LORDSHIP: SALUTE OR DILUTE
1 SAMUEL 15:1-26
1 SAMUEL 15:22 BUT SAMUEL REPLIED: "DOES THE LORD DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES AS MUCH AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS.
INTRODUCTION: WHEN WE BEGAN THIS SERIES A FEW WEEKS AGO (PRE IAN), WE BEGAN LOOKING AT WHY JESUS SHOULD BE LORD OF OUR LIFE – LORDSHIP. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF LORDSHIP, WE WILL DO ONE OF TWO THINGS; WE WILL EITHER SALUTE LORDSHIP FOR WHAT IT IS – GOD’S FULL RIGHT AND CONTROL OF OUR LIVES, OR DILUTE LORDSHIP – CIRCUMVENTING OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND HIS POSITION AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
LAST TIME, WE LOOK AT LORDSHIP FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF OWNERSHIP. GOD OWNS ME; BOTH IN CREATION AND IN REDEMPTION. SO, IF GOD IS THE OWNER, THEN WE SHOULD BE EMBRACING HIM AS THE ONE WHO HAS FULL CONTROL OVER OUR LIFE
KEY THOUGHT: SACRIFICE IS NEVER A REPLACEMENT FOR SURRENDER.
I. SETTING THE STAGE
a. SAUL IS KING OF ISRAEL AND SAMUEL IS THE PROPHET
b. SAUL HAS BEEN ORDERED BY GOD TO BATTLE AND UTTERLY DETROY THE AMALEKITES
i. “UTTERLY DESTROY” THIS WORD CARRIES WITH IT THE MEANING OF SOMETHING BEING DEDICATED TO GOD, AND THEN BANNED BY GOD FOR DESTRUCTION BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL TO DRAW PEOPLE AWAY FROM GOD.
c. SAUL’S ORDERS ARE CLEAR. WHAT WE WILL SEE, IS THAT SAUL WILL NOT FOLLOW GOD’S EDICTS IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED, BUT WILL FOLLOW THEM IN THE WAY HE THINKS IS BEST.
II. OUR BIGGEST BATTLE IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND HENCE LORDSHIP
a. US!
b. THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT SIN
i. ITS MAIN FUNCTION IS TO SEPARATE US FROM GOD
ii. IT IS BENT IS TOWARDS DARKNESS – AWAY FROM GOD
iii. LEFT WITHOUT CHECK IT LEADS TO ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD – WE CALL THAT HELL.
iv. AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, SIN:
1. DESTROYS ARE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
2. MINIMIZES OUR REWARDS IN HEAVEN
3. BRINGS THE CHASTISEMENT OF GOD IN OUR DAILY LIVES
WHEN SAUL STEPS OUT OF THE DIRECTION OF GOD WITH THE AMALEKITES, HE SET IN MOTION A SERIES OF HIS OWN ACTIONS THAT LED TO GOD’S ACTION TOWARDS SAUL
III. THE ACTIONS OF SAUL THAT REVEAL HIS DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD
a. SAUL WAS DECEPTIVE
1 SAMUEL 15:10-13 THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO SAMUEL: 11 "I AM GRIEVED THAT I HAVE MADE SAUL KING, BECAUSE HE HAS TURNED AWAY FROM ME AND HAS NOT CARRIED OUT MY INSTRUCTIONS." SAMUEL WAS TROUBLED, AND HE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD ALL THAT NIGHT. 12 EARLY IN THE MORNING SAMUEL GOT UP AND WENT TO MEET SAUL, BUT HE WAS TOLD, "SAUL HAS GONE TO CARMEL. THERE HE HAS SET UP A MONUMENT IN HIS OWN HONOR AND HAS TURNED AND GONE ON DOWN TO GILGAL." 13 WHEN SAMUEL REACHED HIM, SAUL SAID, "THE LORD BLESS YOU! I HAVE CARRIED OUT THE LORD'S INSTRUCTIONS."
