Not for Sale! 1 Kings 21:1-4 Title Slide: Not for Sale! (1 Kings 21:1-4)…

1 Kings 21:1 “And it came to pass after these things that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard which was in Jezreel, next to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.” The Text…vs.1

1 Kings 21:2 “So Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, ‘Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near...’” Text…vs.2a

1 Kings 21:2 “…next to my house; and for it I will give you a vineyard better than it. Or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its worth in money.” Text…vs.2a

1 Kings 21:3 “But Naboth said to Ahab, ‘The LORD forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you!’” Text…vs.3

1 Kings 21:4 “So Ahab went into his house sullen and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him; for he had said, ‘I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.’ And he lay down on his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no food!” Text…vs.4

Introduction To Naboth, his vineyard meant everything. It meant more to him than any other vineyard, even a better one. Cold, hard cash didn’t influence Naboth! This man took pride in and truly valued what really belonged to another. What does the name of Christ mean to you? Is it for sale???????????? Introduction: Background (1 Kings 21:1-24)—Naboth his vineyard meant everything. It meant more to him than another—even a better one. He made a handsome offer—but cold hard cash couldn’t make the sale! This man took pride in the truly valued what really belonged to another. Question—what does the name of Christ mean to you? Could it be for sale???????????????????

Introduction Some Christians are quick to wash away the blood that washed away their sins! Why? Could it be they truly don’t see the value of that which paid the debt for their sins? Could it be they lack the conviction necessary to be Christ’s disciples? Let us consider some things that Christians MUST NOT SELL… Introduction: Some Christians are quick to wash away the BLOOD that washed away their sins. (Eph.1:7) Why? Could it be they truly don’t see the VALUE of that which paid the debt for their sins? (1 Pet.1:18,19) Could it be they lack the conviction necessary to be Christ’s disciples? (Matt.6:24) Let us consider some things that Christians MUST NOT SELL…

The Truth What does God’s word mean to you? The Bible is not just a good story, a history book, or some good moral lessons... It contains the WORDS OF LIFE! “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” {Proverbs 23:23} “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” {John 17:17} The Truth! Discuss…Proverbs 23:23; Jno.17:17…

The Truth How might I sell it? By perverting it. “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” {Galatians 1:8,9} The Truth! Perverting it…Gal.1:6-9…

The Truth How might I sell it? By cutting portions out of it. “And it happened, when Jehudi had read three or four columns, that the king cut it with the scribe's knife and cast it into the fire that was on the hearth, until all the scroll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth.” {Jeremiah 36:23} The Truth! Cutting portions out of it…Jeremiah 36:23…(Story of Baptist with MK.16:16)

The Truth How might I sell it? By not reading it. “Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine...” {1 Timothy 4:15,16} The Truth! Not reading or studying it…1 Timothy 4:15,16; 2 Tim.2:15…

The Truth How might I sell it? By hearing and not doing. “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.” {James 1:22-24} The Truth! Hearing and not doing!…Jam.1:22-24; Matt.7:24-27… Let us work diligently to make the reading of God’s word an active part of our lives. When it comes to God’s word—IT’S NOT FOR SALE—just too valuable to sell!!!!

Your Birthright In the heat of the moment, Esau gave up his inheritance right—for a bowl of stew! He despised his birthright! “And Esau said to Jacob, ‘Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary. Therefore his name was called Edom. But Jacob said, ‘Sell me your birthright as of this day.’ And Esau said, ‘Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?’ Then Jacob said, ‘Swear to me as of this day.’ So he swore to him, and sold his birthright to Jacob.” {Genesis 25:30-33} Your Birthright!…Genesis 25:30-34…

Your Birthright How might one sell his birthright—in a moment of weakness? Sexual immorality. “Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” {Hebrews 13:4} Our Birthright! How might one sell his birthright—in a moment of weakness!…Sexual immorality….Heb.13:4 …(Also read Heb.12:15-17)

Your Birthright How might one sell his birthright—in a moment of weakness? Dishonest profit. “If I have walked with falsehood, or if my foot has hastened to deceit, let me be weighed on honest scales, that God may know my integrity.” {Job 31:5,6} Our Birthright! How might one sell his birthright—in a moment of weakness!…Dishonest profit…Job 31:5,6 …(Also read Prov.16:11; )

Your Birthright You have been adopted into God’s family; you’ll receive a great inheritance. Not for sale! “To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” {1 Peter 1:4,5} Your Birthright! You have been adopted into God’s family; you’ll receive a great inheritance!…Not for sale…1 Pet.1:4,5…(Also read Romans 8:17; )

Your Reputation How important is your reputation? Character and integrity. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.” {Proverbs 22:1} “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.” {Ecclesiastes 7:1} Our Reputation. How important is your reputation? Character and integrity…Not for sale…Prov.22:1; Eccl.7:1…

Your Reputation The world can be an unforgiving place. One poor decision can destroy a good reputation. It can take years to rebuild it. Take your name (reputation) seriously! “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.” {Romans 12:17} Your Reputation. The world can be an unforgiving place—folks find it difficult to forget the bad things we’ve done in our lives. ONE poor decision can destroy a good reputation. What can take years to build is destroyed in a moment! It can take years to rebuild it—and it may never be the same! Take your name (reputation) seriously! If you don’t, who will? (Rom.12:17…)

Your Brother How much do you love your brother? It’s terrible to be betrayed by a physical brother. “But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him... And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.” {Genesis 37:4,11} Your Brother! How much do you love your brother?…It’s terrible to be betrayed by a physical brother…Gen.37:12-28…Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph into slavery!

Your Brother How much do you love your brother? It’s terrible to be betrayed by a spiritual brother. “Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?’ And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time he sought opportunity to betray Him.” {Matthew 26:14-16} Your Brother! How much do you love your brother?…It’s terrible to be betrayed by a spiritual brother…Matt.26:14-16, 47-50…Judas, one of the 12, betrayed the Lord for 30 pieces of silver!

Your Brother We belong to a special family—bound together by the blood of Christ! Unfortunately, that trust can be broken. Our relationship is not for sale! “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” {Romans 12:10} “And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” {1 John 4:21} Your Brother. We belong to a special family—bound together and bought with Christ’s blood. (Acts 20:28). Unfortunately, that sacred trust can be broken. Our relationship is not for sale! (Rom.12:10; 1 Jno.4:21) As brothers in Christ, we must never sacrifice our relationship over problems—we MUST work through the problems. Why? We love each other!

Your Salvation What is your soul’s salvation worth to you? Would you sell it for wealth or prestige? “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words...” {Mark 8:36-38} Your Salvation! What is your soul’s salvation worth? (1) Would you sell it for wealth or prestige?…Mark 8:36-38…Riches? Honor? Matt.19:16-26…

Your Salvation What is your soul’s salvation worth to you? Would you sell it for physical health or stubbornness? “Then Simon answered and said, ‘Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.’” {Acts 8:24} Your Salvation! What is your soul’s salvation worth? (1) Would you sell it for health or stubbornness?…Acts 8:24…Simon tried to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit with money! When confronted, he repented and changed. What about you? If you slip back into the paths of sin—will you stay there or put your pride aside and return?

The Truth Your Birthright Your Reputation Your Brother Your Salvation Summary—Invitation…