Beyond the Weekend: Correcting Spiritual Drift
In Correcting Spiritual Drift, Pastors Jeff Manion and Aaron Buer explore stories from the lives of the Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha. This series helps us see the pull toward spiritual drift and motivates us to fight against it. Through the stories, we see God continuing to work and call all people to him even as the people of Israel drift spiritually.
Week 1 Verses: 1 KINGS 16:29–33, 17:1
Week 2 Verses: I KINGS 18:30–39
Week 3 Verses: I KINGS 18:30–39
Week 4 Verses: I KINGS 19:1–6
Week 5 Verses: I KINGS 19:19–21
Week 6 Verses: 2 KINGS 6:8-21
Week 7 Verses: 2 KINGS 4:8–17
Week 8 Verses: 2 KINGS 5:1-10
Spiritual Drift
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him…he also married Jezebel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians, and began to serve Baal and worship him. 1 Kings 16:30, 31b
Read: 1 Kings 16:29-17:1
Listen: 1 Kings 16, 1 King 17
TODAY'S MESSAGE
Spiritual drift doesn’t happen overnight. It is usually years in the making. That was how it played out for Israel under King Ahab, the king who “did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any [king] before him” (1 Kings 16:30). Gradually moving the nation away from worshiping God, he led them towards worship of Baal. Rather than praying to the Creator God for the desperately needed rain, the Israelites prayed to this Phoenician “god” instead. They had turned away from the true God and turned to Baal.
It’s a drift that happens to us as well. Chances are you don’t have a Baal shrine or an idol of Baal that you pray to every morning. But as time has gone on, you’ve moved from God and to something else. Maybe it’s accomplishments while you climb the corporate ladder or strive for the corner office. Perhaps it’s acquisitions as you look for next shiny toy. Or maybe it’s acceptance as you work tirelessly to get into “that” group at school. We don’t start out turning something else into God—but that’s where we end up.
This week we are going to learn that God appears to really enjoy being God. Through drought, provision and trust, we’ll see through this story that God likes his “job” and desires a relationship with his people.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
As we look at this compelling story in 1 Kings, be willing to hear and respond to what God has for you. Pray a prayer similar to this one, “Heavenly Father, thank you that you desire a relationship with me. Through insight from the Holy Spirit, help me to see what is strained in our relationship. I know I need your help to make these changes. Help me as only you can. In Jesus name, and for your glory, Amen.”
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.
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