i. GOD SAYS THAT HE IS GRIEVED OR IN THE KJV, REPENTETH THAT HE MADE SAW KING
1. THIS WORD CARIES WITH IT THE THOUGH OF “A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION”
2. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO INDICATE ANY SIN ON GOD’S PART, BUT A CHANGE OF DIRECTION – ONE THAT WOULD SEE SAUL REMOVED AS KING
ii. SAUL SEEKS TO OUTRIGHT DECEIVE SAMUEL
1. BLESS YOU SAMUEL
2. I DID WHAT GOD TOLD ME TO DO
3. JAMES 1:22 DO NOT MERELY LISTEN TO THE WORD, AND SO DECEIVE YOURSELVES. DO WHAT IT SAYS.
a. WHAT SAUL DID HERE WAS REPLACE WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE WITH WHAT HE ACTUALLY DID
b. HE DID NOT OBEY GOD, BUT TELLS SAMUEL THAT HE DID
c. “REPEAT A LIE OFTEN ENOUGH AND IT BECOMES THE TRUTH”, IS A LAW OF PROPAGANDA OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE NAZI JOSEPH GOEBBELS.
4. IN 1 JOHN CHAPTER ONE, WE CAN SEE THIS DECEPTION PLAYED OUT AS JOHN SPEAKS THREE TIMES ABOUT SAYING ONE THING AND DOING ANOTHER
a. FIRST WE LIE TO OTHERS
b. SECOND WE LIE TO OURSELVES
c. THIRD WE LIE TO GOD
SAMUEL CONFRONTS SAUL IN VERSE 14 WITH THE BLEATING OF THE SHEEP AND SAUL CHANGES HIS TUNE
b. SAUL MAKES EXCUSES FOR HIS DISOBEDIENCE
1 SAMUEL 15:14-19 BUT SAMUEL SAID, "WHAT THEN IS THIS BLEATING OF SHEEP IN MY EARS? WHAT IS THIS LOWING OF CATTLE THAT I HEAR?" 15 SAUL ANSWERED, "THE SOLDIERS BROUGHT THEM FROM THE AMALEKITES; THEY SPARED THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND CATTLE TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, BUT WE TOTALLY DESTROYED THE REST."
16 "STOP!" SAMUEL SAID TO SAUL. "LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE LORD SAID TO ME LAST NIGHT." "TELL ME," SAUL REPLIED.
17 SAMUEL SAID, "ALTHOUGH YOU WERE ONCE SMALL IN YOUR OWN EYES, DID YOU NOT BECOME THE HEAD OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL? THE LORD ANOINTED YOU KING OVER ISRAEL. 18 AND HE SENT YOU ON A MISSION, SAYING, 'GO AND COMPLETELY DESTROY THOSE WICKED PEOPLE, THE AMALEKITES; MAKE WAR ON THEM UNTIL YOU HAVE WIPED THEM OUT.' 19 WHY DID YOU NOT OBEY THE LORD? WHY DID YOU POUNCE ON THE PLUNDER AND DO EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD?"
i. SAUL NOW SAYS THAT WHAT HE ACTUALLY DID WAS SAVE THE BEST FOR GOD
ii. IT IS NEVER RIGHT TO DO WRONG
iii. A MORE SIGNIFICANT QUESTION – WHAT DOES GOD NEED WITH OUR BEST
1. ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIKE FILTHY RAGS
2. CAN’T OUT DO GOD IN ANY WAY
3. OUR BEST ISN’T EVEN A DISTANT SECOND TO WHAT GOD HAS FOR THOSE WHO HONOR HIM AS THEIR LORD
c. SAUL THEN MOVES TO BLAME THE PEOPLE
1 SAMUEL 15:20-23 "BUT I DID OBEY THE LORD," SAUL SAID. "I WENT ON THE MISSION THE LORD ASSIGNED ME. I COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE AMALEKITES AND BROUGHT BACK AGAG THEIR KING. 21 THE SOLDIERS TOOK SHEEP AND CATTLE FROM THE PLUNDER, THE BEST OF WHAT WAS DEVOTED TO GOD, IN ORDER TO SACRIFICE THEM TO THE LORD YOUR GOD AT GILGAL." 22 BUT SAMUEL REPLIED: "DOES THE LORD DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES AS MUCH AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS. 23 FOR REBELLION IS LIKE THE SIN OF DIVINATION, AND ARROGANCE LIKE THE EVIL OF IDOLATRY. BECAUSE YOU HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HE HAS REJECTED YOU AS KING."
