Sermon Recap
This week, I (Pastor David) preached on the importance of our words through the story of Micaiah son of Imlah, found in 1 Kings 22. This chapter tells the story of King Ahab, a king of Israel, who wished to go to battle. When seeking help from the king of Judah, Jehosaphat, Ahab was instructed to seek the Lord’s counsel through the prophets before going to battle. Upon this request, Ahab brought in 400 prophets who all, without exception, declared that Ahab would be victorious in battle. Despite this, Jehosaphat was unsatisfied and requested that they bring in a prophet of the Lord. Reluctantly, Ahab summoned Micaiah, stating that his prophecies concerning him were never positive.
Sure enough, when Micaiah arrived, the prophecy he had for Ahab was far from favorable. Micaiah is swiftly punished with abuse and imprisonment for his words. While it would have been easy for Micaiah to lie to the king in order to earn favor or avoid punishment, Micaiah was steadfast in his duty to speak only what the Lord told him to speak. To Micaiah, it did not matter who he was speaking to, but instead, it only mattered who he was speaking for. Similarly, as Christ-followers, we are called to use our words to glorify God at all times, even when the results aren’t necessarily beneficial or favorable for us.
As believers, we live in an age where people not only reject truth, but they also reject those who speak it. It is necessary for us to ask God for strength and perseverance to speak his truth in grace each and every day.
Key Scripture
Read through these passages together:
1 Kings 22:13-14 NIV
John 12:49-50 NIV
2 Timothy 4:3-5 NIV
Discussion Questions
Discuss together, pushing yourself toward transparency. The more we are authentic and humble with one another, the more we can grow in Christ.
Have you ever had to tell someone a difficult truth? Did it go poorly?
Have there been times where, because of the pressure, you compromised on sharing truth with someone?
What are some ways you can prepare yourself to share the truth that the Holy Spirit gives you to speak?
Prayer
Lord, I thank you that your Holy Spirit is alive and active in our lives. I recognize that my words have power, and as your follower, I have a responsibility to speak the truth that you’ve spoken to me. I ask that you would give me ears to hear and a heart to obey you in all circumstances. When I am prompted by your Spirit to speak to others, I ask for the boldness to follow through and the wisdom to convey your truth well. Father, I ask that you would be honored and glorified through my words and actions every single day. Amen.
Life Application
Before having any difficult conversations, take the time to pray and submit yourself to the Lord. Ask him for wisdom, understanding, and the words to say. Regularly practice seeking his guidance in your life for how you communicate in your relationships, trusting that his ways are better than our ways.
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