these conversations that people are 658 00:40:19,120 --> 00:40:20,720 are. Addicted to and. 659 00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:23,200 Spend all their time and energy in. 660 00:40:23,800 --> 00:40:26,360 It's not saying don't get into fruitful, constructive 661 00:40:26,360 --> 00:40:28,440 conversations of theology. That's not what he's talking 662 00:40:28,440 --> 00:40:31,040 about at all. He's talking about things that 663 00:40:31,040 --> 00:40:34,520 lead you away from the truth. In other words, Timothy, if you 664 00:40:34,520 --> 00:40:36,320 can generalize it, this is the broader application. 665 00:40:36,680 --> 00:40:45,120 Flee from distractions. Flee from unfruitful, harmful 666 00:40:46,000 --> 00:40:50,000 distractions. Youthful passions. 667 00:40:50,400 --> 00:40:53,880 Does it include sexual sin? Sure it does, but the context 668 00:40:53,880 --> 00:40:57,200 suggests something else. And why is this important? 669 00:40:57,200 --> 00:41:01,200 Why is it important for Timothy not just to flee sexual sin, but 670 00:41:01,200 --> 00:41:04,920 to flee things that would deviate him from his call, his 671 00:41:04,920 --> 00:41:06,960 purpose? Look at verse 21 of Second 672 00:41:06,960 --> 00:41:09,360 Timothy 2. Therefore, if anyone cleanses 673 00:41:09,360 --> 00:41:11,680 himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a 674 00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:16,360 vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the 675 00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:18,920 Master. Of the house ready for every 676 00:41:18,920 --> 00:41:21,320 good work. Verse 22 so flee youthful 677 00:41:21,320 --> 00:41:24,640 passions. You want to be better positioned 678 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:27,520 to be used by God. Flee these things. 679 00:41:27,520 --> 00:41:31,360 Timothy see we've limited this to a flee pornography. 680 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:36,800 Flee a flirtatious woman. No, no, it's deeper than that. 681 00:41:37,360 --> 00:41:41,920 Flee harmful distractions because God wants to use you. 682 00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:44,600 I'm not talking about hobbies. I'm not talking about fun 683 00:41:44,600 --> 00:41:45,160 things. Please. 684 00:41:45,160 --> 00:41:47,320 I always have to give that warning because people mishear 685 00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:49,560 what I'm saying talking about things in the Bible here that 686 00:41:49,800 --> 00:41:54,240 are issuing warning about God wants to use you young man. 687 00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:57,360 So flee these things. But here's the problem too with 688 00:41:57,360 --> 00:42:00,080 many Christians, they only hear flee, flee, flee and they don't 689 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:02,800 know where to flee to. OK, I'm running for this. 690 00:42:02,800 --> 00:42:04,240 I'm not doing this, but that's not what I said. 691 00:42:04,440 --> 00:42:05,720 I finish this. Look at verse 22 again. 692 00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:10,800 Flee through passions and pursue, pursue things. 693 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:14,680 Don't just most of people in their understanding of 694 00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:17,120 Christianity, in their discipline says no, no, no, no, 695 00:42:17,120 --> 00:42:19,440 no, don't go, don't do, don't say, don't hear. 696 00:42:19,440 --> 00:42:22,200 No, no, no, no, no, no. Yeah, do that. 697 00:42:22,200 --> 00:42:25,480 But also pursue other things. Be occupied with good things, 698 00:42:25,480 --> 00:42:28,680 holy things, constructive things, edifying things, 699 00:42:28,680 --> 00:42:31,280 spiritual things, right righteousness, faith, love, 700 00:42:31,280 --> 00:42:32,680 peace. And look at this. 701 00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:36,440 Pursue what? Genuine Christians, along with 702 00:42:36,440 --> 00:42:38,480 those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 703 00:42:39,040 --> 00:42:41,120 It's possible to call on the Lord from an impure heart, 704 00:42:41,520 --> 00:42:45,560 