i. I WENT WHERE GOD TOLD ME
ii. I DID WHAT GOD TOLD ME
iii. THE SOLDIERS TOOK THE STUFF TO SACRIFICE TO YOUR GOD
1. TRIES TO SHOW HE HAD NO CONTROL OF HIS TROOPS
2. TRIES TO INVOLVE SAMUEL IN HIS DISOBEDIENCE AS AN UNKNOWN ACCOMPLICE.
iv. SAMUEL UNDERSTANDS THAT LORDSHIP INVOLVE PERSONAL OBEDIENCE, NOT DECEPTION AND SHALLOW FORGIVENESS
GOD DOES NOT WANT A SACRIFICE WHEN HE COULD HAVE OUR HEART
d. SAUL IS CANCELED BY GOD
1 SAMUEL 15:24-26 THEN SAUL SAID TO SAMUEL, "I HAVE SINNED. I VIOLATED THE LORD'S COMMAND AND YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE AND SO I GAVE IN TO THEM. 25 NOW I BEG YOU, FORGIVE MY SIN AND COME BACK WITH ME, SO THAT I MAY WORSHIP THE LORD." 26 BUT SAMUEL SAID TO HIM, "I WILL NOT GO BACK WITH YOU. YOU HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND THE LORD HAS REJECTED YOU AS KING OVER ISRAEL!"
i. REPUTATION IS WHAT PEOPLE THINK WE ARE AND CHARACTER IS WHAT GOD KNOWS WE ARE.
ii. D.L. MOODY SAID, "CHARACTER IS WHAT A PERSON IS IN THE DARK WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING."
iii. SAUL COULD NOT BE OBEDIENT TO GOD BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED WITH WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT OF HIM
iv. SAUL WAS CONSUMED WITH REPUTATION INSTEAD OF CHARACTER
v. WHEN OUR EYES DRIFT FROM GOD FOR ANY REASON, WE ARE IN DANGER OF NO LONGER SUBMITTING TO HIM AS LORD
IV. HOW HANDLE AND THE BENEFIT OF LORDSHIP/OBEDIENCE ISSUE
a. HOW TO REMAIN OBEDIENT TO THE LORD TODAY
i. DON’T MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT PRAYING ABOUT IT FIRST.
ii. DON’T MAKE A DECISION THAT VIOLATES BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES.
iii. BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR GOD TO ANSWER OR ACT. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET AHEAD OF THE LORD.
b. THE BLESSING OF BEING OBEDIENT TO THE LORD
i. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD WE ARE WALKING WITH GOD.
ii. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD WE CAN OBEY HIS VOICE.
iii. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD, WE WILL BE BLESSED BY GOD.
iv. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD, WE ARE CHOOSING GOD’S BEST FOR US.
v. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD, WE ARE TRUSTING GOD TO BE GOD.
IN THE END, GOD DESERVES OUR OBEDIENCE BECAUSE HE IS LORD AND WE REVEAL THAT HE IS LORD IN OUR LIVES BY OBEYING HIM.
1 SAMUEL 15:1-26
1 SAMUEL 15:22 BUT SAMUEL REPLIED: "DOES THE LORD DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES AS MUCH AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS.
