Obedience or DisobedienceThis current age is characterized by rebellion. Rebellion and disobedience come directly from man's sinful nature (2 Timothy 3:2 and Romans 5:19a). We see rebellion in the home, rebellion in society, rebellion in our churches — all-stemming from a basic rebellious attitude toward God. Now, as never before, we need to seriously concern ourselves with this subject of OBEDIENCE.
OBEDIENCE DEFINED.
John A. Stormer gives the following explanation of obedience: “Obedience is doing what those in authority request or want. It is the opposite of 'doing your own thing.' True obedience involves doing what an authority wants immediately, respectfully, joyfully, and completely. Obedience requires the submission of the will of the individual to those in charge. True obedience ultimately stems from submission to God.”
GOD'S ATTITUDE REGARDING OBEDIENCE.
A. In 1 Samuel 15:22 what does God say is better than sacrifice?
B. In Acts 13:22 how did the Lord describe David, the son of Jesse?
C. Why did the Lord so describe King David in Acts 13:22b?
GOD'S ATTITUDE REGARDING DISOBEDIENCE.
A. In 1 Samuel 15:23 what does God say rebellion is like?
B. What was the penalty required for rebellion in sons under the Mosaic Law? Deuteronomy 21:18-21
THE SOURCE OF TRUE OBEDIENCE.
A. John 14:15 “If ye __________ me, _________ my commandments.”
B. John 14:23a “If a man __________ me, he will _________my ___________.”
C. 1 John 5:3b “His commandments are not _____________.”
D. 1 John 4:19 “We love him, because he ___________ ___________ us.”
PROMISES & BLESSINGS RELATING TO OBEDIENCE.
A. Look up 1John 3:22. What does God promise when we keep His commandments and do those things which are pleasing in His sight?
B. According to John 15:10, where does an obedient Christian abide?
C. Look up Matthew 6:31-33. What three things does God promise to take care of for us when we put Him first?
D. According to John 15:14, what does obedience make us?
E. What is perfected in our lives when we keep God's Word, according to I John 2:5?
F. If we hear the Word of God and yet do nothing about it, what is the result? James 1:22
G. What does James 4:17 call this?
H. According to Matthew 7:24-27 to what does the Lord Jesus compare the life of an obedient person?
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE IN OBEDIENCE.
It is against human (sinful) nature to obey. Obedience comes as a result of training, and attitude is all important here.
A. Obedience ought to be a _____________. Psalm 40:8
B. Obedience is to be with the whole ___________ and ___________. Deuteronomy 26:16
C. Obedience requires us to be ___________and very _________________. Joshua 1:7
D. When obeying the Lord, we need to make _________ and not ____________. Psalm 119:60
E. What should our attitude be when God's Word seems to contradict our own judgment? Luke 5:4-7
F. According to Matthew 21:25-31, are good intentions alone sufficient for obedience?
AREAS OF GOD-DIRECTED OBEDIENCE.
Every Christian needs to recognize what has been termed "GOD'S CHAIN OF COMMAND." By this we mean that not every action required of us is commanded directly from Heaven; but that God has placed others over us in various segments of life, who will be used by Him to accomplish His perfect will in our lives. We are to submit to these authorities as unto the Lord.
A. The Lord Jesus Christ Was An Obedient Son.
1. He was obedient to God the Father's _________ . John 6:38,39
2. He was not in any way unequal with the Father, declaring “I and my Father are ______” John 10:30
3. According to Philippians 2:5-8, Jesus was obedient unto ________.
4. As a child, Jesus submitted to His earthly mother and Joseph. See Luke 2:51.
B. Five Areas of Authority Requiring Christian Obedience.
1. In marriage. The ___________ is to submit to the __________________. Ephesians 5:22; Colossians 3:18; 1 Peter 3:1-6.
2. In the home. _________________ are to obey their ________________. Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20.
3. In the workplace. ______________ are to be obedient to their ______________. Ephesians 6:5-7; Colossians 3:22.
4. In society. Every citizen is to be ___________ to the higher powers. Romans 13:1-7
5. In our Church. Each member is to _________ to those that have the rule over them. Hebrews 13:7, 17.
In each of these areas God expects you to obey those in authority just as you would Him. Yet, it is in each of these areas we find the most rebellion today — bossy, domineering wives or weak, spineless husbands; out of control, bratty children; militant unions; anarchists; and church members who continually "buck" the pastor.
Let not these things be named in our life — we have already read about God's opinion of rebellion. If the one in authority is failing to give leadership or be responsible — God will deal with him. Leave these things to God — don't try to rectify the situation by usurping authority.
WHERE DOES REBELLION LEAD? It leads to…
#1. The Sin of Pride (v 12). “And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.”
He built a monument in his own honor (v 12). “A place” = hand.
He built it at Carmel (v 12). In a place dedicated to God.
#2. The Sin of Self-deception (v 13, 17). Saul greeted Samuel with a boast of obedience (v 13). “And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.”
Samuel reminds Saul the LORD had made him king (v 17). “And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?”
#3. The Sin of Blame-shifting (v 14-15). “And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”
#4. The Sin of Dishonesty (v 15-16). “Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.”
#5. The Sin of Disobedience (v 18-19). “The Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. 19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?”
#6. The Sin of Covetousness (v 19). “Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?”
#7. The Sin of a Contentious and Stubborn Heart (v 20-21). “And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.”