right? And some people who should be 705 00:42:45,560 --> 00:42:48,240 used by God are not being used by God because of the people 706 00:42:48,240 --> 00:42:51,640 that they're with. They're not with those who call 707 00:42:51,640 --> 00:42:55,600 on the Lord from a pure heart. So they can't hear the Lord as 708 00:42:55,600 --> 00:42:59,640 they should. All of that just from the little 709 00:42:59,640 --> 00:43:01,760 observation of this man being told to flee. 710 00:43:01,760 --> 00:43:07,680 Young men flee, but it's not it. Let's come back to verse 11 as 711 00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:16,720 we finalize this Bible study. It says here in Second Kings 712 00:43:16,720 --> 00:43:22,200 911, when Jehu came out to the servants of his master, they 713 00:43:22,200 --> 00:43:23,400 said to him. Is. 714 00:43:23,400 --> 00:43:27,720 All well, why did this mad fellow come to you? 715 00:43:27,720 --> 00:43:32,400 And he said them, you know the fellow in his talk and they said 716 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:34,160 that is not true. Tell us now. 717 00:43:34,160 --> 00:43:37,880 And he said thus. And so he spoke to me, saying, 718 00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:40,960 Thus says the Lord, I anoint you king over Israel. 719 00:43:42,880 --> 00:43:47,120 Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it 720 00:43:47,120 --> 00:43:50,600 under him on the bare steps. And they blew the trumpet and 721 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:57,240 proclaimed Jehu is king. It's very easy to wrap things up 722 00:43:57,240 --> 00:44:00,800 at this point, but I want to note with you how these fellow 723 00:44:00,800 --> 00:44:05,320 governors, leaders in the army, referred to this young prophet. 724 00:44:05,400 --> 00:44:09,240 What do they call them? Who is Matt translation? 725 00:44:09,240 --> 00:44:13,200 Who's this crazy guy? What is this crazy guy doing 726 00:44:13,200 --> 00:44:14,440 here? It's not like they didn't know 727 00:44:14,440 --> 00:44:16,640 who he was. I'm sure that the sons of the 728 00:44:16,640 --> 00:44:22,200 prophets were recognizable. You know, some people view 729 00:44:22,200 --> 00:44:24,600 people who serve God as crazy. Right. 730 00:44:25,840 --> 00:44:27,760 And it was not just here in the Old Testament. 731 00:44:27,760 --> 00:44:30,880 Let me remind you of what somebody told Paul when he was 732 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:33,680 on trial. I know we were just in the New 733 00:44:33,680 --> 00:44:36,480 Testament. Let's go back again in Acts 26 734 00:44:37,080 --> 00:44:41,280 when he stands before Festus on trial, falsely accused by the 735 00:44:41,280 --> 00:44:44,120 Jews. And Paul, typical Paul, no 736 00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:46,040 matter where you put him, he's preaching the gospel. 737 00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:48,800 Put him on a ship, he's preaching the gospel. 738 00:44:48,800 --> 00:44:50,320 Put him in a jail cell, he's preaching the gospel. 739 00:44:51,880 --> 00:44:55,000 He goes out to pray in a forest area by the river. 740 00:44:55,000 --> 00:44:55,720 He's. Preaching the gospel. 741 00:44:55,720 --> 00:44:57,360 Wherever you find him, he's going to preach the gospel. 742 00:44:57,360 --> 00:45:00,080 And here he is, standing before Festus, and he's. 743 00:45:00,880 --> 00:45:02,760 Wrapping up things with his testimony, or at least he's 744 00:45:02,760 --> 00:45:05,360 interrupted and we read here in verse 24. 745 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:08,520 And as he was saying these things in his defense, Festus 746 00:45:08,520 --> 00:45:10,120 said with a loud voice. Paul. 747 00:45:11,440 --> 00:45:17,440 You are out of your mind. Your great learning is driving 748 00:45:17,440 --> 00:45:23,800 you out of your mind. OK, so if it happened to the 749 00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:26,200 prophets of old, if it happened to Paul, if it happened to our 750 00:45:26,200 --> 00:45:31,680 Lord Jesus, who was what, falsely accused of being crazy 751 00:45:31,680 --> 00:45:35,080 and demon possessed, why do you get all worked up when people 752 