Sermons by Bob Vincent and Others

1. The Gospel Includes the Fear of God. 2. What is the Fear of God? 3. To Fear God Is to Stand in Awe of him. 4. God Created All that Is. 5. When we Walk with the LORD, we no Longer Are Terrified of him. 6. What Is the Evidence that I Am Saved? 7. There Is Another Aspect of the Fear of God. 8. Every Human Knows God Exists and Knows Right from Wrong. 9. What Do you Do if You Are Same-Sex Attracted?

I made a mistake in this message. Naomi (nāʿomiy, ָנ ֳע ִמי ) means "pleasantness, delight," not comfort. The root is not the same as the root of Noah. 1. Revelation 12-14 Is the Central Vision of the book of Revelation. 2. Revelation 12-14 Begins with the Birth of Jesus and Ends with the Final Judgment. 3. One Theme of the Book of Revelation Is a 1260 Day Time Period. 4. I Took a Break to Reexamine my Views. 5. Revelation Is Written in Code. 6. Virginity Refers to Loyalty to the LORD. It Contrasts with Harlotry. 7. We Sing a New Song. 8. There Are Seven Core Visions and the Book Recapitulates its Themes. 9. There Are Seven Core Visions and the Book Recapitulates its Themes, Similarly to Isaiah's Prophecy of the Virgin Birth. 10. The Songs of Heaven Are Explicitly About the Lord Jesus. 11. This Is Because the Old Testament Has Passed over into the New. 12. The New Testament Changes the Focus from one Group to all Nations. 13. There Are no Real Atheists. 14. Is AI the Man of Sin?

1. Elisha Fulfilled his Commission Regarding Hazael. 2. There Are Two Jorams (Jehorams). 3. Jezreel Is the Place Where Naboth Was Murdered. 4. The Law Protected the Poor from Generational Poverty. 5. Jezebel Believed in the Divine Right of Kings. 6. It Is the Year 841 B.C. 7. Jezebel Was Cursed. 8. God Uses Wicked People as his Rods of Chastisement. 9. Believers Are Never Under God's Curse.

I corrected a couple of mistakes I made, attributing things to Elijah that were done by Elisha and to Martin Luther a statement by Matthew Henry. 1. Elisha Is Carrying out Elijah's Assignment. 2. God Had Used Elisha to Heal Ben-Hadad's General, Naaman. 3. Did Elisha Tell Hazael to Lie? 4. War Is a Foretaste of Hell. 5. Waterboarding Is a Form of Torture and Can Cause Death, Leaving no Evidence. 6. I Am Grateful we Live in a Democratic Republic Constrained by a Constitution. 7. Hazael Was a Brutal King, Raised up by God to Chasten Israel. 8. Aging Is Part of the Process of Dying. 9. Did Elisha Lie? 10. Please Look at the Handout.

1. This Passage Leaves us with Many Questions. 2. How Do we Know Biblical Dates? 3. Elisha Is in the Background. 4. Make Friends with People who Walk with God. 5. Tell me the Stories of what God Has Done. 6. God's Providence Is our Provision. 7. What Is the Good?

1. Who Is Jesus? 2. Jesus Is our Model. 3. Pharisaism, Hasidic Judaism, and Islam Focus on Externals. 4. My Good Deeds Are as Dung. 5. Work out your Salvation with Fear and Trembling. 6. God Is Working in Us. 7. Most Muslims Are Moderate; Muhammad Was not. 8. NB: Why I Use the Word, Allah, When I Speak with Muslims. 9. Islam Does not Mean "Peace"; Islam Means "Submission." 10. I Appeal to Muslims who Are Listening.

1. This Horrible Account Reflects the Curses of Leviticus and Deuteronomy. 2. These Events Show us True Human Nature. 3. This Curse Has Been Visited on the Jewish People Throughout History. 4. What Situations Should Cause us to Seek the LORD in Desperation? 5. Much of the Structure of the Old Testament Reflects the LORD's Lawsuit Against his People. 6. People Often Blame the Preacher. 7. Wait on the LORD. 8. God Uses Four Lepers to Bring Deliverance. 9. Death, Destruction, and Division May Lie Ahead in 2025, but the LORD Will Turn all These Things into a Blessing for Those who Look to him.

