THE KING AND THE PROPHET I Kings 20:35-43 I. Introduction. A. The Syrian problem. 1. Various invasions of Israel. a. Took territory; people; bounty. b. Never satisfied until devastated. 2. During Ahab's day, invasion resulted in defeat. a. Benhadad(Syrian king) said it was because Jehovah was god of the hills, not of the plains. b. One year later, invaded again. 3. His statement provoked Jehovah to bring a massive defeat to Syrian army. a. However, Benhadad escapes. b. Sends word and plea to Ahab to spare him & he would restore the plunder and land. c. Ahab accepts, calls him his brother. d. What he did angered Jehovah. B. One of the sons of the prophets: I Kings 20:35-36. 1. The next effort was successful: verse 37. 2. The prophet meets Ahab: verses 38-41. 3. The king's punishment: verses 42-43. II. Body. A. Ahab controlled his own fate: v. 40b. 1. As did David: II Samuel 12. 2. The one pound man: Luke 19:22. 3. We do control our own fate. B. Ahab neglected God's instruction: v. 40a. 1. How easy to do! 2. Many people are not willfully disobedient of God: they just fail to get around to doing what is right. 3. Lack of energy contributes to neglect. a. Note: Proverbs 24:30-34. b. Excuses can be found for not doing what one does not want to do: Provers 26:13. 4. When other activities occupy our time and energy--neglect spiritual obligations. a. A major stumbling block! b. It is easy to do everything but the right thing: to be every place but the right place. c. Our problems often lie not in gross immoralities, but in letting the daily concerns of life rob us. (1 Occupations; recreation. (2 Family; physical interests. 5. How time and opportunities slip through our lives because we are "busy here and there." a. Is this why Solomon stated: Ecclesiastes 12:1? b. Lost opportunities can never be recovered. c. Ahab would later die at the hand of the Syrians(God spared him for now.). d. The wise man also said: Eccl. 3:1. C. Every person has many opportunities in this life. 1. In the midst of life's trials: forget. 2. There are those who need our teaching and our example: Mark 16:15. a. Our concern centers on the material. b. Most of us seek advancement in worldly pursuits--not considering spiritual. D. The local church can also be affected as is the individual. 1. The measure of soundness is not decided by whether we oppose institutions supported from the church treasury. 2. Rather, the overall concern for keeping all of God's word: Matthew 23:23. 3. Many congregations have been overtaken by foreign invaders due to neglect of teaching and practice of Lord's will. III. Conclusion. A. There are those who need to become Christians. a. But being "here and there" takes up all of their time and energy: II Cor. 6:2. b. And those who need to repent: Luke 13:3. B. We need to take the opportunity to live as Christians. a. Will enable to face death. b. Will prepare for eternity.-jy