Ahab, the wicked king of Israel, wanted to go to war against the Syrians. Judah’s king Jehoshaphat allied with him but wanted to “inquire for the word of the Lord” about the matter (1 Kgs 22:5). Four hundred prophets gathered before them and to a man they said, “Go up, for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king” (1 Kgs 22:6). Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?" (1 Kgs 22:7) Ahab replied, “There is still one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he does not prophesy good concerning me, but evil” (1 Kgs 22:8). Micaiah was urged to agree with the four hundred who had “with one accord” encouraged Ahab (1 Kgs 22:13). But, Micaiah charged the four hundred prophets with lying to the king; their word was not the word of the Lord. Micaiah prophesied disaster upon Ahab and his army (1 Kgs 22:14-24). Micaiah was put into prison and fed bread and water for his bold proclamation of God’s word (1 Kgs 22:25-28). Nevertheless, his word was true. Ahab was killed by the Syrians and the army of Israel scattered (1 Kgs 22:29-38).

We must not be like Ahab and search for men who will tell us what we want to hear instead of what we need to hear. We must be men and women of faith who love truth and desire it, even when that truth calls on us to repent of our sin and error. We demonstrate faithlessness when we “heap up for (our)selves teachers” to satisfy our own willful desires and lusts (2 Tim 4:3).

How can this take place today? Well, one way is by going around the country looking for preachers who “agree with me”. Instead of an open examination of a subject in the light of God’s word, these modern Ahab’s scour the brotherhood for polemists who will justify their headlong rush into error with a “thus saith the Lord” when God has not spoken. And, they find them.

Ahab’s itching ears were scratched by four hundred false prophets. These sorts of men still exist today; men who serve as elders, stand in pulpits or sit in front of computers, preaching and writing what the people want to hear instead of a genuine “thus saith the Lord” (2 Tim 4:2-5). These are men who present popular consensus of what they preach as proof that they do not hold some “weird” position. (Since when did how many people teach or believe something make it true?)

Will you rest the future of your soul on the word of men or on the word of God? You can find four hundred men to agree with you, but if they do not agree with the inspired Scriptures they do not have God’s approval; they are false teachers. We are sanctified in truth; not in the baseless assurances of men who say “peace, peace” when there is no peace (Jer 6:14; Jno 17:17).

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Christians speak to God in prayer with the assurance that He hears and answers them for their good (Matt 7:11; Heb 4:15-16; Jas 5:16).

Pray counters anxiety; those distracting cares that would otherwise consume us with doubt, dread and despair. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:6-7).

Pray reinforces joy; the gratitude of thankful hearts for God’s provisions and providence (Col 4:2). It is easy to pray in time of crisis and need, and easy to forget to quickly thank God for the relief He gives. It is the faithful heart, like the Samaritan leper, that returns to thank God for His blessings (Lk 17:11-19).

Christ’s disciples asked Him to teach them to pray, and He did (Lk 11:1). Consider the focus on God that runs through Christ’s model prayer in Luke 11:2-4. May our prayers also possess a similar focus on our great God.

God’s Paternity: “Our Father in heaven”. He gives us life in the Son and provisions to sustain our lives, both spiritually and physically. Ah, what removal of anxiety; our Father cares for us and keeps us (Jno 10:28).

God’s Person: “Hallowed be Your name”. God is Sovereign; His name is holy. “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa 6:3). Our prayers must acknowledge the holiness of God and give Him the honor He is due.

God’s Program: “Your kingdom come”. The time for the kingdom of God to be established was “at hand” and would be accomplished during the lives of those who heard Jesus preach (Mk 1:14-15; 9:1). We have now received the unshakeable kingdom of God (Heb 12:28). What joyful thanksgiving this induces in our prayers.

God’s Purpose: “Your will be done”. Man will not prevent God from accomplishing His will on earth or in heaven. Our responsibility is to plan and live our lives in harmony with God’s will (Jas 4:15). Anxiety flees as we trust the will of God. Our prayers ought to reflect this trust.

God’s Provisions: “Give us this day our daily bread”. The joyful recognition that our heavenly Father knows our needs and abundantly supplies them replaces anxiety with a calm assurance that the righteous will not be forsaken; “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Psa 37:25; Rom 8:28).

