Sermon Tone Analysis

ATTENTION

DVD - JESUS RANT

If we took a poll this morning and we asked how many of us really do believe that Jesus Christ is the one and only Son of God who died for our sins and who saves those who turn to Him in faith, I bet that most of us would agree that these statements are true.

Now there may be a few of you here this morning who have questions about that, and if you do, let me just commend you for being in a place like this at least looking for the answers.

You honor us with your presence.

But probably most of us would fit in the “convinced:” category.

But if you, like me, are one of the convinced, the last words of that video are haunting.

You see, if those statements are true, then what are we going to do with Jesus?

What are we going to do with the one who didn’t just preach truth, He embodied it.

He is the way, the truth and the life.

That’s what He said about Himself.

Then He said in another place, “You will know the truth (that is, you will know Him for Who He is) and that truth will set you FREE.

NEED

Now right there is where we, as the “convinced,” often have a problem.

Plenty of us claim to know Jesus.

Plenty of us claim to be really tight with “the truth,” but very few of us are really free.

You may say, “I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, Rusty.

I’m an American.

I was born free and I’ve never been a slave to anyone.”

Well, I know you may never have actually been another man’s property, but that doesn’t mean you’re not a slave.

Jesus said, “Whoever commits sin is a slave to sin.” So, if you’ve ever sinned, you are its slave.

And, again, that’s just the problem for many of us who claim to know Christ.

We know the truth, we say, but that truth hasn’t set us free because we find ourselves with all kinds of sinful habits and and addictions that we cannot or do not control.

We claim to know the truth, but the truth has not set us free.

Would you like to know why that is?

Maybe you’re a father here today who really loves his family, but you find yourself losing your temper and acting in ways you know are wrong.

Your attitude is full of a resentment you can’t even explain or understand.

Wouldn’t you like to be free?

Jesus said, “You will know the truth and that truth will set you free.”

You’re a teenager here today and you want to be free.

You’ve spent the last few years of your life trying to fit in with people you really don’t even respect.

You’ve tried to gain the approval of your friends but you know you’re just one embarrassing moment away from complete rejection.

Wouldn’t you like to be free?

Jesus said, “You’ll know the truth and that truth will set you free.”

You’re a single adult here today and you want to be free.

You feel absolutely bound to a culture that tells you that, if you’re not married, you don’t count.

You know its not true, but you find yourself constantly feeling like you’re invisible, especially when it comes to your church life.

You’d like to have the courage to stand up and serve alone, just for who you are, but you constantly find yourself listening to that voice inside your head that tells you that you just don’t measure up.

Wouldn’t you like to be free?

Jesus said, “You’ll know the truth and that truth will set you free.”

You may say, “That all sounds good, Rusty, but when does it happen?

I know the Lord as my Savior.

I know the truth but I haven’t found the freedome.

When does that happen?

How does the truth transform my life?

When does the truth set me free?”

BACKGROUND

Well, there was a King of Israel who sheds some light on this question.

His name?

Ahab.

Ahab wasn’t one of the good guys . . .

not by a long shot.

Nope, he was really one of the bad guys and in a big way.

It was Ahab who married Jezebel, the only person he could find who was actually worse than he was.

It was Ahab who had Naboth, one of his subjects killed just because he wanted to steal his land.

It was Ahab who allowed his followers to worship Baal, the heathen god of his despicable wife.

Ahab didn’t seek truth.

In fact, Ahab was allergic to it.

One particular incident in the life of Ahab really crystallizes these truths about truth.

You find it in 2 Chron.

18.

In this chapter Ahab is about to enter an ill-advised battle that will end up costing him his life.

He wants to go to war against the King of Syria over Ramoth Gilead.

He persuades Jehoshaphat, the King of Judah to go to war with him.

Now Ahab wasn’t one to worry about what God thought about something, but that wasn’t the case with Jehoshaphat.

When they are contemplating the battle Jehoshaphat asks in v 4

Please inquire for the word of the Lord today.” 5 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

So they said, “Go up, for God will deliver it into the king’s hand.”

6 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” 7 So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is still one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord; but I hate him, because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil.

He is Micaiah the son of Imla.”

And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say such things!”

8 Then the king of Israel called one of his officers and said, “Bring Micaiah the son of Imla quickly!” 9 The king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king of Judah, clothed in their robes, sat each on his throne; and they sat at a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before them.

10 Now Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made horns of iron for himself; and he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘With these you shall gore the Syrians until they are destroyed.’

”

11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, “Go up to Ramoth Gilead and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hand.” 12 Then the messenger who had gone to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, “Now listen, the words of the prophets with one accord encourage the king.

Therefore please let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak encouragement.” 13 And Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak.”

14 Then he came to the king; and the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to war against Ramoth Gilead, or shall I refrain?”

And he said, “Go and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand!” 15 So the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you tell me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 16 Then he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd.

And the Lord said, ‘These have no master.

Let each return to his house in peace.’

” 17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 18 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left.

19 And the Lord said, ‘Who will persuade Ahab king of Israel to go up, that he may fall at Ramoth Gilead?’

So one spoke in this manner, and another spoke in that manner.

20 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, and said, ‘I will persuade him.’

The Lord said to him, ‘In what way?’ 21 So he said, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’

And the Lord said, ‘You shall persuade him and also prevail; go out and do so.’

22 Therefore look!

The Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and the Lord has declared disaster against you.”

23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah went near and struck Micaiah on the cheek, and said, “Which way did the spirit from the Lord go from me to speak to you?”

24 And Micaiah said, “Indeed you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide!” 25 Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah, and return him to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son; 26 and say, ‘Thus says the king: “Put this fellow in prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and water of affliction, until I return in peace.”

’ ” 27 But Micaiah said, “If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.”

And he said, “Take heed, all you people!”

Here a pride-filled King has a truth encounter, but it doesn’t set him free.

Just like you and me, he heard truth, but the truth he heard did not make a difference in his life.

Why not?

Well, listen to his story and lets draw some lessons from Ahabs relationship with the truth.

Let’s learn how the truth can become liberating in us.

In the first place, the truth sets you free

DIV 1 - WHEN YOU STOP AVOIDING IT

EXPLANATION

Now it is obvious from the first few verses of this chapter that Ahab already knew what he wanted to do.

He had called Jehoshaphat over for supper for the express purpose of flattering him enough to get his help.