Messages on Discernment
Deceived by a Lying Prophet
by Pastor John Khng
Scripture Reading:
I. Determination in Obeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:1-10
II. Deceived into Disobeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:11-22
III. Death for Disobeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:23-32
Introduction:
I. Determination in Obeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:1-10
A. A prophet from Judah – v.1 – Brave to go from Judah to Bethel to confront the king
B. Josiah – became a king of Judah about 300 years later – v. 2 – prediction fulfilled 2 Ki 23:15-16
C. The sign – the altar shall be divided and the ashes shall spill out - v. 3
D. Jeroboam’s reaction – no repentance – arrest him but his own arm was paralysed (driedup) – v.4
E. The sign was fulfilled – v. 5
F. Jeroboam humbled himself asked for healing and was healed – v. 6
G. Jeroboam’s invitation – change of attitude – v. 7
H. The prophet showed determination in obeying God – v. 8-10 – v. 8 - “And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:”
II. Deceived into Disobeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:11-22
A. An old prophet in Bethel – v. 11 – why was he not called to confront the king?
B. Issued an invitation to the prophet of Judah to eat at his house – v. 12-15
C. Determination to continue to obey God – v. 16-17
D. Deceived into disobeying God – v. 18 – “I am a prophet also as thou art; “ . . .“But he lied unto him” – Do not be too quick to believe – test the spirit - 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, every spirit believe not, but prove the spirits, if of God they are, because many false prophets have gone forth to the world;
E. God pronounced His judgment through the old prophet – vv 19-22
F. Deception in the last days will grow worse and worse – deceived by false prophets and deceived by well-meaning prophets – those who think that they are serving God knowingly or unknowingly spreading wrong teachings
G. Why was the young prophet punished? He disobeyed the direct command of God.
H. Some of us will say it is not fair – that is not his fault – he was deceived – how many say it is not fair – raise your hand – being deceived is not a valid excuse for disobedience
I. Eg. Army camp (office) – commander (director) gave you an instruction but another sergeant (manager) came and told you that you need not carry out the task – reason I am also a sergeant (manager) and I have a new message for you. The right thing to do is to check with your commander (director) or just carried out the original instruction. But some of you may say that it is not so simple. Generally, most people will just follow what the sergeant (manager) says as they are supposed to be trusted own people and it is very awkward to question them. The young prophet when told by the old prophet to eat at his house had been told by God specifically not to eat - see 1 Kings 3:17 So the situation is different because we have the Word of God, the Bible with us so we can check what we heard against what we read from the Bible - no awkwardness, no embarrassment as we can read the Bible in private to verify and to make sure that the new instruction is according to what God wants.
J. When someone tell you something else than what the Bible says – follow the Bible and not the teaching of men – Gal 1:8,9 the old prophet’s word were directly opposite from the clear command of God.
Gal 1:8 but even if we or a messenger out of heaven may proclaim good news to you different from what we did proclaim to you—anathema (accursed) let him be!
Gal 1:9 as we have said before, and now say again, If any one to you may proclaim good news different from what ye did receive--anathema let him be!
“A religious person, appearing as our friend and citing a false prophecy, can be our most dangerous enemy.”
“He listened to 2nd hand information. He WASN’T listening to God - he was listening to someone who said he was listening to God. It was 2nd hand information.”
K. We are told not to cast away what we have learned from the Bible – 2 Tim 3:13-17
III. Death for Disobeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:23-32
A. God sent a lion to kill the disobedient prophet – vv. 23-26
B. Notice that the lion did not eat the prophet’s carcase and did not attack his donkey – v. 2 – Also the donkey did not flee away. It is clearly a judgment from God.
C. The old prophet mourned and buried the dead body of the disobedient prophet and asked that in the future when he died that he would like to be buried next to him – vv 29 -32 - Old prophet knew that he did wrong, repented and tried to compensate for his sin.
D. Did the old prophet intended to kill the young prophet by getting him to disobey God’s direct command? I don’t think so. He was shocked that his lies had caused the death of his fellow prophet – v. 30 – “Alas, my brother!” He might have just wanted to discredit the young prophet out of jealously (why did God not send me to prophesy against Jeroboam since I lived in Bethel?) – shocked by his own wickedness – instead of discrediting the young prophet, he confirmed his prophecy – v. 32
E. Be careful that even some preachers and church leaders have feet of clay – promote wrong doctrines for personal gain – to build a name for himself, or to gain fame or to be successful
Conclusion:
A. Jeroboam stubbornly did not repent of his sin of idolatry – v. 33-34
B. “In spite of the fact that Jeroboam was miraculously healed, he still didn't repent! In fact, neither threats, signs, judgment nor mercy moved Jeroboam's heart to repentance!
C. Pay attention to God’s Word - The problem this young prophet ran into was that he was willing to trust in something that an old man was telling him rather than what he had known that God had spoken to him.
