Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - "Heart Healing" Scripture: 1 Kings 13:1-10

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from The Global Church of the Nazarene of Kansas City, Missouri, United States - "Heart Healing" Scripture: 1 Kings 13:1 Just then, as Yarov‘am was standing by the altar to burn incense, a man of God came out of Y’hudah, directed to Beit-El by a word from Adonai. 2 And by the word from Adonai he cried out against the altar: “Altar, altar, here is what Adonai says: ‘A son will be born to the house of David; his name will be Yoshiyahu; and on you he will sacrifice the cohanim of the high places who burn incense on you! They will burn human bones on you!’” 3 That same day he also gave a sign: “Here is the sign which Adonai has decreed:

“‘The altar will be split apart;

the ashes on it will be scattered about.’”

4 When the king heard what the man of God said, how he denounced the altar in Beit-El, Yarov‘am took his hand away from the altar and said, “Seize him!” But his hand, the one he had stretched out against him, shriveled up; so that he could not draw it back to himself. 5 Also the altar was split apart, and the ashes scattered from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of Adonai. 6 The king then responded to the man of God. “Ask now the favor of Adonai your God,” he said, “and pray for me, that my hand will be restored to me.” The man of God prayed to Adonai, and the king’s hand was restored to him and became as it had been before. 7 The king then said to the man of God, “Come home with me, and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward. 8 But the man of God replied to the king, “Even if you give me half your household, I will not accept your hospitality; nor will I eat food or drink water in this place. 9 For this is the order I received through the word of Adonai: ‘Don’t eat food or drink water, and don’t return by the road you took when you came.’” 10 So he went another way and did not return by the road by which he had come to Beit-El.
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"Heart Healing" by Author: Larry R. Morris
Jeroboam was a very blessed man. God placed ten tribes of Israel in Jeroboam’s hands because of the sin of King Solomon and his selfish son, Rehoboam. God promised Jeroboam that if he stayed true to Him that his descendants would be blessed for generations to come. Unfortunately he fell into the sin common to other kings and leaders–he believed that his rights overshadowed all others-–including those of God and his prophets.
A prophet of the Lord confronted Jeroboam for his sin at one of the “king approved” idol worship centers. Jeroboam raised his hand to stop the prophet’s condemnation and his hand immediately shriveled. Quickly he recognized the mistake and asked the prophet to intercede with the Lord for the restoration of his hand. Graciously God healed him, but Jeroboam’s heart was not changed.
Is Jeroboam’s sin ever ours? The goal of God’s forgiveness and restoration is to transform our lives completely. That is the healing that will make an eternal difference.
Hymn for Today: "Change My Heart Oh God" by vineyard

Change my heart oh God, 

Make it ever true.

Change my heart oh God, 

May I be like You.

You are the potter, 

I am the clay, 

Mold me and make me, 

This is what I pray.

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