Gresham Bible Church Sermons Podcast

This week we wrestle not only with the evil action of wicked people, but also with our own hearts when the Judge shows mercy to one we don't think deserves mercy.

Jordan Bradley continues our series in 1 Kings where God delivers Israel from a bully of a king, Ben-Hadad, who comes to take from King Ahab anything he wants.

The prophet Elijah, after a miraculous victory over the prophets of Baal, instead of being elated and confident, is despairing and fleeing for his life from Jezebel. He is ministered to by the angel of the LORD before going and meeting the LORD himself at Horeb.

After three years of drought in the land, the prophet Elijah returns to confront King Ahab and the prophets of Baal with a challenge.

Even as Israel continues to decline, we shift our focus to a story of God's provision in a time of trial as Elijah, after having confronted King Ahaz, rather than fleeing far away, goes deeper into Baal territory to spend the time of the drought he predicted with a desperate widow who is preparing her last meal.

Pastor Mike Dahl continues our series through 1 Kings, and those kings continue to decline to even lower lows.

The tragic decline of the kings, and of the nation, continues as we consider the legacy that will be left by Kings Jeroboam and Rehoboam. Because the kings won't turn from their evil ways, things are about to be so bad in Israel that the early death of a child is considered a mercy.

Chapter 13 of 1 Kings brings us the account of a prophet who boldly confronts the king, then an "old prophet"...and then, a lion.

Last week, we saw Ahijah's prophecy of the kingdom divided. This week, we see King Rehoboam undo with three days of foolish council what took David and Solomon 80 years to build.

Because King Solomon's heart was turned away from God, the Lord was angry with him and will tear the kingdom in two. A divided heart will lead to a divided kingdom.