Plains Baptist Church: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

The Danger of Forgetting God

Raymond Smith — Tue, 25 Nov 2025 19:00:00 +0000

The Danger of Forgetting God

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Tuesday Evening

Date: 25th November 2025

Passages:

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Hezekiah faced a turning point when God exposed the pride that grew after a season of blessing and victory. Success attracts flattery and pride can easily twist a heart that once sought the Lord. Pride can creep in slowly, yet it shapes choices, responses, and the way someone views what God has given them.

God often will allow a test to bring hidden motives into the open and reveal how quickly we drift into self-confidence. Hezekiah's fall remind us that every blessing comes from God and that guarding the heart matters far more than protecting achievements.

Fear, Faith, and the God Who Answers

Raymond Smith — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Fear, Faith, and the God Who Answers

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 12th November 2025

Passages:

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Hezekiah’s story draws a clear line between relying on yourself and trusting what God said. His early trust in the Lord shaped a nation, but one moment of pressure pushed him toward fear and quick fixes.

The turning point comes when he faces his own weakness and chooses to seek God instead of scrambling for his own solutions. That return to prayer changes the direction of everything that follows.

God meets His people when they turn to Him with honesty and dependence, even when trouble presses in from every side.

Revival: Set in Order by the Word of God

Raymond Smith — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 10:45:00 +0000

Revival: Set in Order by the Word of God

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Sunday School

Date: 5th November 2025

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Hezekiah stepped into a time of deep spiritual compromise and chose revival grounded in the Word of God, not in emotion. He prepared the house of the Lord, called the people to cleanse their hearts, and restored worship according to Scripture.

Genuine repentance leads to visible changes at home, from tearing down idols to generous giving and reordered priorities. Hezekiah’s letter to Israel confronts stiff necked hearts and invites them to turn back to a gracious and merciful God. In the same way, God calls us to repentance today.

Hezekiah: Turning a Nation Back to God

Raymond Smith — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Hezekiah: Turning a Nation Back to God

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 29th October 2025

Passages:

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When Hezekiah became king, he faced a nation steeped in idolatry and spiritual decay. Instead of following his father’s path, he made an immediate decision to turn Judah back to God. He reopened and cleansed the temple, called the priests to sanctify themselves, and led the people to renew their covenant with the Lord.

Hezekiah's example challenges us to examine our own life: what needs to be removed so that your heart is clean before God? Just as Hezekiah refused to let his past define him, you can choose today to follow God wholeheartedly and put Him first in every area of your life.

Mercy in the Midst of Rebellion

Raymond Smith — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 10:45:00 +0100

Mercy in the Midst of Rebellion

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Sunday School

Date: 24th August 2025

Passages:

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King Jeroboam II led Israel during a period of prosperity all the while turning away from God. Outwardly, the nation thrived in wealth, power, and influence, but inwardly they drifted farther from the Lord. God showed mercy through the prophets and fulfilled His promises, even while the king refused to repent.

The lesson is clear: success apart from obedience to God is empty, and His patience will not last forever. Where is your heart? Are you truly following the Lord or only going through the motions?

Watch the full message to see how God’s dealings with Jeroboam speak directly to you today.

A King Who Would Not Listen

Raymond Smith — Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:00:00 +0100

A King Who Would Not Listen

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 30th April 2025

Passages:

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God had given King Ahaziah every opportunity to turn to Him. Even in judgment there was mercy. But instead of seeking the true and living God, Ahaziah chose to inquire of Beelzebub, the false god whose name means "lord of the flies." Through Elijah, God confronted this rejection with a clear message: "Thou shalt surely die."

Even today, people seek answers in dead ends rather than in the God who gives life. Your choices matter. What you pursue reveals what you truly believe. Watch the full message to see how one king's rebellion stands as a warning and a call to turn back to the Lord.

What's Your Price?

Raymond Smith — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 19:00:00 +0000

What's Your Price?

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 5th February 2025

Passages:

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What’s your price? King Ahab wanted Naboth’s vineyard, but when he couldn’t get his way, he threw a fit like a spoiled child. Naboth, however, remained commitment to God’s law, emphasizing that his refusal to sell the vineyard wasn’t about personal preference but about obedience to God.

Enter Jezebel—ruthless, deceptive, and ready to do whatever it took to get what Ahab wanted. But they forgot one thing… God sees everything.

Compromise might seem easy, but it always comes at a cost. Are you standing firm, or selling out?

The Defeat of Syria: God is above everyone and everything

Raymond Smith — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 19:00:00 +0000

The Defeat of Syria: God is above everyone and everything

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 29th January 2025

Passages:

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This message coming from 1 Kings 20, examines God's dealings with King Ahab and Behadad, the king of Syria. God repeatedly revealed His power to Israel, even extending mercy to the wicked King Ahab. Despite Ahab’s failures, God promised victory over Syria to prove He alone is the Lord.

