STUDY No. 30 - OBEDIENCE

He had been everywhere and done it all - almost a wasted life - and then grace intervened. He had trusted Christ and was now a comparatively new Salvation Army officer. His ministry was being blessed of God, but what everyone marvelled at was the saintliness of his character. Many wondered how it was that such a change could be accomplished in so short a time. One day a fellow Salvationist asked him: "What is the secret of your transformation?" He thought a moment and replied: "instant obedience."

Throughout the entire Bible one can notice again and again that God blessed the obedient and they prospered. The disobedient fall and perish. Throughout our own Christian lives a similar principle is in operation - not that we believe any true believer can ever fall away and be lost, but that the true believer will be noticed by his life of obedience. The secret of a happy, useful Christian life is a holy life, and that requires obedience.

WHY SHOULD WE BE OBEDIENT?

1 Sam. 15:22 -  Notice two services here. Which is the more important?

Psalm 119:6 -  What happens if we respect His commandments? How can we do this?

The Apostle Paul knew something about this important matter of obedience. See Acts 26:14.

Mark 3:35 -  How can we tell if a person is a true Christian?

We cannot really call ourselves His disciples, His learners, His followers, if we are not doing what He says.

Matthew 7:21-23 -  It is even possible to call Him "Lord!", to prophesy, cast out devils and do many wonderful works, signs and wonders in His Name - yet to hear those words: "l never knew you".

OBEDIENCE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF DISCIPLESHIP.

Apart from the fact that obedience is important to God and an evidence of our being true disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, continuing obedience results in fellowship and fruit in our Christian lives.

FELLOWSHIP
John 14:23
No better fellowship than this!
FRUITFULNESS
John 15:5
No sweeter fruit than His!

To abide in Him simply means to TRUST and OBEY!

An important spiritual principle to remember is that "light" received from the word of God and acted upon (that means believed and obeyed) will lead to more light being given.

Obedience is ??? part of discipleship? [See above]

HOW CAN WE BE OBEDIENT?

The answer, quite simply, is:
KNOWING the word of God
        (We can only do this by reading it, hearing it, studying it, memorising it).

and DOING IT
        (We have seen this in John 14:23, but Joshua 1:7-9 emphasises it.)

There are many: You can: BUT ... this is the way of the unbeliever; it is also the way of some who call themselves Christians. Unfortunately many modern Bible versions these days contain footnotes which undermine the faith of young Christians in the word of God, as they tend to trust the questioning footnotes of the translators.

THE OBEDIENCE OF JESUS CHRIST

It was the way the Master went. Should not the servant tread it still? -  John 5:30

His ministry began with a test of obedience in the wilderness. Each time He replied: "It is written ..." Matthew 4:1-11 (4, 7, 10). He obeyed the word of God He knew in His heart.
We too can hide God's word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him by being disobedient (Psalm 119:9-11).

KNOW IT   -   BELIEVE IT   -    DO IT

If God says, "Thou shalt not",
a child of God says, "I will not", in spite of strength of inclination or violence of temptation.

If God says, "Thou shalt",
he says, in defiance of custom, difficulty or danger, "I will".         (T. Adams)


BLESSED ARE THEY WHO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND KEEP IT.
(Luke 11:28)

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