Olsen Park Church of Christ


Attitudes Towards God’s Word

(Ecclesiastes 5:1-3)

Introduction.  Approaching God demands the proper attitude.  When one looks to the Bible they are approaching God.  They are placing before their mind, God’s mind –  before their heart God’s heart – and before their eyes God’s words.

            This morning let’s consider what our attitude must be as we approach God through His word.

I.  Jehoshaphat, Ahab and the False Prophets.

A.  Jehoshaphat. 

1. He was a king of Judah.   1 Kings 15:24 reads, “So Asa rested with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the City of David his father. Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place” (NKJV).

2.  He had a godly father.  2 Chronicles 14:2 tells us,  “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God” (NKJV).

3.  He established a program of religious instruction (2 Chronicles 17:7-9).

4.  He commanded the judges to be just (2 Chronicles 19:6-9).  

5.  He trusted in the Lord.  When surrounding nations attacked him, he trusted in the Lord and gained a great victory (2 Chronicles 20:1-32).

6.  Yet, he did make some bad alliances.  His weakness came in the fact that he made alliances with wicked kings (1 Kings 22:1-7).  We note here that the attitude of Jehoshaphat that of…

Seeking the Word of God.

      Unfortunately, in this instance he did not heed what was spoken.  But his initial attitude was honorable.

B.  Ahab. 

1.  Was a wicked King of Israel  1 Kings 16:30 reads, “Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD more than all who were before him” (NKJV).

2.  He established Idolatry in Israel (1 Kings 16:30-33). 1 Kings 21:26 reads, “And he behaved very abominably in following idols, according to all that the Amorites had done, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel” (NKJV)

3.  He was childish.  1 Kings  21:4 tells us that Ahab pouted and would eat no bread because Naboth would not give his vineyard to him.

4.  He was a tool of his wicked wife Jezebel (1 Kings  21:25).

5.  The encounter with Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:8-12).  We notice here Ahab’s attitude could be described as…

Avoiding God’s Word.

      He couldn’t avoid it for long (as we shall see). 

C.  The False Prophets (1 Kings 22:13).  Their attitude is that of …

Concealing God’s Word.

      This is difficult to understand.  They knew the truth, but had a vested interest in the lie.

D.  Miciah (1 Kings 22:14).  His attitude was that of…

Proclaiming God’s Word.

1.  What it cost him (1 Kings 22:15-18). God wanted him to go so that he might die! (1 Kings 22:26,27).  He is imprisoned!

2.  The truth of the matter (1 Kings 22:34-38).

II.  The Household of Cornelius.

A.  The Visions.

1.  Of Cornelius (Acts 10:1-6).

2.  Of Peter.  Acts 10:9-20 tells us that a sheet with unclean animals is let down and Peter is told, “take, kill and eat.” Messengers come from Cornelius, and Peter goes with them.

B.  The Meeting (Acts 10:24-33). Cornelius could have been insulted by the fact that Peter initially thought of him as “unclean” and “common”. Yet, instead his attitude is one that is…

Receptive to God’s Word.

            Not only that but he was obedient to it, but when he was told to be baptized in Acts 10:48 he obeyed!

III.  Elymas the Sorcerer (Acts 13:6-12). He…

Withstood God’s Word

IV.  The Bereans.

A.  Thessalonica… (Acts 17:1-10).

B.  …Versus Berea (Acts 17:11).  They were…

Searching God’s word

Conclusion (Hebrews 12:25).  The proper attitude towards God’s word is one that is open, humble, and willing to heed.  The wicked will choose to avoid, conceal, withstand, or reject it!   The righteous will listen, accept, and obey it!

Kyle Pope 2010

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