OBEDIENCE

STUDY 2: OBEDIENCE

INTRODUCTION. 

Obedience is one of the great demands placed upon man by God to the truth of His word. Obedience to God and His word is one of the integral partsof Christian living, releasing the believer into the fulness of God's blessing. Obedience rests upon our recognition of there being higher authority than ourselves. Unless we recognize God's authority we will never obey. 

Romans 13:1-2 "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore however resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves."

The above verses acknowledge that all authority comes from Go, so God is at seat of authority; in fact, His Lordship and throne is based upon that authority. To disobey is notto recognize God's authority! 

I. NOT TO OBEY IS REBELLION AGAINST GOD 

Read I Samuel 15. In this story, King Saul put his own interpretation on what God told him to do. God said, I Samuel 15:3 "Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infact and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey."

This utter destruction of Amalekwas God's retribution against Amalek for what they did whenthe children of Israel were on their way to the promise land. Amalek had attacked all the stragglers at the rear who wers tired and weary (Deuteronomy 25:17-19). Saul did not obey God. I Samuel15:9 says, "But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good..." 

His excuse was thar they had saved them to sacrifice to the Lord (v. 15), then he denied his disobedience (v. 20). Samuel's reply was vs 22-23." Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord?  Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to head than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as tbe sin of witchcraft (divination) and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king. "

Saul, for his disobedience, was rejected from being king. Total disobedience to God was necessary. It acknowledged God as the authority who raised up men to be kings. Samuel acknowledged that God's requirement for obedience is better than sacrifice because in sacrifice there is still an exercise of the self-will. Obedience to God requires we adopt God's will and forget our own. 

II. OBEDIENCE REQUIRES A TOTAL SURRENDER OF THE WILL

This is seen the most graphically in Jesus' surrender of His own will to that of the Father. His one motivating concern was stablishingthe Father's will in His life. 

  Mattew 26:39 "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."