This sermon explores the significance of the first blessing Jacob gives to his 12 sons. Reuben, Simeon, and Levi receive curses from their father, but Judah receives a great blessing in Genesis 49:8-12. He is a lion, and he is promised authority over his brothers, and ultimately over the nations. We explore the significance of the Hebrew word Shiloh, šiylōh (שִׁיֹלה) in verse 10. Shiloh is also the name of the location of the Tabernacle once Israel entered Canaan, šiylōh (שִׁיֹלה). This reminds us of John 1:14, where the Word (logos, λόγος) is said to have tabernacled (skēnóō, σκηνόω) among us.

1. The King of Syria Tried to Capture Elisha. 2. Elisha's Servant Was Terrified Until the LORD Opened his Eyes. 3. May the LORD Open our Eyes as we Examine the Christmas Story. 4. Matthew's Account Focuses on the Dangers from Herod and Jesus Legal Genealogy. 5. Luke's Account Focuses on the Events that Took Place at the Time of Jesus' Birth and on his Literal, Biological Descent from Adam, Abraham, and King David. 6. Did Everyone See and Hear the Heavenly Host? 7. Have you Ever Entertained Angels Without Knowing it? 8. Authentic Christianity Is Committed to Right Doctrine and Right Practice. 9. Had the Lord Jesus Died as an Infant, There Would Be no Redemption. 10. You Don't Have to Be Afraid. 11. According to the Power of the Holy Spirit, he Lifts us up to Where he Is.

1. Under the New Testament, we Are Free to Eat what we Choose. 2. Legalists Use the Law to Break the Law. 3. What Foods Are Unclean? 4. Dietary Laws Had a Special Purpose for the Jews. 5. God Wants the Church to Be Full of People from Every Background and Culture. 6. Every law of the Old Testament Passes over into the New Testament, but they Are all Radically Transformed. 7. America Was once a Christian Nation, but it no Longer Is.

1. I Changed my Sermon 2. Earthly Politics Are Simply the Backdrop of the Drama of Redemption. 3. God Rules and Overrules for our Good. 4. My Friend Died Last Sunday Night. 5. We Celebrated the Lord's Supper and Something Happened. 6. America Is Dying Because Churches and Families Are Divided. 7. What Is the Solution? 8. The Glory of the Second Temple Is Greater than Solomon's. 9. Once we Have Repented, We Must Rejoice.

1. Elisha Points us to the Lord Jesus. 2. Naaman Is a Veteran. 3. Naaman Illustrates God's Sovereignty. 4. Jesus Is Both David's Legal and Biological Son. 5. The Lord Jesus Christ Is Still the Pivot on Which History Turns. 6. History Can Be Chastisement. 7. May we all Become Jesus' Slaves. 8. You and I Have the Same Disease as Naaman. 9. People who Really Love us Will Tell us the Truth. 10. God Still Does Miracles Today. 11. Freely you Have Received, Freely Give (Matthew 10:8). 12. Naaman Became a True Follower of the LORD. 13. Jesus Will not Lay on you a Burden for Which he Does not Equip you. 14. What Will you Do with Jesus?

1. God Is Near. 2. The World Is Flat. 3. The World Is a Spinning Sphere. 4. In Times of Cultural Collapse, God Is Near. 5. Do not Lift up Your Horns. 6. What Is my Encouragement About the Upcoming Election? 7. God Raises up one and Puts Down Another. 8. I Don't Want Justice. 9. Jesus Drank that Bitter Cup for us.

1. There Is Supernatural Opposition to the Gospel. 2. Christ on the Cross Is Revealed in Preaching. 3. There Are no Good People. 4. What Is the Circumcision Group? 5. What Does Justification Mean? 6. Who Was Martin Luther? 7. How Can You Be Right with God? 8. Martin Luther, Billy Graham, and you, and I Desperately Need God's Grace. 9. Luther Was a Great Man, But he Came Very Short of God's Glory.

