Return- the missing equation in the formula of life. I. Instruction A. Elijah’s Instruction- “Endure” 1Kgs 21:20-21 B. Ahab’s Instruction- Because. 1Kgs 21:20 C. Anger Achieved. 1Kgs 21:22 D. Indentured Slave. 1Kgs 21:25 E. Inadequate Recompense. 1Kgs 21:27-29 II. Illustration A. Plots and Plans. 1Kgs 22:3-4 B. Convenient Christianity. 1Kgs 22:5 C. Comfortable Christianity. 1Kgs 22:6 D. The Show Must Go On. 1Kgs 22:10 III. Invitation A. Lack of Response Increases the Responsibility. 1Kgs 22:17 B. The Invitation for Ahab Expired. 1Kgs 22:30

1. 7/23/17
RETURN- THE MISSING
EQUATION IN THE FORMULA OF
LIFE.
Exod 13:17
17) And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the
people go, that God led them not through the way of
the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for
God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when
they see war, and they return to Egypt:
Hos 7:16
16) They return, but not to the most High: they
are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by
the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be
their derision in the land of Egypt.
I. INSTRUCTION

2. 2
A.Elijah’s Instruction- “Endure” 1Kgs 21:20-21
1Kgs 21:20-21
20) And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O
mine enemy? And he answered, I have found
thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in
the sight of the LORD.
21) Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take
away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him
that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut
up and left in Israel,
20)
…Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And
he answered, I have found thee
Ignore the accusation, give the word of the
LORD.
Elijah doesn’t stop his message just because of
Ahab’s compliment. (Pharisee, Holy Joe, Do
“gooder”)
B.Ahab’s Instruction- Because. 1Kgs 21:20

3. 3
20)
…because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in
the sight of the LORD.
A “wise” purchase.
What was the transaction? He didn’t give himself to
work evil, he sold himself. What did he think a deal
with the Devil would get him?
 A wicked wife that would bring peace from
Ammon? (16:1)
 A fruitful vineyard? (21:7)
 Four hundred flattering false prophets? (22:6)
20)
…to work evil in the sight of the LORD.
The fine print in the Devils contract is always- sin
must conceive iniquity.
C. Anger Achieved. 1Kgs 21:22
1Kgs 21:22

4. 4
22) And will make thine house like the house of
Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of
Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation
wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and
made Israel to sin.
22)
...provoked me to anger…
your wish is come true.
22)
…made Israel to sin.
Iniquity has earned its dividend. (Dividend) There
is no need to honor a deal with the Devil his
contract is lies from the beginning.
D.Indentured Slave. 1Kgs 21:25
1Kgs 21:25
25) But there was none like unto Ahab, which did
sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the
LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up.
…to work… You will be a slave to someone.
The Devils lie of freedom is a suit of armor with
gaping holes in the joints to bleed out from. (22:34)

5. 5
E. Inadequate Recompense. 1Kgs 21:27-29
1Kgs 21:27-29
27) And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those
words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth
upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and
went softly.
28) And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the
Tishbite, saying,
29) Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself
before me? because he humbleth himself before
me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his
son's days will I bring the evil upon his house.
True revival is not just a changed in attitude but a
change in action that proves a change in attitude.
Ahab has repentance without Returning:
 Rent his clothes
 Sackcloth
 Fasted
 Went softly

6. 6
He went nowhere fast. Repentance is the key to the
palace of safety, but if you don’t use it to open the
door of “Return to me” you remain outside of God’s
approval.
II. ILLUSTRATION
1Kgs 22:1
1) And they continued three years without war
between Syria and Israel.
Facts from Elijah made Ahab walk soft, but he
didn’t sell out for God (three years of peace
didn’t earn God enough respect to sell out for
Him).
A.Plots and Plans. 1Kgs 22:3-4
1Kgs 22:3-4
3) And the king of Israel said unto his servants,
Know ye that Ramoth in Gilead is ours, and we be
still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of
Syria?

