Happy Birthday!

Gtcotr/ss060125

 

According to the Jewish calendar, The Feast of Pentecost begins today, Sunday June 1, 2025, at sundown in Israel. This means that Today is the Birthday of the Church. I’m not talking about this local congregation but rather about the worldwide Church as a whole. 

 

Today the Church is almost 2000 years old. (By my rudimentary approximations – The Church is 1992 or 1993 years old today.)

 

So – Happy Birthday to the Bride of Christ in heaven and on earth! The Church is:

• The Bride of Christ

• The Body of Christ

• The Family of God

• The vehicle through which God will accomplish the Great Commission

 

Two important events occurred on this date in biblical history. The first is the giving of the 10 Commandments at Mt Sinai  (Exodus 19). The second is God sending the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2. 

 

The 10 Commandments were written by the finger of God on tablets of stone. Nonetheless the event forever made the Word of God a personal responsibility. The 10 Commandments connected God and man in a whole new way. Each person became personally responsible for knowing and keeping God’s Word … to fail to do so was to sin and those cold dead stones were unable to forgive or cover sin.

 

God wanted to forgive and to be reconciled to man. He spoke of it often. Even the prophet Jeremiah prophesied:

 

Jeremiah 31 NKJV

33  “But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

34  “No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

 

This was always God’s intent. The law could not forgive or cover sin, but Jesus can. When Jesus comes to live in your heart and makes His home in you, the Word of God will fill your mind and begin to change your life. Jesus did what the law could not do … have a living and growing relationship with you. The writer of Hebrews repeated:

 

Hebrews 10 NKJV

16  “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.”

17  then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

 

Today is the day God has set aside for us to celebrate Him sending the Holy Spirit to live in us. On the day of Pentecost prophecies were fulfilled and God’s will became reality. God changed His address and came to live in the hearts of men. His greatest desire is to fill you with His Holy Spirit and live in and through you.

 

Allow me to take the remaining few minutes and share 5 things that happen when you invite the Holy Spirit to come and live in your heart.

 

1. You will begin to understand the scriptures in a new light.

 

John 14:26  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”

 

2. You won’t be as susceptible to deception.

 

John 8

31 ¶  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

32  “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

 

3. Fear loses its grip on your life.

 

2 Timothy 1:7  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

 

 

4. There will be a constant stream of thanksgiving, prayer and praise ongoing in your spirit. 

 

1 Thessalonians 5

16  Rejoice always,

17  pray without ceasing,

 

Romans 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

 

5. You will be a more powerful and effective witness to others.

 

Acts 1:8  “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

 

This is not just a day to remember and celebrate the birthday of the Church. Today is a day to experience the love, the mercy, the grace, and the power of the Holy Spirit for yourself. Invite the Holy Spirit to come into your life like He did on the day of Pentecost. Make it personal … God will not disappoint you.

 

The Holy Spirit will help you to Discover your Purpose and Pursue your Destiny this morning if you will only let Him in. 

 

Let’s pray …

Dynamic Duos Part 4: Ahab & Jezebel A Warning for Every Household

 

Today we are focusing in on the next couple, Ahab and Jezebel. Now, it is important to note that while we have been using couples as an example for what we should do, Ahab and Jezebel are examples for what not to do. 

• We are all constant examples of what we should or shouldn’t do

• You and I get to decide who we are going to be

• We are going to find out that Ahab & Jezebel were very corrupt people, but they were not born that way. They decided who they were going to be through every choice. 

 

 

Who Were Ahab and Jezebel?

 

Before we dive into their story, it’s important to understand who Ahab and Jezebel were and why their names still carry so much weight today.

 

King Ahab

Ahab was the seventh king of Israel. He ruled for 22 years during a time of great political strength,but also a time of deep spiritual decline. Although he held the title of king, he was passive as a leader and allowed evil to flourish under his leadership. 

 

1 Kings 16:30 - “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.”

 

*There were 19 kings who ruled in the northern kingdom of Israel and all of them were considered evil in God’s eyes. However, King Ahab was considered to be the worst.

 

Queen Jezebel

Jezebel was a foreign princess, the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians. She worshiped a false god named Baal. When she married Ahab, she brought her idols and false religion with her into Israel. Jezebel wasn’t just evil in her own life—she worked hard to turn the whole nation away from the one true God.

 

Together, they became one of the most infamous and destructive couples in all of Scripture. Their story is found primarily in 1 Kings chapters 16–22 and 2 Kings chapters 9–10.

