Ahab – How to Finish the Race

Philip. 3:12-14 (NLT) 

    I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection! But I keep working toward that day when I will finally be all that Christ Jesus saved me for and wants me to be. [13] No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

1 Kings 21:25-29 (NLT) 

    No one else so completely sold himself to what was evil in the Lord's sight as did Ahab, for his wife, Jezebel, influenced him. [26] He was especially guilty because he worshiped idols just as the Amorites had done—the people whom the Lord had driven from the land ahead of the Israelites.

    [27] When Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in sackcloth, and fasted. He even slept in sackcloth and went about in deep mourning.

    [28] Then another message from the Lord came to Elijah, who was from Tishbe: [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 all his descendants."

1.  God always forgives a person who comes humbly before Him in genuine repentance. 

Psalm 51:17 (TEV) 

        My sacrifice is a humble spirit, O God; you will not reject a humble and repentant heart.

2 Chron. 18:33-34 (NLT) 

    An Aramean soldier, however, randomly shot an arrow at the Israelite troops, and the arrow hit the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. "Get me out of here!" Ahab groaned to the driver of his chariot. "I have been badly wounded!" [34] The battle raged all that day, and Ahab propped himself up in his chariot facing the Arameans until evening. Then, just as the sun was setting, he died.

2.  Life after repentance must be lived towards a gradual and increasing conversion of successive areas of our lives

Philip. 2:12-13 (NLT) 

    … you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.  For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

Micah 6:8 (NLT) 

    No, O people, the Lord has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

3.  Be obedient in the small things and God will direct the apparent randomness of life towards protecting, guiding and blessing us

Job 34:21 (NLT) 

    "For God carefully watches the way people live; he sees everything they do.