Obedience the key to God’s heart
John 14:23-24
September 30, 2007
Introduction
Last week’s message instill to us the fact: obeying Christ is doing what He says; obeying Christ is the foundation of life; and those who disobey will face destruction.
Now this afternoon I am going to set before you the quality the Bible describe as the way to God’s heart as the Lord Jesus Christ himself describes it.
Brethren what do you think is the key to God’s heart? Is it humility, perseverance, or faith? Although these attribute plays a vital role in the Christian’s life, today’s passage reveals to us the key to God’s Heart
Turn your Bible to John 14:23-24 and let us see what does it reveals.
So then, the passage tells us that the best way to express our love, honor, and reverence for God is through obedience. That is the key to God’s Heart: OBEDIENCE.
Let me share with you three points
I. Obedience is not optional for believers
Jesus Christ simply states the fact: “If you love me you will keep my commandments. Jesus is not giving here an optional obedience. Take note: “if you love me, then [optional] obey what I command you.” He is saying that the man who truly loves Him will obey His commandments.
To the believers there is no option. He loves Jesus; therefore, he obeys His commands. It means we follow them and treasure them.
In 1John 2:3-4 we read, “We know that we have come to know Him if we obey his commands. The man who says, “I know Him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
It says here that there is a test that will show us. Do we obey God’s commandments? If we want to know Him obedience should be the priority in the life of the believers who desire to know God more and please Him. The more we walk and love the more we will come to know God. Therefore, if we obey His commands, we know Him.
As a follower of Christ, you have a specific responsibility. Jesus is asking you, just as He asked the apostles, to keep His words. We are to write them on our hearts so as not to sin against God.
Psalm 119:11, “I have laid up they word in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
II. Obedience Brings Blessing
Note the words, “My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
What a blessing to be love by God the father. What a blessing both the Father and Christ come to abide in the believer in the person of the Holy Spirit. All three live or dwell within believer.
When we obey God, the love of God will enrich us greatly, as there is no such thing as obeying Him and not being blessed. He does not operate that way. Blessing follows obedience.
So, who are blessed of God?
1. Those who Trust the Lord – (Jer. 17:7; Luke 11:27-28).
2. Those who Fear the Lord – (Ps. 128:1).
3. Those whose Sins are Forgiven – (Ps. 32:2-3; Rom. 4:8).
4. Those whose way is blameless – (Ps. 119:1a)
5. Those who walk (who obey) in the law of God – (Ps.119:1b)
Our obedience to God allows Him to demonstrate His awesome power in our lives. Our obedience also allows God to bless others through us.
Does this mean that we should obey God for the sake of blessings? No it does not. Instead, we should please God and obey Him because of who He is. We should honor Him and reverence Him as God the Father, creator of all things. Therefore, the greatest reward we can attain is His Love and Favor.
So, there’s a blessing to those obeying the word of God. There’s a blessing to those who keep seeking with the whole heart the will of the Lord.
III. Obedience is tied in knowing God and loving Him
I John 2:5 we read, “But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in Him. This is how we know we are in Him” (NIV)
There’s the obedient man. The obedient man obeys God’s word and knows God and loves God.
Remember: Jesus Christ came to earth to reveal God and to show us how to draw near to God. Therefore, to know God, we must draw near to Jesus and follow the example He left us. We must follow the Word of Christ; we must keep the Word of Christ living exactly as He lived.
The more we draw near Him and obey His word and please Him, the more we learn about Him and love Him.
Take note the word “obeys” (terei) is continuous action. It means to continue on and not to stop. It means day by day obedience. If we obey God day by day, then we learn more about Him; we learn to love and obey Him.
The obedient person is the one who knows God and loves God.
“it is clearly seen that their love to him is without dissimulation, and is not in tongue only, but in deed and in truth” (John Gill commentary)
“If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.” – John 15:14
Conclusion
To conclude this message let me share with you what we must do for us to learn obedience.
A. Learn to wait upon the Lord in Prayer
Isaiah 40:31, “ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength , they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
B. Develop a love for the Word of God
Psalm 119:47, “for I find my delight in thy commandments with love.”
C. Realize that to obey God often means a head on collision with human reasoning and world system.
Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
D. Know that sometimes God will allow us to walk in the dark so that we will learn to trust Him.
James 1:2-3, “count it all joy, brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness’.
E. Expect some inner struggles
Romans 7:15, “I dot understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”
F. Learn that there’s no substitute for obedience (Deut. 11:26-28)
G. Learn to leave all the consequences of our obedience to God.
Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plan will be established
Reflection
As a believer we will face many decisions in life. If God in His word requires you to do something that may conflict to your personal priorities, what would be your response? Is your response would be keeping with your commitments to obey God?
Is there any area in your life in which you struggle to be obedient?
What prevented you from submitting your life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?
“There is no greater life than always to will the divine will.” – Marguerite Proete
