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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD

DISOBEDIENCE HAS A PRICE

Introduction

The Bible tells us that after King Solomon died, the Kingdom of Israel was divided between the two southern tribes that formed Judah and the ten northern tribes that made up Israel. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, reigned over Judah and  Jeroboam the son of Nebat,  reigned over Israel.

Before the nation divided, Solomon had built the magnificent Temple for God in Jerusalem. God had said that Jerusalem was the place where they were supposed to worship.

However, Jeroboam did not want any of the people of his kingdom to go up to Jerusalem to worship for fear they might follow his Rehoboam.

So according to chapter 12, he made his own centers for worship, which became, in actuality, places for idol-worship. He ordained his own order of priests, altars, and sacrifices.

One worship center was at Beth-el in the Southern portion of the Kingdom just north of Jerusalem and the other was at Dan which was in the Northern portion of the Kingdom.

We will see here that our passage tells how that God sent a man of God to Bethel to cry against the altar that Jeroboam had erected there.

Now in the message todayI don’t want to consider so much the sin of king Jeroboam or the sin of the people of Israel, but rather I want to consider the price of disobedience paid by one of God's choice servants. Read vs 1-6.

I.         THIS WAS GOD’S MAN! (13:1-6)

            A.        This Man Of God Cried Out Against Evil. (Vs 1-2a)

                        1.         There is something wrong when God's people keep silent about evil.

                        2.         We need to be careful that we don’t grow so accustomed to sin and evil around us that it doesn't bother us anymore.

                        3.         Its kind of like living near a railroad track or an airport.

            B.        This Man Of God Prophesied About Coming Events. (Vs 2-3)

                        1.         Here we have a remarkable prophecy.

                        2.         This man of God actually names Josiah in the prophecy.

                        3.         This prophecy did come to pass but it was almost 300 years later.

                                    (Cf. 2 Kings 23:15-16.)

                        4.         God has also given us prophecies about coming events that we need to be telling a lost and dying world about. THEY WILL COME TO PASS!!!

            C.        This Man Of God Was Defended By The Lord ( Vs 4-5)

                        1.         God defends those who are in His will.

When the king’s outstretched hand, symbolizing his authority, withered, this illustrated that God’s authority was greater than Jereboam’s authority.

This left no doubt in the minds of those present that this prophecy was of God.

                        2.         We will see later in this chapter an instance when God did not defend him.

                        3.         The key is obedience!

                        This Man Of God Cried Out Against Evil.

                        This Man Of God Prophesied About Coming Events.

                        This Man Of God Was Defended by The Lord.

            D.        This Man Of God Was Able To Perform A Miracle Of God. (vs 6)

                        1.         He made intercession for the wicked king.

                        2.         He had power in prayer!

                        3.         There wasn't a moments hesitation or doubt in this prophets mind that God could heal the king's arm.

                        4.         We need that same power in prayer today to believe God for great things!

            THIS WAS GOD’S MAN!

II.       THIS MAN OF GOD KNEW WHAT GOD HAD SAID! (13:7-10)

            A.        The Instruction Of The Lord Was Clear. (Vs. 9)

                        1.         He was not to have any fellowship with these idolaters.

                                    Having contact and having close fellowship are two different things.

We must have contact with the lost if we are going to be effective witnesses, but we must be careful not to be pulled into their world.

                        2.         The instructions he received from the LORD were very specific.

                                    a.         He was to eat no food.

To eat a meal with an invited guest under one’s roof was to give him a promise of continuing personal protection.

                                                Eating a meal would have placed him in Jereboam’s debt.

                                    b.        He was to drink no drink.

                                    c.         He was to return by a different path.

Illustrating that this was not a pleasure trip, but that he was in Bethel on business fo God.

                        3.         There are similar instructions given for God's people today.

                                    We are not to have close fellowship with those who are wicked.

2 Corinthians 6:14– "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

Ephesians 5:11–“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

            B.        He Resisted The King’s Temptation Easily. (Vs. 7-8, 10)

                        1.         Notice the king's offer. (vs 7)

                                    a.         “Come home with me. . .”

                                    b.         “. . .and refresh thyself . . .”

                                    c.         “. . .and I will give thee a reward.”

                        2.         Notice the prophet's response. (vs 8)

                                    a.       He could not be bribed or tempted.

