Lies That Surprise Series

LIES THAT SURPRISE

A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART XVII (TOPIC: SHOCKED BY LIES)

BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:33-37

5:33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ 5:34 But I say to you, do not take oaths at all – not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, 5:35 not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. 5:36 Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. 5:37 Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one. (evil one could also mean evildoer).

Transition:

The Background: Jeroboam was the first King of the divided kingdom of Israel. He was a wicked king who erected two golden figures as worship. One at Dan and the other at Bethel. He also instituted a non-Levitical priesthood. It is at the dedicating of the altar at Bethel that the events in our scripture take place. Tonight I want us to look at the events focusing mainly upon the young prophet who came from Judah to confront Jeroboam.

I. THE ACTION

BIBLE VERSE: I Kings 13:1-5

1 By the word of the Lord a man of God came from Judah to Bethel, as Jeroboam was standing by the altar to make an offering. 2 He cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord: "O altar, altar! This is what the Lord says: ’A son named Josiah will be born to the house of David. On you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who now make offerings here, and human bones will be burned on you.’ " 3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: "This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out." 3 That same day the man of God gave a sign: "This is the sign the Lord has declared: The altar will be split apart and the ashes on it will be poured out.”

4 When King Jeroboam heard what the man of God cried out against the altar at Bethel, he stretched out his hand from the altar and said, "Seize him!" But the hand he stretched out toward the man shriveled up, so that he could not pull it back. 5 Also, the altar was split apart and its ashes poured out according to the sign given by the man of God by the word of the Lord.

A. Not Worshipping God is a Lie For Those That Believe In Him: NOT worshipping God is lying. For we are to proclaim that God is the savior of the world, which is true. But NOT proclaiming Christ is the savior of the world—is a lie. Especially to those who claim to believe that there is a God.

“I believe in God, but I am not going to go to church or worship him.” It sounds nice, sounds noble. But there is absolutely no excuse for such behavior. To know and believe that there is a God and to NOT follow him is absolutely crazy—and sinful.

We talked on Wednesday night, if I said I love my wife but won’t spend any time with her, I am acting ridiculous.

B. Bad Consequences For Leading Others Astray: And for a leader, a leader of Godly people, to not proclaim God’s greatness—but instead proclaim something else as a deity—down right awful.

C. Examples About Some Who Led Others Astray:

Holy Land overwhelmed with ’Messiahs’

Dec. 24, 1999 - As many as 40,000 cases of "Jerusalem Syndrome" are expected in Israel during the holidays this year. This is usually a short-lived condition which convinces thousands of tourists they are Jesus or another biblical figure.

Some people, like Ernest Moch from California continue to play their roles and even attract followers. Moch believes he is Elijah the Prophet

Source: BBC

And the punishment in this particular case of lying in such a way, is a shriveled arm. But on request of the king, God restores the man’s hand. Then, look what happens…

II. THE RESPONSE

BIBLE VERSE: 1 Kings 13:7-10

7 The king said to the man of God, "Come home with me and have something to eat, and I will give you a gift."

8 But the man of God answered the king, "Even if you were to give me half your possessions, I would not go with you, nor would I eat bread or drink water here. 9 For I was commanded by the word of the Lord: ’You must not eat bread or drink water or return by the way you came.’ " 10So he took another road and did not return by the way he had come to Bethel.