God’s Pardon: “And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us”. God’s great and merciful forgiveness replaces the distraction of our sins with the joy of God’s salvation (Psa 51:12). That our pardon is sure is based on whether we forgive those who sin against us. “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Lk 6:37).

God’s Protection: “And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”. God gives us ways of escape when tempted to sin (1 Cor 10:13). Through faith, the devil can be successfully resisted (Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8-9). Thank God that He is greater than our enemy! (1 Jno 4:4)

Let us all pray without ceasing and replace anxiety with thankful joy (1 Ths 5:17-18).

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You can find the complete outline of this sermon plus PowerPoint and MP3 Audio files at BIBLE ANSWERS

1. 500 million worldwide subscribers to FB.
2. On FB people select “friends”: have you chosen to be God’s friend on FB? Jno 15:14

I. FACEBOOK: FAITH OR FOLLY?

  A. Faith on Facebook, Matt 5:13-16.
  B. Folly on Facebook. Prov 15:21; 1 Pet 5:8; Prov 12:23; 13:16.

II. THE FOLLIES AND TEMPTATIONS OF FACEBOOK.

  A. FB Gives False Sense of Freedom from Accountability, Rom 14:12. Psa 19:14; Matt 12:34-35, 36-37.
  B. FB Offers an Apparent Removal of Moral Restraints, 2 Tim 2:22; Prov 29:18; 1 Jno 2:15; Tit 2:6-8; 1 Co 15:33; 1 Pe 2:11-12
  C. FB Holds up Privacy to Public Display; Prov 14:29; 17:27-28; 25:9-10; Eph 5:12.
  D. FB is the Perfect Venue for Uncontrolled Tongues, Jas 3:5; Prov 12:18; 11:13; 26:20 (1 Tim 6:4).
  E. FB Lends itself to Mindless Chatter – and Worse, Prov 13:3; 18:21; Eph 4:29; 5:3-4; 4:31-32.
  F. FB can Consume Your Time, Eph 5:16; Prov 27:17.
  G. FB makes it Easy to have Fellowship with those who Practice Sin, Eph 5:11 (1 Cor 5:4-5, 9-13; 2 Ths 3:6, 14-15).
  H. A Word to Parents, Eph 6:4.
    1. Know what your child is posting/reading
    2. Don’t be naïve; get the facts.
    3. Forbid indiscriminate “friending”; monitor their contacts.
    4. Such knowledge is vital to train them in the way they should go, Prov 22:6.

Conclusion
   Faith or folly on Facebook? 2 Cor 5:7

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1. Heb 10:25: Question that arises is “which” assembly is one obliged not to forsake? It is correctly applied to all the scheduled assemblies of the local church.
2. What is our authority for a second Sunday assembly (and others)?  Why have it? How should we view it and our participation in it? What happens when we choose not to faithfully assemble for scheduled services?

I. WHAT IS YOUR AUTHORITY?

  A. First Day of Week Assembly Authorized in the Scriptures; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2.
  B. Purposes for First Day Assemblies: To Worship God and Edify Saints, 1 Cor 14:26.
  C. Authority for Additional Assemblies, 1 Cor 11:17, 18; 14:26; Acts 2:46 (42); 5:42; 1 Cor 11:33; 16:14; Heb 11:10; Acts 20:28.

II. CONCERN OVER WRONG ATTITUDES TOWARD OUR ASSEMBLIES.

  A. Concern over Deemphasizing Faithful Attendance at Every Worship Assembly, Heb 6:11-12; cf. Isa 43:22-24 (Mal 1:13) versus Psa 122:1.
  B. Concern over the Erosion of an Attitude of Excellence. Matt 15:7-9 (Lk 10:39; Acts 2:41); Phil 3:13-14; Lk 9:57-60.

III. WHEN WE ONLY ATTEND ONE SCHEDULED SERVICE: 2 Cor 8:12.

  A. We Set a Poor Example for Others, Matt 5:16; 1 Pet 2:11-12; 1 Tim 4:12.
  B. Poor Stewards of our Time, Eph 5:16.
  C. We are not Sacrificing for the Lord, Mk 12:41-44.
  D. We have not Established Proper Priorities, Matt 6:33-34.

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Created by Chuck Sibbing.  08/09/2010