BELIEVING A LIE
MANY WOULD RATHER BELIEVE A LIE
BECAUSE THE TRUTH REQUIRES CHANGE
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The stories in the Bible never grow old. Their examples still grabs our attention just as they did
when we were young. God put these stories in His instruction book for a purpose. God’s called Apostle Paul
understood that because he wrote, “For whatsoever things were written afore-time were written for our learning,
that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope” [Rom 15:4].
King David expressed strong feelings about God’s laws when he asked the Creator to “Open mine eyes,
that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law” [Psalms 119:18]. In all likelihood, we don't review these
many stories in God’s word, as often as we should.
One great story found in the Bible is that of a prophet from Judah, who was commissioned by God with
an important task. This prophet was not given a name so we will simply call him, “the young prophet” Today, we need to harvest this young prophet story, found in the book of I Kings chapter 13, but first lets
read some background information, by starting in 1 Kings 12:. Here is where we find, Jeroboam altering God's
religion, and committing a variety of grievous sins. When reading I Kings 12:30-33, these verses capture what
those grievous sins were “And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, (in
Bethel ) and even unto Dan. And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people,
which were not of the sons of Levi. And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the that’s (just like
some will be doing next year 2016) fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, And he
offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel
the priests of the high places which he had made. So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the
Fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a
feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense” (1 Kings 12:30-33).
These verses reveal to us Jeroboam changed the place an date of worship. He set golden calves in Dan
and Bethel to be worshiped, he also changed the qualifications for the priests, he set up a new religious calendar
by changing the date of the Feast of Tabernacles to be on the eighth month instead of the seventh month. During
his kingship he changed many things “as he had devised in his own heart." In the course of time, Jeroboam
assumed the place of a priest and planned to offer incense on his new altar at Bethel. And while he was offering
incense at the altar in Bethel God appeared to a young prophet of Judah and ordered him to go to Bethel and cry
against the altar, and denounce the idolatrous alter.
We pick up this story in the next chapter. Follow along with me and we will let God’s word tell us the
story today. “And, behold, there came a man of God out of Judah by the word of the Lord unto Bethel: and
Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. And he (the young prophet ) cried against the altar in the word of
the Lord, And he gave a sign the same day, saying, this is the sign which The Lord has spoken; behold, the altar
shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out” (1 Kings 13:1-3).
Jeroboam did not welcome this uninvited young prophet from the south who gave him God’s point of
view. Notice verse 4, where we read, Jeroboam pointed to the young prophet and ordered him to be
apprehended. “And it came to pass, when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried
against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, lay hold on him. And his hand, which
he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. The altar also was rent, and the
ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God [the young Prophet] had given by
the word of the Lord” (1 Kings 13:4 - 5).
God’s orders, given to this young prophet was not said to Jeroboam in vain. Jeroboam found that out
when he stretched out his arm and it was immediately paralyzed. I’m sure that struck terror in the hearts of
both king and the people who were there that witnessed this. Also the altar was split apart and the ashes spilled
out, picturing an omen of doom for Jeroboam’s religious practices.
There are many lesson through out the Bible reminding all of us, it is dangerous for anyone whoever he
or she may be to lift up their hand against a person sent with a sound solemn message from God.
This king and his audience knew they had before them a true prophet from God. In verse 6 we read, “And
the king answered and said unto the man of God, intreat now the face of the Lord your God, and pray for me,
that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, [prayed to God ] and the king's
hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.”
The king now realized he could not silence this young prophet sent from God – by threats, so he pondered
on a new idea – verse 7 tells us, “And the king said unto the man of God, come home with me, and refresh
yourself, and I will give you a reward. And the man of God said unto the king, if you will give me half your
house, I will not go in with you, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place: For so was it charged me
by the word of the Lord, saying, eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that you came.
So he went another way, and returned not by the way that he came to Bethel (I Kings 13:7-10). So we find him
honoring his instructions that were commanded him by the word of the Lord, saying, 'You shall not eat bread,
Nor drink water, And don’t -- return by the same way you came. His instructions were not hard to understand,
nor difficult to observe. It is the same for us! God's commandments are understandable and not burdensome.
John tells us, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: And His commandments are not
grievous” (1 John 5:3).
There is no better picture or story of obedience than this young prophet of faith and man of God left
us to reflect on. He was not afraid of the wrath Jeroboam the king could cause him, he laid his own life on the
line. We can read of many other subjects in the Bible of people that were imprisoned or killed for the same
courage this young prophet displayed.
Reading II Chronicles. 2, there we will witness the ordered stoning of Zechariah for delivering God’s
warning to the people. “And the spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood
above the people, and said unto them, thus saith God, why transgress you the commandments of the Lord, that
you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He has also forsaken you. And they conspired against
him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord” (II
Chronicles 24:20-21). This is an example of a king having little gratitude for the kindness that had been shown
him by the father of Zechariah.
Back to this young prophet the man of God, that prayed for Jeroboam’s arm to be healed, was not moved
by the kings glory or honor. If he was – he would have accepted to go home with the king and eat with him. To
do that would have been a great honor, knowing– not all are privileged to eat with kings! But, had he accepted
he could have reasoned, I'll have a good influence on the king, giving him cause to change, and recognize his
short comings in God’s eyes, but the young prophet –as we read would accept no reward.