1. Prophets Can Neglect Profits and Their Families. 2. Christian Economics Should Balance Freedom, Law, and Compassion. 3. God Will Provide of his own. 4. This Rich Woman Was Very Needy. 5. Why Would God Be Good to me? 6. Prophets Do Not Know Everything. 7. Real Praying Is Hard and Requires Focus. 8. We Need to Be Optimists. 9. This Promise Is for you. 10. We Can Use Political Leaders. 11. Christians Must Extend a Hand to Help Others.

1. These Three Kings Are Cousins. 2. God's Sovereignty Does not Rule out Human Action. 3. The Holocaust Is a Burnt Offering. 4. Killing our Children Is Demonic. 5. The Right to Abortion Is a Demonic Right. 6. Who Was Chemosh? 7. God Limits Himself by Conformity to His own Character. 8. Demonic Spirits Have the Power to Resist God's Servants. 9. The Wrath Against Israel Was from Hell. 10. The Lord's Supper Points us to what Can Change the World.

This is a look at the character of Samson

1. This was a war between cousins. 2. Why is there war? 3. What about Elisha? 4. War brings a cacophony of confusion out of which we must come into the presence of God. 5. God guides us by Scripture and by the Holy Spirit's applying the Scripture to our everyday circumstances. 6. We must sing God's praises in order to be delivered from the cacophony of confusion that surrounds us. 7. What is a Psalm? 8. What is a hymn? 9. What is a song? 10. Redemption has been accomplished, and our songs must explicitly glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. 11. Some Psalms express despair and doubt about life after death. 12. The Law made nothing perfect, and the Old Covenant is obsolete. 13. Consider the worship of the book of Revelation: it is Trinitarian and focuses on the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. 14. We must use music to get into the presence of God. 15. We must love our enemies.

1. These are youth, not small children. 2. Bethel was the center of false religion and apostasy from God. 3. The double portion was for the successor of the father. 4. Elisha's Ministry Begins with Blessing, not Cursing. 5. The power of life and death is in the tongue. 6. As with Jericho, Bethel was a wicked city. 7. Young males need men in their lives. 8. If our nation does not experience the fear of God, it will devolve into chaos. 9. Pray for our nation. 10. Hell is the destiny of everyone who does not repent and cast himself on God's mercy in Jesus Christ.

1. What are the good deeds of James 2? 2. Neither the Roman Church nor Muhammad got it correct. 3. Good deeds focus on giving to the poor. 4. James the Just was Jesus' half-brother. 5. It is not always easy to help the poor. 6. The poor are God's elect. 7. We are either 100% righteous or 100% guilty. 8. We are justified by faith alone, but our faith is justified by our works alone. 9. I am a privileged man, and I must answer for what I have done with what God has given me.

1. Elijah experienced suicidal depression. 2. What is the difference between asking God to take your life and suicidal ideation? 3. Elijah was God's prosecuting attorney against unfaithful people. 4. Jezebel's oath brought a curse on her own head. 5. Beware of oaths. Never take them carelessly. 6. Jezebel's words brought fear and depression on Elijah. 7. Elijah did not see the big picture. 8. Elijah is commissioned to do three things: to ordain Elisha as his successor, to install Hazael as king of Syria in place of Ben-Hadad, and to anoint Jehu as Israel's king, ending the dynasty of Omri. 9. Elisha wanted a double portion of the Spirit of Elijah. 10. Wealth, power, and fame cannot satisfy. 11. Jesus satisfies. Come to him and feast.

1. What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? 2. I prayed for President Biden with sympathy. 3. Jesus was tempted in all the ways you are. 4. Jesus prayed with deep emotion and tears. 5. Prayer must end in submission. 6. Jesus matured through suffering. 7. Jesus understands you; he's been through what you're going through. 8. Are you afraid to die? 9. Are you sure you are on your way to heaven? 10. The devil has real power. 11. God desires to bless you. 12. Why did God become a man? 13. Why don't you pray with me?

