Wednesday Sermon by Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

CONFRONTING THE BACKSLIDDEN

SERIES: THESE ARE THE DAYS OF ELIJAH- THE LAST DAY CHURCH

TEXT: 1st KINGS 18:1-15; LUKE 12:49-53

 

To confront means to bring face to face a person or persons into revelation or truth. Confrontation in a christian life is real. Those that live for Christ will by their very conduct cause confrontation. Confrontation ought to be Biblical, meaning that we must confront others through the word of God. Elijah’s church is a confrontational church. In these series of messages we are using the life of Elijah as a picture of the last day church.

Elijah’s journey has gone from cutting away they the flesh of KERITH, communion at Zarephath, to now confrontation at Mt. Carmel.

Our presence in the world must bring confrontation with the world. Elijah confronted the king Ahab and Jezebel his wife, Elijah confronted the kingdom of darkness at Mt. Carmel. He confronted a belief system, he confronted Obadiah a lukewarm christian in many ways.

Jesus Christ was confrontational- Luke 12:49-53. Let us learn the principles of biblical confrontation.

TRUTH CAUSES A DIVISION OR CONFRONTATION. EITHER YOU SUBMIT TO IT OR YOU DENY IT.

  • Simeon prophesied this in- Luke 2:34-35-“Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
  • The message of the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ is confrontational.
  • The message of the cross is confrontational to the religions of the world, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, African traditional religions, devil worship and new age movement.
  • Again we find this confrontation in- Hebrews 4:12- “For the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”
  • Obadiah (not the prophet) was highly placed in Ahab’s kingdom, he was next to the king himself.
  • Obadiah stands in scripture as one of the most baffling and bewildering figures.
  • On one hand Obadiah served king Ahab and his establishment, on the other hand Obadiah held Jehovah God in great reverence.
  • Obadiah means “servant of God.”
  • Obadiah represent all backslidden, carnal and fleshly Christians.
  • Obadiah is like Laodicean church in Rev. 3. They were lukewarm church!
  • Obadiah calls Elijah’s God “LORD” but Elijah says to him, “Go tell your master” Elijah is here.
  • Obadiah had not fully resolved the conflicts in his own life between fully serving God or Ahab.
  • Obadiah tried to make the best of the two worlds- Matt. 6:24; 2 6:14-17.
  • Obadiah was such a weak christian, he could not have confronted Ahab from doing evil.
  • Obadiah was an accomplice with Ahab and Jezebel.
  • In today’s world, we see so many leaders of churches being asked the hard question about sin in today’s culture (LGBTQ) but they avoid the issue.
  • SILENCE gives both tacit endorsement to any action it does not oppose.
  • Obadiah never protested against wickedness.
  • Obadiah never took sides with what was right.
  • He protected his own interests, he was concerned with “Me.”
  • Confrontation reveals the heart, today we avoid the message of repentance, yet it was the message of Jesus Christ, the message of the gospel is repentance- Mark 1:15.

THE OBADIAH CHRISTIANS AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS

  1. One foot in the world, one foot in God.
  2. They do good deeds (hiding the prophets) but compensates by compromise.
  3. They claim to serve God and man, but does neither, but lives to serve themselves.
  4. They have a form of godliness but denies the power of thereof- 2 Tim. 3:5. Obadiah says, “I have worshipped God since my youth but did not believe in God’s power to protect and overcome.”
  5. He recognizes but is afraid of the Holy Spirit “I don’t know where the spirit of the Lord may carry you.”

The Obadiah Christian is uncomfortable around the Elijah Christian. In these days we have to make a choice who we will serve- Rev. 3:14-22.

THE LAODICEAN CHURCH WAS CONFRONTED BY THE LIVING GOD- Rev. 3:14-22

  • Jesus Christ the uncompromising God visits the compromising church. He confronts them!!
  • Laodicea means “Rights of the people” “Haki yetu.” The major culture of today’s world!!
  • They were neither hot nor cold like Obadiah.
  • They thought they were rich and did not need a thing.
  • They were spiritually blind, naked and poor and they did not know it.
  • Confrontation can result in repentance or hiding from the truth!!- Gen. 3:7.
  • Elijah sums up this attitude in- 1 Kings 18:21- “How long will you waver between two opinions?”
  • The Elijah church will rebuke and confront the lukewarm Christian.
  • Without repentance “No one” will ever see God- 1 Peter 4:17.

CONCLUSION

  • Are you confronted by this message today?
  • Are you willing to follow Jesus Christ at any cost and leave the world behind you?
The following two tabs change content below.

Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso

Rev, Dr. Willy Mutiso is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Athiriver. He is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives.

Latest posts by Rev, DR. Willy Mutiso (see all)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *