Lessons From the Unnamed Man of God

Text: 1 Kings 13

Introduction

The unnamed man of God was sent by God to speak against the false worship established by King Jeroboam. Although he began his work with courage and faithfulness, he later believed a lie, disobeyed God, and suffered a tragic end.

His life provides several important lessons for us.

I. We Must Have Courage to Speak Against What Is Wrong

A. Consider the sins of Jeroboam.

He changed the object of worship — 1 Kings 12:28.

He changed the place of worship — Dan and Bethel.

He changed the priesthood — 1 Kings 12:31.

He changed the time of worship — 1 Kings 12:32.

Jeroboam devised his religion in his own heart.

The man of God cried out against Jeroboam’s false religion — 1 Kings 13:1–2.

B. Many men of God had the courage to denounce sin.

Noah — Genesis 6:5; 2 Peter 2:5.

Nathan — 2 Samuel 12:1–14.

Jeremiah — Jeremiah 26:1ff.

John the Baptist — Matthew 14:1–12.

Stephen — Acts 7:51–60.

Paul.

C. God’s people must still be bold today.

We must cry out against worldliness.

We must cry out against spiritual lethargy and lukewarmness — Revelation 3:14–22.

We must stand firm on God’s teaching about marriage, divorce, and remarriage — Matthew 19:3–9; Romans 7:1–4.

II. God’s Word Has Always Been a Confirmed Word

A. The young prophet was given a sign.

He said, “This is the sign which the Lord has spoken” — 1 Kings 13:3.

The sign came to pass — 1 Kings 13:5.

B. God confirmed His word on other occasions.

Moses’ message was confirmed when he was sent to Pharaoh.

Christ confirmed His message — John 3:2; John 20:30–31.

The apostles’ teaching was confirmed:

Mark 16:20.

Hebrews 2:1–4.

2 Corinthians 12:12.

C. Miracles served their intended purpose.

First-century miracles were like scaffolding around a building.

Once revelation was completed, the scaffolding was no longer needed.

We can have complete confidence in the confirmed word of God.

God’s word gives us everything we need:

2 Timothy 3:16–17.

2 Peter 1:3.

III. Men Respond Differently When God’s Word Is Preached

A. Jeroboam reacted wrongly.

He became furious.

He ordered the man of God to be seized.

His hand dried up when he stretched it out against the prophet.

We must not merely react against God’s word.

B. People reacted differently during Christ’s ministry.

The people of Nazareth reacted against Jesus — Luke 4:28–30.

The Sadducees and Pharisees tried to trap Him.

On Pentecost, some responded properly when they heard the word — Acts 2:41.

C. People still respond in different ways.

Some are sad — Matthew 19:22.

Some are mad — 2 Kings 5:11–12.

Some are glad — Acts 2:41.

D. How do we respond when God’s word is preached?

When it addresses attendance?

When it addresses worldliness?

When it addresses giving?

When it addresses divorce?

When it addresses family responsibilities?

IV. It Is Not Smart to Always Follow the Same Course

A. The young prophet was told not to return the same way.

God commanded him not to eat bread.

God commanded him not to drink water.

God commanded him not to return by the same way — 1 Kings 13:9.

B. Conversion requires people to change their course.

Repentance requires change.

We must change when we see that we are wrong.

C. We must not excuse ourselves by saying:

“This is the way I have always been.”

“I have been living this way for many years.”

D. Continuing in the same rut is not wisdom.

When our ways are not God’s ways, it is time to change course.

We must be willing to correct our direction.

V. We Must Not Stop in Our Journey for the Lord

A. The prophet’s danger began when he stopped.

He sat down under an oak — 1 Kings 13:14.

That is when the old lying prophet overtook him.

Israel was commanded to “go forward” — Exodus 14:13–15.

B. We must not stop when God says go.

We must run the race — Hebrews 12:1.

We must press toward the mark — Philippians 3:13–14.

We must remain steadfast — 1 Corinthians 15:58.

We must go on to perfection — Hebrews 6:1.

C. There is no provision for stopping.

We either go forward or get off.

We either row the boat or drift.

The young prophet illustrates the danger of stopping in our journey for the Lord.

VI. We Must Beware of the Way That Seems Right

A. The old prophet’s invitation seemed reasonable.

The old prophet claimed that an angel had spoken to him.

His invitation may have seemed right to the young prophet.

God had spoken through angels on other occasions.

The old prophet appeared kind and helpful.

B. What seems right can still be wrong.

There is a way that seems right to man — Proverbs 14:12; 16:25.

Human reasoning might have asked, “What is wrong with eating with another prophet?”

C. We must not justify our actions by feelings or opinions.

We must walk by faith — 2 Corinthians 5:7.

We must appeal to the law and the testimony — Isaiah 8:20.

We must not base our eternal destiny on statements such as:

“It seems all right to me.”

“I will just let my conscience be my guide.”

D. A good conscience is not always a reliable guide.

Saul lived in good conscience, yet he had been wrong — Acts 23:1; 1 Timothy 1:15.

The way of man is not in himself — Jeremiah 10:23.

VII. A Man Can Believe a Lie and Be Lost

A. The old prophet lied.

He claimed that an angel had told him to bring the man of God home.

The Bible plainly says that he lied — 1 Kings 13:18.

B. The young prophet believed the lie.

He acted upon it.

He violated God’s word.

The lie he believed led him into disobedience.

C. The man of God trusted human testimony over God’s confirmed word.

He knew God’s original directions had been confirmed.

He had no confirmation from the old prophet.

He sinned when he acted upon a man’s word instead of God’s word.

D. Other examples and warnings demonstrate this danger.

Eve believed and obeyed Satan’s lie:

Genesis 3:1–6.

2 Corinthians 11:3.

1 Timothy 2:14.

Those who do not receive the love of the truth may believe a lie and be condemned — 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12.

We must search the Scriptures — Acts 17:11.

We must test the spirits — 1 John 4:1.

We must beware of false teachers:

Matthew 7:15.

2 Peter 2:1.

VIII. Partial Obedience Is Still Disobedience

A. Partial obedience is really disobedience.

The prophet first refused Jeroboam’s invitation because God had told him not to go.

Later, he did what he knew God had forbidden.

He had a good beginning but a disastrous ending.

Obedience plus obedience plus disobedience still equals disobedience.

B. We can place ourselves in the same situation.

A person may believe but refuse to obey the command to be baptized — Mark 16:16.

A person may attend services but fail to participate sincerely in worship — John 4:24.

A person may come to worship but live unchanged during the week.

IX. Those Who Seem Friendly Are Not Always True Friends

A. The old prophet appeared friendly.

He seemed cordial.

He seemed hospitable.

He seemed kind.

He appeared willing to share.

However, he was deceiving the man of God.

He was a lying prophet.

B. The devil also deceives.

Satan appears as an angel of light.

His ministers appear as ministers of righteousness.

C. Amnon had a supposed friend.

Jonadab appeared to be Amnon’s friend — 2 Samuel 13:1.

That supposed friend became his worst enemy.

D. Young people must beware of apparent friends.

Some may offer a “free sample” of something sinful or addictive.

They may say, “Just try it one time.”

That seeming friend may become your bitterest enemy.

Such a person may cost you your life and your soul.

E. A real friend:

Truly seeks your good, both now and after death.

Respects your convictions.

Sticks by you through thick and thin.

Never wants to enslave you to a sinful habit.

X. A Man Can Start Well and Still Fall

A. The man of God started well.

He was courageous.

He was brave.

He faithfully delivered God’s message at first.

B. His ending was tragic.

A lion killed him.

The lion did not eat his body.

The lion did not tear the donkey.

The lion simply killed a disobedient prophet.

C. Many others started well and later fell.

Judas — Mark 3:14–19.

Demas — Colossians 4:14; 2 Timothy 4:10.

The Galatians — Galatians 5:4.

The rocky and thorny-ground hearers fell away or were choked — Luke 8:11–15.

Those who escape the pollutions of the world can become entangled again — 2 Peter 2:20–22.

Conclusion

The unnamed man of God began his journey with courage, conviction, and obedience. However, he stopped along the way, trusted a man’s word over God’s word, and disobeyed what God had plainly commanded.

From his life, we learn:

We must courageously oppose what is wrong.

We must trust God’s confirmed word.

We must respond properly when truth is preached.

We must change our course when we are wrong.

We must continue faithfully in our journey.

We must not depend upon what merely seems right.

We must not believe religious lies.

We must obey God completely.

We must choose our friends carefully.

We must remain faithful until the end.