… [Ahab] did more to provoke the anger of the Lord, the God of Israel, than any of the other kings of Israel before him.

1 Kings 16:33 NLT

... 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.

1 Kings 21:25 NLT

2 Dangerous Dynamics in Relationships

• A controlling spirit that seeks to dominate
• A passive spirit that refuses to engage

One day Ahab said to Naboth, “Since your vineyard is so convenient to my palace, I would like to buy it to use as a vegetable garden. ...” ³But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance that was passed down by my ancestors.” ⁴So Ahab went home angry and sullen because of Naboth’s answer. The king went to bed with his face to the wall and refused to eat!

1 Kings 21:2-4 NLT

A passive heart in dating leads to a passive partner in marriage.

... [Eve] took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Genesis 3:6 NIV

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.” 1 Kings 21:7 NIV

Your words will shape your relationship for better or for worse.

The tongue has the power of life and death ... Proverbs 18:21 NIV

He is becoming what you see in him and what you say about him.

So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him. ⁹In those letters she wrote: “Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people. ¹⁰But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.” 1 Kings 21:8-10 NIV

3 Red Flags of a Controlling Spirit

• They use guilt or pressure to control you.
• They don’t trust you and constantly check up on you.
• They make all the decisions, and your voice doesn’t matter.

... “This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!”

1 Kings 21:19 NIV

When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

1 Kings 21:27 NIV