“Busy Here & There:”

1 Kgs. 20:40[By Ron Halbrook]

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• Introduction:1. 1 Kgs. 20:35-43 King Ahab

spared Benhadad, King of Syria

1. 1 Kgs. 20:35-43 King Ahab spared Benhadad

35 And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said unto his neighbour in the word of the LORD, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man refused to smite him. 36 Then said he unto him, Because thou hast not obeyed the voice of the LORD, behold, as soon as thou art departed from me, a lion shall slay thee. And as soon as he was departed from him, a lion found him, and slew him. 37 Then he found another man, and said, Smite me, I pray thee. And the man smote him, so that in smiting he wounded him. 38 So the prophet departed, and waited for the king by the way, and disguised himself with ashes upon his face.


39 And as the king passed by, he cried unto the king: and he said, Thy servant went out into the midst of the battle; and, behold, a man turned aside, and brought a man unto me, and said, Keep this man: if by any means he be missing, then shall thy life be for his life, or else thou shalt pay a talent of silver. 40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.


41 And he hasted, and took the ashes away from his face; and the king of Israel discerned him that he was of the prophets. 42 And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people. 43 And the king of Israel went to his house heavy and displeased, and came to Samaria.

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• Introduction:2. Like Ahab we have duties before God:

Duty to worship God in spirit & in truth Duty to make a living Duty in the home Duty to administer discipline Duty of elders, deacons, evangelists, & teachers Duty toward our brethren Duty to save our soul

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• Introduction:3. Ahab accomplished many things as Israel’s king,

but failed to focus on his duty to God— the issue is setting the right priorities in life!

4. Do we focus on our duties to God— are we setting the right priorities in life?

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I. Duty to Worship God in Spirit & in Truth A. Christ Came to Save Us & Teach Us to

Worship God Jn. 3:5 Sinners must 1st submit to Christ: faith, repentance, confession, baptism

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

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Worship God Jn. 4:24 Christ teaches us how to worship

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.


Worship God Jn. 4:24 Christ teaches us how to worship Acts 20:7 Lord’s supper every Sunday 1 Cor. 16:2 Collection every Sunday Acts 2:42 Teach God’s Word, pray Eph. 5:19 Sing

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I. Duty to Worship God in Spirit & in Truth B. Am I Too Busy to Focus on Real Worship?

Mal. 1:13-14 Lukewarm worship insults God!

13 Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! and ye have snuffed at it, saith the LORD of hosts; and ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick; thus ye brought an offering: should I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD. 14 But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the Lord a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen.

Mal. 1:13-14 Lukewarm worship insults God!Rush in,impatient, rush out

Not focus on meaning

of acts of worship

Bored, sleep, look for distractions

Minimum effortin attendance,attention, giving, dress, classes, etc.

NOTHONORING

GODAS A

GREAT KING!

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I. Duty to Worship God in Spirit & in Truth C. Let Us Review Our Priorities,

Renew Our Focus on Worshiping God

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II. Duty to Make a Living A. God Gives Us Talents to be Used Diligently

Prov. 6:6-11 Learn from the ant: take initiative, work hard, be productive

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? 10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: 11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

Prov. 6:6-11 Learn from the ant: take initiative, work hard, be productive

ANT:Persistent,productive LAZY MAN:

Avoids work,makes excuses,empty-handed

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II. Duty to Make a Living A. God Gives Us Talents to be Used Diligently

Col. 3:23-24 Diligent work is service to God

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

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II. Duty to Make a Living B. Let Us Review Our Priorities,

Renew Our Focus on Making a Living

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III. Duty of Leadership in the Home A. God Ordained Leadership in Marriage

Gen. 2:24 Man was created to lead

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

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III. Duty of Leadership in the Home A. God Ordained Leadership in Marriage

Gen. 18:19 God expects men to lead

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

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III. Duty of Leadership in the Home B. Leadership Is First & Foremost Spiritual

Gen. 24:1-67 Abraham sought God’s guidance to find Isaac a godly wife

3 And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:

Gen. 24:1-67 Abraham sought God’s guidance to find Isaac a godly wife

50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, The thing proceedeth from the LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.

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Deut. 6:4-9 Fathers must teach their children to know, love, & obey God

4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:


7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.


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Eph. 6:4 God commands fathers to teach & lead their children today!