D. Some people say, “If it feels good, do it”. God says,
E. (Prov 14:12 KJV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
F. Some people say, “All roads lead to God”. Jesus says,
(John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
H. Some people say “I’m going to heaven because I’m a good person”. God says,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
So, who are you going to believe? Men’s Word or God’s Word
Scripture Reading:
- 1 Kings 13:1-34
- *See verse 18 – “I am a prophet also as thou art; “ . . .“But he lied unto him”
I. Determination in Obeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:1-10
II. Deceived into Disobeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:11-22
III. Death for Disobeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:23-32
Introduction:
I. Determination in Obeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:1-10
A. A prophet from Judah – v.1 – Brave to go from Judah to Bethel to confront the king
B. Josiah – became a king of Judah about 300 years later – v. 2 – prediction fulfilled 2 Ki 23:15-16
C. The sign – the altar shall be divided and the ashes shall spill out - v. 3
D. Jeroboam’s reaction – no repentance – arrest him but his own arm was paralysed (driedup) – v.4
E. The sign was fulfilled – v. 5
F. Jeroboam humbled himself asked for healing and was healed – v. 6
G. Jeroboam’s invitation – change of attitude – v. 7
H. The prophet showed determination in obeying God – v. 8-10 – v. 8 - “And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place:”
II. Deceived into Disobeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:11-22
A. An old prophet in Bethel – v. 11 – why was he not called to confront the king?
B. Issued an invitation to the prophet of Judah to eat at his house – v. 12-15
C. Determination to continue to obey God – v. 16-17
D. Deceived into disobeying God – v. 18 – “I am a prophet also as thou art; “ . . .“But he lied unto him” – Do not be too quick to believe – test the spirit - 1Jn 4:1 Beloved, every spirit believe not, but prove the spirits, if of God they are, because many false prophets have gone forth to the world;
E. God pronounced His judgment through the old prophet – vv 19-22
F. Deception in the last days will grow worse and worse – deceived by false prophets and deceived by well-meaning prophets – those who think that they are serving God knowingly or unknowingly spreading wrong teachings
G. Why was the young prophet punished? He disobeyed the direct command of God.
H. Some of us will say it is not fair – that is not his fault – he was deceived – how many say it is not fair – raise your hand – being deceived is not a valid excuse for disobedience
I. Eg. Army camp (office) – commander (director) gave you an instruction but another sergeant (manager) came and told you that you need not carry out the task – reason I am also a sergeant (manager) and I have a new message for you. The right thing to do is to check with your commander (director) or just carried out the original instruction. But some of you may say that it is not so simple. Generally, most people will just follow what the sergeant (manager) says as they are supposed to be trusted own people and it is very awkward to question them. The young prophet when told by the old prophet to eat at his house had been told by God specifically not to eat - see 1 Kings 3:17 So the situation is different because we have the Word of God, the Bible with us so we can check what we heard against what we read from the Bible - no awkwardness, no embarrassment as we can read the Bible in private to verify and to make sure that the new instruction is according to what God wants.
J. When someone tell you something else than what the Bible says – follow the Bible and not the teaching of men – Gal 1:8,9 the old prophet’s word were directly opposite from the clear command of God.
Gal 1:8 but even if we or a messenger out of heaven may proclaim good news to you different from what we did proclaim to you—anathema (accursed) let him be!
Gal 1:9 as we have said before, and now say again, If any one to you may proclaim good news different from what ye did receive--anathema let him be!
“A religious person, appearing as our friend and citing a false prophecy, can be our most dangerous enemy.”
“He listened to 2nd hand information. He WASN’T listening to God - he was listening to someone who said he was listening to God. It was 2nd hand information.”
K. We are told not to cast away what we have learned from the Bible – 2 Tim 3:13-17
III. Death for Disobeying God’s Command – 1 Kings 13:23-32
A. God sent a lion to kill the disobedient prophet – vv. 23-26
B. Notice that the lion did not eat the prophet’s carcase and did not attack his donkey – v. 2 – Also the donkey did not flee away. It is clearly a judgment from God.
C. The old prophet mourned and buried the dead body of the disobedient prophet and asked that in the future when he died that he would like to be buried next to him – vv 29 -32 - Old prophet knew that he did wrong, repented and tried to compensate for his sin.
D. Did the old prophet intended to kill the young prophet by getting him to disobey God’s direct command? I don’t think so. He was shocked that his lies had caused the death of his fellow prophet – v. 30 – “Alas, my brother!” He might have just wanted to discredit the young prophet out of jealously (why did God not send me to prophesy against Jeroboam since I lived in Bethel?) – shocked by his own wickedness – instead of discrediting the young prophet, he confirmed his prophecy – v. 32
E. Be careful that even some preachers and church leaders have feet of clay – promote wrong doctrines for personal gain – to build a name for himself, or to gain fame or to be successful
Conclusion:
A. Jeroboam stubbornly did not repent of his sin of idolatry – v. 33-34
B. “In spite of the fact that Jeroboam was miraculously healed, he still didn't repent! In fact, neither threats, signs, judgment nor mercy moved Jeroboam's heart to repentance!
C. Pay attention to God’s Word - The problem this young prophet ran into was that he was willing to trust in something that an old man was telling him rather than what he had known that God had spoken to him.
D. Some people say, “If it feels good, do it”. God says,
E. (Prov 14:12 KJV) There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
F. Some people say, “All roads lead to God”. Jesus says,
(John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
H. Some people say “I’m going to heaven because I’m a good person”. God says,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
So, who are you going to believe? Men’s Word or God’s Word
© Copyright 2016 Mount Calvary Baptist Church. All Rights Reserved.
