May 1, 2011
Bryne Palmer
“Paradise Trees”
1 Kings 22:30 – 53
1. Perfect Control
If out God is a big God and you believe that He is that big why aren’t our prayers that big? Ahab had one plan but God had another. There was a prophecy in the previous chapter to be fulfilled. God is so big that He can control that little arrow that was to end Ahab’s life. Is He big enough to you that you believe that? Or is He some small God you only come to in times of need. Everything that happens in your life is not an accident. It should all be credited to God. –Proverbs 16:9- We will be taken care of, just trust in Him. Trusting in Him is glorifying to Him. Every time you worry it’s like you’re saying He is small, He can’t take care of my problems. Man may plan his way but God directs His steps. He directed Ahab’s steps right into that arrow. There is an arrow marked for every last person on this earth because of sin but the difference for us (Christians) is that Jesus took that arrow for us, all we need to do is let Him, to accept Him. Ahab, because he didn’t trust God, lived long enough to see his army die. God showed him one last time that Ahab could not do it without Him.
2. Passing a Torch
-1 Kings 19:19-21- Elijah passes the torch on to Elisha. Ahab passes on his kingdom to his son (end of the chapter), and Jehoshaphat passed on his kingdom and good lessons to his son.
In Elisha’s life killing oxen was a big sacrifice. It symbolized killing his old way of life. He was no longer going to plow his father’s field anymore, he killed the very instruments he used in his old life.
3. Pull Em Up
Paradise trees: a tree that stinks, a tree that grows from the roots. Basically it does nothing good. That is us and until we allow God to uproot us and plant a good fruit bearing tree in our old life’s place. When that happens we can then produce good fruit and allow Him to help grow us and make us stronger. Our roots no longer run up into septic tanks but now run into His river of life (Psalm 1). If you go back to your old life, only go back to murder it.
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