SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Kings 22:1-28

Introduction:

1. In a recent editorial in the New York Times called "Congregations Gone Wild", a particular preacher wrote that the job of preaching, "is to help people grow spiritually, resist their lowest impulses and adopt higher, more compassionate ways. But churchgoers increasingly want [preachers] to soothe and entertain them. It’s apparent in the theater-style seating and giant projection screens in churches and in mission trips that involve more sightseeing than listening to the local people." Also, "They’re no longer expected to offer moral counsel [. . ] or to deliver sermons that make the comfortable uneasy."

2. The preacher who wrote the article said he was told to, "keep my sermons to 10 minutes, tell funny stories and leave people feeling great about themselves. The unspoken message in such instructions is clear: give us the comforting, amusing fare we want or we’ll get our spiritual leadership from someone else."1

3. Of the many sins that can be performed with the tongue, we recently studied the topics of gossip and flattery. There are other sins that we must avoid such as the desire to be praised and accepted and only hear spoken the things we already believe to be true, even if some of them are not.

4. It is tempting to tell someone what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn once said, "I don't want any yes-men around me. I want everybody to tell me the truth even if it costs them their jobs." Jesus warned those who work to receive man's praise will end up disappointed. (Luk. 6:26)

5. We're going to examine such a situation in scripture dealing with King Ahab of Israel and the prophet Micaiah as a warning sign to us today.

I. Kings Ahab And Jehoshaphat Prepare War. (1 Ki. 22:1-6)

 A. This was a time of relative peace. (v1-2)

 1. (v1) It had now been three years since there was war between Israel and Syria. Ahab had humbled himself in God's sight and repente1d of the evil he did. Therefore, God did not bring evil in his day.

 2. (v2) However, Jehoshaphat of Judah decided to make peace with Ahab. Since Ahab was unstable like Saul, it was only a matter of time before he turned his heart away from the Lord again.

 B. Ahab has a plan to retake Ramoth-Gilead. (v3-6)

 1. (v3) Ahab appeals to Jehoshaphat's sense of pride and unity: both Israel and Judah are Hebrew nations. Their land should not be controlled by Syrians!

 2. (v4) He invites Jehoshaphat and they unite. There is always a danger in uniting with leaders who are not stable or whose hearts are not surrendered to God. There is no such thing as "interfaith" marriage, only a compromise of faith.

 3. (v5-6) There is one condition Jehoshaphat wants to inquire of God whether they have approval. 4. Ahab then calls together 400 "yes men" to approve their plan. There will always be people, no matter how bad the plan, to approve it if they are paid enough!

II. Jehoshaphat Wants To Hear God's Man. (1 Ki. 22:7-16)

 A. He does not trust these other preachers. (v7-9)

 1. (v7) The world has plenty of hirelings who will say whatever people want them to for a price. Is there an actual man of God to be found?

 2. (v8-9) Ahab says there is, Micaiah, but he hates him since he never says what he wants him to!

 3. Remember what Jesus said. (Jno. 7:7)

 B. All the preachers agree except one. (v10-13)

 1. These say to go up and prosper! Micaiah is told to agree with what the others say.

 2. It is a dark day when preachers preach doctrine not from the Bible but just what others say!

 C. Micaiah speaks up. (v14-16)

 1. (v14) He says that whatever the Lord speaks, that is what he will say!

 2. (v15-16) The king asks him and Micaiah answers him ironically, probably mocking him.

III. Micaiah Preaches Against Ahab. (1 Ki. 22:17-28)

 A. Ahab will not like this message! (v17-18)

 1. (v17) He says that all Israel will be without a leader, lost and scattered with Ahab dead.

 2. (v18) Ahab again complains.

 B. Micaiah describes a scene in Heaven. (v19-23)

 1. (v19) God sits on his throne by his hosts.

 2. (v20-23) God invites a spiritual being to be a lying spirit for Ahab's prophets.

 3. It does indeed matter who we listen to! If they are not speaking the Lord's word, it's a lie.

 4. God will even permit us to believe a lie if we're not willing to love him and search for him.

 C. Micaiah is mistreated for speaking out. (v24-28)

 1. The false prophet attacks him, but he will be avenged on the coming day of vengeance.

 2. Ahab puts Micaiah in prison on meager food.

 3. Ahab doesn't believe the message: in his pride he believes he will come back alive!

 4. He is not the kind to say "if the Lord wills" but he says "if it is my will!" (Jam. 4:15)

 5. Remember that Ahab does not come back from this fight. He is struck down by an arrow: his reward for listening to "yes men" and not God.

Conclusion:

1. I invite you, as a Christian, to examine your own motives. Ask yourself, have I recently desired to be edified and to devote myself to the word?

2. Do I prefer a faith that does not require devotion or sacrifice? Do I only want to hear short, entertaining sermons? Do I want to be told only what I want to hear by "yes men"?

3. Let us rededicate ourselves to hearing God's word no matter how uncomfortable it makes us.

Borrowed and adapted from outline by Sam Stinson.