Taking Down a Nation-Part A

From beginning to the end of the Scripture we find that in the Old Testament the word idle idols. Idolatry appears 111 times the one who won the contest. The idle contest was a king by the name of Jeroboam. Jeroboam is the one were to read about today. Jeroboam it is said 20 times that he made Israel sin. He brought the nation down because the nation to send. In fact, couple chapters. After this first Kings 14 God says you have done more evil than all those who were before you. How would you like that on your tombstone.

Oswald Chambers once said, sin is not a weakness.

It is red-handed rebellion against God and the magnitude of that rebellion is expressed by Calvary's cross today on connect with Skip hi to Skip looks at how one man's rebellion brought down a nation and you will learn why relinquishing control and power to the Lord enhances your life. Before we begin julep Bible study trip to Israel is a life changing your Bible study will never be the same Skip has lived in Israel, and lead tours. Many many times. As to invite you. One is next to her. You know there's always something new to see and experience in Israel and I'm so excited to let you know that I'm taking another tour group to Israel next spring. In 2022 urine for an incredible time as we travel throughout Israel and experience the culture that's so unique to that country will start on the Mediterranean Sea and head north. Seeing places like Caesarea and Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee and the Jordan River will spend several days in and around Jerusalem and see the temple mount Calvary, the garden of Gethsemane and the Mount of olives and much more. This remarkable itinerary is made richer with times of worship, Bible study, and lots of fellowship. Now I've been to Israel and number of times over the years that I can honestly say that visiting the places where the events of the Scriptures unfolded where Jesus lived taught and healed. It just never gets old. I can't wait to see you in Israel start planning and saving now to tour Israel with Skip Heitzig information and inspiration. Cruises.com/see ABQ. That's inspiration cruises.com/see ABQ. Let's get into today's teaching where first Kings chapter 12 as we begin our study with Skip hi to a few years ago I was doing a series on the 10 Commandments and it was the second week where I was speaking on the second commandment. And you know that commandment is as you will not have any graven images you want fashion for yourself any graven images and it was interesting because I was my birthday week and a friend of mine sent me a present and I opened it up and it was essentially a graven image of myself. It's a bobble heads look on a motorcycle.

He so I just found it strange that the very week.

I'm speaking about idolatry and graven images I get this in the mail you not to worry. No one worships a trust me when it comes to the Bible you know that God takes idolatry very seriously. In fact, God predicted if you turn from me. I am the Lord your God will have no other gods besides me.

If you turn from me to other gods to idols. It will bring the nation down. He predicted that would happen a few years ago for the last 15 years up until this year. One of the most popular shows on television was called American Idol and it's produced some heavy hitters like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood but I read an article about American Idol that was called. It doesn't always pay to win in the article essentially was saying it's not always the first place, but it's often second, third and fourth runners up there, go on to have successful careers in fact some serious stars like Lady antebellum's Hillary Scott never even made it past the audition on American Idol, but went on to see some great fame. Well, it certainly doesn't pay to win the idle contest in Israel because Israel's God always had a problem with it from beginning to the end of the Scripture we find that in the Old Testament the word idle idols. Idolatry appears 111 times, but the one who won the contest. The idle contest was a king by the name of Jeroboam and Jeroboam is the one were to read about today. Jeroboam it is said 20 times that he made Israel sin. He brought the nation down, he caused the nation to sin. In fact, a couple chapters. After this in first Kings 14 God says you have done more evil than all those who were beef for you. How would you like that on your tombstone you have done more evil than all those who were before you got a set of Jeroboam.

So let's begin in chapter 12. For our purpose today is 25 we read then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of Ephraim, and he dwelt there. Also, he went out from there and built 10 well and Jeroboam said in his heart. Now the kingdom may return to the house of David. If these people go to offer sacrifice in the house of the Lord of Jerusalem in the heart of this people will turn back to their Lord Rahal poem the king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Ray Hoagland, king of Judah. Therefore the king asked advice he made to calves of gold and said to the people. It is too much for you to go to Jerusalem, here are your God.

So 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 before the one as far as Dan. He made shrines in the high places he made priest from every class of people who were not of the sons of Levi Jeroboam ordained to feast on the 15th day of the eight month like the feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar, so he didn't Bethel sacrificing to the calves that he had made and it Bethel. He installed the priests of the high places which he had made, so he made offerings on the altar which he had made it Bethel on the 15th day of the eighth month, the month which you devised in his own heart, and he ordained a feast for the children of Israel and offered sacrifices on the altar and burned incense and who is this guy Jeroboam Jeroboam is the son of a man by the name of Naboth. That's why when you read of him.

It's almost always Jeroboam the son of Naboth. He was from a little town in the central part of the land in the tribe of Manasseh, he worked for King Solomon and King Solomon saw him as a young capable and industrious man with a lot of energy. So Solomon gave them a raise and placed him in charge of his labor force or lease part of his labor force later on. Jeroboam gets involved in politics and at first it's that he wants social reform and economic reform but the reform turns to a rebellion as we have just read. Now it's can be helpful for me to tell you how Israel has worked up till this point, there have been three Kings. So far there's been. King Saul, followed by King David, followed by his son, King Solomon. Those three Kings was first three Kings for 120 years established a United monarchy.

