5:44, 5: :1-4; 5-6, IT OUGHT NOT BE SO!

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1 NT 1608

2 KEY WORD Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. DEUT 4:1-2 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. JOB 36:11NIV His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. JOHN 2:5 KJV

3 INTRODUCTION From the beginning, Obedience has always been the MASTER KEY for an intimate, uplifting and fulfilling relationship with God. On the other hand, Disobedience is leads to retardation, enmity with God, destruction and death. Today we excuse acts of disobedience with the escapist attitude of It doesn t matter, God understands or Everybody is doing it. Thus, we choose what to obey, how and to what extent. In reality, God s requirements and standards have never and will never change. He still demands total, unquestioning obedience today as always, if a man will ever progress in His purpose.

4 Issues To Ponder On The call to walk in obedience is so urgent in our time when many believers are so much occupied with sacrifices and offerings such as fastings, prayer, tithing, giving e.t.c, and pay little attention to walking in obedience to all that Jesus has commanded us. Consider some of these: Jesus commanded in Mat. 5:44, Love your enemies and bless those who curse you and pray for those who despitefully use you but today many pray, calling fire upon other men! Many men/women give themselves to fasting and prayer rather than loving/cherishing their wives or submitting to their own husbands as the word of God commanded Ephe 5:22-28 Many display their giving/offerings, exhibit fasting and showcase prayer in defiance of scripture, yet expect God s reward. Matt 6:1-4; 5-6, IT OUGHT NOT BE SO!

5 God Demands Obedience In the Old Testament, men who walked intimately with God had a testimony of obedience. e.g. Enoch in Gen. 5:24, Noah in Gen. 6:9 and Abraham in Gen. 26: [ - In the New Testament, Jesus called his disciples with the command Follow me which implies a call into a life of complete obedience. Matt 4: Today s Disciples are primarily called to walk in implicit obedience to God, enabled by His Holy Spirit, who facilitates our obedience Ez. 36:26-27.

6 What Is Obedience? Obedience is the act or practice of following instructions, complying with rules or regulations, or submitting to somebody's authority (Encarta Dictionary). In the context of Christianity, obedience denotes Compliance, Submission, Agreement, Conformity to the Authourity and Instructions of the Godhead (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit) who by virtue of creation and re-creation in Christ Jesus have absolute ownership, preeminence and sovereignty over all of creation.

7 Obedience Is Not Inherited Obedience is not inherited, but learned Every man is born with a disobedient nature which only grows into a deviant lifestyle that is resistant to the commandments of God. Thus every man requires spiritual transformation and renewal in Christ and subsequent learning of obedience. Rom 3:23, 12:1-2, 8:14. Our master, Jesus himself, though sinless had to learn obedience: Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Heb 5:8 (KJV)

8 Why Obedience Is Necessary ONLY THE OBEDIENT LIFE CAN PLEASE GOD After committing the Original Sin of disobedience, man fell short of the glory (blessings, provisions, power) of God and could never attain it again by himself (Gen 2:17, 3:4, Rom 3:23, 6:23) He became ashamed, afraid and began to cover up and hide from the divine presence because his newly acquired nature (the Flesh) does not please God, neither does it possess the capacity for compliance with His will. Gen 3:7-8 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Rm 8:7-8 ESV cp Jn 8:29

9 Why Obedience Is Necessary THE ACT OF OBEDIENCE CAUSES THE WORD TO BECOME FLESH. Obedience etches God s word/commandment upon the tablet of your heart, where it is most secure and useful. God confirms His word that has been indelibly burnt into your heart by the Holy Spirit as you Obey it. Mk 16:20, James 1:22-25 OBEDIENCE IS NEEDED TO ENTER INTO THE PROMISES. In spite of great divine promises, the Israelite generation that left Egypt failed to enter because of persistent disobedience whereby they followed God reluctantly, murmuring, grumbling and rebelling till they all perished. Ex 19:5-6 Num 14: 33-35

10 Why Obedience Is Necessary SPIRITUAL GROWTH COMES FROM PROGRESSIVE OBEDIENCE You are born again through obedience of the word and thereafter, every act of obedience takes you higher in the spiritual growth ladder, whereas every disobedience retards and diminishes you. 9 [ - OBEDIENCE IS THE ACESS (MASTER) KEY TO GOD s TREASURE. Obedience is the access key that opens up God s heart, hands and provisions unto a man. Fresh anointing, provisions & power flow with obedience, but stops as obedience ceases. Is 1:19 OBEDIENCE IS GOD S CONFIRMATORY TEST. It is God s litmus test for determining the genuineness of a man s faith and His knowledge of God. Gen. 22:12, I Jn 2: 3-4, Matt 7:21.

11 Why Obedience Is Necessary Every sin is an act of disobedience, and there is no forgiveness except there is obedience. Prob. 28:13 God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey. Acts 5 :32 Obedience is a total surrender of independence and freedom from the spirit of disobedience. Ephe 2:1-2 God may seek to collect His obedience indirectly through people around you e.g. a subordinate, usher, wife, husband, children etc God waits for your obedience to be complete before releasing the supernatural. 2Cor10:3-6 Self defined obedience, outside of Christ s will (i.e. when you determine what constitutes obedience by yourself and obey it without reference to Christ) is not obedience

12 Understanding Obedience Obedience to God must take priority over obedience to man. Whenever there is a conflict or man s will resists or opposes God s own, you must yield to God. Acts 3 : 19,20, 5 : 40-42, 5 : Mental and verbal acquiesance to the word of God does not equate to obedience. You have not yet believed until you obey, Mat. 21: Dodging obedience (especially the needful tools of hardship, suffering and persecution) stagnates and diminishes a man until he fades away and is discarded.

