A Life of Obedience to God

Sunday, September 09, 2012 9:52 AM

A video of this teaching is available on - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LDw0GNL6s4

Decisions in life Life a continual decision. What is the bottom line in your decision making? Where does God fit into the decision you make?
Do you consider the consequences of your decisions or do you just seek the fulfillment of your immediate desire?

Decisions are important. That is why it is important for parents to drill into the hearts and minds of their children how very important it is that they make decisions based on what they know is the will of God. It is our responsibility to teach our children how to listen to God and how to make wise decisions.
Most important principle - obedience 1 Sam 15:22 - Better than sacrifice.

All of use have a belief system. Out of this beief system, we develop convictions. What are your convictions based on.
Our convictions must be based on the truth of God's word. You will not make wise decisions based on the truth of God unless you believe that God is absolutely sovereign, that God's power rules over all thing at all time over all people no exception.

Do you believe that God is in absolute control of all things? Romans 8:28 Answers to prayer - Yes, no, later, something better. The area in your life that you have not surrendered is the are that you chose to be disobedient no matter what.

We reap what we sow, more that we sow, later than we sow. That being true, what are you sowing?
What is your attitude towards God? Church? Yourself? Obedience can be a challenge, especially when we feel tempted to believe that we stand to lose more through our obedience than we might gain. Obeying God is essential to pleasing Him, however, not just in times of temptation but at all times.

When God commands us to obey Him, He is giving us a principle by which to live. He is also setting a frame work around our lives that forms a hedge of protection from evil.

Can you remember the last time you felt tempted to do the opposite of what you knew God desired you to do? Will obeying God cost me more than disobeying Him? Can I experience greater happiness by committing this sin than I would by obeying God? When we choose to obey God, we choose the way of wisdom. His promises of blessing for obedience far outweigh any possible consequences. He asks us to obey Him and leave whatever happens to Him.

As we grow in our walk with the Lord, obedience becomes a cornerstone to fellowship with God. If we obey Him, He pulls us closer to Himself and teaches us more about His precepts and His love.
Disobedience sends a message to the Lord, declaring that we know better than He does when it comes to our lives and the
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Satan, however, has another goal in mind. He seeks to tempt believers to disobey God, usually by telling them that Gods promises cannot be trusted and that we can enjoy life more through disobedience than by our obedience. Remember, disobedience always has fierce repercussion feelings of guilt, shame, and

What does the Bible say about obeying God?

His precepts and His love.

Disobedience sends a message to the Lord, declaring that we know better than He does when it comes to our lives and the circumstances surrounding them.

obedience. Remember, disobedience always has fierce repercussion feelings of guilt, shame, and worthlessness, broken lives, destroyed marriages, and bitter disputes, among them.
Disobedience disrupts our fellowship with the Savior and alienates us from Gods blessings. In times of disobedience, we be come spiritually weak and unable to discern right from wrong. We sink deeper into sins grasp and find it impossible to reverse our sinfulness on our own.

God loves us and is committed to us. He commands our obedience, not because He is a strict taskmaster, but be cause He knows the devastating effect that disobedience and sin vi1l have on our lives.

Acts 5:14-29
New King James Version (NKJV) 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them. 16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Imprisoned Apostles Freed

17 Then

the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation, 18 and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison. 19 But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered the temple early in the morning and taught. But the high priest and those with him came and called the council together, with all the elders of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

Apostles on Trial Again

22 But

when the officers came and did not find them in the prison, they returned and reported, 23 saying, Indeed we found the prison shut securely, and the guards standing outside[a] before the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside! 24 Now when the high priest, [b] the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these things, they wondered what the outcome would be. 25 So one came and told them, saying, [c] Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people! 26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be st oned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Mans blood on us! 29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: We ought to obey God rather than men.
Sowing and Reaping: Galatians 6:7 says, Whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Every action has an impact, for good or evil. Our decisions, and the choices of others, determine the quality of our lives.

Could they be good and painful at the same time? Yes they could, but remember this, God is responsible for the consequence of our obedience.
We are responsible for the consequences of our disobedience

It is always unwise to ignore the consequences of your decisions. Obey God and leave all the consequences to him. Consequences - Naturally follows a previous action. If David had known that one night with this woman was going to wreck not only his whole future but also the future of Israel as a nation, he would not have slept with Bathsheba.

You can't ever go wrong obeying God. You know why? Because you know what the consequences are. His consequences for obedience are always good.

If Jonah had known the consequences of his disobedience, he would never have run the other way to Tarshish instead of Nineveh as the Lord had told him to. You and I do not know that consequences of our decisions most of the time.

2 Timothy 2:15-26
15 Be

diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and, Let everyone who names the name of Christ [a] depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. 22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.

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Disobedient Biblical Characters: The Bible says, Be sure your sin will find you out (Num. 32:23). Imagine how different the stories in Scripture would be if mankind knew what disobeying God would cost: 1. Adam and Eve would never have eaten the forbidden fruit.
2. The nation of Israel would have chosen to fight for the Promised Land the first time around instead of wandering 40 years in the desert. 3. After seeing Bathsheba bathing, David would have turned away and walked back inside.

Faithful Biblical Characters: The Lord rewarded those who were willing to follow His commands: 1. Noah was asked to build a massive boatwhich made him the laughing stock of his community. But he was ready when the flood came.

2. Moses, a desert nomad, had to appear before Pharaoh, the leader of a powerful civilization, and demand freedom for the Israelites. Ultimately, the people were allowed to go. 3. Joshua was told to march around Jericho for seven days instead of relying on the military tactics he knew. And God destroyed the enemy. 4. Nehemiah boldly asked the Babylonian king for supplies to rebuild Jerusalem and received all he needed, including guards to help him safely reach the city. 5. In captivity, Daniel and his three friends refused to eat meat because it was not prepared according to Hebrew dietary laws. Yet they were healthier than all the other young men.
6. Peter and the apostles refused to stop preaching about Jesus, even though they were threatened with flogging and imprisonment.

4. Jonah would have willingly traveled to Ninevah to preach the Word of God.

The Requirements: As believers, we must: 1. Believe that God is sovereignHe controls all things at all times (Ps. 103:19). 2. Trust that He will work for our good in every situation and circumstance (Rom. 8:28). 3. Love the Lord. The Bible says we show our love for Him by obeying His commands (1 John 5:3)and not just when they are convenient and desirable.
4. Listen to Him. When you pray, make time to hear what He has to say. Psalm 32:9 Horse/mule. Isaiah 30:21 - And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk you in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.

The Results of Obedience 1. You will experience personal victory if you follow His will, even if the world does not consider you a success. (See Josh. 1:8.) 2. Obedience leads to supernatural peace and joy in every circumstance.
3. Spiritual growth and maturity results when believers continue to walk with God in the midst of suffering. Application 1. God may ask you to do something that doesnt make sense from a human perspective.

2. The Father may lead you to give up a hobby or donate a valuable item. 3. He may prompt you to give financially when money is scarce. 4. The Lord might want you to serve in your church or take a leadership role although you feel inadequate. We are responsible for the consequences of our disobedience. God is responsible for the consequence of our obedience.

5. Be courageous. Obeying God takes courage because following His will often leads to conflict. You must be willing to do what is right anyway. Mark 10:28-31 - w/ persecutions 6. Fully surrender to Him.

Trust God, obey Him, leave the consequences to Him

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