Lions in Your Life 1 Kings 13 14

Lions in Your Life 1 Kings 13 -14

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 Wondering Where the Lions Are By Bruce Cockburn (CAN) • Written in response to a relative that said we could wake up to Nuclear War in the morning (During the Cold War – US & Russia). • Song about man not being as crazy, or foolish, as they say. • We simply be ourselves and man will not just think about, but walk into eternity, ecstasy. • Where are the lions that man is supposed to see and be?

Wondering Where the Lions Are By Bruce Cockburn (CAN) Verse 1 Sun's up, mm-hmm, looks okay Verse 2 I had another dream about lions at the door The world survives into another day They weren't half as frightening as they were before And I'm thinking 'bout eternity But I'm thinking 'bout eternity Some kinda ecstasy got a hold on me Some kinda ecstasy got a I'm wondering where the lions areon (wondering where the hold me Chorus lions are)

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 Are you wondering where the lions are? Or… Where are the lions not in my life? Or… Why are there lions in my life?

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 Lions metaphor = anything that does not fit or is destructive Bible • Satan, roaring & devouring lion (1 Peter 5: 8 -9) • Enemies (Ps. 17: 9 -12) • Wicked (Isaiah 5: 29 -30) • Jesus, Lion of Judah (Rev. 5: 5 -6) • God’s judgment (Jer. 25: 37 -38)

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 “Peaceful meadows will be turned into a wasteland by the LORD’s fierce anger. He has left his den like a strong lion seeking its prey, and their land will be made desolate by the sword of the enemy and the LORD’s fierce anger. ” -Jeremiah 25: 37 -38

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 Believers are to be like lions! “The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions. ” –Proverbs 28: 1 So… are you a lion or do you have a lion chasing you?

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 Lions are used as portraying good and bad in the Bible. So…Which lion do I have in my life? and…Why is it there?

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 The Old Prophet and the man of God – 1 Kings 13: 11 -34 Backstory • King Solomon – disobeyed God and took foreign women for his wives and they led him to worship false gods (1 Kings 11; Eccl. 1: 12 -2: 26). Kingdom removed. • King Rehoboam – refused to listen to the Elders and increased the burden of the Israelites, rather than decrease their burden as requested (1 Kgs 12). Kingdom removed. • King Jeroboam – Led the Israelites into Idolatry. Set up false worship. Burned unauthorized incense. Son died, Kingdom removed.

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 The Old Prophet and the man of God – 1 Kings 13: 11 -34 The Kings… Failed to live up to their opportunities afforded by God.

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 The Old Prophet and the man of God – 1 Kings 13: 11 -34 King Jeroboam… Created the ‘god of convenience’ Is the god you worship the god of convenience? Or the real God?

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 The Old Prophet and the man of God – 1 Kings 13: 11 -34 Do not let other people determine the will of God for your life. Obey His word to you, regardless of the cost, or experience the lion of the Lord.

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 The Old Prophet and the man of God – 1 Kings 13: 11 -34 When the prophet who had brought him back from his way heard � about it� , he said, “He is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the LORD. The LORD has given him to the lion, and it has mauled and killed him, according to the word of the LORD that He spoke to him. ” -1 Kings 13: 26 (HCSB)

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 The Old Prophet and the man of God – 1 Kings 13: 11 -34 To disobey the commands of the LORD is to bring a lion into your life. Do I have a lion in my life? Who put it there?

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 The Old Prophet and the man of God – 1 Kings 13: 11 -34 Being deceived, or enabling, oneself to be deceived is not an acceptable excuse with God. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ” –Mt. 10: 16 ESV

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 14 Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. ” -2 Tim.

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 The Old Prophet and the man of God – 1 Kings 13: 11 -34 A man of God does not move backward in life, he always moves forward following God. The necessities of life are to be secondary to the commands of the LORD; He already knows what you

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 What does one need to do to be rid of the lions in one’s life that God has placed there? • Love God, Love Man (Mt. 23: 26 -27) • Repent – seek God’s favor & forgiveness; confess your sin, accept God’s forgiveness (1 Jn. 1: 9; James 4: 7 -10)

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ”-1 Jn. 1: 9

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 “Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people! 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. ” –

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 What does one need to do to be rid of the lions in one’s life that God has placed there? • Love God, Love Man (Mt. 23: 26 -27) • Repent – seek God’s favor & forgiveness; confess your sin, accept God’s forgiveness (1 Jn. 1: 9; James 4: 710) • Humble yourself to God & Obey Him –

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. ” –James 4: 6 9“As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love. 10 If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love. ” –John 15: 9 -10

Lions in Your Life – 1 Kings 13 -14 Excuses bring lions into our lives! “A lion doesn’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep. ” -Anonymous