The King for Seven Days - Bonus Sermon!

This is the first sermon I delivered for the Eastside congregation, when we were first trying to see if I would fit here. That was back in October 2007, if I remember correctly. I've also delivered this one at 2 other congregations.

1 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is good ans useful, so what can we learn from Zimri, king of Israel for seven days?

1 Kings 15:33-16:20

The Sins of Zimri

Murder
1 Kings 16:10, 16:18
Zimri evidently had little value in life. To achieve his goal, he was willing to take life. And to avoid probably humiliation and death he killed himself!
Exodus 20:13
Matthew 5L21-22
Now, most of us are not guilty of murder, but do we qualify under the extreme and unrighteous andger Christ describes in Matthew? Do we fall into the same trap? If so, we are following the same path laid down by Zimri.

Pride
1 Kings 16:10, 16:16
Zimri evidently thought highly enough of himself to think that he should be king. It's easy to imagine Zimri as being arrogant and full of pride, but can you honestly picture him as humble?
Zephaniah 2:8-11
Proverbs 16:18
1 Peter 5:5
So we ever do things, or think things, or aim for things based on how highly we think of ourselves? Do we let pride interfere? Are we truly humble? If we fail in this, we once more find ourselves like the seven day king.

Failure to Sumbit to Authority
1 Kings 16:9-10
Zimri doesn't seem to care what position someone else held. It certainly wasn't enough to concern to keep him from killing the king, son of the previous king!
Romans 13:1-7
Hebrews 13:17
2 Peter 2:10
Are we willing to follow civil laws (so long as they are con accordance with God's law)? Do we listen to the elders of the congregation? Do we heed the authority given to Christ and follow the word? If not, we are like Zimri!

Idolatry
1 Kings 16:19
Notice the time given to him: 7 days. In that time he did not undo Jeroboam's sin, and so was held accountable for it. When we din, we must act immediately to correct the problem, not put it off. We can see pretty clearly that, "I was going to get around to it," won't count.
Deuteronomy 5:7
1 Corinthians 10:14
Colossians 3:5
Do we let other things interfere with our service towards God? Are we allowing material posessions, people, or ideas become more important than the Almighty? Guess what? If we do this, we are once more following in the footsteps of Zimri, and who wants that?

Encouraging Others to Commit Wrong
1 Kings 16:9, 16:20
Zimri was part of a conspiracy. It was his rebellious conspiracy to achieve his own aims. He had recruited other people to rise up against the more rightful king, thus encouraging them to sacrifice their souls. Although it does seem unlikely that he chose upright men to assist him.
1 Corinthians 10:32
Do we lay down stumbling blocks for others through our actions, speech, way of dressing, or apaprent lack of concern? We are like Zimri. Or are we allowing ourselves to be influenced by others in ways that would offend Christ? Do we let ourselves be led astray? Is so we're not like Zimri, we're like the ones that followed Zimri!

Wrong Focus
His focus was on earthly things, not the spiritual or righteous. Apparently, to him, being king was more important than anything else, and so he worked towards it, regardless of cost. And he achieved his goal! But at what cost?
Matthew 6:33
What is your goal? Do you put everything behind Christ in living for Him? Or are you focusing on work, money, retirement, or fun? What is your purpose? Where are your priorities? If we are pointing the wrong way, we walk like Zimri.

What Else Can We Learn?

Men Do Not Change
I'm not talking about individuals, I'm speaking of humanity. People are people. Look around, and you will find people like Zimri, those who do not respect authority, those who murder, those who are proud. You will see many who put other things before God, and many who will encourage you to stumble and sin.
Ecclesiastes 1:9-11
Romans 1:28-32
1 Timothy 4:1-3
Hebrews 4:8-11 (If we are so different, then why the warning not to follow their example?)
Which example do you follow? Those who follow God or those who do not? Do you heed the scriptures and learn how to address others? Do you understand the parable of the sower in this contxt?

God Can Make Use of You
1 Kings 16:19, 16:11-13
Regardless of how evil a man Zimri was, no matter how much he strove against God, the Lord found a use for him, and Zimri found himself carrying out God's will. Imagine how much more productive we can be if we strive to follow Him! Regardless, no matter how evil we may be, we cannot thwart God's will.
2 Timothy 2:20-21
Matthew 25:14-30
Is God going to look at us as a faithful servant who has furthered His cause, or will He see us as unprofitable? Are we working for Him or against Him? Those are the only options we have.

God Keeps His Promises
1 Kings 16:1-4
God promises punishment on the house of Baasha, and through Zimri that promise is fulfilled. Notice that it isn't done immediately, but occurs in the generation after Baasha. Nonethless, God's judgement is carried out.
2 Peter 3:9
Revelation 21:1-9
That is God's promise to us. If we obey Him, if we are truly His disciples and follow Him, we will have our reward for eternity. If, however, we do not obey Him, if we choose to serve sin and ourselves, then we are promised eternal punishment. God keeps his promises either way. Will you be saved?