INTRODUCTION: WHEN WE BEGAN THIS SERIES A FEW WEEKS AGO (PRE IAN), WE BEGAN LOOKING AT WHY JESUS SHOULD BE LORD OF OUR LIFE – LORDSHIP. WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HT E CONCEPT OF LORDSHIP, WE WILL DO ONE OF TWO THINGS; WE WILL EITHER SALUTE LORDSHIP FOR WHAT IT IS – GOD’S FULL RIGHT AND CONTROL OF OUR LIVES, OR DILUTE LORDSHIP – CIRCUMVENTING OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND HIS POSITION AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.
LAST TIME, WE LOOK AT LORDSHIP FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF OWNERSHIP. GOD OWNS ME; BOTH IN CREATION AND IN REDEMPTION. SO, IF GOD IS THE OWNER, THEN WE SHOULD BE EMBRACING HIM AS THE ONE WHO HAS FULL CONTROL OVER OUR LIFE
KEY THOUGHT: SACRIFICE IS NEVER A REPLACEMENT FOR SURRENDER.
I. SETTING THE STAGE
a. SAUL IS KING OF ISRAEL AND SAMUEL IS THE PROPHET
b. SAUL HAS BEEN ORDERED BY GOD TO BATTLE AND UTTERLY DETROY THE AMALEKITES
i. “UTTERLY DESTROY” THIS WORD CARRIES WITH IT THE MEANING OF SOMETHING BEING DEDICATED TO GOD, AND THEN BANNED BY GOD FOR DESTRUCTION BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL TO DRAW PEOPLE AWAY FROM GOD.
c. SAUL’S ORDERS ARE CLEAR. WHAT WE WILL SEE, IS THAT SAUL WILL NOT FOLLOW GOD’S EDICTS IN THE MANNER PRESCRIBED, BUT WILL FOLLOW THEM IN THE WAY HE THINKS IS BEST.
II. OUR BIGGEST BATTLE IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND HENCE LORDSHIP
a. US!
b. THINGS WE KNOW ABOUT SIN
i. ITS MAIN FUNCTION IS TO SEPARATE US FROM GOD
ii. IT IS BENT IS TOWARDS DARKNESS – AWAY FROM GOD
iii. LEFT WITHOUT CHECK IT LEADS TO ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD – WE CALL THAT HELL.
iv. AS A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST, SIN:
1. DESTROYS ARE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD
2. MINIMIZES OUR REWARDS IN HEAVEN
3. BRINGS THE CHASTISEMENT OF GOD IN OUR DAILY LIVES
WHEN SAUL STEPS OUT OF THE DIRECTION OF GOD WITH THE AMALEKITES, HE SET IN MOTION A SERIES OF HIS OWN ACTIONS THAT LED TO GOD’S ACTION TOWARDS SAUL
III. THE ACTIONS OF SAUL THAT REVEAL HIS DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD
a. SAUL WAS DECEPTIVE
1 SAMUEL 15:10-13 THEN THE WORD OF THE LORD CAME TO SAMUEL: 11 "I AM GRIEVED THAT I HAVE MADE SAUL KING, BECAUSE HE HAS TURNED AWAY FROM ME AND HAS NOT CARRIED OUT MY INSTRUCTIONS." SAMUEL WAS TROUBLED, AND HE CRIED OUT TO THE LORD ALL THAT NIGHT. 12 EARLY IN THE MORNING SAMUEL GOT UP AND WENT TO MEET SAUL, BUT HE WAS TOLD, "SAUL HAS GONE TO CARMEL. THERE HE HAS SET UP A MONUMENT IN HIS OWN HONOR AND HAS TURNED AND GONE ON DOWN TO GILGAL." 13 WHEN SAMUEL REACHED HIM, SAUL SAID, "THE LORD BLESS YOU! I HAVE CARRIED OUT THE LORD'S INSTRUCTIONS."
