LIVE IN OBEDIENCE – COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
1 Peter 1:13 – 16
13Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
1:13 Daarom, omgord die lendene van julle verstand, wees nugter en hoop volkome op die genade wat julle deel word by die openbaring van Jesus Christus.
1:14 Soos gehoorsame kinders moet julle nie jul lewe inrig volgens die begeerlikhede wat tevore in julle onwetendheid bestaan het nie.
1:15 Maar soos Hy wat julle geroep het, heilig is, moet julle ook in jul hele lewenswandel heilig word,
1:16 omdat daar geskrywe is: Wees heilig, want Ek is heilig.
WHAT ARE WE IF WE DO NOT HAVE OBEDIENCE? IF WE DISOBEY OUR PARENTS WE GET PUNISHED SO HOW CAN WE EXPECT GOD NOT TO PUNISH US. THROUGHTOUT THE BIBLE OBEDIENCE IS MENTIONED 623 TIMES, DOES THAT NOT SHOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS?
DO YOU DO WHAT WILL BENEFIT YOU THE MOST, OR ALLOW YOUR EMOTIONS TO TAKE CONTROL OR DO YOU TRUST JESUS AND FOLLOW HIM FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS.
Romans 6:16,
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
6:16 Weet julle nie dat aan wie julle julself as diensknegte tot beskikking stel om hom gehoorsaam te wees, julle diensknegte is van hom aan wie julle gehoorsaam is nie òf van die sonde tot die dood, òf van die gehoorsaamheid tot geregtigheid?
Ephesians 2:2
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
2:2 waarin julle tevore gewandel het volgens die loop van hierdie wêreld, volgens die owerste van die mag van die lug, van die gees wat nou in die kinders van die ongehoorsaamheid werk,
WE BECOME MOST USEFUL TO GOD WHEN WE RELY ON HIM COMPLETELY; IF WE RESPOND TO SUFFERING AND LOSS WE WILL FIND BLESSING THROUGH IT. OFTEN THE FIRST EFFECT OF OBEDIENCE IS NOT BLESSING BUT SUFFERING. SOMETIMES WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US WILL INITIALLY LEAD TO PAIN AND SADNESS.
DO NOT THINK THAT YOU HAVE MADE A MISTAKE OR THAT GOD HAS ABANDONED YOU. HE HAS NOT. PEACE, JOY, CONTENTMENT WILL ONLY RESULT WHEN WE STEP OUT IN FAITH AND OBEY GOD.
IN OUR SUFFERING WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME LIVING EXAMPLES OF THE GOODNESS OF GOD. AS OTHERS WATCH HOW WE RESPOND TO OVERWHELMING ADVERSITY THEY RECOGNIZE HIS LOVING CARE. SO WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS?
WE NEED TO BELIEVE THAT GOD IS SOVEREIGN (PS103:19)
The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
103:19 Die HERE het sy troon in die hemel gevestig, en sy koninkryk heers oor alles.
WE NEED TO TRUST THAT HE WILL WORK FOR OUR GOOD IN EVERY SITUATION AND CIRCUMSTANCE (ROMANS 8:28)
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
8:28 En ons weet dat vir hulle wat God liefhet, alles ten goede meewerk, vir hulle wat na sy voorneme geroep is.
WE HAVE TO LOVE THE LORD, OBEY THE COMMANDS (1 JOHN 5:3).
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
5:3 Want dit is die liefde tot God, dat ons sy gebooie bewaar; en sy gebooie is nie swaar nie.
WHEN WE PRAY WE NEED TO MAKE TIME TO HEAR, LISTEN TO WHAT HE IS SAYING. BY FULLY SURRENDING TO HIM.
BELIEVE – TRUST – LOVE – LISTEN – SURRENDER ALL.
SO GOD MAY ASK YOU TO DO SOMETHING THAT DOES NOT MAKE SENSE TO YOU AT ALL LIKE GIVING UP A HOBBY OR DONATING A VALUABLE ITEM. HE MAY PROMPT YOU TO GIVE FINANCILLY WHEN MONEY IS SCARE. THE LORD MIGHT WANT YOU TO SERVE IN YOUR CHURCH, BE IN LEADERSHIP ALTHOUGH YOU FEEL INADEQUATE. GOD DOES ALL THIS FOR A REASON, HE WANTS TO DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING, TAKE OUT THE IDOLS FROM OUR LIVES AND TO BRING US TO THE END OF OURSELVES. JUST THINK OF THE BLESSINGS WE WILL RECEIVE WHEN WE ARE FINALLY OBEDIENT TO GOD AND HIS WORD.
