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Obedience the key – By Pastor George Lehman
Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience*, withdraws from grace.
Thomas A Kempis
(You’ve got to want to dis-obey)*
What’s in my power to do; is in my power not to do.
What is it you want to achieve in your walk with God?
Question:
What do you have to do? What needs changing? What must you lay down? What must you pick up… to live a live of obedience?
Obedience unites us so closely to God that in a way transforms us into Him so that we have no other will but His. If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God. St .Thomas
Paul teaching the Romans about time leaving the old life:
Romans 6:16-17 (Amp) – Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourselves to anyone to do his will, you are the slaves of him whom you obey, whether that be to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience which leads to righteousness (right doing and right standing with God)? But thank God, though you were once slaves of sin, you have become obedient with all your heart to the standard of teaching in which you were instructed and to which you were committed.
God and His word are intensely practical – all of the great general principles in the Kingdom of God are specific. God is never vague He doesn’t play hide and seek.
God leaves no room for mere slack, compromising Christianity.
A feel-good message won’t help you if you’re not obedient.
Jesus’ most harsh words were not to the broken and degraded sinner who was judged and condemned by society.
It was for the self-righteous and self-deceived people whose lives did not prove their claims to holiness, love and a real relationship with God.
They spoke obedience but lived dis-obedience.
Jesus called such people fools, hypocrites, snakes, whitewashed tombs. Seven times He referred to them as blind. Three times He called them vipers.
Clearly these were strong words for those who failed to practice their professed spirituality.
Perhaps the best illustration of this is the bible’s emphasis upon obedience. An importance highlighted in both the Old and the New Testament.
The message of God is plain…
Measure your life by how much you obey…
Not how much you know, how much you do, how much you read the bible.
Measure your life by what you actually do.
Obedience the key.
#1 Obedience is the key to cleansing and holiness.
There is NO other way to maintain a holy life except to walk constantly in God’s light. (The light is obedience.)
1 John 1:7 (Amp) – But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].
Keep clean by obeying God.
To claim to have fellowship while deliberately disobeying God is to walk in darkness and lie.
1 John 1:6 (Amp) – [So] if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with Him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are [both] speaking falsely and do not live and practice the Truth [which the Gospel presents].
#2 Obedience is the key to confidence in prayer.
1 John 3:21-22 (Amp) – And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God*, 22. And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.
*Before God – we maintain a clear conscience by walking in obedience to God.
‘Oh’, how we, by failing to walk in the light cripple our prayer.
‘Oh’, the unanswered prayers because the praying person is not living in obedience to God’s light.
#3 Obedience is the key to blessing.
Do you want to be blessed in every part of your life?
God pours out His blessings on those who are eager and active in obedience.
James 1:25 (Amp) – But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).
Job 36:11 (Amp) – If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasantness and joy.
Proverbs 10:22(KJV) – The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.
There are so many Christians who are fruitless in ministry – dry and unproductive:
Because of disobedience in practical matters like tithing, disciplining their lives to find time to pray and read the bible.
No promise is automatically fulfilled – scripture is clear on this: “Obey and you will receive”.
Jesus gave us an example of a life of obedience.
Hebrews 10:7 (NIV) – Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, O God.’”
The obedience of Jesus was not an act of obedience now and then or even a series of acts. It was the spirit of His whole life.
The one all-controlling power of His life was obedience.
There are two forms of obedience.
You and I are responsible for two forms of obedience.
Obedience to God’s general commands.
2. Obedience to God’s personalized commands.
God’s requirements, as taught in His word, are for every person.
We are responsible to obey them.
Can I just say this, “If it is in God’s word, you need no further guidance. That settles it!”
Forgiveness of others.
Living in purity and holiness.
Loving others.
Speaking no evil of others.
Tithing
Children obey your parents.
These and many more are matters of obedience according to God’s word for every believer.
Some of God’s requirements, on the other hand, are very personal.
God may give you personal convictions about things or something.
He is calling you to obedience that He requires of you, not of everyone.
He may call you to a special time of prayer and fasting.
Maybe a sacrificial giving to God’s Kingdom or to bless someone.
Maybe God has called you to lay down something so you can give your full attention to His work.
Abraham’s obedience was tested in an intensely personal manner by demanding that he offer Isaac to God.
The prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Jonah…
Isaiah 6:8 (Amp) – Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Jeremiah 1:9-10 (Amp) – Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have this day appointed you to the oversight of the nations and of the kingdoms to root out and pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.
Jonah 1:1-2 (Amp) – Now the word of the lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.
Jonah 3:1-3 (Amp) – And the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach and cry out to it the preaching that I tell you. So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city of three days’ journey [sixty miles in circumference].
They key to a victorious, significant, effective, joyful, guilt free, condemned free life is…
Daily obedience to do the will of God in every detail of your life.
Are you going to Take up the KEY of Obedience? And your final answer is?
Matthew 28:18-20 – 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
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