This young prophet was not like Balaam, that we read of in II Peter 2:15, Balaam the Midianite prophet,
was hired by the king of Moab to curse Israel. His motive for doing that was money. Peter writes, “false teachers
have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the
wages of unrighteousness.” These false teachers pose as being a spokesman for God, having influence, prestige,
money, ect, But that was not on this young prophet mind, he would have no part of this kind of thinking.
There was just no persuading him, he was determined to obey God in everything.
The story does not end here! We will look at the other side of the story. Or as Paul Harvey would say–
“now the rest of the story.” Now back to the story of the young prophet of God. “Now there dwelt an old prophet
in Bethel; and his sons came and told him all the works that the man of God (the young prophet) had done that
day in Bethel: the words which he had spoken unto the king, them they told also to their father. And their father
said unto them, what way went he? For his sons had seen what way the man of God went, which came from
Judah. And he said unto his sons, saddle me the donkey. So they saddled one for him: and he rode thereon, And
went after the man of God, and found him sitting under an Oak: and he said unto him, art you the man of God
that came from Judah? And he said, I am. Then he said unto him, come home with me, and eat bread. And he
said, I may not return with you, nor go in with you: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with you in this place:
for it was said to me by the word of the Lord, you shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go
by the way that you came. He (the old prophet of Bethel) said unto him, I am a prophet also as you are; and an
angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat
bread and drink water. So he ( the young prophet) went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank
water” (1 Kings 13:11-18).
Verse 18 is a key verse on understanding God's purpose for revealing this event to us. Lets read that
verse again leaving none of it out. “He said unto him, I am a prophet also as you are; and an angel spake unto
me by the word of the Lord, saying, bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat bread and drink
water. But He lied unto him.” ( I kings 13:18).
What does Jesus Christ teach us about liars? “Why do you not understand My speech? Even because
you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a
murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie,
he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it” (John 8:43-44) Believing a lie has terrible
consequences that’s why we cannot judge a thing to be true by what we hear, we must prove it for ourselves.
Lets now consider the good things this young prophet had accomplished:, 1). He had been able to
withstand the wrath of the king. 2). He stood firm against flattery. 3). He had shunned the lure of riches. 4) He
proved to not be a bad person. 5). He was brave in character and in truth. 6). He showed himself previously
to have been absolutely faithful and loyal to God.
But there is more to this story, in verse 21-22, where the word of the Lord came to the young prophet
as they were sitting around the table eating and drinking, “Thus saith the Lord, for as much as you have disobeyed
the mouth of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but
came back, and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of the which the Lord did say to you, eat no bread,
and drink no water; your carcase shall not come unto the sepulcher of your fathers. (You shall not be buried
with your family).
Continuing with the story in 1 Kings 13: 23, we will read how the young prophet was destroyed because
he believed the old prophets lie! “And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drank, they
saddled for him a donkey, for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone, a lion met him
by the way, and slew him: And his carcase was cast in the way, and the donkey stood by it, the lion also stood
by the carcase. And, behold, men passed by, and saw the carcase cast in the way, and the lion standing by the
carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt. And when the prophet that brought
him back from the way heard thereof, he said, it is the man of God, who was disobedient unto the word of the
Lord: therefore the Lord has delivered him unto the lion, which has torn him, and slain him, according to the
Word of the Lord, which he spoke unto him. And he spoke to his sons, saying, saddle me the donkey and they
saddled him. And he went and found his carcase cast in the way, and the donkey and the lion standing by the
carcase: the lion had not eaten the carcase, nor torn the donkey. And the prophet took up the carcase of the man
of God, and laid it upon the donkey and brought it back: and the old prophet came to the city, to mourn and to
bury him. And he laid his carcase in his own grave; and they mourned over him, saying, alas, my brother! And
it came to pass, after he had buried him, that he spoke to his sons, saying, when I am dead, then bury me in the
sepulchre wherein the man of God is buried; lay my bones beside his bones” (1 Kings 13:23-31).
The question is? What about this older prophet? Was not his the greater sin? Why didn't the Lord kill
him instead of the young prophet? We know the Bible is clear about the fate of all liars. What do you think this
story teaches us? It teaches us God wants to impress upon our minds the danger of believing a lie. [Like
postponing God’s holy days in the Jewish Hebrew calendar that most Churches of God follow!]. It is stories
and lessons like this that we learn believing a thing to be true, does not make it true. We just read an example
of that. The young prophet believed the lie of the old prophet.
Suppose you were told that one churches teaching is just as good as another and you believed it –without
proving it! Does that make it so? What about the churches of God that teach man has the authority to postpone
God’s annual Holy Days for a whole month? Does that make it the right thing to do? No – we must render full
obedience to God.
