Context: I Kings 13:11-34
Introduction
The word “Indiscretion” means, according to the Universal Reference Library Encyclopedia, “Rashness, imprudence, an unwise act, or a blunder”.
The word “blunder” means “a stupid mistake: a serious error; to make a bad mistake from stupidity or ignorance, to move or act clumsily”
It means to make an error or mistake, oversight, fault, omission. The general term “error” is any departure from the right or truth. We may commit errors of judgments, or make an error in a computation.
“Mistake” and “blunder” are two kinds of errors.
A mistake is an error of carelessness, inattention, or omission; it is not apt to be a grave matter, unless qualified by some such word as serious of grievous. A “blunder” is an error caused by stupidity, ignorance, conceit, or failure to understand. Blunders may be so serious as to bring punishment: sometimes they are ridiculous, and
not infrequently pathetic.
There is no doubt that the man of God in this story made a serious mistake and a grievous blunder. This man, who was called of God and who had almost fulfilled his calling, found himself in a moment of indiscretion.
He was now guilty of not being obedient to the voice of the Lord.
This is the chink in the armor of many of God’s people today, the act of disobedience. Let’s look at what happen to this man and evaluate it in our own lives.
First, notice that his man of God had been faithful. He had done well. He was totally committed to following through with his task.
His command had been to ----
Go to Jeroboam and prophecy against the altar (which had been built to offer idols).
He had prophesied of the coming altar upon which Jesus would be born and bring deliverance to Israel.
He told of the coming destruction of the present altar and the casting forth of the things in it and on it.
God was present. When Jeroboam tried to cry against the prophet, his hand was frozen with paralysis. Then, when he asked for healing and mercy, the Lord made him whole again. These should have been enough to start a great revival. Yet, Jeroboam continued to rebel and disobey God.
The man of God refused the offers of the king to stay and eat and receive great rewards. He was a man on a mission.
But, isn’t it amazing what can happen on the way home from a great meeting with God. He did go home a different way. But….
He faced one small moment of indiscretion.
It may have been a whisper from the enemy. “You are such a failure…”
It may have been a breeze of discouragement. “Man, did I ever mess things up. I just told the king where to get off… I’ll never be a used again.”
There are some things that happen that you and I need to be wary of in our service to the Lord.
The man of God stopped on his way home.
The “old” prophet found him and led him away from the path God had placed him on.
Let’s look at the man of God stopping at the “Roadside Oak”.
Why? Was he weary? Tired? Blue? Looking Backward?
How long did he stay stopped? Was he confused about where he was going and the direction in which he way going?
Well! I know that God loves and blesses people that are obedient to Him.
James 1:25 – “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therin, he being not a forgerful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Hebrews 10:9 –“Then said he, Lord, I come to do thy will, O, God.”
But, when the man of God stops under the “oak”, he is found by his problem.
The “Old” prophet found him under the Oak.
Here is a prophet of God living in “Israel” the land of idols and disobedience, tainted by attitudes of hatred, jealousy, envy, worldliness, and carnality. He may have been one of the priests that Jeroboam had appointed without anointing, proper lineage, qualifications, servanthood, or worship. He was anybody’s dog that would hunt with him. The very fact he ran after the man of God is almost carnal. He wanted to copy his anointing and his power and his prophetic ability.
My friend, you don’t get it that a way! You can’t buy it, borrow it, copy it, or steal it. It comes from God by the power of the Holy Ghost. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6
This old prophet was looking for personal glory instead of God’s glory. He lied to get his way. Then, he led God’s man away form the plan of God for his life.
What is the result of that “moment of indiscretion”?
The man of God’s vision changed from the vision of the Lord to the vision of the world.
The man of God’s character was affected. He, who had been faithful, suddenly becomes unfaithful. The man, who had the anointing, trades it for a coke, candy bar, and night on the mattress of ease. The one who had been the stirrer of men for God, the miracle worker, the prime-time preacher, the unspoiled, untouched pure man of faith suddenly becomes the weak, the dependent, and the defeated man of fear.
Lastly, the man of God who has enjoyed the joy of pleasing, performing, and producing is now the the Disobedient One.
He was no longer able to walk among the “heroes of the faith”. Men and women like –
Abel – who by faith offered a better sacrifice
Enoch – who by faith “pleased God”.
Noah – who “prepared an Ark to the saving of his house”
Abraham – who sojourned in the land of promise …for he looked for a city
Moses – who refused to be called the son of Pharoah, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God”
And others –
“Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” Hebrews 11:33-34
One Moment of disobedience will kill your faith and your testimony.
Here’s is the message:
Disobedience is not our Description
Disobedience has Consequences
Disobedience will Destroy You
I. Disobedience is not our Description
When you describe something you provide a vision of the thing or the person through words or actions.
