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<v SPEAKER_00>Yesterday we saw the tragedy of Ahab, a man who wanted something that did not belong to him, a man who allowed desire to become entitlement and entitlement to become injustice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Today the story continues, but something unexpected happens.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God confronts him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Elijah arrives with one of the strongest condemnations in all of Scripture.

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<v SPEAKER_00>There's no ambiguity, there's no sugar coating this.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God sees the murder of Naboth.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God sees the corruption he sees the abuse of power, he sees everything.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And Elijah speaks the truth.

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<v SPEAKER_00>What strikes me is that Ahab can no longer hide.

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<v SPEAKER_00>For a while he probably convinced himself that he had gotten away with it.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Naboth was dead, the vineyard was his.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The witnesses were gone, the deal was done.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But then God sends Elijah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because there's a truth that every generation needs to hear.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Nothing is hidden from God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We can fool other people, we can manage appearances, we can build an image, we can even convince ourselves.

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<v SPEAKER_00>We could keep running.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But sooner or later every one of us stands before truth.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that can be frightening.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But it also can be a grace.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because God does not reveal our sins in order to destroy us or to shame us, he reveals them in order to save us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Notice what happens next.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Ahab tears his garments, he puts on sackcloth, he fasts, he humbles himself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now let's be honest, Ahab is not a saint.

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<v SPEAKER_00>His repentance is imperfect.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The consequences of his actions remain.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Yet something remarkable happens.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God notices.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In fact, God points it out to Elijah.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Have you seen that Ahab has humbled himself before me?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Think about that.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The same God who condemned Ahab's wickedness immediately notices the first signs of repentance.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The moment Ahab takes one step towards God, God responds with mercy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>This is one of the most beautiful truths of our faith.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God is infinitely just, but he is also infinitely merciful.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The devil wants us to believe that our sins define us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's who you are.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God says our repentance can redefine us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The devil wants us to believe it's too late.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God says, Come back to me.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The devil wants us to stay in shame.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God wants us to live in conversion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Now, if we turn to the gospel, Jesus takes us even deeper.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He says, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Of all the teachings of Jesus, this may be one that most clearly reveals the heart of God.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because you see, anyone can love someone who loves them back.

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<v SPEAKER_00>That's easy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Anyone can be kind to the person who is kind to them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Anyone can greet their friends.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus says disciples must go further.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Why?

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<v SPEAKER_00>Well, because that's how God acts.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Every morning the sun rises on good people and bad people.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Every day the rain falls on the just and on the unjust.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God continues to offer grace even to those who reject him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God continues to seek those who run from him.

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<v SPEAKER_00>God continues to call sinners back to himself.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And if God can show mercy to Ahab, then who are we to withdraw or withhold mercy from others?

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<v SPEAKER_00>This does not mean we pretend evil is good.

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<v SPEAKER_00>It does not mean we ignore injustice.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Elijah certainly didn't.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He spoke the truth clearly.

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<v SPEAKER_00>But after truth comes the possibility of conversion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The Christian never gives up on a soul, never.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because we know what God can do with a humbled heart.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Perhaps there's someone in your life right now who has hurt you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Someone you struggle to forgive, someone you would rather avoid than pray for.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Jesus is not asking you to feel affection for them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>He's asking you to place them before the Father.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Pray for them.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Pray for their conversion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Pray for their healing.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Pray for their salvation.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Because when you do that, something happens.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Not only can God change them, God begins to change you.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The goal of Christian life is not simply to avoid sin.

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<v SPEAKER_00>The goal is to become like the Father, to love as he loves, to forgive as he forgives, to show mercy as he shows mercy.

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<v SPEAKER_00>And that's why Jesus ends with this astonishing words Be perfect just as your Heavenly Father is perfect.

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<v SPEAKER_00>In other words, let your heart become more and more like his a heart full of truth, a heart full of mercy, a heart that never gives up on the possibility of conversion.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Even for the worst sinner, even for an enemy, even for us.

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<v SPEAKER_00>Amen.