Along the Way w/ Bro. Ryan

READ 1 Kings 21:17-29 In this historical account in Israel's history, a king named Ahab, mostly known for being married to his wicked wife Jezebel, was an evil king.  We're even told by the writer of 1 Kings that " There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited.  He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord cast out before the people of Israel. " ( v.25-26 ) Being labeled as a guy who "sold himself to do what was evil" even more than others before him is quite an indictment.  Ahab had failed miserably as a king.  But something even more tragic occurs in this account - something which would have generational impact.  Due to the continued sins and abominations of Ahab, although he repented and was forgiven by the Lord ( v.27-29 ), Ahab's sons would experience the judgments and consequences of their father's sins.  Whoa! We tend to bel...

“I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.  Do not be overly righteous, nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?  Do not be overly wicked, nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?  It is good that you grasp this, and also not remove your hand from the other; for he who fears God will escape them all.” - Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 Solomon is known as the wisest man to have ever lived.   When he was a young man and fresh ruler, attempting to fill the great shoes of his father King David, Solomon prayed for wisdom from the Lord.   The Lord granted his request.         Like Solomon, as we live our lives, we gain more wisdom and understanding through life experiences, through lessons the Lord teaches us over time, and simply by living....

“Because of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”   - 1 Corinthians 1:30-31 This passage has a mouthful, and then some, of theological terms that encompass the magnificence of what Jesus did on behalf of believers.   It is “ because of [God], you are in Christ Jesus.”   God’s plan of redemption and restoration for all who would come to Him in repentance and faith is the very reason we are able to come to Jesus to begin with, as well as being “ in [Him] .”   To be in Christ means to have all of His righteousness accredited to the eternal account of the believer and to even take on His identity before God the Father – this is why believers will go free on Judgment Day, because all the Father sees/will see is His Son in us. Even beyond the great privilege of being in Christ by God’s work and plan, Jesus also b...

“I said, I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me…….Then I spoke with my tongue: ‘Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am.’”   - Psalm 39:1, 4 King David wrote many Psalms of lament – being in intense anguish and sadness – over his enemies, his own sins, etc.   In Psalm 39, the question arises in the beginning, what was David keeping his mouth shut for so that he wouldn’t sin?   And after keeping silent, why does he then speak up in prayer only to ask God to show him how frail and how short his own life truly is in the grand scheme of things?   Dr. John MacArthur offers that David had made a covenant with himself to not blame/accuse God for the unfairness he believed he was witnessing in everyday life – a theme common in books such as Ecclesiastes and Job – why do the wicked seem to prosper while the good people suffer?   ...