Sermon Central
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Obedience
Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Mar 18, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Parable of the two sons
Obedience:
Introduction:
Parable of the two sons: Matt. 21:28-32.
As Christians we are adopted Sons of God and this does bring with it responsibility.
Obedience is essential for belonging to God’s family:
Matt.12:50
For whoever shall do the will of my Father, which is in heaven, the same is my brother and sister and mother.
Religous words do not result from salvation but obedience.
Luke 6:46: Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say.
Matt.7.21: Not every one who says unto me Lord, Lord shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven but he who doeth the Will of my Father which is in heaven.
OBEDIENCE- Essential for a Christian
Paradise
Lost by disobedience: Gen.2:16 and 3:11
Obedience is the one condition of abiding in Paradise
Obedience encompasses Faith, Humility and Love
Regained: Rev. 22:14 In the New Jerusalem:
Blessed are those who do His (God’s) commandments.
God requires us to obey.
Matt. 7.24
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of mine and DOETH them, I will liken unto a wise man who built his house on a rock.
Do we not want to build on the rock that Christ tells us to?
I) Examples in Obedience in OT
a) Noah Gen 6:22 7:5,9 and 16
"According to all that God commanded him"
b) Abraham Heb.11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed
Gen 22:16-18
Gen.26:3,5 God spoke to Isaac of performing his oath because of Abraham’s obedience.
c) Joshua at Jericho Jos.6. 2-5 and 12-16 and 20 and 21.
Just marching round the city 13 times would not have been enough.The Lord required them to shout and the walls came tumbling down.
Disobedience.
Saul: 1 Sam.10.8
1) Samuel had commanded Saul to wait seven days for hinm to come and do the sacrifice and show him what to do . When Samuel delayed Saul took it on himself to offer the sacrifice (1 Sam. 13.:8-14)
God will not honour the man who is disobedient.
2) Saul had a chance to redeem himself. 1 Sam.15.3, and 7-23.
We have to carry out God’s commands 100%.
Strong words v.23. Rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft
What happens to sorcerers: death. Ex.22.18 /Deut.18.10/Rev 22.15
Some other references in OT to Obedience.
Jer. 7:22-23 : Obey my voice and I shall be your God.
New Covenant prophesied in the OT and obedience is in the centre.
Jer.31:31-33: Write his laws in our Hearts
Paralleled in NT in John 15 especially 10,14 and 17.
"Ye are my friends if you keep my commandments.
Love one another."
Obedience is only possible with:
1) a loving heart
2) as God abides in us
It makes it possible for God to fill us with the fulness of his Spirit.
I want to now look at the NT example particularily of Jesus.
II) Examples of Obedience in New Testament:
I) The LORD JESUS himself:
a) References of Obedience of Christ
i) Regarding our salvation:
Rom 5:19: Through obedience of one shall many be made righteous
Heb 8-9: He learned obedience and became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him.
Andrew Murray describes the Beauty of Salvation: He brings us back to the life of obedience through which alone the creature can give glory to God.
b) Recorded History of His Obedience
i) To his earthly parents.
Key verse: 51
He submitted himself, the perfect Son of God to sinful parents.
He could have said in his heart that as he was god he had no need to be obedient to lesser people.
The Father had however given him into their authority and he was obedient. Should we not also be so obedient to those the Lord has set over us.
ii) In baptism to the Father
Luke 3: 21-22
Jesus being perfect did not NEED baptism. Yet he humbled himself to go through the process.
Is it not beautiful for the Father to say: I am well pleased with you. The result of obedience.
iii) In the Temptations of Luke 4: 5-8
In Ex. 20:3 God said: You shall have no other gods but me.
Satan tempted Jesus to be disobedient to the Father.
iv) In the Garden of Gethsemane
Key verse 42: Not my will but thine.
Indeed we see in John 14:31: But that the world may know that i love the Father; and as the Father gave me the commandment, EVEN SO I DO.
Let us consider the Parable of the Two Sons in Matt.21. in relation to Christ.
Had Jesus not gone through with the Father’s will we would not be here today.
II) Ananias in Acts 9: 11-18
Probably one of the most courageous acts of obedience in the book of Acts:
God used Ananias’s obedience to complete the great apostle Paul’ conversion.