1. We must avoid stupid arguments. 2. What is wrong with quarreling? 3. Share your faith, but do not quarrel. 4. Repentance depends on the work of the Holy Spirit. 5. When we are angry, we act as if we are drunk and insane. 6. Politics is deceptive and intoxicating. 7. The devil has a trap, and he wants to destroy your effectiveness. 8. We must correctly handle God's word: Dispensationalism is an error. 9. Full Preterism is heresy. 10. Guard the deposit, the Christian Faith, which is found in Scripture alone.

If we continue in the faith, we have been saved. You can be part of the church and be lost. Real Christians still sin. Real Christians cannot live in sin. God will not allow a real Christian to live in sin. There are two errors: one is that people can never have assurance they are saved. There is another error: believing you are saved based on a past decision that has no effect on you today. The Lord chastens his own. Paul serves as an example. The book of Hebrews connects apostasy with abandoning the church. Hebrews warned Jewish Christians if they turned their backs on Christ, the Old Testament system no longer exists. There is a place where we can go from which there is no turning back. It's never too late to come to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Here is the summary of the series. Persecution caused the church to grow. The Bible is God's infallible Word, but we need the Holy Spirit to apply the Bible. God providentially prepared the world for the gospel. God used women. Persecutions lead to gospel opportunities. How we respond to persecution determines a good outcome. Choose to be happy and praise the Lord. The non-Christian world is a world without hope. We must sometimes disobey government, but we must never take up arms against it. The Lord's Supper embodies persecution because it was instituted on the night the Lord Jesus was betrayed.

This sermon explores the significance of the rite of circumcision and why the Jewish people were so angry when they thought had brought an uncircumcised Greek into the Temple (Acts 21:27-29). The purpose of circumcision was to be a sign and seal of having been born again (Romans 2:28-29) and of being declared righteous by means of faith (Romans 4:9-12). Circumcision was the first step in a life-long commitment to observe the laws of the Old Testament. That is why Paul warned Gentile believers that if they were circumcised, they were cutting themselves off from Christ and salvation under the New Covenant (Galatians 5:2-6; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:24-27). Paul circumcised Timothy in Acts 16:1-3 for pragmatic reasons.

Historical Context of Acts 16 Pragmatism in Ministry Introduction to the Regulative Principle Christ is All-Sufficient Warnings Against Deception Christ's Triumph Over Principalities Freedom from Legalism Living in Christ's Victory Misunderstandings of the Sabbath Shadows and Substance in Christ The Regulative Principle Explained Call to Faith

The Controversy: Do you Have to Become Jews in order to Become Christians? Our History Colors how we Understand Scripture. The Scottish Reformation Resulted in Civil War. Why Do So Many Presbyterian Churches not Grow? Paul's Approach Was Pragmatic. What Do We Want to Be Known for?

How Was Timothy Trained for the Ministry? In the Fulness of Time, God Prepared the World for the Gospel. The Gospel Gives us the Only Way to Heaven. After Sowing the Seed, Paul and his Companions Returned to Choose Leaders for the Church. The New Testament Knows Nothing of One Person in Charge: Every Congregation Should Have Bishops and Elders Leading it. Why Did the Reformed and Presbyterian Churches Lose the Frontier? How Did the First Century Church Train People for the Gospel Ministry? What Is an Elder? How Did they Find Pastors? All Elders Are Bishops, and all Bishops Are Elders. The Beginning of Hope, Help, and Wisdom Is to Confess, "I Don't Know what to Do."