PEACE, JOY, CONTENTMENT, SPIRITUAL GROWTH, ETERNAL BLESSINGS WILL BE OURS.
1) BLESSINGS BEGIN THE MOMENT WE OBEY (Philippians 4:19)
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
4:19 En my God sal elke behoefte van julle vervul na sy rykdom in heerlikheid deur Christus Jesus.
WE FEEL LIKE WE ARE SO FAR AWAY FROM GOD AND CAN NEVER GET ANYTHING RIGHT SO WHAT IS THE USE? WHY BOTHER TRYING?
LET ME SHARE THIS: IF YOU FIND YOUR LIFE IN A BIT OF A MESS TODAY JUST REMEMBER THAT YOU DO NOT GET WHERE YOU ARE OVERNIGHT, YOU GOT THERE BY TAKING A THOUSAND STEPS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THEREFORE DO NOT BE SURPRISED IF IT TAKES YOU QUITE A FEW STEPS TO GET YOUR LIFE BACK IN ORDER AGAIN. YOU DO NOT CHANGE YOUR THINKING OVERNIGHT AND YOU DO NOT BREAK BAD HABITS IN ONE WEEK. THINK OF IT THIS WAY: EVERY DAY YOU MAKE THOUSANDS OF DECISIONS – MOST OF THEM SMALL, BUT EACH OTHER LEADS YOU TOWARDS THE LIGHT OR BACK TO THE DARKNESS AND YOU WONDER IF YOU WILL EVER SEE THE LIGHT AGAIN – DEPENDS ON YOU.
WHEN YOU WAKE UP ASK THE LORD TO HELP YOU WALK TOWARD THE LIGHT WHEN YOU DO THAT THE SHADOWS WILL LIFT AND YOU WILL HAVE THE BLAZING LIGHT OF GOD’S PRESENCE AROUND YOU. (ANOMOUS)
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THOSE LITTLE STEPS EVERY DAY SO BE ENCOURAGED, IT STARTS WHEN WE OBEY HIM.
2) THE HARVEST WILL COME ( Matthew 9:37)
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;
9:37 Toe sê Hy vir sy dissipels: Die oes is wel groot, maar die arbeiders min.
YOU CANNOT PLANT TODAY AND HARVEST TOMORROW, IT TAKES TIME, WORK AND WATER. GOD IS SAYING ‘DON’T WORRY YOU WILL REAP AN ADUNDANT HARVEST.’ THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR CHRISTIAN WORKERS TO REMEMBER; SOMETIMES WE GROW TIRED AND WONDER IF OUR EFFORTS ARE IN VAIN. GOD SAYS ‘YOU PLANT THE SEED AND LET ME TAKE CARE OF THE HARVEST.’
3) GOD LOVES YOU (Galatians 2:20)
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
2:20 Ek is met Christus gekruisig, en ék leef nie meer nie, maar Christus leef in my. En wat ek nou in die vlees lewe, leef ek deur die geloof in die Seun van God wat my liefgehad het en Homself vir my oorgegee het.
SOME PEOPLE ARE A HANDFUL; OTHERS WILL GIVE YOU A HARD TIME. SO WHAT … NEVER GIVE UP, THESE WORDS GIVE YOU HOPE TO KEEP GOING, KEEP ON SERVING GOD, KEEP ON HELPING OTHERS, KEEP ON LIVING FOR JESUS AND IN THE END YOU WILL REAP A BOUNTIFUL HARVEST. KEEP ON TELLING PEOPLE HOW MUCH GOD LOVES THEM AND SAY YOU LOVE THEM TO.
NEVER GIVE UP.
AND SO I LEAVE YOU ALL WITH THESE THOUGHTS:
DOES THE WAY YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE DEMONSTRATE CONSISTENT, ACTIVE SUBMISSION TO GOD AND HIS WORD THROUGH A LIFESTYLE OF ONGOING OBEDIENCE?
DO YOU ALLOW THE WORD OF GOD TO SPEAK TO YOUR HEART, RATHER THAN SIMPLY TALKING OR REACTING IN ANGER?
DO YOU WALK AWAY FROM THOSE PRACTICES THAT KEEP YOU FROM HEARING?
Prayer.