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:39,360 say something about you? It's the common testimony of the 753 00:45:39,360 --> 00:45:44,440 people of God from old to new. But you know what I also take 754 00:45:44,440 --> 00:45:47,720 from this? I take from this that we 755 00:45:47,720 --> 00:45:50,240 shouldn't give any people legitimate reasons to be labeled 756 00:45:51,720 --> 00:45:56,520 as out of our minds. We can't control what people 757 00:45:56,520 --> 00:46:00,440 say, but may we be Christians who don't give people legitimate 758 00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:06,400 reasons for us to be labeled as strange because I want you to 759 00:46:06,400 --> 00:46:08,960 see what Paul says in response to Festus in verse 25. 760 00:46:09,240 --> 00:46:11,760 But Paul said I'm not out of my mind. 761 00:46:12,520 --> 00:46:16,040 Most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational 762 00:46:16,040 --> 00:46:21,080 words. Weird should not be synonymous 763 00:46:21,080 --> 00:46:25,440 with spiritual. Christians must be rational. 764 00:46:26,720 --> 00:46:28,680 Rational, how they articulate themselves. 765 00:46:29,640 --> 00:46:32,320 Let me add to that. They should be socially 766 00:46:32,320 --> 00:46:35,280 sensitive. They should be presentable. 767 00:46:37,680 --> 00:46:39,880 They they should be upstanding citizens. 768 00:46:40,360 --> 00:46:42,560 They should be excellent in their work. 769 00:46:43,600 --> 00:46:46,720 They should be approachable. They should be kind. 770 00:46:47,120 --> 00:46:49,360 They should be respected and respectable. 771 00:46:50,960 --> 00:46:53,840 And in other words, if unbelievers must criticize us. 772 00:46:54,720 --> 00:46:57,120 Let it be because of what we believe and not because of how 773 00:46:57,120 --> 00:47:01,400 we behave, right? Let's not have people peeking 774 00:47:01,400 --> 00:47:06,000 into the church and saying you guys are crazy or seeing how we 775 00:47:06,000 --> 00:47:08,160 interact with them in the culture and say you guys are out 776 00:47:08,160 --> 00:47:10,440 of your mind. If they will criticize us. 777 00:47:10,560 --> 00:47:13,800 Let it be because of what we stand for and what we believe, 778 00:47:14,040 --> 00:47:16,520 not how we misrepresent the truth. 779 00:47:17,640 --> 00:47:19,960 Because unfortunately there are many good hearted believers who 780 00:47:19,960 --> 00:47:23,680 think that all that matters is reading the Bible and studying 781 00:47:23,680 --> 00:47:26,760 it and being able to quote verses as important as reading 782 00:47:26,760 --> 00:47:32,080 the Bible is. People are going to read you as 783 00:47:32,080 --> 00:47:36,680 a representative of Christ, so take every part of your life 784 00:47:36,680 --> 00:47:40,040 seriously and keep in mind I am an ambassador of Jesus. 785 00:47:40,680 --> 00:47:44,080 Let that frame how you talk to your neighbors, how you engage 786 00:47:44,080 --> 00:47:48,040 with a frustrating person at the cash register at the grocery 787 00:47:48,040 --> 00:47:53,000 store, how you handle yourself at a restaurant with waiters. 788 00:47:53,440 --> 00:47:56,280 I've mentioned this many, many Bible studies ago I've read and 789 00:47:56,280 --> 00:47:59,000 I've heard even from people that their worst work day as waiters 790 00:47:59,000 --> 00:48:00,520 in restaurants as Sundays. Do you know why? 791 00:48:01,720 --> 00:48:03,880 Because when all the Christians leave church and go into those 792 00:48:03,880 --> 00:48:09,560 restaurants and they're so demanding and rude, how did that 793 00:48:09,560 --> 00:48:11,840 happen? That shouldn't be the case. 794 00:48:11,840 --> 00:48:14,240 Sunday should be the best day for for restaurants. 795 00:48:15,120 --> 00:48:16,880 Because we Christians go in there with the fragrance of 796 00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:19,560 Jesus Christ. So if anybody's going to call us 797 00:48:19,560 --> 00:48:21,840 anything, let it be for the convictions that we have. 798 00:48:21,840 --> 00:48:24,160 We stand for righteousness. We believe the gospel not 799 00:48:24,160 --> 00:48:27,160 because of our poor attitude. Amen. 800 00:48:29,560 --> 00:48:34,560 So we come back now to the end of this verse. 13. 