After working my way through this message I believe I need to state the following. "I was wrong about John Mark" is true in 2 Timothy 4:11, but it is ALSO true that John Mark matured. Spurring God's people is a job for pastors, but it is directed to everyone in Hebrews 10:24-25. Being grieved and angry inside does not mean that Paul lost his temper in Acts 17:16. The Outline: Anger Leads to Division. Missionary Work Is Difficult. This Division Led to Multiplication. Godly People Change Their Opinions of Others. We Need to Use our Spurs. Worshipping with the Lord's People Is Essential. We Should Be Angry at Satan's Deception of Pagans. The Holy Spirit Directs Where the Gospel Will Find Fertile Soil. In the New Testament, Every Time Someone Becomes a Believer and it Is Mentioned he Has a Family, the Whole Family Is Baptized. Paul Met a Python. Paul Lost His Temper, but God Used it for Salvation. We Are Living in Perilous Times. If Your All Is on the Altar, you Will Have Peace and Joy.

WHAT IS A GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND WHAT IS A PRESBYTERY? THE OLD JEWISH LAWS OF SEPARATION ARE OVER. WHEN PEOPLE SEE THE TRUTH, THEY EITHER REPENT OR THEY MURDER. CONTROVERSIES MUST BE RESOLVED. OUR GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS MODELED ON THE FIRST ECUMENICAL COUNCIL WHAT IS PROJECTION? WE MUST MAINTAIN ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH. HOW GOD VIEWS THE CHURCH DIFFERS FROM HOW WE VIEW IT. THE GREEK TRANSLATION OF THE HEBREW BIBLE IS USEFUL. UNITY MEANS STANDING FOR WHAT MATTERS MOST. WE MUST DIE TO OUR PREFERENCES. TRUE EVANGELISM BRINGS PEOPLE INTO A LOCAL CONGREGATION.

Depression Ofter Follows Exhilaration Negative Words Can Infect our Souls The Root of Elijah's Depression Is Disappointment with God Committing Suicide Is NOT an Automatic Sentence to Hell. No Actual Christian Can Ever Be Lost. What Does it Feel Like to Commit Suicide for a Person Without Christ? Give your Anger and Disappointment to God

An Altar to the Lord away from the Temple Mocking Other Religions Gods in the Image of Man Bathroom Humor Cutting Oneself, Blood, and the Demonic At the Time of the Evening Sacrifice Should We Kill Baal's Prophets Today? Each One's Place and Calling Does Any Entity Correspond to Ancient Israel? The Church of the Living God The Sad Saga of History: Apostasy The Sword of The Spirit, the Word Of God The Church Is Being Judged Modern America and Baal Love Your Neighbors and Pray for them

Here we examine how God sent Elijah into the very heartland of Baal worship: Zarephath belonged to Sidon (1 Kings 17:7-11), and Ethbaal was the king of Sidon. His daughter Jezebel had married King Ahab (1 Kings 16:31-32). Together they persecuted the followers of Yahweh( and made the worship of Baal the state religion of Israel (1 Kings 18:1-14). A poor widow hears the word of the LORD, and she trusts and obeys (1 Kings 17:13-16). In the course of time, the widow's son dies, and reflecting a common idea of fate (Acts 28:3-6), connecting sin and misfortune (John 9:1-3), she believes it is due to her sin and is angry with Elijah (1 Kings 17:18). But she soon witnesses a profound miracle, when the LORD uses Elijah to raise her son from the dead (1 Kings 17:22-24).

The Meaning of Elijah The Greatest Prophet of The Old Testament Elijah's Mission Field Ceremonial Uncleanness God Understands the Communication of Animals A Foreshadowing of Gospel Freedom What Matters Most with God Ashley Madison and the 613 Commandments

CONFUSING GENEALOGIES PHOENICIA (I made a huge mistake) WICKED INFLUENCE EVIL LEADERS LEAD PEOPLE ASTRAY THE GOD OF THE OLD TESTAMENT AND THE NEW A MOTHER'S INFLUENCE A MOTHER'S GREATEST DUTY ACCURSED MOTHERS AND AN ACCURSED FAMILY A GODLY AUNT AS A GODLY MOTHER ARRANGED MARRIAGES A MURDERING GRANDMOTHER PLACES OF SAFETY: THE TEMPLE AND THE CHURCH THE LORD JESUS IS BOTH THE LEGAL AND BIOLOGICAL SON OF DAVID