For example, a fireman might be described as a man/woman who has clothing that will resist fire, water, and smoke. You might describe the truck that brings them, the water hoses, the helmets, boots, air tanks, etc.
You probably know that because of his commitment to saving property and lives, a firemen will risk his. Why? He has the heart, the vision, and the knowledge to deal with the fire.
What is Our Description?
Ask anyone about Church people. If they really know us they might describe our image:
They are godly people, who read, pray, sing, and shout unto the Lord.
They might describe us by our creeds: Legalistic or progressive.
They might describe us by our tools: The Bible, The Songbook, The musical instruments, the tambourines, the Sunday school class.
They might describe us by our actions: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, temperance, gentleness, goodness.
They might describe us by our preaching, our witnessing, or our churches.
But, Lord, Let them describe us by our Mission and our Vision.
Our mission is the preach the gospel, win every soul, heal the sick and hurting, evangelize the community, the city, the country, and the world.
Our vision is to help every Christian to become the perfected saint of God accomplishing God’s plan for his life and reaching the ultimate Goal of eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ.
God, let our description be one of “Obedient” people.
Paul told King Agrippa, “O, King, I have not been disobedient to the heavenly calling”
Folks! I may have had to miss one service with sickness, but I am not sitting under the Oak at the Roadside Park. I see clearly the end of the road and it is not in this world.
Describe me as Obedient.
Describe me as committed.
Describe me as Happy.
Describe me as willing.
II. Disobedience Has Consequences
The man of God went back with the Old Prophet, mainly, on the strength of a lie. That allows me to know immediately that this old prophet was not from God.
The began to eat and drink and have a great time. Then, suddenly, the man who had led the man of God away from his destiny, begins to prophesy to him.
Sadly, this time God was involved. He told him because of your disobedience, you will not lay in the grave of your ancestors
I can only imagine the feeling in the pit of his stomach at the Word from the Lord.
God’s Word has a different ring to it. It rings true. It strikes conviction to our heart. Conviction has become the number one fear of people who come to church today. They are afraid of the truth and the chance that if their sin is found out. They will have to face God.
The sad thing about this story is that it takes place before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. God had spoken judgement in the law and required the payment of the penalty.
It was as if God said, “Bub, you’ll have to pay the consequences of your failure to obey”.
You are going to die. You will not be able to be buried with your family.
Disobedience, even today, requires too much. It costs us the “peace” of God because we are against His will.
It costs us the success of our faith, because we no longer trust Him.
It costs us our positions, because our character is compromised.
Men that once believed in us, are now wary, because of our disobedience.
That is what happened in the life of Saul the king. He was anointed, chosen, and accepted. But, he traded it all, because of a jealous and envious paranoia. He was given the plan from God for complete victory over his enemies, but he disobeyed God.
Listen to this: I Samuel 15:22-23
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
Disobedience cost Saul everything:
His kingdom
His son
His sanity
His spirituality
His promises
Listen my friend, God is speaking to some here who are planning to sit down under the Oak tree. They are being led away by the sirens of family, fame, and fortunes.
But, Hear the Word of the Lord: “…hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?”
III. Disobedience will Destroy
Notice the end of the man of God.
He got up well fed and well rested and left the Best Western Motel. But not far down the road he met a terrible fate. A lion jumped on him and “tore him” and “killed” him.
The strange thing is that the lion didn’t eat the carcass and he didn’t run away. Even stranger, the lion didn’t attack the donkey of burden, but both of them stood in the road and watched the carcass of God’s man.
You know what was happening? God was in total control.
This is the message to Israel – “Your disobedience will destroy you because I have ordered it.”
He was saying to the the disobedient man of God – “You thought you were in control of your life, but you were weak and foolish and sinful and disobedient to the vision I called you too. Now, your life is destroyed, your vision is gone, your effectiveness is lost.”
He was saying to the world at large: “Look at the Lion and the Donkey and learn the lesson. Even dumb animals know when to be obedient unto me”
Perhaps, the Lion is symbolic of the Devil
If so, then what is the donkey symbolic of?
Could the donkey be symbolic of “ministry” that is standing in the presence of the Devil with no one to guide or to use them to accomplish the goal?
Conclusion
It is easy to make a stupid mistake or blunder or even to have a moment of indiscretion, but disobedience is a choice.
Disobedience can easily be changed to Obedience. Jesus was Obedient to the cross.
When your vision of Jesus becomes bigger and brighter than your weariness, trouble, or persecutions, then, Obedience becomes normal.
It is the normal lifestyle of the committed Christian.
God is calling you to come to Him and renew your commitment, become obedient to the Lord today.
