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THE FATAL MISTAKE OF A MAN OF GOD

July 11, 1999 AM

Sermon Outline

1 Ki 13:1-10

INTRO: Because of Solomons sins, Israel was divided into two kingdoms: Israel to the north; Judah to the south. Shortly after Jereboam had become Kin of Israel, he set in place a religion in opposition to that which God revealed. The spirit of what he did is revealed at 1 Ki 12:33: ... which he had devised of his own heart. God wsent a prophet from Judah to speak out against what Jereboam had done. The prophet is described as a man of God(13:1). But the man of God made a fatal mistake.

I. THE MAN OF GOD WAS A PROPHET

A. 1 Ki 13:18 So recognized by others

1. first fact to keep in mind - this is a godly man

2. remembered many years later (2 Ki 23:17,18)

B. He was entrusted by God with a vital message

1. God did not accept Jereboams religion!

2. and this mans mission was the work of God

II. HE RECEIVED EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS FROM GOD

A. Note 1 Ki 13:7-10 ... He knew the instructions

1. my first inclination is to wonder, Why?

2. what possible difference could it make?

3. did God not want there to be any thought that Jereboams behavior was condoned? (cf. 1 Cor 5:11)

4. my behavior sends signals to others!

B. The man of God courageously fulfilled his work

1. he was in a dangerous situation

2. but he had the courage to stand up for God

3. and he didnt render evil for evil (13:6)

4. it isnt an easy thing, in a culture that has no sympathy, to stand up for the Lord! but what real alternatives are there? (Heb 10:32, 33, 39)

III. ENTER THE OLD PROPHET

A. 1 Ki 13:11 Why had he not spoken out?

1. had he become accepting of the situation?

2. that can certainly happen - whats the use?

3. does Gal 6:9 provide encouragement?

B. An invitation that cost the man of God his life

1. 1 Ki 13:14-17 man of God still knew Gods instructions

2. 1 Ki 13:18,19 old prophet was willing to lie to have his way ... had he become so depraved in Israel?

3. the man of God believed the old prophet!

a. what did he know about the old man? little

b. what should he have done? consult the word of the Lord ... confirm this alternative advice with the Lord

c. lots of advice, counsel you will receive may sound good - and desirable ... but if it goes against what you know from scripture, or if you wonder about its credibility, check it out (1 Jno 4:1)

d. confirm advice with scripture (Acts 17:11)

4. 1 Ki 13:20-22,24 disobedience was costly

a. he was comfortable with bad advice

b. but that did not make bad advice right, true

c. a terrible end to a promising life?

C. Are we careful with the Lords instructions?

1. from whom are you getting your advice for life?

2. are you willing to take chances with behavior you have a strong feeling is really wrong?

3. do you listen to your heart when your head is saying, Warning. Beware?

4. do you carefully confirm choices with the word of the Lord?

CLOSE: I think this historical narrative of the fatal mistake of the man of God is among the saddest I could imagine. But it is here for our learning. Unfortunately, so many Christian people are not as careful with the Lords instructions as they should be. Will this carelessness result in tragedy?

Cecil A. Hutson

11 July 1999

God's Plan of Salvation

You must hear the gospel and then understand and recognize that you are lost without Jesus Christ no matter who you are and no matter what your background is. The Bible tells us that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) Before you can be saved, you must understand that you are lost and that the only way to be saved is by obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6) "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12) "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17)

You must believe and have faith in God because "without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) But neither belief alone nor faith alone is sufficient to save. (James 2:19; James 2:24; Matthew 7:21)

You must repent of your sins. (Acts 3:19) But repentance alone is not enough. The so-called "Sinner's Prayer" that you hear so much about today from denominational preachers does not appear anywhere in the Bible. Indeed, nowhere in the Bible was anyone ever told to pray the "Sinner's Prayer" to be saved. By contrast, there are numerous examples showing that prayer alone does not save. Saul, for example, prayed following his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:11), but Saul was still in his sins when Ananias met him three days later (Acts 22:16). Cornelius prayed to God always, and yet there was something else he needed to do to be saved (Acts 10:2, 6, 33, 48). If prayer alone did not save Saul or Cornelius, prayer alone will not save you. You must obey the gospel. (2 Thess. 1:8)

You must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. (Romans 10:9-10) Note that you do NOT need to make Jesus "Lord of your life." Why? Because Jesus is already Lord of your life whether or not you have obeyed his gospel. Indeed, we obey him, not to make him Lord, but because he already is Lord. (Acts 2:36) Also, no one in the Bible was ever told to just "accept Jesus as your personal savior." We must confess that Jesus is the Son of God, but, as with faith and repentance, confession alone does not save. (Matthew 7:21)

Having believed, repented, and confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you must be baptized for the remission of your sins. (Acts 2:38) It is at this point (and not before) that your sins are forgiven. (Acts 22:16) It is impossible to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ without teaching the absolute necessity of baptism for salvation. (Acts 8:35-36; Romans 6:3-4; 1 Peter 3:21) Anyone who responds to the question in Acts 2:37 with an answer that contradicts Acts 2:38 is NOT proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!

Once you are saved, God adds you to his church and writes your name in the Book of Life. (Acts 2:47; Philippians 4:3) To continue in God's grace, you must continue to serve God faithfully until death. Unless they remain faithful, those who are in God's grace will fall from grace, and those whose names are in the Book of Life will have their names blotted out of that book. (Revelation 2:10; Revelation 3:5; Galatians 5:4)