i. GOD SAYS THAT HE IS GRIEVED OR IN THE KJV, REPENTETH THAT HE MADE SAW KING
1. THIS WORD CARIES WITH IT THE THOUGH OF “A CHANGE OF ADMINISTRATION”
2. THIS IS NOT MEANT TO INDICATE ANY SIN ON GOD’S PART, BUT A CHANGE OF DIRECTION – ONE THAT WOULD SEE SAUL REMOVED AS KING
ii. SAUL SEEKS TO OUTRIGHT DECEIVE SAMUEL
1. BLESS YOU SAMUEL
2. I DID WHAT GOD TOLD ME TO DO
3. JAMES 1:22 DO NOT MERELY LISTEN TO THE WORD, AND SO DECEIVE YOURSELVES. DO WHAT IT SAYS.
a. WHAT SAUL DID HERE WAS REPLACE WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE WITH WHAT HE ACTUALLY DID
b. HE DID NOT OBEY GOD, BUT TELLS SAMUEL THAT HE DID
c. “REPEAT A LIE OFTEN ENOUGH AND IT BECOMES THE TRUTH”, IS A LAW OF PROPAGANDA OFTEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE NAZI JOSEPH GOEBBELS.
4. IN 1 JOHN CHAPTER ONE, WE CAN SEE THIS DECEPTION PLAYED OUT AS JOHN SPEAKS THREE TIMES ABOUT SAYING ONE THING AND DOING ANOTHER
a. FIRST WE LIE TO OTHERS
b. SECOND WE LIE TO OURSELVES
c. THIRD WE LIE TO GOD
SAMUEL CONFRONTS SAUL IN VERSE 14 WITH THE BLEATING OF THE SHEEP AND SAUL CHANGES HIS TUNE
b. SAUL MAKES EXCUSES FOR HIS DISOBEDIENCE
1 SAMUEL 15:14-19 BUT SAMUEL SAID, "WHAT THEN IS THIS BLEATING OF SHEEP IN MY EARS? WHAT IS THIS LOWING OF CATTLE THAT I HEAR?" 15 SAUL ANSWERED, "THE SOLDIERS BROUGHT THEM FROM THE AMALEKITES; THEY SPARED THE BEST OF THE SHEEP AND CATTLE TO SACRIFICE TO THE LORD YOUR GOD, BUT WE TOTALLY DESTROYED THE REST."
16 "STOP!" SAMUEL SAID TO SAUL. "LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THE LORD SAID TO ME LAST NIGHT." "TELL ME," SAUL REPLIED.
17 SAMUEL SAID, "ALTHOUGH YOU WERE ONCE SMALL IN YOUR OWN EYES, DID YOU NOT BECOME THE HEAD OF THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL? THE LORD ANOINTED YOU KING OVER ISRAEL. 18 AND HE SENT YOU ON A MISSION, SAYING, 'GO AND COMPLETELY DESTROY THOSE WICKED PEOPLE, THE AMALEKITES; MAKE WAR ON THEM UNTIL YOU HAVE WIPED THEM OUT.' 19 WHY DID YOU NOT OBEY THE LORD? WHY DID YOU POUNCE ON THE PLUNDER AND DO EVIL IN THE EYES OF THE LORD?"
i. SAUL NOW SAYS THAT WHAT HE ACTUALLY DID WAS SAVE THE BEST FOR GOD
ii. IT IS NEVER RIGHT TO DO WRONG
iii. A MORE SIGNIFICANT QUESTION – WHAT DOES GOD NEED WITH OUR BEST
1. ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIKE FILTHY RAGS
2. CAN’T OUT DO GOD IN ANY WAY
3. OUR BEST ISN’T EVEN A DISTANT SECOND TO WHAT GOD HAS FOR THOSE WHO HONOR HIM AS THEIR LORD
c. SAUL THEN MOVES TO BLAME THE PEOPLE
1 SAMUEL 15:20-23 "BUT I DID OBEY THE LORD," SAUL SAID. "I WENT ON THE MISSION THE LORD ASSIGNED ME. I COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE AMALEKITES AND BROUGHT BACK AGAG THEIR KING. 21 THE SOLDIERS TOOK SHEEP AND CATTLE FROM THE PLUNDER, THE BEST OF WHAT WAS DEVOTED TO GOD, IN ORDER TO SACRIFICE THEM TO THE LORD YOUR GOD AT GILGAL." 22 BUT SAMUEL REPLIED: "DOES THE LORD DELIGHT IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES AS MUCH AS IN OBEYING THE VOICE OF THE LORD? TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE, AND TO HEED IS BETTER THAN THE FAT OF RAMS. 23 FOR REBELLION IS LIKE THE SIN OF DIVINATION, AND ARROGANCE LIKE THE EVIL OF IDOLATRY. BECAUSE YOU HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, HE HAS REJECTED YOU AS KING."