801 00:48:35,000 --> 00:48:38,600 Then in haste, every man of them took his garment and put it 802 00:48:38,600 --> 00:48:41,840 under him on the bare steps and they blew the trumpet and 803 00:48:41,840 --> 00:48:44,640 proclaimed Jay, who is king. It didn't take much time for 804 00:48:44,640 --> 00:48:49,360 them to say you're the king, you're the king. 805 00:48:49,840 --> 00:48:53,640 What does that indicate? It indicates that they are very 806 00:48:53,640 --> 00:48:56,360 much not pleased with their current king. 807 00:48:57,520 --> 00:48:59,240 There was no fight. There was no objection, 808 00:49:00,320 --> 00:49:03,920 unanimous decision of these top governing leaders. 809 00:49:04,720 --> 00:49:07,720 That prophet said you're the king, you're the king, you're 810 00:49:07,720 --> 00:49:12,200 the king. And you see this swift shift of 811 00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:17,600 allegiance when they realize in that moment that Jehu surely 812 00:49:17,600 --> 00:49:19,720 will be a better option than Joram. 813 00:49:21,080 --> 00:49:24,080 Certainly Jehu will be able to do something to make this 814 00:49:24,080 --> 00:49:27,480 country better, more specifically, our lives better. 815 00:49:28,880 --> 00:49:33,000 That's how they registered this moment, and here's how I want to 816 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:35,360 end. If it's true that you see these 817 00:49:35,360 --> 00:49:39,680 men willing to give themselves over to this newly appointed 818 00:49:39,680 --> 00:49:41,880 king, though, it was so dangerous to do so, right? 819 00:49:42,240 --> 00:49:43,400 In essence, this would be a coup. 820 00:49:43,400 --> 00:49:45,440 What they're about to do would be rebellion. 821 00:49:45,440 --> 00:49:48,160 Technically recognized as rebellion, but they're willing 822 00:49:48,160 --> 00:49:51,200 to put their lives at risk because of their dissatisfaction 823 00:49:51,200 --> 00:49:55,440 with the current regime and their desire of the promise of a 824 00:49:55,440 --> 00:49:59,720 better ruler if they were willing to do it at such speed 825 00:49:59,720 --> 00:50:02,520 and such sacrifice. How much more do you know where 826 00:50:02,520 --> 00:50:05,000 I'm going with this? How much more with the news of 827 00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:13,000 the arrival of the true king who came 2000 years ago to die for 828 00:50:13,000 --> 00:50:20,840 his subjects, to rescue us from eternal hell, to deliver us from 829 00:50:20,840 --> 00:50:26,360 the power of sin? Can I ask this, how did you 830 00:50:26,360 --> 00:50:33,080 respond to the news of King Jesus making himself known and 831 00:50:33,080 --> 00:50:36,240 making the claim that he is the ruler of the heavens and the 832 00:50:36,240 --> 00:50:37,760 earth? How did you respond to that? 833 00:50:39,640 --> 00:50:42,040 Did it move you to this degree like I did with these men? 834 00:50:42,040 --> 00:50:50,080 With Jehu, a far inferior king less promising, he was able to 835 00:50:50,080 --> 00:50:54,920 provide temporary reprieve. You can't compare with the Lord 836 00:50:54,920 --> 00:50:57,520 Jesus Christ. What did you do in response to 837 00:50:57,520 --> 00:51:01,720 him being king? Are you still, even after all 838 00:51:01,720 --> 00:51:05,640 these months or years, are you still reluctant to bend your 839 00:51:05,640 --> 00:51:08,680 knee? I had to say you are my King. 840 00:51:11,120 --> 00:51:14,880 You say where is he? I say He came 2000 years ago 841 00:51:14,880 --> 00:51:16,920 again to die for the sins of his people. 842 00:51:17,520 --> 00:51:20,600 But now he is resurrected. He ascended on high as seated at 843 00:51:20,600 --> 00:51:22,640 the right hand of God, ruling all things. 844 00:51:24,160 --> 00:51:26,440 You say, what has he done? And I already mentioned, but let 845 00:51:26,440 --> 00:51:29,000 me say it again. He came to be the propitiation. 846 00:51:29,200 --> 00:51:31,880 He came to be the sacrifice. He came to be the substitute. 