Israel, vastly outnumbered, defeated the Syrians as God demonstrated His power over all circumstances. However, instead of fully obeying God, Ahab spared Behadad, leading to God’s judgment upon him.

The challenge for believers is to trust God fully, reject compromise, and remain faithful in obedience.

Ahab the Horrible

Raymond Smith — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Ahab the Horrible

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 22nd January 2025

Passages:

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In this message we look at the downfall King Ahab and Jezebel, whose idolatry and promotion of Baal worship provoked God's judgment through a devastating drought. The prophet Elijah boldly confronted their wickedness, challenging the people of Israel on Mount Carmel to choose between serving the Lord or Baal. Through a miraculous display of fire from heaven, God demonstrated His power and called the nation to repentance. Despite Israel's rebellion, the message emphasizes God's mercy and patience, always seeking to restore His people and turn their hearts back to Him.

Jehoshephat

Raymond Smith — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 19:00:00 +0000

Jehoshephat

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 8th January 2025

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The choices you make affect others and the ripple effect can be far greater than we realize. This is true for the negative and postive consequences of the choices we make. In this lesson we look at King Jehoshephat and the choices he made to set his heart and ways toward the Lord. His choices rippled through the Kingdom of Judah and beyond.

How You Finish Matters

Raymond Smith — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 19:00:00 +0000

How You Finish Matters

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 26th November 2024

Passages:

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King Asa began well relying on and worshiping God and had 10 years of peace. But when adversity came he turned from God and tried to purchase protection from a neighboring king. Asa's prosperity lead to his relance on resources instead of God. We can fall into the same trap of self reliance and putting the sacred second. This led to Asa missing God's deliverance and blessings.

Revival in the Land

Raymond Smith — Wed, 06 Nov 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Revival in the Land

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 6th November 2024

Passages:

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Leaders have a tremendous impact on the direction of a nation and whether or not the nation is in a position to be blessed by God. King Asa chose to make worship personal. God was his own God not just a national God. Because of Asa's choices, he made it possible for God to bless the nation and there was revival in the land and God gave them 10 years of peace.

Reign of Abijah - The Pull of Inconsistency

Raymond Smith — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0000

Reign of Abijah - The Pull of Inconsistency

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 30th October 2024

Passages:

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Many people want the benefits of God but not the responsibility. Or they want to focus on God's promises they like and ignore the promises they don't like. But all of God's promises carry equal weight and God will not break his promises to suit your preferences. Likewise we can rest assured that He will keep all his promises regardless of what anyone does.

The Assessment of Rehoboam

Raymond Smith — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:00:00 +0100

The Assessment of Rehoboam

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 23rd October 2024

Passages:

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Rehoboam was given instruction in righteousness. But he chose to go a different direction. You can squander the things and opportunities God gives you. There is always consequences for our choices and when God's people choose to go against God we can expect chastisement, as any loving parent does.

Lasting Repercussions: The Fall of the House of Jeroboam

Raymond Smith — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100

Lasting Repercussions: The Fall of the House of Jeroboam

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 16th October 2024

Passages:

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God gave Jeroboam an opportunity: trust and obey God and God would bless him and give him a kingdom. Jeroboam chose to reject God and instead faced the dire consequences of casting God to the side.

The Man of God

Raymond Smith — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 19:00:00 +0100

The Man of God

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 9th October 2024

Passages:

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As Christians we need to stand in obedience to the word of God, stand in the truth of God's word, and stand faithful to God's word. In doing so we can have a tremendous impact on the world around us.

Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel, part 4

Solidifying the Kingdom

Raymond Smith — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100

Solidifying the Kingdom

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 11th September 2024

Passages:

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If we expect to receive God's blessings in our life we need to walk in His ways: following His commands and doing what's right in the sight of the Lord and not others. In our lesson tonight we look at the promise that God made to Jeroboam a promise: if he would trust God and follow Him, God would establish him a sure house and a sure lineage just like he had for David. Each person gets to make the same choice Jeroboam made - follow and worship God alone and be blessed or not.

Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Raymond Smith — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 19:00:00 +0100

Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 4th September 2024

Passages:

Good Counsel in the Midst of Transitions

Raymond Smith — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0100

Good Counsel in the Midst of Transitions

Series: Transitions in the Kingdom of Israel

Pastor: Raymond Smith

Wednesday Evening

Date: 28th August 2024

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Looking at the transitions the Israelites went through after the death of Solomon when his son Rehoboam became king.