4/21/2024 Worship Service from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA.

Sermon: Senior Pastor, Steve Estes
Worship Leader: Luke Stoltzfus
Scripture: 1 Kings 16:29-17:1
Title: The Rise of Ahab & Elijah

In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the LORD than any of those before him. He not only considered it trivial to commit the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, but he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole and did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than did all the kings of Israel before him.

In Ahab's time, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. He laid its foundations at the cost of his firstborn son Abiram, and he set up its gates at the cost of his youngest son Segub, in accordance with the word of the LORD spoken by Joshua son of Nun. Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."

Notes:

1. Ahab's day didn't seem evil

2. Alliance with Sidon
A. King Ethbaal
B. Princess Jezebel
C. Canaanite religion
D. Jezebel's unholy mission

3. Two brief episodes
A. The sons of Hiel at Jericho
B. The prophet Elijah at Samaria

4. Lessons
A. Sin usually presents itself as "no big deal"
B. Sin always progresses
C. God is always working even while evil rages

#1kings #Ahab #Elijah