Obedience: A Better Perspective
Introduction:
What
is obedience? Is spiritual obedience simply a matter of doing what God said? Or,
is there a relationship built on trust involved? Is biblical obedience
authority or love based? Are we motivated by an unquestioning refusal to
rebel? Or by a deep affection for
God? We would be wrong to assign simple answers to these questions. It involves
a full-person response to God.
I. Mt. Sinai: Sabbath Expectations.
A.
Ex. 20:8-10
– Sabbath to be observed weekly – every Saturday.
1.
The Sabbath
belonged to God – and they gave it to God by not working.
B.
Verses are clear
& understandable. Authoritative.
C.
Numbers 15:32-36
– first example of a Sabbath violation.
II. Jericho – Joshua 6.
A.
6:1-5 –
God’s instructions. Note that:
1.
6:2 – God gave Jericho to Israel.
2.
6:3 –
instructions for Sunday-Friday – army march around Jericho once/day.
3.
6:4 – 7
priests to accompany the army, along with the Ark of the Covenant.
4.
6:10 –
march in complete silence.
B.
6:5 –
instructions for the 7th day. See also 6:15-16.
C.
Have you ever
considered that Jericho was taken on the Sabbath day?
D.
There is no
contradiction…obedience is more complex than we make it out to be.
1.
Jericho first
city of Canaan to be defeated.
2.
God gave Israel
the land. Gave them Jericho. A formidable city.
a.
Absolutely clear
that God was operating in their victory.
3.
Fall of Jericho
would be a constant symbol that God would be with them in their expunging of
the Canaanites.
4.
Powerful
message: Israel was totally dependent on God for success.
III. Obedience is a complex response of the whole
person to God.
A.
Involves an
interaction of respect, love, repentance, and trust in and for God.
B.
Only God can
look at our heart & see the interaction of these things.
C.
Obedience is a
matter of building a personal relationship with God.
IV. Today’s Christians Must Take Heed:
A.
Matthew 7:21-24.
Those mentioned here:
1.
Did acts. Obeyed
in the name of Jesus, but did not do the will of God.
2.
7:21 –
Jesus stressed hearing these words and
acting on them. What words?
a.
In the
context…the Sermon on the Mount.
B.
We must steer
clear of a “check list” theology.
1.
What is missing in the lives
of so many:
a.
Eph. 4:22-24; Rom 12:1-2
– the personal transformation
b.
Col. 2:6-8; 3:1-13 –
the commitment to personal growth.
C.
Look again at the checklist. All things on it are done for a
purpose.
1.
Purpose: to build up
complete faith & total trust in God.
D.
Proper spiritual obedience comes
from a whole person response to God.
Conclusion:
A.
Obedience is no
simple thing. It involves a relationship with God.
B.
How strong is
your relationship with God? Do you have one?