                                    b.         Even if the offer would be half of the kings house or wealth, he was not interested!

                                    c.         The prophet was soon on his way home, carefully following God's commands.

            THIS WAS GOD’S MAN!

            THIS MAN OF GOD KNEW WHAT GOD HAD SAID!

III.      THIS MAN OF GOD ALLOWED HIMSELF TO DECEIVED! (13:11-19)

            A.        We See That There Was Another Prophet. (Vs 11-14)

                        1.         Why had not this prophet cried against the altars set up by Jeroboam?

                                    He had become both lazy and complacent.

                        2.         Could it be that this man, although he had the gift of prophecy and may have at one time been true to God and his calling, had now become more concerned about this apostate king's favor than God's?

                                    a.         It is sad to say but that is also the case of many folks today.

In the interest of pleasing people and being politically correct, many who once were faithful to God have forsaken the truth and calling of God for their life!

                                    b.         In Acts 5:29, Peter and John told the council, “We ought to obey God rather than men.”

            B.        We See That This Man Of God Was Deceived By A "Fellow Servant.”

                        (Vs 15-19)

                        1.         The old prophet lied to suit his own purposes.

                                    a.         We don’t know exactly what this old prophet’s motivation was:

                                                1.         He may have wanted to destroy this man of God in order to elevate himself in the eyes of the king.

                                                2.         He may have just wanted to fellowship with another man of God in whom he could see that the power of God was working in his life.

                                    b.         He told the man of God that he had received a message from God.

                                    c.         There was a problem though. This message contradicted the message that had already been given to this man of God.

                        2.         This is the same old song - just a different tune!

                                    a.         God told Adam and Eve that they would die if they ate of the forbidden fruit.

                                    b.         But Satan said, "Ye shall not surely die."

                        3.         My how subtle our adversary is!

                                    a.         The man of God had no trouble refusing the temptation of the king.

                                    b.         But he was deceived by one of his own kind!

                        4.         It is easy to say NO to sin when it is plain to see - but we need to beware of becoming relaxed! 1 Peter 5:8–"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion... seeking whom he may devour."

THIS WAS GOD’S MAN!

            THIS MAN OF GOD KNEW WHAT GOD HAD SAID!

            THIS MAN OF GOD ALLOWED HIMSELF TO BE DECEIVED!

IV.      THIS MAN OF GOD PAID A PRICE FOR DISOBEDIENCE. (Vs. 20-32)     

            A.        God Had Another Message For The Man Of God. (Vs. 20-24)

                        1.         The first time, the message was for others!

                        2.         This time the message was for him!

                        3.         God used this old backslidden prophet to deliver his sentence of death.

                        4.         Why did this happen? Because this man of God knew the truth and willfully believed another man rather than God.

                                    a.         Mark it down - anytime you hear a message that claims to be from God, but it is contrary to the Word of God, you had better stick to the Truth!

                                    b.         Do not be deceived!

            B.        He Paid With His Life. (vs. 25-32)  

                        1.         His life was lost because he had lost his credibility with God.

                                    a.         God could no longer trust him.

                                    b.         It may have been different had he not known the truth.

                                    c.         Think of it - if God had wanted to change the plan - He would have told him!

                        2.         Notice the Lion.

                                    a.         He did not kill for meat.

                                    b.         He did not harm the ass.

                                    c.         He remained near the carcass as if to 'gloat'.

                        3.         Notice his grave.

                                    a.         He was laid in the sepulcher of the old lying prophet.

                                    b.         Even in death his only identification would be with a liar.

                                    c.         That is the way he would be remembered as a disobedient servant - NO testimony.

Conclusion

The price of disobedience comes higher than any of us would want to pay.

            The example of this old disobedient prophet proves it!

            The example of Saul proves it!

            The example of David proves it!

            The example of Jonah proves it!

            The example of others proves it!

We must be careful to obey God rather than men, because there is an adversary on the prowl.

Matthew 7:15–"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps' clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."

There are many lying prophets out there saying that God has said something different than what the truth of the Word of God proclaims! You had better stick with THE BOOK!

We must commit ourselves anew each day to studying God's Word so we won't become easy prey for our adversary.

Satan cannot have our soul, but he can ruin our testimony and destroy our effectiveness for God by deceiving us into doing something that is contrary to the Word of God!

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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!