Conflicting Voices A World of Conflicting Voices Salvation Christian Living True Worship Obedience The Church Prophet from Judah and Old Prophet in Bethel 1 Kings 13 Prophet from Judah and Old Prophet in Bethel 1 Kings 13

2 Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the Lord, and said, O altar, altar! Thus says the Lord: Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you. 3 And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out. Prophet From Judah Acting “by the word of Jehovah” –Stood against king & delivered God’s message (1 Kgs. 13:2-3). –Withstood temptations to disobedience: flattery, greed, hunger (1 Kgs. 13:8-9). 8 But the man of God said to the king, If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. 9 For so it was commanded me by the word of the Lord, saying, You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.

The Conflicting Voices Old prophet claimed an angel spoke to him. –Assuring the prophet he had a divine message that altered the previous orders. The Conflict: What to believe? –Reason & conscience would say to hold on to what you know to be true. –Appetite assured him to believe what he wanted to be true.

The Conflicting Voices Consider the Facts: –First message came direct from God. –It was confirmed by miracles. –Second message came from a complete stranger. –Seemingly unfaithful prophet. –It was void of any divine evidence. –All evidence points to the fact this was a lie.

The Lesson For Us Definitely a part of God’s revelation He preserved for us and wants us to learn from it (Rom. 15:4). Similar experiences can and do happen to people today. How can we know what is right? For whatever things were written before were written for our learning…

How can we know what is right? Always remain within the boundary of revealed truth. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son (2 Jn. 9). Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 Jn. 4:1). Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit (Mt. 15:14).

How can we know what is right? Beware the voice of emotion. Emotions can make a lie appear to be true. The voice of reason sometimes appears cold, harsh, or even unreasonable. And the woman said to the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die (Gen. 3:2-3). And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God (2 Sam. 6:6-7).

How can we know what is right? Always listen to the voice of reason and conscience. And Paul, looking steadfastly on the council, said, Brethren, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day (Acts 23:1). So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man (Acts 24:16). Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2). It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life (Jn. 6:63).

How can we know what is right? Always be cautious of the voice of opinion. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ (Col. 2:8). But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. (2 Kgs. 5:11-12).

Voices in the World Say: Baptism isn’t necessary for salvation. Join the church of your choice. Worship any way that pleases you. God won’t punish anyone eternally. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved… (Mk. 16:16). There is one body… (Eph. 4:4). …those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24). And these will go away into eternal punishment… (Mt. 25:46).