Pastor Allen Victor examined what happened when what people claimed was “the Lord’s will” did not happen. Using 1 Kings 22, he explored the uncomfortable question of what should be understood when someone said, “The Lord will,” but the promised outcome never came. He considered whether unanswered expectations meant that faith had failed, God had failed, or someone had spoken for God without first seeking Him.

Pastor Allen examined Jehoshaphat’s alliance with Ahab and showed how close relationships could lead believers into spiritual compromise. Although Jehoshaphat recognized the need to inquire of the Lord, Ahab surrounded himself with approximately 400 prophets who told him what he wanted to hear. Pastor Allen contrasted these “yes-men” with Micaiah, a prophet who remained committed to speaking only what the Lord had given him. He warned that believers should not compromise their faith simply to please family or maintain relationships.

The message then addressed the danger of declaring, “The Lord will,” when God had not actually spoken. Pastor Allen distinguished between saying that the Lord “can” do something and claiming that He “will” do it. He challenged the practice of trying to speak desired outcomes into existence and explained that Romans 4:17 described God calling things into existence, not believers possessing that same authority. He encouraged the congregation to say, “The Lord can; let’s seek to see if He will,” rather than presumptuously declaring God’s will.

Pastor Allen also examined Micaiah’s prophecy concerning Ahab and explained how the Lord’s truth ultimately prevailed despite opposition, intimidation, and false prophecy. Ahab attempted to disguise himself in battle, but his outward appearance could not change what God had declared. A seemingly random arrow found its target, and Ahab died exactly as Micaiah had prophesied. Pastor Allen emphasized that God’s Word could pierce the heart like an arrow and that people could hide from others, but they could never hide from God.

The sermon also considered Jehoshaphat’s life. Although he was described as a good king who did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, he failed to remove the high places and continued to make alliances that brought spiritual danger. Pastor Allen emphasized that forgiveness and reconciliation did not require believers to reenter unhealthy partnerships, and that appropriate boundaries could be necessary when someone had repeatedly led them toward sin.

Finally, Pastor Allen addressed the consequences of spiritual family patterns through the example of Ahab, Jezebel, and Ahaziah. He encouraged those who had come from a “rotten family tree” to be planted in different soil and connected this truth to Jesus’ words in John 15:5 about abiding in Him. He concluded that when “the Lord will” did not happen, the problem was not necessarily a failure of faith or God’s faithfulness; sometimes people had simply declared something God had never spoken. Rather than seeking our own desired outcome, we were called to seek God’s will, recognizing that God cared more about making us holy than keeping us happy.

Calvary Chapel West Jacksonville presented this message under the leadership of Pastor Allen Victor.

Scripture: 1 Kings 22:1-53; John 15:5

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