 

Here’s what we see in their legacy:

• They normalized idolatry in Israel.

• They silenced and persecuted the prophets of God.

• They ruled through manipulation, intimidation, and compromise.

• And ultimately, they provoked God’s judgment not just on themselves, but on their entire household.

 

They weren’t just bad people—they were spiritually dangerous. And God preserved their story in Scripture to warn us about the kind of spirits and behaviors that destroy families, churches, and nations.

 

 

1 Kings 21:2-7

“2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.” 3 But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” 4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat. 5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’”7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”

 

Jezebel’s corrupt actions:

- Forged letter’s in the king’s name to have Naboth killed

- After Naboth is killed, she informs Ahab that his vineyard is ready

- Ahab goes and takes his vineyard

 

Lesson from Ahab: Passiveness opens up the door

• Ahab was one of Israel’s worst kings (1 Kings 16:30)

• Through Ahab, Israel had become spiritually corrupt, morally compromised, and manipulatively controlled.

• However, this all happened not because of what he did, but rather what he didn’t do.

• Ahab was labeled a king but he didn’t lead like a king, he allowed…

• He allowed his wife Jezebel to lead, who was manipulative and controlling. Because he allowed her to lead, the house of Israel was led into sin and deception.

 

- We must avoid the Spirit of Ahab (passivity)

- The devil wants to rule and reign in our life

- He does this is by getting us to abdicate our God-given responsibilities

- Doing so gives the enemy rightful territory in our life

- If we aren’t leading, we are giving the enemy permission to do so 
(we are simply allowing)

- However, We are called to take on the responsibilities God has given us

- Doing so leads to God’s blessings in our life

- Spiritual blessings vs spiritual consequences

 

 

Lesson from Jezebel: Compromise leads a household astray

• While Ahab was king, Jezebel was the one in control.

• Jezebel was manipulative and controlling

• She was dedicated to worshipping her idols (influenced others to do so)

• She was defiant: openly resistant and boldly disobedient (rebellious)

• Ultimately, Jezebel used whatever she had to get what she wanted

 

Jezebel can be summed up own these three quality traits:

• Rebellious (Baal was given equal status with God)

• Manipulation (Used influence to control people for desirable outcomes)

• Intimidation (She incited fear and discouragement in others)

 

We have to ensure that we are not compromising who we are and what we believe in order to get what we want.

 

The Bible says that satan is the father of lies. This is right down his alley.

- The devil wants to manipulate you (control) through deception

- He wants to intimidate you into doing what he wants for your life

- We have to be careful that we are not

a) Being this person

b) Allowing these influences in our home

i) Idols - Witchcraft, astrology, crystals, tarot cards, etc

ii) Perversion

iii) Intimidation

iv) These will lead our household away from God

 

We have to be careful that we are not:

- Using our influence to manipulate outcomes

- Shutting down truth when it challenges our comfort

- Caring more about being in control than being right with God

 

 

Lesson from both: You reap what you sow

Ahab’s passivity allowed Jezebel’s manipulation to thrive.

He knew what was right—but refused to act. She knew what she wanted—but refused to submit to God’s authority and timing.

 

Together, they led Israel into idolatry, murder, false prophecy, and rebellion.

They silenced the prophets of God and tried to replace God’s truth with lies. This is what happens when spiritual passivity and ungodly control operate in a home, a marriage, a ministry, or a nation.

 

When Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard, he sulked and complained Jezebel took advantage of his weakness and stepped in to get what he wanted—by lying, forging documents, and having Naboth killed. She did evil, but Ahab let her.Ultimately, God held them both accountable.

 

In the end, both Ahab and Jezebel were judged severely:

• Ahab died in battle, struck by an arrow despite his disguise (1 Kings 22:34–38).

• Jezebel was thrown from a window, trampled by horses, and devoured by dogs (2 Kings 9:30–37).

 

Their story is not just history—it’s a warning.

 

 

Examine Your Heart

This message isn’t just for couples. It’s for anyone who leads or influences others—parents, pastors, leaders, friends. You don’t have to be married to operate in the spirit of Ahab or Jezebel. These influences appear up wherever:

• God-given authority is abdicated

• Control is sought through manipulation

• God’s Word is compromised for comfort

 

We must examine our hearts and homes to make sure we are not tolerating or partnering with these spirits.

 

 

Takeaways:

 

How do we respond to this message?

 

2. Realign your heart with God

3. Step confidently into your calling

• Ahab reminds us that avoiding responsibility still leads to consequences.

 

4. Trust God and His timing

5. Guard your heart and home