NOT FOR SALE
I Kings 21: 3, 4, 6 “And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it
me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came
into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the
Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the
inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away
his face, and would eat no bread.”
me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. And Ahab came
into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the
Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the
inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away
his face, and would eat no bread.”
“And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and
said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I
will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee
my vineyard.”
said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I
will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee
my vineyard.”
The vineyard could be found often
on a hillside a peak, or sometimes it would be terraced. A hedge surrounded the
vineyard or a stony wall to keep out destructive animals and a tower was
erected for the watchman. A press was constructed and a large vat was hewn out
of stone. Laborers were sometimes hired to work in the vineyard for it was
necessary to prune it to dig about it, to pull weeds, and so on.
on a hillside a peak, or sometimes it would be terraced. A hedge surrounded the
vineyard or a stony wall to keep out destructive animals and a tower was
erected for the watchman. A press was constructed and a large vat was hewn out
of stone. Laborers were sometimes hired to work in the vineyard for it was
necessary to prune it to dig about it, to pull weeds, and so on.
Picture this? At Jezreel lived
Naboth who was a good upstanding citizen whose ancestors had occupied the same
land for many generations before him. The land contained a vineyard, which
happened to be just outside the palace walls of King Ahab. The king wanted to
plant an herb garden and his search for a plot of ground he noticed Naboth’s
vineyard. Naboth’s vineyard was a
very desirable piece of ground for what the king wanted.
Naboth who was a good upstanding citizen whose ancestors had occupied the same
land for many generations before him. The land contained a vineyard, which
happened to be just outside the palace walls of King Ahab. The king wanted to
plant an herb garden and his search for a plot of ground he noticed Naboth’s
vineyard. Naboth’s vineyard was a
very desirable piece of ground for what the king wanted.
The longing for Naboth’s vineyard
just would not go away. The yearning became more overwhelming by the moment.
King Ahab then approached Naboth with what might seem to some a reasonable
offer for the land Naboth owned. However, this land was inherited and Naboth
was the protector as well as possessor.
just would not go away. The yearning became more overwhelming by the moment.
King Ahab then approached Naboth with what might seem to some a reasonable
offer for the land Naboth owned. However, this land was inherited and Naboth
was the protector as well as possessor.
This ancestral possession with
the Lord as his witness caused Naboth to shun King Ahab’s offer. Naboth said
it’s not for sale! In actuality the law forbade the selling of the land. This
land could not be sold for the law stated the selling of the land which was
divided to certain families could not be consummated because the land was God’s
land entrusted to Naboth.
the Lord as his witness caused Naboth to shun King Ahab’s offer. Naboth said
it’s not for sale! In actuality the law forbade the selling of the land. This
land could not be sold for the law stated the selling of the land which was
divided to certain families could not be consummated because the land was God’s
land entrusted to Naboth.
Naboth was exactly correct in
refusing the king’s office on the basis of two things. Legally he could not
sell and spiritually he could not sell.
King Ahab not willing to use force attempted to negotiate a fair value
either in money or better land for Naboth’s vineyard. Naboth would have been a
fool to turn down such an offer some might say but Naboth must obey God rather
than man thus he says “Not for sale!”
refusing the king’s office on the basis of two things. Legally he could not
sell and spiritually he could not sell.
King Ahab not willing to use force attempted to negotiate a fair value
either in money or better land for Naboth’s vineyard. Naboth would have been a
fool to turn down such an offer some might say but Naboth must obey God rather
than man thus he says “Not for sale!”
The king was upset, distraught,
discouraged, and dismayed about Naboth’s refusal to make a deal with him or
worse than that Naboth would not even consider the proposition. The king like
so many has now let his emotions and his feelings come before the will of God.
Naboth simply replied, “The LORD forbid
me.” Why wouldn’t Naboth strike a deal with the king?
discouraged, and dismayed about Naboth’s refusal to make a deal with him or
worse than that Naboth would not even consider the proposition. The king like
so many has now let his emotions and his feelings come before the will of God.
Naboth simply replied, “The LORD forbid
me.” Why wouldn’t Naboth strike a deal with the king?
·
He knew
who wanted it
He knew
who wanted it
·
He knew
the king and queen followed Baal
He knew
the king and queen followed Baal
·
He knew
who the land really belonged to – God
He knew
who the land really belonged to – God
·
He knew
he was given the inheritance at a great price.