There was no division there was no Civil War was a United monarchy 420 years until Solomon died when Solomon died, his son Rahal poem nine of this gets confusing as he got Jeroboam you got Rehoboam and you think are they related available and brothers you got Jerry Bowman you got Ray poem but no there different families altogether. Rehoboam is the son of Solomon, Jeroboam the son of Naboth a whole different family. So when Solomon dies Rahal poem his son is in charge of the kingdom.

He's young, he's an experienced and the people come to him and they say look as the new king.

We request that you would ease up on the tax burden a little bit. Your dad is been very oppressive to us will serve you if you do that well at that point he decides to consult his ambassador so he goes to an older group of men. People who knew the ropes they were wiser than the older group of men said we agree with the people we think you should ease up on the taxpayer not be so oppressive, the people will be loyal to you. After that, he goes to his contemporaries young man young box. Lot of energy not so much wisdom and they give them the opposite counsel they say no. In fact, put your foot down, show them who's boss and don't ease up the burden so it's Inauguration Day the first State of the Union message that the new king, King Rehoboam gives part of it is mentioned the first Kings 12 verse 14.

This what he said. My father made your yoke heavy. I'll make it even heavier. My father scourged you with website will scourge you with scorpions limited. He said that there is a turning point turning point in Israel's history of Civil War split in the kingdom ensues, and 10 of the 12 tribes go north under Jeroboam and two of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam. It is a Civil War and they really don't recover from the northern kingdom under Jeroboam as you have just read gets involved in idolatry for the next get this 200 years until they are taken captive in 722 BC by the Assyrians.

That's Jeroboam the question is why what causes Jeroboam this Israelite is one of the tribes of God's people. What causes him to get involved in idolatry. This great pain and sin is because he made four mistakes and I want you to see them first mistake he made as he feared losing power. Look at verse 26 Jeroboam said in his heart. Now the kingdom may return to the house of David. If these people don't offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord of Jerusalem than the heart of this people will turn back to their Lord Rahal poem the king of Judah, and they will kill me and go back to Rehoboam, the king of Judah. This guy has a lust for power and its always seen as a weakness never strength a lust for power. Walter Youngquist noted that of all the human attributes responsible for more misery.

Death, hopelessness, war and starvation than anything else in the world. One is the lust for personal power. Jeroboam is an insecure leader.

He goes into panic mode won't know when they're down in Jerusalem worshiping at the temple. Their hearts are to be drawn back to Rehoboam in the southern kingdom, and I'm gonna lose my kingdom.

Whenever you're afraid of losing power you have forgotten that it was God who gave it to you to begin with and he is forgotten that power comes from the Lord, your sphere of power your sphere of impact and influence is all given to you by God.

Romans 13 verse one.

There is no authority except from God. Psalm 6211 power belongs to God.

Member the dream that Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had when Daniel came in to interpret a form that Wilde image that he saw Daniel said when he interpreted the dream.

He said God changes the times and the seasons, he removes and raises up Kings. He gives wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to those who have understanding because that's true know that means it means you never really had any power to begin with, none the power you have is delegated power, the authority you have is assigned authority has been delegated and assigned by God but power intoxicated Smith and women when somebody is drunk with alcohol. He can recover when somebody's drunk on power, they seldom recover it grips a person until death.

Fear of losing power now associated with that fear of losing power is the fear of losing control the power to control situations. According to psychology today.

The fear of losing control is one of the most prevalent fears the people have. This is the fear that if you don't manage to control the outcome of future events. Something terrible will happen. And the key.

This article said the key to overcoming this is to let go of the demand for certainty. Easier said than done. The demand for certainty. Our culture even as a designation of controlling people what we call them control freaks that she's a control freak. He's a control freak.

Have you seen that commercial national call car rental commercial guys walking through the airport with his cup of coffee in a very staid and very control and he's walking through and he says to the camera.

I've been called a control freak, but I like to think of myself more of us. A control enthusiast. Jeroboam was a control enthusiast. He like to control situations are the problem are so many things that are out of your control. You might like to control them but you cannot bear out of your control. For some things you can't control. There are some things you can control. For example, you cannot control the length of your life but you can control the depth of your life. You cannot control the weather, but you can control the moral and spiritual atmosphere that you allow yourself to have around you. You cannot control another person's faults. You can control your reaction and response to those false so here's the deal.

Here's the best deal you control the outlook and let God control the outcome. How's that for a deal and a good one. You control your Outlook Lord, if this comes or doesn't come if this happens or doesn't happen. I'm just gonna control my Outlook you control the outcome. But this king, he feared losing power. That was his first mistake is a second mistake he failed trusting God about verse 25 then Jeroboam built Shechem in the mountains of you from any live there also. He went out from there he built a new well now most people read this verse Skip over it looks insignificant I suggest is very insightful, not insignificant.

