Political Pressure & the Consistent Christian
1 Kings 22:1-28
Preached at North Greenville University Chapel on September 23, 2020
When a prophet was provoked by political pressure and a popular position, he resolved to stay faithful to God above anything else. In our lives, we must beware of adapting our beliefs to align with the culture.
- Whenever a political allegiance overshadows a biblical mandate, we need to examine the real object of our faith.
- Many believers have sacrificed their integrity on the altar of expediency.
- Prideful leaders surround themselves with religious-sounding people who provide spiritual platitudes devoid of biblical backing (22:1-12).
- We must beware of the tendency to adapt our eternal beliefs to align with the temporal culture.
- The consistent prophet refused to cater to those in authority by providing a popular or pleasing message (22:13-18).
- You cannot truly follow Jesus in this culture and emerge unchallenged.
- God’s throne supersedes every other throne, and therefore, his followers should never bow to a lesser one (22:19-28).
- We should honor our authorities and surrender to our God – not the other way around.
- Our culture has wrongfully polarized conviction and compassion against each other.
- “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
- We have a major problem in the Church if we stereotype compassion as heresy and conviction as bigotry.
- The consistent Christian navigates life with unwavering conviction and undeniable compassion.
- Don’t gain the political world while forfeiting your spiritual soul.
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Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.