Three Responses to God’s Word
Bible Text: I Kings 13 | Preacher: Alan Conner | Series: 1 Kings, 2006
Northwest Bible Church – April 23, 2006 – Worship Service – Alan Conner
1 KINGS 13
Three responses to God’s Word
INTRO
Solomon’s divided heart results in a divided kingdom. His son Rehoboam rules over Judah in the South, and his rival Jeroboam rules over 10 tribes of Israel in the North. Jeroboam has made two golden bull calves and set them up in Bethel and Dan in order to entice the people in Israel to stay loyal to him and his new religion.
THE RESPONSE OF JEROBOAM – no heart and no mind
1) The prophet’s rebuke.
Cry of judgment – v. 2
Sign of judgment – v. 3
2) Jeroboam’s response – v. 4
a) NO HEART – He despised God’s word.
1) His hand and arm dried up (v. 4).
2) The sign came to pass (v. 5).
3) He begs God’s mercy (v. 6).
4) He seeks to win the prophet over to his side (v. 7). No true change of heart. See 13:33-34.
b) NO MIND – He ignores God’s signs.
Note the clear and supernatural signs God gave to Jeroboam.
Sign of power (v. 4) – withered arm
Sign of prophecy (v. 5) – split altar
Sign of mercy (v. 6) – healing of arm
Sign (non-miraculous) of rejection (v. 8) – No fellowship.
TOTAL DEPRAVITY
THE RESPONSE OF THE MAN OF GOD – heart but no mind
1) He had a heart for God – He obeyed the Word (vv. 1-17).
2) He had no mind for God – He abandoned the Word (vv. 18-19).
He was deceived by the old prophet. He claimed to be in the ministry just like him; he claimed that an angel spoke to him the word of the Lord that he was supposed to bring the man of God back to your house and feed him. BUT HE LIED.
He was too gullible and did not check the old prophet’s message with the truth that he was given.
Lessons for today:
a) Be a Berean believer. 8:20
b) Don’t be seduced by the “I’ve had a revelation” movement. 1John 4:1
c) Be on guard against abandoning the Word.
d) Don’t dilly-dally in our obedience to the Word. See v. 14.
3) He died by the Word (vv. 20-24). IT IS COSTLY to abandon God’s word.
Killed by a lion. This is a strange killing.
THE RESPONSE OF THE OLD PROPHET – mind but no heart
Now here is an enigma. Apparently, earlier in his life he was used by God as a prophet. He is called “an old prophet” in v. 11.
1) A professional prophet without a heart. “I am a prophet like you” (v. 18).
2) From a truth-telling prophet, to a LIAR and DECEIVER.
3) He spoke the Word of the Lord one final time (vv.20-22).
Was he a true prophet? A believer? I don’t think so. He is a false prophet:
a) He did not reprove Jeroboam for his idols;
b) He allowed his sons to attend Jeroboam’s altar (v. 11);
c) Told a blatant lie (v. 18).
d) Where is the remorse? Sadness? The apology ?
e) Just because he was a prophet earlier in his life or spoke the word to the man of God does not mean he was a true regenerate man. 7:22-23 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.
Irony: the man of God dies, the false prophet lives at ease.
CONCLUSION