AHAB, WHAT'S IN A NAME THREE AND A HALF YEARS BAAL* ASHERAH** RELIGIOUS INTOLERANCE NOT JUST IDOLATRY, SWITCHING GODS LEX REX OR REX REX MODERNITY THE SOLUTION

Ahab represents a dreadful apostasy in Israel: Unlike those who have gone before with their turning away from divinely ordained worship, Ahab openly worships Baal. Terrible things take place during his reign, such as Hiel of Bethel rebuilding the accursed city of Jericho. However, along with Jehu, Ahab is the most important character in the Old Testament in helping us date when things happened. Where are we now?

Great leaders such as King Omri are negatively evaluated by God in 1 Kings 16:21-28. God usually appoints lazy, good for nothing people as world leaders (shāphēl, Daniel 4:17.) God does this so people would seek him (Acts 17:26-27).

I had an April Fool's prank played on me and that led me to preach on the importance of sticking to the Bible for teachers (James 3:1). We live in an era of nonsense and wild speculations. Consider the eclipse scheduled for tomorrow, April 8, 2024. We must remember that the signs recorded in Matthew 24:4-8 take place throughout history, but there was one sign that told people to do something (Matthew 24:15-16; Luke 21:17-21). That event took place within 40 years of Jesus message (Luke 21:21-24). We who teach are warned we will give an account (James 3:1; Hebrews 13:17, 9) These signs are signs THAT the Lord is going to return; they do not tell us WHEN he will return.

We can prove that the Lord Jesus rose from the dead. The guards and the Sanhedrin KNEW that he rose. All of these people worshipped money and would not repent of their lust for money in spite of Jesus' resurrection (Luke 16:31). No matter what tortures the followers of Christ underwent, the issue was "Keep your mouths shut." It was never, "Where is his body." Those who have experienced the Holy Spirit's power have the internal witness that Jesus arose. As Jesus predicted, the Jewish Temple was left a "wind swept house" when the veil was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51). And as Jesus predicted that generation witnessed its destruction in AD 70 (Matthew 23:34-39). It will never be rebuilt.

This message focuses on the events of Holy Week, looking at them from different perspectives. In the purely natural realm, Jesus was crucified because he offended virtually everyone: the wealthy class of the Sadducees who profited from the Temple, the party of the Pharisees whom he told were deserving of hell, and his own followers who were disappointed because he did not drive out the Romans and because he was too radical for them. In the realm of ancient conflict between the LORD and Satan, the activity of Satan is clear in entering Judas and stirring people to call down curses on themselves and their children. It was a week from hell. However, all of these things were ordained by God before the foundation of the world and fell out exactly according to his divine plan. It was a week from heaven.

I. What's in a name? King David's great grandson's name was changed to "My Father is Yahweh" (ʾabiyyāh/ʾabiyāhû, אֲבִיָּה/אֲבִיָהוּ) in 2 Chronicles 13:1 from "My Father is Yam" (ʾabiyyām, אֲבִיָּם) in 1 Kings 15:1. II. We must not underestimate the impact of King Solomon's apostasy on his son Rehoboam and grandson Abijam (1 Kings 11:1-11). III. Yam was the mythical sea-god known from Ugaritic literature, as can be illustrated from Psalm 74:13-14: "It was you who split open the sea (yām, יָם) by your power; you broke the heads of the monster (tanniyn, תַּנּין) in the waters. It was you who crushed the heads of Leviathan (liwyātān, לִוְיָתָן) and gave him as food to the creatures of the desert." III. We do not know whether Abijam truly changed in his heart, but he does take a stand for the LORD (2 Chronicles 13:10-12), and God delivered his enemies into his hand against overwhelming odds "because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers" (2 Chronicles 13:18). IV. God may use people to serve him, and even perform miracles, but that is not proof that the LORD knows that person (Matthew 7:21-23). Does the LORD know you? You can answer this question with another: Do you know the LORD?

