Rollercoaster Faith
Text: 1-2 Kings
Introduction:
- Illus. I like amusement parks. However, I do not like the rides that spin round and round. I love rollercoasters, especially the old style wooden coasters. The up and down does not bother me, but the going in circles does. It is fun to ride a rollercoaster. It is frustrating to live like one.
- Illus. Certain personalities tend to live on an emotional rollercoaster. Up one day, down the next, often for no apparent reason. Some people's faith is like that, up and down. They never seem to get grounded solidly in the faith, in their service, and in their lifestyle.
- Israel as a nation lived a rollercoaster existence. One generation they would stay true to God. The next they would serve the false gods of their neighbors.
- Keys For Maturity
- Follow principles, not personalities
- Israel was to obey the law above obeying the King
- Most people followed the King. If the King was good, then they were good. If the king was bad, they were bad.
- Israel had all bad kings
- Judah had a mixture: 12 bad kings, 8 good kings
- Illus. Corinth they followed personalities of the preachers or apostles they liked best
Follow Scripture, not culture
Israel followed the culture in setting up high places to worship (even in the worship of Jehovah God)
Israel followed the culture in serving other gods.
Follow the faith, not your feelings
Follow completely, not partially
Israel, even when they did right, often did not remove the high places. As a result, it left the door open to backslide.
When you leave sin, you need to remove the avenue that takes you there. Destroy the road or pathway. Don't leave vestiges around to tempt you.
Keys For Living
Remember God's Promise of Provision
Elijah and the ravens (1 Kings 17)
Elijah and the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17)
Widow's cruse (2 Kings 4:1-7)
Remember God's Power
Over false gods, i.e. Baal (I Kings 18:17f) Defeated prophets of Baal
Over death (1 Kings 17:17): raised the widows son
Over nature (1 Kings 18:41): Stopped the rain
Over disease (1 Kings 5:1): Naaman
Over circumstances (2 Kings 6:1)
Keys For Revival (2 Kings 18)
Remove sin (18:4)
Trust God (18:5)
Cleave to God (18:6)
Commitment
Staying by the stuff
Israel had a revival under each good king.
Yet, some of the revivals may be considered reformations and not real revival. There was outward conformity, but no lasting change
Revival under Joash seems to be genuine because it lasted 4 generations
Joash
Amaziah
Azariah
Jotham