1. powerpoint presentation designed by claro ruiz vicente http://clarovicente.weebly.com Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2010 Adult Bible Study Guide Oct Nov Dec 2010

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4. Background Characters in the Old Testament Contents 1. Story and History 2. Caleb: Living With the Wait 3. Hannah: Learning to Be Someone 4. Jonathan: Born for Greatness 5. Abigail: No Victim of Circumstances 6. Uriah: Faith of a Foreigner 7. Abiathar: The Priest 8. Joab: David’s Weak Strongman 9. Rizpah: The Influence of Faithfulness 10. The Man of God: Obedience is Not Optional 11. The Widow of Zarephath: The Leap of Faith 12. Gehazi: Missing the Mark 13. Baruch: Building a Legacy in a Crumbling World

5. Background Characters in the Old Testament Our Goals {181} T o “learn things that can help us to write a different and better story for ourselves.” To “read Scripture afresh, looking beyond the obvious to discover the joy of learning new truths from God’s Word.” To “remember the power of our own lives and examples.”

6. Background Characters in the Old Testament Lesson 10, December 4 Background Characters in the Old Testament Lesson 10, December 4 The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional

7. Key Text 2 Peter 1:20, 21 NIV A bove all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

8. The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional Initial Words {300} B elow the surface of this story about a nameless prophet lies the important issue of obedience and how seriously God takes our obedience. Whatever the unanswered questions, this story shows that any expression of the gospel without resulting obedience is, of necessity, a false gospel.

9. The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional Quick Look 1. The DISOBEDIENT King (1 Kings 12:28-30) 2. The OBEDIENT Prophet (1 Kings 13:1-2, 5) 3. The DISOBEDIENT Prophet (1 Kings 13:21-24)

10. The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional 1. The Disobedient King 1 Kings 12:28-30 NKJV T he king…made two calves of gold, and said to the people. ‘It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, which brought you up from the land of Egypt!’ And he set up one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. Now this thing became a sin, for the people went to worship….”

11. 1.The Disobedient King The Politics of Religion {301} J eroboam set the northern kingdom on a very dangerous path. He did not deliberately set out to lead Israel from a worship of God to idolatry; instead, he was acting from political expediency. He created two centers of worship, one at Bethel and one at Dan. He claimed to be trying to make things easier for the Israelites,

12. 1.The Disobedient King The Politics of Religion {301} so that they would not have to travel all the way to Jerusalem in order to worship. The golden calves were simply to be a visual reminder of God (not a representation) and were to make worship more credible for the common Israelite. What started as a political move, however, led to the breaking of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:4, 5).

13. Jeroboam was obliged to make other changes as well. He wanted to persuade some of the Levites, living within his borders, to serve as priests at his newly established shrines. 1.The Disobedient King The Politics of Religion {301} However, they saw the dangers and were not prepared to contradict God’s commands; thus, Jeroboam was compelled to make priests of common people which in turn degraded the sacred office.

14. The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional 2. The Obedient Prophet 1 Kings 13:1-2, 5 NKJV A man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the L ORD, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the L ORD …. The altar…split apart…according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the L ORD.”

15. 2. The Obedient Prophet God’s Move {303} W hat are the main points of the message the man of God brings? First, the altar is illegal, and the man of God predicts that a descendant of David named Josiah will defile it. This is exactly what Jeroboam most fears. He is establishing these worship centers especially to avoid losing his kingdom to someone who sits on David’s throne.

16. The second part of the message provides an immediate demonstration of God’s power. Before everyone, the altar splits apart. And now instead of being repentant, Jeroboam points at the man of God. Pointing the hand, stick, or scepter has always been a sign of judgment in biblical times. Jeroboam wants to have him arrested. So much for surrendering to the will of God. 2. The Obedient Prophet God’s Move {303}

17. 2. The Obedient Prophet Giver of Gift {306} Jeroboam offers him a reward. Giving a gift places the giver in a position of power, and the receiver “owes” the giver. The man of God refuses the king’s gift and goes on to state that he will not eat or drink in the territory of Israel. By not accepting Jeroboam’s hospitality, the man of God says “No” to mixing true worship with idolatry. God’s people should not be for sale.

18. 1 Kings 13:21-24 NKJV H e cried to the man of God… ‘Thus says the L ORD : “Because you have disobeyed…and…came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place which the L ORD said to you, ‘Eat no bread and drink no water….’ ” ’ So when he had gone, a lion met him in the road and killed him.” The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional 3. The Disobedient Prophet

19. Tempting Lies {307} T he man of God must have understood something of the urgency of his mission. However, here he is, sitting under a tree in Israel, taking it easy. He could have walked the 2 kilometers and then could have sat under a tree in Judah. By losing his sense of urgency, the man of God was opening himself to temptation.

20. The man of God seems so easily taken in. After so obviously being led of God, after so obviously doing the Lord’s will, he just falls for the trick and goes directly against what God has told him to do. But God never excuses belief in a lie when the lie is directly opposed to a clear command that He has given. 3. The Disobedient Prophet Tempting Lies {307}

21. It is important to have a clear word from the Lord. In other words, we need to study God’s Word, the Bible, for ourselves. A true prophet or teacher will not contradict other inspired revelation. Because God never contradicts Himself, any new prophecy or teaching from God will add to established truth and not subtract from it. The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional Final Words {309}

22. It also will encourage obedience and never disobedience. Finally, we can judge prophets and teachers by the results of their teaching for their audience and in their own lives. The Man of God: Obedience Is Not Optional Final Words {309}