Jeroboam's first move as the new king of the North is to fortify the city's that control the caravan routes north and south.

Why, according to CF Kyle Old Testament scholar. He said it's to defend his sovereignty over the North against hostile attacks. You say what's wrong with that. That's what kings do.

That's normal kingly procedure have strong defenses.

I would agree with you except what this really means for this king or Jeroboam is that he is failed to trust God. Why do I say that because God made this king a very specific promise which we haven't read yet before the event of him becoming the king of the North the 10 northern tribes. God personally gives the message to him with the promise in it and want you to see it go back one chapter. Chapter 11 look at verse 35. This is God speaking to Jeroboam by some means God says to him, but I will take the kingdom out of his son's hands. That's Rehoboam, son of Solomon and give it to you 10 tribes of Nazism to give it to is my gift to you and to his son I will give one tribe. That's Judah later on becomes too tribes that my servant David may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city, which I have chosen for myself to put my name there so I will take you, and you shall reign over all your heart desires. You shall be king over Israel, then it shall be no watch this if if you heed all that I command you if you listen and you do what I say you walk in my ways do what is right up my site to keep my statutes and my commandments as my servant David did then I will be with you and build for you and enduring house. As I built for David and I will give Israel to. How's that for promise. How's that for a blank check. Hey, I'm God and I'm giving you a kingdom free.

Here's the check or cash it out funny if you were to come up to me and asked me to write you a check for million dollars. I do it. Your problem would be when you go to the bank I have to write you check if you all and afterwards all right you check you are the banker to laugh at the end of there's nothing to back it up insufficient funds.

That's what it'll read on the computer.

Now I know people who could write you a check for million dollars and they have the money and more in the bank. God gives to Jeroboam a promise of an enduring kingdom. What was his failure. He didn't take it to the bank and cash the check. He didn't.

He didn't trust the promise that God gave him. You can always tell how mature or immature about a Christian is by how they treat the promises of God. Ask a person what you do with God's promise in the Bible and their best answer is I underline it in yellow.

You know you got a problem if their answer is I take them to the bank then you know you got something a fearful nervous believer filled with anxiety speaks volumes. They don't believe the promises of God, a person who is calm and confident that person also speaks volumes. I'm taking God's promise to the bank. Psalm 20 David Wright Sanchez trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God. Jeremiah 17 verse five curse. It is the man who trusts in man and makes the flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord Jeroboam's heart departed from the Lord and it is shown by his failure to trust God's promise, which begs the question if he failed to trust God's promise where you trust in the Texas to his third mistake.

He feared losing power. He failed.

Trusting God is third mistake he followed his own heart. Verse 26 then Jeroboam said what in his Yorkshire Bible open right.

He said in his heart.

Jeroboam said in his heart stop right there. There's a guy mulling it over in his own heart in his own mind thinking about what he wants to do this. It's all inward so he said in his heart. Then go down to verse 28 therefore the king asked advice before he made the two calves. He's asking people so he takes it out of his head a little hard.

He's kinda thinking what to do. Now he takes in the acid by some of the best people because he makes two golden caps, so he takes it up to them to verse 33 so he made offerings on the altar which he had made at Bethel on the 15th day of the eighth month in the month which he had watch this devised in his own heart. Listen Jeroboam was doing whatever felt good to him instead of what God said was good for him to see the difference how many times you heard people say, well, you gotta follow your heart is gotta do whatever is in your heart to do.

Can I just say that bad a device is always bad. A device wise about advice. Jeremiah 17 nine declares the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked who can know that Skip message from the series crashing down. Here's a resource that will give you the tools you need to live in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is mysterious in the Bible. Jesus even said moves like the wind, so Christians are instructed to know sensitive and his health Council and comfort. I think reminds us can't neglect the Holy Spirit since the Scripture is of the Holy Spirit from beginning to and from Genesis to Revelation.

Not only is the Bible. The Holy Spirit can teach you Holy Spirit is a divine person who helps us think you need all the help you can get to live your Christian life.

John we need help discover who the Holy Spirit is the study expound and for a limited time you can also get a copy of Lenny called in power discover your spiritual gifts. Both resources are everything gift of $25 or more to help and title teaching outreach to get online securely connect with.com/or call 892 1888 because of Jesus's work on the cross we can experience his love, grace and peace today. How connect people around the world to pack good news keep these teachings. You have coming to you visit connect with.com/donate to give a gift now to help others experience a new life in Christ that connect with.com/donate or call 892 1888, 892 1888. Thank you.

Come back tomorrow.

Skip Heitzigs explores the tragic ways Jeroboam turned from God's Word and God's best for his people encouraging you to cling to difficult. The only worship God accepts is a worship God directs you recall that Jesus Christ said God the father is actually looking for a certain kind of worship number. He says father is seeking those who worship him in spirit and in truth, so we want spirited worshipers put truth out of her. You know the intensity of their own spirit into it. That's what it means, but also in truth and the way we know truth is, by the revealed word of God. Jeroboam forsook the word of God and followed his own castle. Skip presentation of connection occasions changing truth ever-changing time