Ahab: A Soul for Sale

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AhabA Soul for Sale
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Introduction

• Ever heard of someone selling their soul to the
  devil?
• Doesnt require devil to come and make a bargain
• Some people sell their soul for practically
  nothing
• Most people, like Ahab, sell their soul gradually
  over years
• Like a mortgage payment

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Ahabs early years

• 1 Kings 1630-33
• Continued in Jeroboams sins
• Golden calves in Bethel and Dan
• Idols, but meant to be worship to God
• Married Jezebel, a pagan princess
• (Her father was also high priest of Baal)
• Built temples for Baal and Asherah
• Ahab even worshipped Baal
• Still, apparently, believed in God, but only as
  one of many idols

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A summary of Ahabs life

• 1 Kings 2125-26
• He sold himself to do wickedness
• His early steps (marrying Jezebel) led to worse
  and worse behavior
• Threatened and chased Elijah
• Allowed Jezebel to kill Gods prophets
• Tested God in a competition
• Allowed Jezebel to try to kill Elijah
• Eventually allowed Jezebel to have Naboth
  murdered so he could expand his garden
• 1 Kings 2117-24

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The power of sin

• Many think sin is like a cookie
• Ill just eat one
• But sin is more like an avalanche
• Starts small and builds up momentum fast
• Prov 522 sin is like locking yourself up
• Rom 714 sin is like selling yourself into
  slavery
• Rom 122-32 As man pushes farther away into
  sin, God lets them go

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The value of sin

• For those who sell themselves to do sin, the
  question is, did you get a good deal?
• Heb 1124-26
• All the pleasures of sin are fleeting
• But the cost is your eternal soul

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Redemption

• God wants to buy back your soul
• You sold it for nothing
• But He was willing to pay its full price
• Eph 17-8
• 1 Pet 118-19
• If we let Him redeem us, we are His, not our own
• Titus 214
• 1 Cor 619-20
• Rom 620-23

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Conclusion

• Ahab sold himself to do evil
• No one made him do it
• No one makes you do it
• He got no lasting benefit from the sale
• The wages of sin is death
• But God will redeem us
• On His terms, not ours
• He paid the price, not us
• We will be His, not our own
• We sold the right to be our own
• Will you let Him?

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