1. I Kings 20:35-43 (NKJV) 35 Now a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his neighbor by the word of the L ORD, “Strike me, please.” And the man refused to strike him. 36 Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the L ORD, surely, as soon as you depart from me, a lion shall kill you.” And as soon as he left him, a lion found him and killed him.

2. I Kings 20:35-43 (NKJV) 37 And he found another man, and said, “Strike me, please.” So the man struck him, inflicting a wound. 38 Then the prophet departed and waited for the king by the road, and disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes. 39 Now as the king passed by, he cried out to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle; and there, a

3. I Kings 20:35-43 (NKJV) man came over and brought a man to me, and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ 40 While your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” Then the king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.”

4. I Kings 20:35-43 (NKJV) 41 And he hastened to take the bandage away from his eyes; and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. 42 Then he said to him, “Thus says the L ORD : ‘Because you have let slip out of your hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore your life shall go for his life, and your people for his people.’”

5. I Kings 20:35-43 (NKJV) 43 So the king of Israel went to his house sullen and displeased, and came to Samaria.

6. I KINGS 20:35-43 But I Was Busy

7. King Ahab Ahab was one of the worst kings in the history of Israel I Kings 16:29-33 Listen to the description the Bible gives about him 22 year reign

8. King Ahab More evil than all who were before him “as though it had been a trivial thing for him…” Married a wicked woman Served Baal and worshiped him “did more to provoke the Lord God…”

9. King Ahab In Ch. 20, Ahab spared the life of King Ben-Hadad, whom God delivered into his hands A prophet of God uses a parable to allow Ahab to condemn himself v. 35-42

10. Busy Here and There This was the excuse as to why the prisoner was allowed to escape Really no excuse at all If this were a true story, this soldier would have still been held liable and punished

11. Busy Here and There Many of us would understand why Probably offer a response like, “He should have concentrated more on his job, and that wouldn’t have happened” Let’s put that shoe on our foot, in our lives today…

12. Busy Here and There We have a job to do here, a duty so to speak Jesus said it best about his life, “I must be about my Father’s business” (Luke 2:49) What is to be said of us if we don’t do God’s will?

13. Busy Here and There What if we stand before God and say, “Well, I was busy here and there, and didn’t have time to do those things!” If we are not careful in this life, we can get too busy with unimportant things Mary & Martha – Luke 10:38-42

14. Busy Here and There Parable of the Sower – Matt. 13:3-8; 18- 23 v. 22 – seed among the thorns “cares of this world” That’s the everyday things that can take our attention away from God

15. Busy Here and There Luke 21:34 – “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.” It’s very easy to allow the “things” of this world to become too important

16. Busy Here and There Luke 14:16-24 v. 18 – began to make excuses  Bought a piece of property  Bought new oxen  Married Look at the masters reaction (v.21)

17. Busy Here and There Are we doing what matters most? Are we fulfilling the great commission? Are we really putting God first in our lives, or are we allowing other things to keep us too busy?