(1 Kings 20:35-43) "Then he found another man..."
This preacher wants to make a point so he devises a way to teach on object lesson.
He wants to have this man hit him and cause a bruise, so that he could fool the king of Israel.
The object lesson (v. 39-40):
I was in charge of a man under penalty of death.
> But, I got busy and he got away.
The king said, "If you were under penalty of death, then the sentence against you is clear."
> Why ask my counsel? You own words condemn you.
The lesson revealed (v. 41-42):
He revealed himself as one of the prophets, and told the king that he had also condemned himself.
> His own words condemned him.
But, I want to take my text from verse 37:
"Then he found another man..."
God Will Find Another
I. What Will Happen to You, If God Finds Another?
A. You will be Disobedient (v. 36a).
1. Obedience is not an option.
2. To obey is BETTER than sacrifice...
22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? BEHOLD, TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEARKEN THAN THE FAT OF RAMS.
23 For rebellion is AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
3. "Why call ye me Lord, and do not the things that I say?"
B. You will be Disrespectful (v. 35).
1. Carnally speaking, you cannot be forced to obey the preacher.
> The Preacher can only LEAD & WARN
> The watchman looks for coming danger and warns the people...
2. But in the end, you can REFUSE the instruction of God’s man (v. 35).
> He cannot make you serve God, only encourage you and warn you..
3. But, in so doing you disrespect the office of the man of God, and subsequently God also.
> "They have not rejected you, they have rejected me..."
C. You will be Destroyed (v. 36b).
1. He didn’t do some wicked, immoral crime.
> He wasn’t a murderer or an adulterer...
> All he did was not obey the request of his preacher!
2. Annanias and Saphira didn’t really do anything so very terrible.
> All they did was lie to the preacher.
3. (Esther 4:13-14) God will send deliverance from ANOTHER PLACE...
> But you and your family will be destroyed.
II. Many Are Too Busy For God’s Work (v.40).
A. Over committed Christians.
1. Over committed financially.
> We get as much credit as we possibly can, and live on the very edge of our budget.
> We have no buffer with which to support the work of God.
2. Over committed physically.
> Involved in so many extra carnal things that we are too worn out to worship God.
3. Over committed emotionally.
> With so much going on, we never have time to sit and meditate on the things of God.
"While he was musing, the fire burned..."
We are TOO BUSY for God.
B. Something has got to be left out.
1. There is only so much time in the day.
> No matter how physically fit or spiritual you are, you still only have 24 hours in a day!
2. Your job, your family, your hobby, your entertainment... Your God!
> If you are over committed you will HAVE to leave something out!
3. More often it will be God that you leave out!
> How is your Bible Reading?
> How is your prayer life?
> How is your devotion time?
C. Four Myths about a Busy Life!
Myth #1: Busy equals important.
> We think when you’re really busy it means you’re really important.
> Actually being overly busy cuts us off from what’s important.
> We need to spend cultivating the important relationships in our life...
> With our spouse, our kids, our friends, our God.
Myth #2: Only the busy win the rat race.
> The rat race is all about "what you do"; God is more interested in "who we are."
> "Martha cumbered about serving; But Mary hath chosen that good part..."
> We think like Japethites. We are practical people.
> The Shemites are worshipers...
Myth #3: Hurrying will buy us more time.
> All this technology we now have was supposed to create tons of free time...
> But in fact it has increased the pace at which we have to work.
> Hurrying will buy more heart attacks, ulcers, stress, and headaches; BUT NOT MORE TIME.
> Our society is hurrying faster than it ever has, yet we seem to have less time than ever before.
> "The faster I go, the behinder I get!"
Myth #4: "Down time" is wasted time.
> We are made to feel guilty if we aren’t constantly "doing something."
> God instituted the Sabbath for this very reason!
> God demanded a day of rest and worship!
> "Why was this waste?"
> "It would be such a WASTE if you don’t show up..."
> Waiting on God will never be a waste!
While I was busy...
III. God Will Find Another...
A. To be Saved.
1. God doesn’t need you or me.
2. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?
B. To Sing.
1. The church isn’t going to fall apart if you don’t sing
> God will find another!
2. It is a privilege to serve God.
> But, God isn’t going to cease to be just because you fall out!
> God will find another!
C. To Sow Seed.
1. "We are ambassadors for Christ..."
> We have the privilege of standing in Christ’s stead!
> We represent the Lord Jesus!
2. But, if you refuse to sow, God will find another.
> Deliverance shall arise out of another place...
D. To Serve Him.
1. His yoke is easy and His burden is light.
2. He does most of the work, but lets us share in the credit.
To be Saved; Sow seed; Sing; Serve...
E. To Support the Preacher.
1. Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ hands.
2. The work behind the scene is just as important.
> And, receives an equal reward.