Rehoboam enjoyed prosperity for three years (2 Chronicles 11:13-17). Then he and all Israel with him abandoned the law of the LORD (2 Chronicles 12:1). Because they had been unfaithful to the LORD, he authorized Shishak king of Egypt to attack Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam (2 Chronicles 12:2). And God stated, "You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon you to Shishak."' (2 Chronicles 12:5) The leaders of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, 'The LORD is just' (2 Chronicles 12:6). That is the beginning of getting things right. However, the Lord wanted them to learn the difference between serving him and serving the kings of other lands (2 Chronicles 12:7-8). Because the LORD was to be Israel's King, asking for a worldly king was rejecting the LORD (1 Samuel 8:7-9). After Shishak took the gold shields, Rehoboam replaced them with bronze (2 Chronicles 12:10-11), maintaining the appearance of prosperity for most people. Do you know about the Coinage Act of 1965, or what happened when President Nixon disconnected the dollar from the price of gold in 1971, when gold was valued at $35 an ounce and the American dollar was the world's reserve currency? Consider how denominations that once were solidly committed to the gospel and the Bible have traded their gold for brass. Is there any area in your life where you are maintaining an appearance of spiritual prosperity, but your gold has been replaced with brass?

Ahijah was a blind man who could see (1 Kings 14:4-5). Only the good die young (1 Kings 14:13). Why does God himself use crude language, and why do modern translations attempt to wash out God's mouth? (1 Kings 14:10; Cf. 1 Samuel 25:22, 34; 1 Kings 16:11; 21:21; 2 Kings 9:8). Jeroboam's wife is given a horrible burden (1 Kings 14:12). Ahijah announces the curse sanctions of God's covenant with Israel in 1 Kings 14:11 (Deuteronomy 28:26). How does God visit our iniquity on our children? (Exodus 20:4-6) Can we stop such a curse? (Proverbs 26:2; Galatians 3:13-14; 1 John 1:8-10)

Today's message, Journey into Apostasy, focuses on five kings of Judah: David (1010 to 970), Solomon (970 to 931), Rehoboam (931 to 913), Abijam (or, Abijah) (913 to 911), and Asa (911-870). Asa did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done (1 Kings 15:11). In other words, three kings did evil: Solomon, Rehoboam, and Abijah. Solomon did evil in the eyes of the LORD; he did not follow the LORD completely, as David his father had done (1 Kings 11:6). The godly King Asa forgot what the LORD had done for him and trusted in his wealth and a foreign alliance (2 Chronicles 16:1-3, 7-9). When he is rebuked (2 Chronicles 16:9), he turns his back on the LORD and on his prophet (2 Chronicles 16:10). When the LORD chastens him in order to get him to repent, he hardens his heart (2 Chronicles 16:11-14). Are you being tortured today (Matthew 18:34)? Turn to the Lord Jesus and beg him for the grace to deal with what is blocking you from getting relief.

King Rehoboam foolishly rejects the counsel of the old men who served his father and follows the advice of the young men who had grown up with him ((1 Kings 12:5-11). This results in a political division in 931 BC, and while King Jeroboam I had divine authority to secede from the House of David (1 Kings 11:29-36), he did not have authority to start his own religion (1 Kings 12:26-29). The result was that the priests and Levites and people who sought the LORD left Israel for Judah (2 Chronicles 11:13, 16-17). God sends a prophet from Judah to warn Jeroboam of his sin and predict the coming of King Josiah some three centuries later who would burn bones on Jeroboam's altar (1 Kings 13:2-6). The LORD had warned the Man of God from Judah explicitly not to eat or drink until he had returned home (1 Kings 13:7-10), and he obeyed. But then an old prophet finds him, and tells him an angel had revealed that he could eat with him (1 Kings 13:11-19; Galatians 1:8-9). As soon as he does so, the old prophet responds with a true word from the LORD that he was going to die, then he meets a lion on the way who kills him (1 Kings 13:20-26). What are the strengths and weaknesses of youth and old age?