i. I WENT WHERE GOD TOLD ME
ii. I DID WHAT GOD TOLD ME
iii. THE SOLDIERS TOOK THE STUFF TO SACRIFICE TO YOUR GOD
1. TRIES TO SHOW HE HAD NO CONTROL OF HIS TROOPS
2. TRIES TO INVOLVE SAMUEL IN HIS DISOBEDIENCE AS AN UNKNOWN ACCOMPLICE.
iv. SAMUEL UNDERSTANDS THAT LORDSHIP INVOLVE PERSONAL OBEDIENCE, NOT DECEPTION AND SHALLOW FORGIVENESS
GOD DOES NOT WANT A SACRIFICE WHEN HE COULD HAVE OUR HEART
d. SAUL IS CANCELED BY GOD
1 SAMUEL 15:24-26 THEN SAUL SAID TO SAMUEL, "I HAVE SINNED. I VIOLATED THE LORD'S COMMAND AND YOUR INSTRUCTIONS. I WAS AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE AND SO I GAVE IN TO THEM. 25 NOW I BEG YOU, FORGIVE MY SIN AND COME BACK WITH ME, SO THAT I MAY WORSHIP THE LORD." 26 BUT SAMUEL SAID TO HIM, "I WILL NOT GO BACK WITH YOU. YOU HAVE REJECTED THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND THE LORD HAS REJECTED YOU AS KING OVER ISRAEL!"
i. REPUTATION IS WHAT PEOPLE THINK WE ARE AND CHARACTER IS WHAT GOD KNOWS WE ARE.
ii. D.L. MOODY SAID, "CHARACTER IS WHAT A PERSON IS IN THE DARK WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING."
iii. SAUL COULD NOT BE OBEDIENT TO GOD BECAUSE HE WAS CONCERNED WITH WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT OF HIM
iv. SAUL WAS CONSUMED WITH REPUTATION INSTEAD OF CHARACTER
v. WHEN OUR EYES DRIFT FROM GOD FOR ANY REASON, WE ARE IN DANGER OF NO LONGER SUBMITTING TO HIM AS LORD
IV. HOW HANDLE AND THE BENEFIT OF LORDSHIP/OBEDIENCE ISSUE
a. HOW TO REMAIN OBEDIENT TO THE LORD TODAY
i. DON’T MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT PRAYING ABOUT IT FIRST.
ii. DON’T MAKE A DECISION THAT VIOLATES BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES.
iii. BE PATIENT AND WAIT FOR GOD TO ANSWER OR ACT. BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET AHEAD OF THE LORD.
b. THE BLESSING OF BEING OBEDIENT TO THE LORD
i. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD WE ARE WALKING WITH GOD.
ii. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD WE CAN OBEY HIS VOICE.
iii. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD, WE WILL BE BLESSED BY GOD.
iv. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD, WE ARE CHOOSING GOD’S BEST FOR US.
v. WHEN WE ARE OBEDIENT TO GOD, WE ARE TRUSTING GOD TO BE GOD.
IN THE END, GOD DESERVES OUR OBEDIENCE BECAUSE HE IS LORD AND WE REVEAL THAT HE IS LORD IN OUR LIVES BY OBEYING HIM.