He knew
he was given the inheritance at a great price.
He thought about how hard his
daddy had worked to keep and maintain and protect this vineyard. He thought of
grandpa and his great grandpa’s hard labor. The truth is none of us have a
right to sell something that does not belong to us. It would be like you going
out into the church parking lot and auctioning off the cars parked on that
church lot. Why not? Because they do not belong to you!
daddy had worked to keep and maintain and protect this vineyard. He thought of
grandpa and his great grandpa’s hard labor. The truth is none of us have a
right to sell something that does not belong to us. It would be like you going
out into the church parking lot and auctioning off the cars parked on that
church lot. Why not? Because they do not belong to you!
King Ahab was mad because he knew
Naboth was right! So he goes home and pouts! He goes home and acts like a three
year old that cannot get his way. King Ahab here s a picture of the devil and
the world. Naboth here pictures God’s people who are in God’s family. The
vineyard pictures what God has entrusted with his children.
Naboth was right! So he goes home and pouts! He goes home and acts like a three
year old that cannot get his way. King Ahab here s a picture of the devil and
the world. Naboth here pictures God’s people who are in God’s family. The
vineyard pictures what God has entrusted with his children.
SATAN IS THE DEAL MAKER
Satan is going around attempting
to make deals with God’s people about what God has entrusted them with, because
if he can get the possession he can get the person! Do not forget this, if Satan
can get what you have he automatically has you!
to make deals with God’s people about what God has entrusted them with, because
if he can get the possession he can get the person! Do not forget this, if Satan
can get what you have he automatically has you!
The devil has no interest in
destroying your church or the believers in that local church for all he wants
is ownership. If the devil can get the possession he can get the person! If the
devil can get what you have then he will have you!
destroying your church or the believers in that local church for all he wants
is ownership. If the devil can get the possession he can get the person! If the
devil can get what you have then he will have you!
IBOC IS NOT FOR SALE
I never thought that as I entered my senior days that Satan would attack my ministry like he has done in the past year. There were no attacks of profound significance until God led me to found INDEPENDENT BAPTIST ONLINE COLLEGE. Suddenly it was called a “conflict of interest.” What in the world is a “conflict of interest?” If I were founding a college for Satan that would be a conflict of interest.
I began 5 ministries after my retirement from the pastorate without any problem, but suddenly IBOC became a problem. SORRY enemies IBOC is NOT FOR SALE. I have been threatened and attempts to intimidate me have failed because I and my ministries are NOT FOR SALE. In my 45 years of ministry I have never sought approval from any man to do what God told me to do and I am not about to start now!
Let me make it perfectly clear. No deacon board has a right to dictate to a preacher which ministries live and which ministries die. I have been given ultimatums and I refuse to be bullied into not obeying what God led me to do.
This college is here to help those who, under their pastors’ direction, could not move to attend a Bible college. Maybe someone did not finish and they would like to finish.
Our college was called a “universalist” college. Sorry, wrong again! This college is under the auspice of a local church.
Maybe the pastor senses it is not in the best interest of the student to go off to college. He has an alternative now. Some should go away and some should not go away. This is the call of the parents and the pastor. How many young people have we lost to the cause of Christ because they were too immature to go off to college. All of these decisions are made by the pastor and parents. We are simply here to help the cause of Christ.
We work with local colleges to provide classes that are unavailable in their college rotation of classes. There are certain classes that are required for graduation that sometimes are not offered during someone’s Senior year.
We are here to help missionaries train their members. Our faculty is filled with those men and women of God who have no less than 20 years ministry experience. These are not “novices” whom we have on our IBOC faculty.
We are here to help pastors’ who never finished Bible college to finish. We are here to help those who desire post-graduate work. We are here to offer “refresher courses.” These veterans who make up IBOC faculty are experienced and successful in their field of service.
PUT A NOT FOR SALE SIGN UP IN YOUR LIFE
There is no doubt that at the
present time we are living under the rule of a wicked king in this old world, but there are certain rights and privileges that the devil cannot violate.
Satan wants to make a deal, but our cry ought to be “Not for sale!”
present time we are living under the rule of a wicked king in this old world, but there are certain rights and privileges that the devil cannot violate.
