Sermons

How to Avoid the Enemy’s Tactics 1 Kings 22: 1-40

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Small Group Guide:

Open with prayer.

Go around and give everyone a chance to share about how the past week has been. What’s one highlight? What’s one lowlight?

If your small group has talked about it before, feel free to use this time to hold people accountable to what they’ve asked to be held accountable for previously, and go through the “missional” part of this discussion guide.

1 Kings 22:1-40

Ahab and the False Prophets

22 For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. 2 But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, “Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?” 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, “Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?” And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses.”

In this passage of God’s Word, we see the evil King Ahab and his evil wife committing murder in order to own a property. After this, the Lord calls Elijah to confront the king about his wrongdoing. By taking a look at this passage of God’s Word, we can learn how we are to deal with sin.

5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, “Inquire first for the word of the Lord.” 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, “Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?” And they said, “Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 7 But Jehoshaphat said, “Is there not here another prophet of the Lord of whom we may inquire?” 8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the Lord, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil.” And Jehoshaphat said, “Let not the king say so.”9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, “Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah.” 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.’” 12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, “Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.”

Micaiah Prophesies Against Ahab

13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, “Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably.” 14 But Micaiah said, “As the Lord lives, what the Lord says to me, that I will speak.” 15 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, “Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?” And he answered him, “Go up and triumph; the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” 16 But the king said to him, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the Lord?” 17 And he said, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the Lord said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’”18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” 19 And Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the Lord said, ‘Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?’ And one said one thing, and another said another.21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the Lord, saying, ‘I will entice him.’ 22 And the Lord said to him, ‘By what means?’ And he said, ‘I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.’ And he said, ‘You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.’23 Now therefore behold, the Lord has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the Lord has declared disaster for you.”

24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, “How did the Spirit of the Lord go from me to speak to you?” 25 And Micaiah said, “Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself.” 26 And the king of Israel said, “Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 27 and say, ‘Thus says the king, “Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace.”’” 28 And Micaiah said, “If you return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.” And he said, “Hear, all you peoples!”

Ahab Killed in Battle

29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes.” And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle. 31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, “Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel.” 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “It is surely the king of Israel.” So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 34 But a certain man drew his bow at random[a] and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded.” 35 And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot.36 And about sunset a cry went through the army, “Every man to his city, and every man to his country!”

37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the Lord that he had spoken. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.

  1.   Abide by God’s word, no matter what

1 Kings 22:1-12, 1 Tim. 4:1-4, 1 Cor. 12:10, 1 John 4:1-6, 2 Tim. 3:16, Matt. 4:4, 5:18-19, Ps. 1:1-6, 119:27, Matt. 7:24-27, Gal. 6:1, Rom. 2:4, Gen. 3:4-5

 

  1.   Our repeated denial of God’s  leading, will lead to God handing us over to our evil desires

1 Kings 22:13-28, 21:27, Rom. 1:18-32, John 3:19, Ps. 81:11-12, 2 Thess. 2:9-11, Acts 7:42, Jer. 7:24, James 4:17, 2 Sam. 12:13

 

  1. No amount of scheming can skirt you around God’s will

1 Kings 22:29-40, Ps. 103:19, 115:3, Job 42:2, Prov. 19:21, Gal. 6:7-8, Rom. 8:28, 1 John 1:9, Gen. 50:20, Matt. 19:26



Reflection Questions:

    1. Have you ever heard this passage of Scripture or topic taught on before? What stood out to you?

    2a. Read 1 Kings 22:5-23. It is clear that evil King Ahab only wants to hear what he wants to hear and is not interested in what the Lord says is true. Many people today are the same, only hearing what they want to hear instead of seeking the Lord’s truth. Today, it’s easy to get caught up with popular opinion, secular reasoning, and others’ opinions instead of seeking out what God says is true. However, God’s Word says that we are to get our truth from God. One major way we can do that is by meditating on His Word (read Ps. 1:1-6 and Matt. 7:24-27). How can you take time to mediate on God’s Word, in order to better base your beliefs off of what God says is true, instead of what the world says is true?

    2b. What are some Biblical beliefs that you struggle with? Take some time to look up Scripture passages that talk about the beliefs that you struggle with, and jot down what God’s Word says about those topics.

    1. Read 1 Kings 22:29-40. Instead of listening to what the Lord had spoken through Micaiah, King Ahab went off and did what he pleased. Take some time to read through Rom. 1:18-32 and Ps. 81:11-12. How is King Ahab’s situation similar to these passages of God’s Word?

    3b. Do you feel like you have ever denied God’s prompting, to the point that He handed you over to your own desire(s)? If so, what happened? Have you repented yet? If not, take some time with the Lord to do so.

    1. Read 1 Kings 22:29-37. King Ahab thought he could plan and scheme around God’s sovereign will… but Ahab was wrong. Has there ever been a time in your life where you tried to plan and scheme around God’s will? How so? What happened?
    1. How can you help others to base their beliefs and actions off of God’s truth, and God’s truth alone?  
    1. What is your biggest take away about how this passage affects your life? What do you need to work on? Who can you share this with and ask you to keep you accountable to accomplishing this?



Prayer Time:

Pray for each other in your small group to be faithful take the step(s) that you shared above. Pray for each other and the interactions that they have with those who don’t know Jesus. Pray that God would soften the people’s hearts to what He has for them. Pray that God would give everyone opportunities to share the Gospel.

Staying Missional:

Share spiritual/missional conversations you’ve had where you live, work, and play:

Who did you have a conversation with that took a spiritual/missional turn this week?
What questions did you ask to discover where God is at work in their life, even if they are not aware?
How were you able to share your story of life change or how you have experienced Jesus?
How can you be intentional this week with people where you live, work, and play to have spiritual/missional conversations if the opportunity arises?
Who in your life do you think could be discipleable or open to spiritual/missional conversations?

What’s next?

Discuss the next step for your small group. When will we gather again and what purpose will it fulfill?