Practice: Obey 4.1 - December 06, 2009

Practice #4: Obey
Obedience: Promise or Performance

Leviticus 18:4-5  
You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.
 
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
 
I Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."
 
Matthew 21:28-32
What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard." “I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted? "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

I.    Obedience is needed even when we are not in the mood.

  a.    If we only obeyed when we felt like it

  b.    Even when it is hard to obey

II.    Obedience is needed even when it is not convenient

  a.    Felix – we will talk at a more convenient time
    
    Acts 24:25
    As Paul discoursed on righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and said,
    "That's enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you."
 
 b.    When it isn’t easy
 
  c.    Even when our schedule doesn’t allow it – could be that even God would have to make an
         appointment with us

  d.    Serving God is rarely convenient –
      i.    Having a baby is not convenient
      ii.    Going to school, going to work

III.    People of faith are willing to give their will to God’s will by being obedient

  a.    Abraham
    
    Genesis 22:1-3
 
    Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God
    said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice
    him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about." Early the next morning
    Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac.
    When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
 
  b.    Naaman
    
    II Kings 5:10-12
    Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh
    will be restored and you will be cleansed." But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he
    would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand
    over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better
    than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off
    in a rage.
 
  c.    Jesus
    
    Hebrews 5:7-9
    During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to
    the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 
    8Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he
    became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
    He learned obedience by the things he suffered
 
Conclusion

I.    Obedience is God’s way of refining us – Sanctification:
 
  a.    Relationships
  
  I Peter 2:23

    When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.                Instead,  he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

    i.    Marriage

    ii.    Friends

    iii.    Church

 b.    It rewards us with spiritual confidence

 c.    We imitate Christ when we obey