Satan wants to make a deal, but our cry ought to be “Not for sale!”
All of us should put a “Not for
sale!” sign out in front of our lives. When you put a “FOR SALE” sign up you are
saying, “I’m quitting! I no longer want what I had given to me by God!” All
over this nation people are placing “FOR SALE” signs up in front of their
lives!
sale!” sign out in front of our lives. When you put a “FOR SALE” sign up you are
saying, “I’m quitting! I no longer want what I had given to me by God!” All
over this nation people are placing “FOR SALE” signs up in front of their
lives!
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED IN AMERICA WHEN WE SOLD THE SCRIPTURES
· 1860 – The first perversion of the Scriptures was published in America
· 1861 – The Civil War began
· 1914 – the World Bible Society adopted the NASB as Scripture
· 1915 – The start of WWI
· 1927 – William Heronias an American Bible scholar said the RSV were the exact words of Christ
· 1929 – The Stock Market crashed
· 1940 – the TEV is accepted by the Social Ministerial Society
· 1941 – Pearl Harbor was attacked and we entered into WWII
· 1960 – The American Council of Churches accepted and promoted the NRSV as the words of God
· 1962 – Prayer was banned from the public schools
· 1971 – The NIV was widely used and accepted by major denominations
· 1972 – The death penalty was voted as unconstitutional
· 1988 – The King James Bible defenders came to the fore front in America
· 1989 – Communism in Europe falls
The Christian schools, standards, convictions, the word of God,
ministries, bus ministry, Sunday school class, purity, marriage, Baptist
church, soul winning, life, walk with God, children, church, and the will of
God are for sale! There are some things God’s people ought to remember before
making a deal with the wicked king of this world!
ministries, bus ministry, Sunday school class, purity, marriage, Baptist
church, soul winning, life, walk with God, children, church, and the will of
God are for sale! There are some things God’s people ought to remember before
making a deal with the wicked king of this world!
·
Remember
this is an illegal transaction
Remember
this is an illegal transaction
·
Remember
when you sell God’s possessions you go with the possessions
Remember
when you sell God’s possessions you go with the possessions
·
Remember
those who labored for what you have before you arrived
Remember
those who labored for what you have before you arrived
·
Remember
those who labor with you
Remember
those who labor with you
·
Remember
those who will follow you
Remember
those who will follow you
·
Remember
there will be a new owner
Remember
there will be a new owner
·
Remember
it is not yours to sell
Remember
it is not yours to sell
·
Remember
you will stand before the Judge of the universe and give account
Remember
you will stand before the Judge of the universe and give account
The only reason anyone sells what
they have is because they are lazy and they let it run down! When you let your
prayer life fall apart, your Sunday school class fall apart, Christian school
fall apart, standards fall apart, convictions fall apart, word of God become
corrupted, bus routes fall apart, purity falls apart, soul winning fall apart,
walk with God falls apart, and the will of God falls apart then you sell!
they have is because they are lazy and they let it run down! When you let your
prayer life fall apart, your Sunday school class fall apart, Christian school
fall apart, standards fall apart, convictions fall apart, word of God become
corrupted, bus routes fall apart, purity falls apart, soul winning fall apart,
walk with God falls apart, and the will of God falls apart then you sell!
The “For Sale” sign says a lot.
It says you are lazy! No wonder your vineyard has a “For Sale” sign on it. You
never work your prayer life, bus route, Sunday school class, your church,
Christian school, marriage, children, soul winning, or walk with God and so you
put a “For Sale” sign up.
It says you are lazy! No wonder your vineyard has a “For Sale” sign on it. You
never work your prayer life, bus route, Sunday school class, your church,
Christian school, marriage, children, soul winning, or walk with God and so you
put a “For Sale” sign up.
A man who will remodel his house,
plow his fields, landscape the yard, paint, and fix up the outside of the house
will not sell! The man who stands with sweat dripping off of his brow from
laboring is approached by someone wanting to trade what you have for something
he has will find the answer to be “Not For Sale!”
plow his fields, landscape the yard, paint, and fix up the outside of the house
will not sell! The man who stands with sweat dripping off of his brow from
laboring is approached by someone wanting to trade what you have for something
he has will find the answer to be “Not For Sale!”