Interceding ‘man of God’ style

“Then the king said to the man of God, ‘Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.’ So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before.”  1 Kings 13:6.

Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading: 1 Kings 13-14, 2 Chronicles 12, and Philippians 3.

I have tried to pay special attention to verses in which interceding gets done.  Why?  Because the God of those select verses is the same God of today.

King Jeroboam had gotten God’s attention in a negative way.  Idol worship was in full swing.  A ‘man of God’ was sent to speak out against the altar King Jeroboam had set up at Bethel.  The ‘man of God’ told KJ that the altar would be split apart.  That is exactly what happened.  Then King Jeroboam wanted the ‘man of God’ seized, no doubt to harm him.  Instantly King Jeroboam’s hand, which he had stretched out toward the ‘man of God,’ shriveled up.

King Jeroboam was quick to realize that the ‘man of God’ was indeed what he was known as and asked for the intercession mentioned in today’s verse.

The person described here as “the man of God” does intercede with God for King Jeroboam and a miracle happens.

There is a guy in the Bible study I attend who will listen to Scripture and sometimes say, “If I had written this…..”  That guy would have had a field day with this story!

One point for certain is that we cannot orchestrate God.  King Jeroboam “deserved” the punishment he originally received but did he “deserve” the healing he received very shortly thereafter?  But here we go measuring things by our standards of what should be and what shouldn’t be.  We can’t do that.  The man of God had it right.  He did what God told Him to do in both situations.

“I will do what God wants me to do.”  When we say AND mean that statement we had better be ready for responses that don’t make sense to us.  God’s Ways are not necessarily our ways BUT He knows what is best.

“Lord, You direct my path.  Forgive me for trying to pilot things.  I don’t know what I’m doing!  I thank You for examples of how to live.  You are a great God.  You know best.  Lead me, O Great Jehovah, I beg.”

Follow the ways of the ‘man of God.’

+8 change in food

The man of God intercedes

Then the king (Jeroboam) said to the man of God, “Intercede with the Lord your God and pray for me that my hand may be restored.”  
So the man of God interceded with the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored and became as it was before. – 1 Kings 13:6

(Verse chosen from today’s Bible reading – 1 Kings 13-14 & 2 Chronicles 12 & Philippians 3)

King Jeroboam recognizes a man of God when he sees one.

One of the traits of a man of God is that others are aware of it.  It may be the way I talk or the way I act.  It may be the way I live.  But there is something there that gives it away.  And it isn’t something I do in order to get recognized.  It must be the natural flow of a Godly life.

I need to have a relationship with God that results in a lifestyle that correctly represents Him.  I cannot self-manage it.  My dependence for direction must come from Him.

“Search me, O Lord, and know my heart, try me and know my ways and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me……”

“Father, I want to please You.  I want Your Thoughts to be my thoughts.  I want Your Words to be my words.  I know that I must upgrade my relationship to You and Your Word in order to move in that direction.  Help me, Father, I beg!”

Plum Island