Let’s look at a historical incident in 1 Kings 22.  You might remember that Ahab was a wicked, ungodly man. He was married to Jezebel, a Sidonian woman who made Baal worship the official religion of Israel. Ahab had been battling Assyria for years – but 1 Kings 22 opens telling us there had been 3 yrs of peace.  But Ahab invites Jehoshaphat to go to battle with Him.

I.  The incident.

A.     22:5 – Jehoshaphat urges Ahab to consult a prophet of the Lord.

1.      22:6 – prophets of Baal: Lord would give them victory.

B.     22:7 – Jehoshaphat: don’t you have any prophets of the Lord? 22:8-9; 13-14

C.     Before we focus on what Micaiah said – we need to focus on God.

1.      22:19-22 – God is pictured as having a mtg w/the heavenly council.

2.      22:15 – Micaiah told Ahab that which he wanted to hear.

a)      22:16 – King did not like it. Told Micaiah to say the truth.

b)      22:17, 23 – the Lord had proclaimed disaster.

D.     What’s the point from this story?

1.      God permitted Ahab to hear what he wanted to believe.

2.      God always allows us to believe what we wish to believe.

II. A Look at 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

A.     Note 2 things from these verses:

1.      People would lose the desire to hear, they would not listen.

2.      People would refuse to listen to sound doctrine.

A.     What is sound doctrine? It simply means healthy teaching.

1.      How is it healthy?  It brings people closer to God.

a)      Sound doctrine/healthy teaching is absolute truth.

2.      For example, NT doctrine teaches us:

a)      there is 1 body (Eph. 4:4)

b)      Jesus is the head of the church (Colossians 1:18)

c)      God adds the saved to His church (Acts 2:47)

d)      God must be worshipped in spirit & truth (John 4:23-24)

B.     2 Tim. 4:3-4 - what do people want when they refuse healthy teaching?

III. How well do we listen to God?

A.     In all ages – people have the same problem.

1.      They want to hear what they have already concluded as being OK.

2.      People have always wanted to hear what they agree with before anything is said.

B.     The scripture is the word of God: 1 Thess. 2:3-6; 11b-13.

C.     How is our hearing?

1.      God allows us to believe what we want to believe.

2.      Are we approaching his word objectively?  Honestly?

3.      Are we going to let the Bible say what it says?

4.      Will we honestly apply the pattern in matters of doctrine?

D.     How pliable is our heart? Are we truly willing to submit? 1 Chr. 28:9.

IV. We must apply God’s teachings (sound doctrine) to the way we think & live.

A.     We must be careful, lest we divorce what we believe from how we live.

1.      We call ourselves godly because of our religious positions.

2.      We often don’t call ourselves godly because of the way we think & live.

B.     God has emphasized our need to put our religion in practice with practical daily service:

Conclusion:

A.     Are you willing to listen to God?

1.      How open & responsive is your heart to His teaching?

B.     Will you give yourself to Him today?