Lessons About Character and Ways of God

In this part of the sermon: Martin introduces 1 Kings 21 as the 25th sermon in the Elijah series, explaining why chapter 20, which details Israel's military deliverances and the activity of other prophets…

Martin uses the analogy of Elijah not being on 'vacation in Florida' to emphasize that even when not explicitly mentioned, God's servants are always busy in His work, in this case, establishing the school of the prophets.

And then in verse 35, and a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow by the word of the Lord. So apparently during this period of time when Elijah was not occupied with rebuking the sin of Ahab, he began his work of constituting the school of the prophets, which became such an instrument in the hands of God for the preservation of truth, the truth in Israel in the days ahead. So we can, on this basis, assume with some degree of certainty that Elijah was not just off on a vacation in Florida somewhere soaking up the sun, but he was busy, and being, as it were, relatively relea...

2:17 - 3:32 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Naboth was a righteous man who was willing to risk the wrath of the king for the sake of obedience to the law of his God.

Ahab's reaction to Naboth's denial is compared to a spoiled child pouting after being denied ice cream, highlighting Ahab's immaturity and self-centeredness.

What does he do? Verse 4. Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word of Naboth. Like a little child who has come to his mama saying to good humor man's outside can I have ice?

16:35 - 16:49 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not congratulate yourselves on perpetrating a 'perfect lie' or deception, as God sees and knows all.

Martin challenges listeners who believe they have perpetrated a 'perfect lie' or deception, reminding them that it is as fresh in God's mind as if it just happened, illustrating God's omniscience.

that you have perpetrated the perfect lie some of you youngsters you've deceived mom and dad and you really thought it was perfect deception nobody knows weeks and months have passed since you've told the lie for some of you adults maybe it's been years lies that are almost buried in your own memory but even as I speak they begin to resurrect themselves you really thought like Ahab and Jezebel you did the perfect crime oh I'm not talking about some crime against society but a lie an area of deception I remind you that's as fresh in the mind of God as though that fabrication just fell from your...

28:31 - 29:57 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not congratulate yourselves on perpetrating a 'perfect lie' or deception, as God sees and knows all.

He uses the image of whispering a secret behind two closed doors to emphasize that even the most private and hidden sins will be proclaimed by God, reinforcing His omniscience.

and he says this is what will cure you in measure of that terrible sin of hypocrisy notice there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and nothing hid that shall not be known whatsoever you've said in the darkness shall be heard in the light what you've spoken in the ear in the inner chambers you're so convinced that this has got to be kept secret you take a person by the arm and you say here come into my most private place of my home and even there lest anyone hear when you've got them behind two closed doors that's a pretty secret secret isn't it the Lord says what is whispered in th...

29:57 - 31:24 Read in full sermon

The point: If you have never experienced deep and true repentance, repent and seek the mercy of God in Christ.

The marvel of a computer quickly retrieving buried knowledge is used to illustrate how God, on the day of judgment, will bring forth even the secret thoughts of hearts, emphasizing the thoroughness of divine judgment.

we marvel when we stand by a computer and see it whirling wheels in a matter of moments dig up knowledge that may have been buried away for years but in the day of judgment almighty God will set before men even the secret thoughts of their hearts from the time of their infancy oh dear young people if you believe that what are you going on living a lie before your parents before your preacher before your Sunday school teacher before your Sunday school teacher am I speaking to some adults living a lie a backlog of sin built up in secret you think perfectly covered up oh yes to the eye of man it ...

31:24 - 32:52 Read in full sermon

The point: There will be no rest or peace for you if you keep areas of sin covered; confess and forsake them.

Martin describes God as 'willfully and deliberately ties his own hands behind his back' to explain why God permits evil to triumph for a time, allowing Jezebel's plot to unfold without immediate intervention.

ties his own hands behind his back for no one else can tie them none can stay his hand when he would put it forth but when God puts it behind him none can bring it out that's why the Psalm is praised Lord put thy hand out of thy bosom Lord you've hidden your hand of power and I can't wrench it free Lord be pleased bring forth the arm of your power none can stay the hand of God but God and here God deliberately puts his hands behind his back and he watches Jezebel come to Ahab and he watches the workings of her wicked mind and heart conceiving the plot and he watches the letter go to the town w...

35:46 - 37:12 Read in full sermon

The point: If you are struggling arrogantly because God has not brought judgment upon your lies and impiety, listen carefully to God's word.

He contrasts Naboth's suffering for righteousness with the 'modern gospel' that promises material blessings for following Jesus, highlighting the false nature of such teaching and the reality of suffering for Christ.

if you're thinking at all, I'm sure at least the thought has crossed your mind but what are you going to do when you see the triumph of evil over good for a time? child of God you've got to remember, as we pointed out this morning God never said you're full portions down here God never said you'd get what you deserved down here He never did never did in fact, He tells you that this will happen and tells you what to do about it 1 Peter chapter 2 and verse 20 and following is God's prescription for the child of God who experiences the triumphing of evil over his own good for what glory is it whe...

40:04 - 41:33 Read in full sermon

The point: Rest in the infinite love and wisdom of God, even when His ways are not understandable.

Charles Spurgeon's quote, 'faith is reason at rest in God,' is used to define true faith as a confident trust in God's character and wisdom, especially when His ways are perplexing.

you must learn to commit your cause to Him who judges righteously and then in the second place you must rest in the infinite love and wisdom of God of whom it is said His thoughts are not our thoughts neither are His ways our ways as the heavens are high above the earth so are His thoughts above our thoughts and His ways above our ways Charles Spurgeon said something that's been of great help to me I may have quoted on a previous occasion he said faith is reason at rest in God that's faith reason at rest in God it's alright to sit here in a church service like tonight and say yeah boy that's w...

43:00 - 44:27 Read in full sermon

Driving home: though the wheels of God grind slowly they grind to powder and though the feet of judgment are heavy and move slow the hands of judgment are hands of iron so that when God's feet of judgment overtake a man his hands of i…

The proverb 'though the wheels of God grind slowly they grind to powder' is used to illustrate the certainty and thoroughness of God's eventual judgment, despite its delay.

though the wheels of God grind slowly they grind to powder and though the feet of judgment are heavy and move slow the hands of judgment are hands of iron so that when God's feet of judgment overtake a man his hands of iron will crush him there's an old southern preacher who had a famous sermon on this instance of Jezebel's death and he called it payday Sunday little did Jezebel think when she gloated with witch-like glee in Naboth's vineyard that her dastardly deed was carried out without a hitch that before long dogs would be licking their chops because of her flesh that they had just devour...

50:17 - 51:41 Read in full sermon

Driving home: though the wheels of God grind slowly they grind to powder and though the feet of judgment are heavy and move slow the hands of judgment are hands of iron so that when God's feet of judgment overtake a man his hands of i…

An old southern preacher's sermon title, 'Payday Sunday,' is mentioned in connection with Jezebel's death, emphasizing that judgment for sin will eventually come.

though the wheels of God grind slowly they grind to powder and though the feet of judgment are heavy and move slow the hands of judgment are hands of iron so that when God's feet of judgment overtake a man his hands of iron will crush him there's an old southern preacher who had a famous sermon on this instance of Jezebel's death and he called it payday Sunday little did Jezebel think when she gloated with witch-like glee in Naboth's vineyard that her dastardly deed was carried out without a hitch that before long dogs would be licking their chops because of her flesh that they had just devour...

50:17 - 51:41 Read in full sermon