847 00:51:32,680 --> 00:51:37,880 He came to fix what the world has always known, sin and the 848 00:51:37,880 --> 00:51:42,680 consequences of sin. And not only will He come one 849 00:51:42,680 --> 00:51:46,960 day to expel sin and the consequences of sin from our 850 00:51:46,960 --> 00:51:51,240 universe, but He is able to do such a work in your heart right 851 00:51:51,240 --> 00:51:54,840 here, right now. This King that we are 852 00:51:54,840 --> 00:51:58,800 anticipating to return, to bring a completion to His redemption 853 00:51:59,080 --> 00:52:04,360 can right now, right here, change you once you submit your 854 00:52:04,360 --> 00:52:07,880 life to His governance and allow Him to guide it into the life 855 00:52:08,160 --> 00:52:10,360 that you always long for. But we're searching in all the 856 00:52:10,360 --> 00:52:11,160 wrong. Places. 857 00:52:15,640 --> 00:52:21,600 And you ask, perhaps, what do I do to make him my king? 858 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:25,360 And I'm here to tell you, with the authority of the Bible 859 00:52:25,360 --> 00:52:29,320 before me, that this king commands you to repent and to 860 00:52:29,320 --> 00:52:33,320 believe on his name that he is the true king who laid down his 861 00:52:33,320 --> 00:52:38,600 life for all who are willing to recognize his sacrifice on your 862 00:52:38,600 --> 00:52:42,080 behalf. And from there, this king 863 00:52:42,080 --> 00:52:48,240 promised his Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to move into your life, 864 00:52:49,160 --> 00:52:53,000 to change and to rearrange and to transform absolutely 865 00:52:53,040 --> 00:52:57,400 everything. It's not just rescue you from a 866 00:52:57,400 --> 00:53:00,880 different domain, a domain of darkness, but to then send you 867 00:53:00,880 --> 00:53:05,600 back into this broken world to represent him and to enjoy the 868 00:53:05,600 --> 00:53:10,120 shared opportunity of seeing people experience the love of 869 00:53:10,120 --> 00:53:13,880 this king. That's what this king is all 870 00:53:13,880 --> 00:53:15,320 about. That's what we are reminded of 871 00:53:15,320 --> 00:53:17,000 time and time again in the Book of Kings. 872 00:53:17,000 --> 00:53:19,640 There's a better King coming, but I'm here to say he's already 873 00:53:19,640 --> 00:53:21,760 came. He already came. 874 00:53:22,080 --> 00:53:25,680 And every Friday we come to sing to him and to learn about his 875 00:53:25,680 --> 00:53:27,720 ways. And I invite you, if you're here 876 00:53:27,720 --> 00:53:30,800 today or listening, if you have not yet submitted to him, that 877 00:53:30,800 --> 00:53:32,840 today would be the day where he becomes your king. 878 00:53:33,640 --> 00:54:03,000 Let's pray. Your word is wonderful, Lord. 879 00:54:05,360 --> 00:54:11,440 It never fails to feed us. It always satisfies. 880 00:54:12,880 --> 00:54:17,680 What is this sensation that we are experiencing where when we 881 00:54:17,680 --> 00:54:23,240 learn the truths of this book, it burns in our hearts and it 882 00:54:23,240 --> 00:54:27,440 causes us to rejoice, It inspires us unto holiness and it 883 00:54:27,440 --> 00:54:30,320 makes us want to know You more. What is this? 884 00:54:31,920 --> 00:54:35,320 Surely every time we come to this place to open this word, we 885 00:54:35,320 --> 00:54:38,080 are, we are swimming in the supernatural. 886 00:54:38,800 --> 00:54:44,000 This is Your gift to us. We ask, Lord, that the widening 887 00:54:44,000 --> 00:54:51,800 of our appetite tonight would not return to that place of of 888 00:54:51,800 --> 00:55:00,560 being so small and inconsistent, stretch our souls and help us 889 00:55:00,560 --> 00:55:04,040 long for it more and more in our own lives beyond these meetings, 890 00:55:04,040 --> 00:55:07,560 in our personal walk with you. Thank you, Lord, that we can go 891 00:55:07,560 --> 00:55:13,120 to 2nd Kings. And yet Second Kings sheds light 892 00:55:13,120 --> 00:55:18,040 on Second Timothy. This book is your book and we 893 00:55:18,040 --> 00:55:21,360 acknowledge that together. Lord, as we sing to you, receive 894 00:55:21,360 --> 00:55:24,360 honor and praise. Be blessed by the sound of our 895 00:55:24,360 --> 00:55:27,760 voices. We are blessed because of your 896 00:55:27,760 --> 00:55:32,960 voice and we honor you for it. In Jesus name we pray, Amen and 897 00:55:32,960 --> 00:55:36,560 Amen, Amen. The praise team will come and 898 00:55:36,560 --> 00:55:38,560 help us sing about this King.