7. 7
4) And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with
me to battle to Ramothgilead? And Jehoshaphat
said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my
people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.
Plots and plans without submission to God.
B.Convenient Christianity.1Kgs 22:5
1Kgs 22:5
5) And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel,
Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD to
day.
When it’s convenient for you be sure to get God in
on our plan “to day”.
C. Comfortable Christianity.1Kgs 22:6
1Kgs 22:6
6) Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets
together, about four hundred men, and said unto
them, Shall I go against Ramothgilead to battle, or

8. 8
shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord
shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
…gathered the prophets together… these may be
prophets but they were not prophets of the LORD.
1Kgs 22:7 And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not
here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we
might enquire of him?
Besides (also)- answer No, they don’t hang out
together.
1Kgs 22:8
8) And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by
whom we may enquire of the LORD: but I hate him;
for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but
evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
He is out numbered 400 to 1. Why does he have to
“Hate” him?

9. 9
D.The Show Must Go On. 1Kgs 22:10
1Kgs 22:10
10) And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king
of Judah sat each on his throne, having put on their
robes, in a void place in the entrance of the gate of
Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before
them.
 each on his throne
 put on their robes
 in a void place
 prophets prophesied before them
(2 kings got all dressed up, and reserved the best
seats in the house, for a performance). Prophets
prophesied before, not to them.
This is the typical “soft speech” intended to
avoid offending. “Prophesied before them”,
like:
 ‘unpack the scripture’ vs deliver a message;

10. 10
 ‘invite Jesus into your life’ vs ask Jesus to save
you;
 ‘connect to the lost world’ vs preach to the lost
world
 ‘speaker’ vs preacher
 ‘relevant’ issues vs biblical position
III. INVITATION
A.Lack of Response Increases the Responsibility.
1Kgs 22:17
1Kgs 22:17
17) And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the
hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd: and the
LORD said, These have no master: let them return
every man to his house in peace.
Ahab’s program has already put them in bondage-
return=peace
The thing Ahab never did was Return to God; he
Repented but never Returned.

11. 11
1Kgs 18:17-18 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab
saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that
troubleth Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but
thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken
the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast
followed Baalim.
B.The Invitationfor Ahab Expired. 1Kgs 22:30
1Kgs 22:30
30) And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, I
will disguise myself, and enter into the battle; but
put thou on thy robes. And the king of Israel
disguised himself, and went into the battle.
Ahab’s doom was not declared by Syria but by
God; no disguise will work.
1Kgs 22:34-35
34) And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and
smote the king of Israel between the joints of the
harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his

12. 12
chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the
host; for I am wounded.
35) And the battle increased that day: and the king
was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians,
and died at even: and the blood ran out of the
wound into the midst of the chariot.
Repenting without Returning to God ends in a
slow painful death.
1Kgs 22:36
36) And there went a proclamation throughout the
host about the going down of the sun, saying,
Every man to his city, and every man to his own
country.
Peace with God is found in the same command
regardless how far off you are. [Everyone Return]
They could have done this before the battle and
not seen bloodshed.
1Kgs 22:17 And he said, I saw all Israel scattered
upon the hills, as sheep that have not a shepherd:

13. 13
and the LORD said, These have no master: let them
return every man to his house in peace.
Return-the missingequationintheformulaoflife.
I. Instruction
A. Elijah’sInstruction-“Endure”1Kgs21:20-21
B. Ahab’sInstruction-Because.1Kgs21:20
C. AngerAchieved.1Kgs21:22
D. IndenturedSlave.1Kgs21:25
E. InadequateRecompense.1Kgs21:27-29
II. Illustration
A. Plots and Plans.1Kgs22:3-4
B. ConvenientChristianity.1Kgs22:5
C. ComfortableChristianity.1Kgs 22:6
D. TheShowMustGo On. 1Kgs22:10
III. Invitation
A. Lack ofResponseIncreasestheResponsibility.1Kgs22:17
B. TheInvitationforAhabExpired.1Kgs22:30