When King Jehoshaphat was confronted by Jehu the prophet, he repented and demonstrated that repentance in changes he made as king of Judah (2 Chronicles 19:1-3). So that the nation would not relapse in his absence again, he educated the people in God's word and appointed judges who would rule in "the fear of the LORD" (2 Chronicles 19:4-7). Today we looked at the division he made in the administration of justice (2 Chronicles 19:8-11). He appointed Amariah the High Priest over matters pertaining to the LORD, and Zebadiah in matters pertaining to the king (2 Chronicles 19:11). In its context, it is clear that both men are to rule under the LORD himself (2 Chronicles 19:9-10), with Amariah the High Priest overseeing the Temple and its worship, and Zebadiah overseeing matters not related to worship, i.e. civil law (2 Chronicles 19:11; cf. Exodus 18:26, 19; Deuteronomy 17:8–13). The foundation of the United States of America reflects a similar structure where the civil government is under God (see the handout). Many people misunderstand what our Lord Jesus Christ taught in Matthew 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26. He is in no way stating that civil government should be atheistic. He is simply stepping out of the net, these flatterers had spread for him (Proverbs 29:5). In asking for the Roman coin with which one paid the Roman poll tax, he was asking for something with the image of Caesar and these words: "TI CAESAR DIVI AUG F AUGUSTUS" (Tiberius Caesar, son of the divine Augustus). This coin led many Jews, particularly those living in the Galilee, to refuse to pay the Roman tax, contrary to the supporters of the dynasty of Herod the Great.

Jehu the prophet showed great boldness in confronting King Jehoshaphat as he returned from joining with King Ahab of Israel (2 Chronicles 19:1-2). Jehu has the boldness of Nathan who declared, "You are the man!" to David in response to David's rage against a rich man who stole and slaughtered a poor man's lamb that "was like a daughter to him" (2 Samuel 12:1-7). As with David who repented (Psalm 32:1-7; Psalm 51:10-12), so King Jehoshaphat demonstrates true repentance as he sets his heart on seeking God (2 Chronicles 19:3). Jehoshaphat not only repents, but he moved among the people and "turned them back to the God of their fathers" (2 Chronicles 19:4). He appoints godly judges, admonishing them to "let the fear of the LORD be upon you" (2 Chronicles 19:5-6). In the Gospel of Luke, the Lord Jesus cites an example of an unjust judge who "neither feared God nor cared (entrépō; ἐντρέπω: "Have regard for, respect") about men" (Luke 18:2). But this cynical and calloused politician responded to a poor widow who kept harassing him (Luke 18:3-5).

As I worked on my manuscript, I caught a couple of mistakes, so I would encourage you to read the transcript. As we continue our message from two weeks ago, we see that the book of Revelation is not only a book on worship; it is a book about worship as warfare. As we sing the New Song that names the name of the Lord Jesus explicitly (Revelation 5:9-10, 11-14), the heavenly hosts wage war on our behalf (Revelation 8:6ff.). Numbers 10:1-10 describes the purpose of the silver trumpets, and the walls of Jericho fell down with the blowing of the ram's horns and the shout of praise (Joshua 6:16-20; Hebrews 11:30). The battles of King Jehoshaphat (872-848 BC) illustrate the principles of praise and warfare. When he allies himself with the wicked King Ahab of Israel, he almost loses his life in 853 BC (2 Chronicles 18:28-34). When Jehoshaphat joins in an alliance with Ahab's son, King Jehoram of Israel, and the king of Edom, he is defeated by King Mesha of Moab after he sacrifices his son to Chemosh, the demonic god of Moab (2 Kings 3:6-27). But when Jehoshaphat has no one to depend on but the LORD, he acknowledges he doesn't know what to do, but he puts his eyes on Yahweh (2 Chronicles 20:12). He follows the LORD's instructions through his prophet and arranges for loud praise to God. "As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated." (2 Chronicles 20:22)