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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III. Duty of Leadership in the Home C. How Can Fathers Implement Leadership?

Matt. 5:16 Lead by living a godly life

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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Prov. 27:6, 9 Lead by giving good counsel

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

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Ps. 119:11, 97, 105 Lead in family devotions

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

97 O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,

and a light unto my path.

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Acts 2:42 Lead by faithful public worship

42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

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III. Duty of Leadership in the Home D. Let Us Review Our Priorities,

Renew Our Focus on Leadership in the Home

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IV. Duty to Administer Discipline A. God Ordained Discipline in the Home

1 Sam. 3:11-13 Eli was busy here & there

1 Sam. 3:11-13 Eli was busy here & there

11 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

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Eph. 6:4 Nurture & admonition include discipline

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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Heb. 12:7-8 A child without discipline is cheated & crippled

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

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IV. Duty to Administer Discipline B. God Ordained Discipline in the Church

2 Thess. 3:6 Disorderly conduct requires discipline

6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

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IV. Duty to Administer Discipline C. Let Us Review Our Priorities,

Renew Our Focus on Administering Discipline

V. Duty of Elders, Deacons, Evangelists, & Teachers A. God Ordained Leadership Roles in the Church

Eph. 4:11 The victorious Christ gave gifts to advance the gospel & to solidify his church Apostles & prophets: revelation—completed Evangelists: proclamation—ongoing Pastors: application in local church—ongoing Teachers: additional teaching—ongoing

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V. Duty of Elders, Deacons, Evangelists, & Teachers B. These Roles Require Diligence, Persistence,

Vigilance 1 Tim. 4:12-16 Diligently use the gift

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12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 Tim. 4:12-16 Diligently use the gift

V. Duty of Elders, Deacons, Evangelists, & Teachers C. Let Us Review Our Priorities,

Renew Our Focus on the Duty of Elders, Deacons, Evangelists, & Teachers

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VI. Duty toward Our Brethren A. Saints Share a Special Relationship with God

Heb. 13:1-3 We share a special love & concern for each other

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1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

VI. Duty toward Our Brethren A. Saints Share a Special Relationship with God

Matt. 25:41-45 Failure of love & concern insults Christ

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Matt. 25:41-45 Failure of love & concern insults Christ

41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

VI. Duty toward Our Brethren B. How Do We Show Love & Concern?

Edify those who are young or weak in faithEncourage those who are discouragedRebuke & restore the strayingExtend hospitality to each otherProvide benevolence to those who are in needSupport preachers in spreading the gospel 44

VI. Duty toward Our Brethren C. Let Us Review Our Priorities,

Renew Our Focus on Duty toward Brethren

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VII. Duty to Save Our Soul A. We Will Spend Eternity in Heaven or Hell

Matt. 25:46 Eternal life or eternal punishment

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

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VII. Duty to Save Our Soul B. It Is Urgent to Obey without Delay!

Ja. 4:14 Life is short & uncertain: “a vapor” Matt. 24:36 Christ will return: “but of that day and hour knoweth no man”

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Acts 22:16 Ananias urged Saul: do not delay!

16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

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Acts 24:25 Felix was busy here & there

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

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VII. Duty to Save Our Soul C. How Are Some “Busy Here & There?”

Busy pursuing sinful pleasures, evil plans Busy with innocent earthly pursuits, neglect God Deceived that “later” means YES—it means NO Busy doing nothing, going nowhere, wasting time, apathetic

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VII. Duty to Save Our Soul D. Let Us Review Our Priorities,

Renew Our Focus on the Duty to Save Our Soul

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• Invitation:1. 1 Kgs. 20:35-43 King Ahab

spared Benhadad, King of Syria

40 And as thy servant was busy here and there, he was gone. And the king of Israel said unto him, So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.

53

• Invitation:2. Like Ahab we have duties before God:

Duty to worship God in spirit & in truth Duty to make a living Duty in the home Duty to administer discipline Duty of elders, deacons, evangelists, & teachers Duty toward our brethren Duty to save our soul

54

• Invitation:3. Ahab accomplished many things as Israel’s king,

but failed to focus on his duty to God— the issue is setting the right priorities in life!

4. Do we focus on our duties to God— are we setting the right priorities in life?

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“Busy Here & There:”