The Man of God.

"The Man of God".

1Kings 13:8-9 - "And the man of God said unto the king, If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, 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 thou camest."

1 Kings 13:16-17 - "And he said, I may not return with thee, nor go in with thee: neither will I eat bread nor drink water with thee in this place:

For it was said to me by the word of the LORD, Thou shalt eat no bread nor drink water there, nor turn again to go by the way that thou camest".

The story of the Man of God is an Open Book of Truth to everyone and for all to find their own flaws, and weaknesses under God's light to correct and seek for God's help and mercy to overcome.

The man of God after He finished what the Lord told him to do, there was still something lacking in him - his weakness which the enemy used against him.

If the man of God had determined in himself to be steadfast enough and refused to be tempted to fall, he would have overcome by His mercy. (Dan. 1:8, Ezra 7:10).

Being a servant of God, disciple and a saint does not exempt one from being flawless which all need to be conscious of at all times.

A weakness not acknowledged and confessed and forsaken leads to hardness of heart before God and disobedience to His commands.

And many a time He allows one thing in your life to put you on check at all times which you must know, and understand and observe in His wisdom and seek His mercy and help to overcome for you by His grace. (Rom. 6:11-14, 2Cor. 12:9) 

God told his servant (the man of God) "thou shall eat no bread, nor drink water" - this was His cross he failed to take up, which would have saved him. (1Kings 13:9, 17).

Obedience to God's commandments and instructions was the will of God and his cross but couldn't help because he was overwhelmed by a weaknesses called insatiable appetite which he couldn't overcome even at the last minute to breakthrough.

Moreso, because of his lack of complete commitment and dedication to God, and doing things his own way - he sat under a tree when he was meant to keep going till he got to his destination. (1Kings 13:14-15).

Many today, have tried to help God in finding an alternative way out outside of God's will by doing a bit of their own and then do God's own.

God wants total allegiance and devotion especially when one is sold out to Him for His special service.

It is much easier in this times where there is grace to help one die to self daily by acknowledging and confessing one's weaknesses before God and entirely forsake, if not where it is least expected, it will surface and could be very detrimental to one's life, call and ministry. (1Cor. 14:31).

As servants, saints and disciples, in service to God, there is one thing God demands which only Him can do and meet through us which is OBEDIENCE to His assignment, task and responsibilities He gives, no matter how small, so little, or irrelevant it may be in our eyes but not to Him.

The man of God also had a weakness of inability to keep secrets and had lack of discretion in relating personal matters.

Absolute holiness helps a saint to deal with weaknesses which is obtainable at the cross by His Spirit.

Adamic flaws and weaknesses cannot be suppressed, and all that is of the soul - the only way out is to be crushed by the cross of Christ.

- Many have made the mistake of walking right into a relationship God has not ordained and because of His special call upon their lives, most times He forbids such to have any relationship He has not willed for them.

- Many have found themselves in an environment God has not ordained for them to be.

- Many have also found themselves in a wrong place and location at the wrong time like the man of God which may lead to peril. 

- Many are they who started well like the man of God who finished but didn't finish well. It is one thing to finish but another thing to finish well and fully fulfilled both in life and after.

The name of the man of God was not mentioned, which by His light tells that God outrightly wiped out his name from His heart. Not that he never had a name given to him, but for his failure to be steadfast, trusty and his disobedience.

1Kings 13:23-24 - A lion killed him yet, didn't eat his carcass. This implies that it was not an ordinary lion which would have had a great feast on his flesh as meat.

In God's mercy, the old prophet did his burial - he took his carcass which was a proof as a man of God who still deserve to be buried for God did spoke His word through him and must surely come to pass. (1Kings 13:29-32).

 

This shows to us that, except God in His mercy and grace helps a man, he cannot overcome his weakness, and only obedience can help him as it is in the Old Testament so it is in the New Testament. And we have much privilege whereby Christ alone in His mercy can be Obedience in us and through us to meet His demands.

It is note worthy to know that disobedience to God will determine the measures of His judgment in His time. Thus the need to obey and take up our cross and follow Him is very important. No other way out but only at the cross and by the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 16:24-25).

It is not too late, God is calling and beckoning on us to come out of the world, it's cares and the life of sinful nature and be not partakers of their sins so as to receive not of their plagues. (2Cor. 6:17-18, Rev. 18:4).

May we not live in disobedience to God and His Word in Jesus Name. 

May we not grieve Him so that His grace will not expire on us in Jesus Name.

May we not listen to the voice of man but only Your voice Oh Lord in Jesus Name.

Lord please, help us to finish well in Jesus Name. (2Tim. 4:7-8).

God's Loving Heart.