What Happy Couples Know Micaiah Irmler I King 16:29-34 NKJV 29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. Remember: King Ahab is more famous because of his wife than because of anything he did. Remember: King Ahab and Queen Jezebel were a power couple that were corrupted. Note: These two are the Bonnie and Clyde of the Bible. They Know Their History vs. 29-31 29 In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab the son of Omri became king over Israel; and Ahab the son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. 30 Now Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all who were before him. 31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. Question: If you don’t know their history how can you write a good love story? Definition: The name Jezebel in Hebrew means, . Remember: Know their history don’t leave it a mystery. I Kings 15:21-28 NLT 21 But now the people of Israel were split into two factions. Half the people tried to make Tibni son of Ginath their king, while the other half supported Omri. 22 But Omri’s supporters defeated the supporters of Tibni. So Tibni was killed, and Omri became the next king. 23 Omri began to rule over Israel in the thirty-first year of King Asa’s reign in Judah. He reigned twelve years in all, six of them in Tirzah. 24 Then Omri bought the hill now known as Samaria from its owner, Shemer, for 150 pounds of silver. He built a city on it and called the city Samaria in honor of Shemer. 25 But Omri did what was evil in the Lord’s sight, even more than any of the kings before him. 26 He followed the example of Jeroboam son of Nebat in all the sins he had committed and led Israel to commit. The people provoked the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, with their worthless idols. 27 The rest of the events in Omri’s reign, the extent of his power, and everything he did are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel. 28 When Omri died, he was buried in Samaria. Then his son Ahab became the next king. Our present problem started off as a pattern in the . Remember: When you marry someone you are marrying a person but you are also marrying their spirit. Illustration: Jane didn’t know that she was marrying a guy that was jovial, driven, but also had a shadow side of anger and lust. Remember: Lust is desire gone out of control. Remember: Power without principles is destructive to anyone near it. Are You Using Someone in Your Life to Fill a Hole in Your Life? Note: Omri battled and built to make his kingdom bigger while Ahab was going to use marriage to build the kingdom. Ahab Passive Prideful Petulant Pouty Pandering Remember: Men are called to lead, make hard decision, and deal with the consequences. Important: Men take Back Your Marriages Men are called to . Make hard . Deal with the . Jezebel Captivating Clever Conniving Controlling Corrupt Cruel Cultic Following Remember: This is not wife material and don’t wife this girl up. Note: Jezebel is not misguided, misunderstood, she is a master manipulator. Note: Jezebel’s dad was a king but before he was a king he was the high priest for a king that he ended up assassinating and then stole his throne. Note: Women stop being attracted to weak men. Note: There is an epidemic today of domineering women and compliant men. Just because you love me doesn’t mean you get to . Quote: The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman. ~Elizebeth Elliot Stop dating his potential; date his . They Know Their Heart vs. 31-33 31 And it came to pass, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took as wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; and he went and served Baal and worshiped him. 32 Then he set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. 33 And Ahab made a wooden image. Ahab did more to provoke the Lord God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him. Remember: Being married is not our purpose in this life. Remember: Our purpose in life is to live with undivided devotion to Christ. Remember: We say things like this, “You were made for each other… nope you were made for God.” Question: Are you hungry for the principles of and the presence of God? Illustration: In my marriage with Jane did you know I am not first in her life? I’m not her number one. I am her number two. We pursue our number one with our number two. Don’t give someone your if God doesn’t have theirs. If they are not passionately loving God it’s harder for them to passionately love you like God intended and instructed. So They Know Where They Both Are Headed I Kings 21:25-29 NLT 25 (No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord’s sight as Ahab did under the influence of his wife Jezebel. 26 His worst outrage was worshiping idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven out from the land ahead of the Israelites.) They were both fully committed to evil Note: Maybe you haven’t sold your soul to the devil but are you renting it to him? Bad Beginnings Don’t Have to Have a Bitter End 27 But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning. 28 Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah: 29 “Do you see how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has done this, I will not do what I promised during his lifetime. It will happen to his sons; I will destroy his dynasty.” Are You Willing to Change and Be Changed? Rahab the Harlot was willing to change and be changed The woman at the well was willing to change and be changed Mary Magadelane was willing to change and be changed Remember: We either change in the relationship or you will change relationships. Important: You don’t need to meet somebody new to become somebody new. Illustration: Ever see the movie Patton? There is a part in the movie were Patton is beating Romel and in the movie you here Patton yelling, “I Read Your Book!” We’ve read the book! We know who wins! We know what happens! We know we WIN! Take Away: God want to do more than give you a new relationship with your significant other He wants to give you a new relationship with Jesus Christ.