13 Are You Obedient? CHARACTERISTICS OF AN OBEDIENT MAN An Obedient person is humble and submissive. E.g. Moses An obedient person trembles at the word of God and does not subject it to negotiation, analysis or debate. Is. 66:2-3 An obedient person does not dodge responsibility but is always available for further instructions. An obedient man does not lean on his own understanding An obedient man obeys as a lifestyle, not by choice. An obedient person is not rigid, but is malleable and flexible.

14 Are You Disobedient? Are you living in the Flesh? Disobedience is the natural lifestyle of the flesh - a life that is selfcentred: the very traits of satan. A disobedient man generates excuses for every omission. He anticipates and dodges instructions. He negotiates personal benefits first. He often obeys only after disobeying He scorns & despises the obedient. He is stagnant and cannot travel with God. 9 [ -

15 What Obedience Is Not Partial Obedience is not Obedience. Saul was told You have not Obeyed for sparing choice animals and king Agag after conquering Amalek. ISam 15:17-23 Incomplete Obedience is not Obedience. e.g. When you stop at winning a convert and not going further to disciple him. Matt 28:19 Obedience must be sacrificial but not substituted by sacrifice. e.g. 1Sam 15: 22. Selective obedience, tied to Age, Position etc, is not obedience. Delayed Obedience is not Obedience. Obedience must be prompt e.g.abraham Procrastinated Obedience is not Obedience. Bargained Obedience is not Obedience. Conditional Obedience is not Obedience. i.e. If you do this, then I will do that. e.g. Jacob. 9 [ -

16 Is Your Obedience Tested? TESTING CONFIRMS THE QUALITY OF YOUR OBEDIENCE. Your obedience is not tested When you are still doing what pleases you & gives you satisfaction When it has not contradicted your will and demanded a change of your plans Is 50:4-6 When you are still doing only what is convenient. When you are still a baby. 9 [ - Your obedience is tested by Christ, often through His word, before you can be trusted.e.g. Joseph Ps 105:17-19

17 Jesus Our Perfect Example Jesus was consistently obedient, even unto death, therefore God highly exalted Him Phil 2:8-9 Jesus learnt obedience through suffering. It was after He was perfected in Obedience that God gave Him all things. Heb 5:7-9, 2:10 Jesus was humble and deliberately made himself of no reputation. Obedience and Humility are twins. A humble man is an obedient man. A Humble man has capacity to obey because he is not protecting any reputation. John 5:30

18 Learning From Jesus FROM THE LIFE OF JESUS WE LEARN THAT: God will not release His power, anointing to a disobedient person. It will amount to empowering a self asserting and arrogant rebel who cannot be controlled. Disobedience and Pride are co-travelers, whenever you meet a proud man, you are interacting with a disobedient man. A Proud man is independent and self centered, leans on his own understanding and cannot willingly obey, but require coercion before he complies with instructions.

19 Results Of Walking In Obedience Guarantees the release of the Holy Spirit to the believer, Acts 5:32. Ensures that the believer abides in the Father s love, John 15:10; 14:23-25 Releases God s generational blessings to the believer, Gen. 22:17-18, Deut. 28:1-2. Guarantees success in the call of God, Josh. 1:8. Determines the believer s growth and stability, Matt. 7:24-29 Guarantees the believers place in eternity, Matt. 7:21. John 14: The key to true prosperity - Isaiah 1:19 promises if ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land

20 Hindrances To Walking In Obedience THE FLESH: Walking in the flesh and entertaining its desires Rom 8:6-8 FEAR: Adam, Gen 3:10; The unprofitable servant Matt 25:25 FAITHLESSNESS:, The Israelites did not obey God because of unbelief. Heb. 4:6 COMMONSENSE: Sometimes, God s commands look unreasonable to the natural man and so many find it difficult to obey, Matt. 5:38-45 PRESUMPTION: Naaman presumed he knew how the matter will be resolved and was not ready to obey the simple instruction that came from the Lord through the prophet. HASTE & ANXIETY : Reluctance to wait for God : Saul in 1 Sam 13: said I felt compelled and so I offered the burnt offering. 9 [ -

21 Consequences Of Obedience DISOBEDIENCE ROBS A MAN OF ALL. SAUL lost the kingdom. 1 Sam. 13:13-14 Lost the kingship/ personal relationship with God. 1Sam. 15:26 JACOB wasted 20yrs years of His life. Gen. 28:20-22, 29:20,27,30, 31:38. ABRAHAM nearly lost the promises. Followed Terah to Haran and nearly terminated his journey there. Gen 12 :1, Acts 7:2-4 Carried Lot out of UR in disobedience but could only step into the promise after dismissing lot. Gen 13 : Lost his walk with God after going into Hagar. Gen. 16 :2,4,15,16, Gen 17 :1. Received confirmation of the promises only after casting out Ishmael (Gen 21 : 10-12) and sacrificing Isaac (Gen 22 :1-3, 15-19). 9 [ -

22 CONCLUSION God commands obedience before sacrifice, Sacrifice and offering you did not desire Here I am it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, O God Heb. 10:5-7. To inherit the kingdom of God, being led by the Holy Spirit in an intimate walk of Obedience is not optional.. Actively engage the Holy Spirit, always ASKING, Lord, What will you have me do, and always DOING whatever He says. TRUST AND OBEY - THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO BE HAPPY IN JESUS! ARE YOU READY TO PUT YOUR HAND INTO HIS HAND AND ALLOW HIM LEAD YOU IN AN ENRICHING LIFETIME WALK OF OBEDINCE?

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