"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Angry and Sullen
ELCOG 9/9/07
Text: 1 Kings 20:38-41, 21:3-7
Tonight I want to talk about a pouter. A man that seems a little spoiled. A man that is use to getting his way and he becomes very angry when things go against him. I am talking about King Ahab. I preached a message last Sunday about Ahab, but I want to continue to look at his life because there is a spirit that controls his life that is in the world today. We need to remember:
Eph. 6:12
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The principalities really do not change very much. It’s the same spirit just in different eras. The devil does not have any new tricks; he just dresses them in a different costume. We need to understand that when we study the bible we can find that the spirits that caused kings to make bad decisions are the same spirits that cause us make bad decisions. It is the same spirit.
King Ahab seems to be a little spoiled. He found a vineyard owned by Naboth that he wanted but Naboth refused to sell it to him so King Ahab went home angry and sullen and went to bed. His servants tried to get him to eat but he refused because he couldn’t have what we wanted.
The king had already pouted in chapter 20 because the lord said that he would punish him for not following his plan. Now the King is pouting again because things are not going his way. Instead of repenting he is pouting. Instead of rejoicing he is rejecting. Many people have the same spirit, not only in the world, but it has also infiltrated the church. People become angry and sullen because things did not go there way. They run to their rooms and lock the doors because they can’t have the vineyard. They refuse to accept the blessings that God has given them and they want to take someone else’s land. Instead of rejoicing over the blessing in their life they pout over someone else’s blessings. I think that would be called coveting.
Ex. 20:17
17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Let us not covet, desire, what another man has, but let us be thankful for what God has given us. You are missing your blessing because you are over looking your castle for a vineyard. Take notice what you are blessed with and praise God for what he has given you. Stop complaining about what your neighbor has and praise for the things God has given you.
Do not covet things of the world, if you are going to covet…
1 Cor. 12:31
31But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.
1 Cor. 14:39
39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
If you desire something – desire things that are good and righteous. Stop sulking and start praising.
Back to the text: verse 5-10
Jezebel came home to find her husband angry and sullen so she begins to ask questions and she comes up with a plan to get the vineyard for her husband. She plots to kill Naboth. Your anger and your sulking will bring death to you and to those around you. That spirit will suck the life out of those around you. Evil spirits only want to take life. Jezebel kills to make her kingly husband happy. Watch out, if you don’t deal with that spirit it will kill.
Look at 21:20-21.
He sold himself to what was evil in the lord’s sight. Have you sold out? Are willing to sell out to gain earthly treasure? Are you willing to sell out to the devil so that you can advance in your life? Are you willing to give into sin so that you can be promoted? Are you willing to give into to sin to stay popular? Don’t give in. Don’t sell out!
The devil wants to trap you into believing that you can’t be happy without that stuff. But take control of that spirit and defeat it so that you can live victorious.
2 Cor. 10:3
3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2 Cor. 10:4
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Cor. 10:5
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Cor. 10:6
6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Eph. 6:11
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph. 6:12
12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Eph. 6:13
13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Phil. 4:8
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Your happiness should not depend on another man’s vineyard. Get a hold on that spirit and take your life back. You are blessed with what God has given you. Be grateful.
1 Cor. 15:55
55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Cor. 15:56
56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
1 Cor. 15:57
57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Cor. 15:58
58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.