We are told in Exo 20, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it Holy” (Ex 20:8). Also God’s inspired
Words told Moses “Speak you also unto the children of Israel, [spiritual Israel] saying, verily My Sabbaths you
shall keep: for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations; that you may know that I am the
Lord that does sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defiles
it [corrupts it or pollute it] shall surely be put to death: for whosoever does any work therein, that soul Shall
be cut off from among his people. ( Exo 31:13-14). This includes work on God’s annual Holy Day Sabbaths.
Verse 16 goes on to say “Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath
throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant”(Exo 31:16).
Notice as we go forward with this subject, Hosea 5:7, “Now shall a month [pagan new moon] devour
them with their portions;” [inheritance]. Looking now at Zechariah 11:8, reveals an interesting statement
“Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and My soul loathed [detest] them, and their soul also abhorred
Me [disgusts me].” It is probably best to understand these three shepherds as three ministers [leaders] given to
administer the Eternal’s Kingdom to His called out ones.
Remember, the young prophet perished, not by wickedness or lack of sincerity, but by believing a mans
lie! God’s Word is clear, “It is a sin to believe in “The tradition of men.” We are reminded, we cannot judge
a thing to be true just because some person says its true. “We are to prove all things; hold fast that which is
good” (1 Thess 5:21). The Apostle Paul told Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman
that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim 2:15). The young prophet took the word
of another man, without proving where his authority came from.
The Apostle Paul was inspired again by God to remind us to be aware of “Jewish fables” and the
commandments of men that turn from the truth” (Titus 1:14).
The Apostle Paul was filled with wisdom, he was aware that after his departure the church would be
attacked from without and within by the tradition of men and Jewish fables, he called them “Wolves in sheep’s
clothing.” “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the
flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them”
(Acts 20:29-30). There are many fables being taught today. It is like Solomon said. “there is nothing new under
the sun.”
Paul address false teachers again in II Cor 11, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light” (II Cor 11:13-14). Paul cannot contain himself any longer, he calls them what they are: deceitful
workers, going from church to church seeking to gain adherence to their gospel teachings.
Christ says, you will know them by their fruits. They profess to be speaking for God but they come in
counterfeit clothing, giving the appearance of being true believers, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. God’s
word is laced with caution! Christ speaking in Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in
sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”
In the book of Jude it is written, “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old
ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the Grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the
only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4). Believing or acting out a lie has terrible consequences.
Again I ask? Why didn't God just kill the liar? It is because there would have been no lesson for us to learn
today.
If we are to be teachers and helper in the millennium, we must be schooled today in recognizing a lie,
recognize a fable, recognize when God’s annual Holy Days are delayed. Recognize Judaizers and recognize
ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing. Those who follow the tradition of man, by following the Jewish Hebrew
calendar put together by Hillel II in the 358-9 AD. This is the lie that is taught to God’s called, who do not prove
for themselves if the Hebrew calendar postpones, delays God’s annual Holy Days!
Everyone knows by reading the end of the Bible that God will punish liars. “But the fearful, and
unbelieving, and the abominable, and Murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and All liars,
shall have their part in the lake which burns with Fire and brimstone: which is the second death” (Rev.
21:8).
Few realize that believing a lie or acting out a lie is equally as fatal, as being the liar. The old prophet said
that an angel spoke to him to bring the young prophet back to his house. This is like we hear from a number of
Churches that teach it is OK to postpone God’s annual Sabbaths and work that day. Gal 1: admonishes us to take
heed! “I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another
gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto
you, let him be accursed.” (Gal 1:6-9).
We learn again from Paul not be deceived. “Henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and by
the tradition of men carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive” (Eph 4:14).
When God’s Holy Spirit operates in God’s appointed manner, three dangers are avoided. 1]. Immaturity;
2]. Instability; 3]. Gullibility. Immaturity: God’s calls those who never become involved in the aggressive
service for Christ spiritual children, they are undeveloped through the lack of experiencing volunteering for
serving. Heb 5:12 express it this way. “For when for the time you ought to be teachers, you have need that one
teach you again which be the first principles of the Oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk,
and not of strong meat.”
Instability: This is another danger, the immature called are susceptible to the peculiar novelties and fads
of professional impostors they become religious gypsies, moving to and fro, from one appealing fantasy to
another. They are like chaff blowing in the wind they never stay loyal and stable in one place.
Gullibility: This is the most serious of all, the danger of deception. Heb 5: reminds us, “For every one
that uses milk is unskilful in the word of Righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that
are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil”
(Heb 5:13-14).
If we study and obey God’s word [not mans traditions] you will be able to see through mans deceitful
juggling. The same thing that happened to the young prophet can happen to us today if we believe a lie! If we
believe the tradition of men. All kinds of lies– untruths, are being preached and followed today.
If we do not develop a love for God's truth, God will aid us in believing a lie. “And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not
the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness [traditions]” (II Thess. 2:11-12].
The strong delusion comes from God. It is both the punishment and the result of their rejection of the
truth. Let us have a strong, intense, sincere, love for truth. This will help us avoid believing a lie and traditions
of men.
We must think on theses things: Believing a thing to be true, does not make it true. Believing a lie or
acting out a lie — has terrible consequences! And last, we must render full obedience to God and not mans
traditions.
☜
James Russell