“Developing Obedience”
Mark 1:9-11
Introduction:
One of the most important things that you will do as a Christian is relentlessly work on your Christian character. The American College defines character as: the aggregate of qualities that distinguishes one person or thing from another. This is a pretty powerful statement when we stop and evaluate the characteristics that we have as Christians.
For the next several weeks we will be going through a series that I have named “Developing Character” where we will be challenged to take a good long look at what the scriptures have to say about the elements that make up righteous character.
Now we have just heard the American College dictionary define character as the aggregate that makes us different and I believe that. But the real question is what does the Bible have to say about character? I believe that we can find a very good definition when we look at 2 Cor. 5:17.
2 Cor 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
What’s new in my character according to these verses?
Three things:
1.My thought process is different – the way I think needs to be changes.
2.My actions are different – the way I behave is changes.
3.My ambitions are different – what’s important to me changes.
And because my thought process is changing and my ambitions are different and I behave differently now that I am a Christian my character is becoming more Christ like or it should be.
So this morning we are going to start our series off with one element that is crucial when we talk about developing character and that is “Obedience”. Now I know some of the guys are nudging their wives and saying, “ Hon, get out the pen and take notes this ones for you” but that’s not what I am talking about, I am specifically talking about “Obedience to God”.
There are some that are more obedient than others just like this elderly man in this story.
There was once an elderly couple that was traveling through upstate NY. As they were driving along they saw a sign that said, "Helicopter rides ahead". Pa said to Ma that he always wanted to ride in one of them helicopters.
So they pull into the place and find the pilot. Pa asks him how much for the ride. The pilots says, "$20 each." Pa scratches his chin and states that that’s an awful lot of money. "I would like to ride but that’s too much money". Feeling a little sorry for the old folks the pilot tells them, "Here is what I will do. If you or your wife don’t make a sound, I’ll take you up for free. But if either one of you says a word then you have to pay me $40".
Pa says "Sure, I’ll take that deal."
So they took off. They go just about straight up, and then the pilot does a power dive just above the trees. He turns the craft one way then the other. At times almost going upside down.
He finally lands and says, "Sir I am a man of my word, you never made a sound, that ride is for free."
Pa said, "Yup, I almost said something when ma fell out the side."
But when it comes to God I believe that submission to Gods will for your life is so important that until you really get a hold of this concept God cant fully bless you the way that He wants to.
Jesus Christ’ life was, and still is, the greatest example of what it means to live an obedient life for God. Jesus relinquished all His desires, all His passions, all His life in to the hands of God and lived a life that said, “Not my will God, but thine”.
1.Not my way God, but you way, not my desires first God but yours, Father.
2.And for us to be able to say, “Take my life oh God and conform it for your glory is one of the greatest things that you will ever do.
3.This type of lifestyle can only be done through obedience and nothing less.
The problem is that many find the word “obedience” offensive. We understand it as a negative command rather than a positive affirmation. Human nature doesn’t like to be told what to do. Let me prove my point. Are you ready for a test?
Ladies: give me your first reaction if your husband said to you, “When I get home from work tonight you have better have dinner ready, the house spotless, a glass of cold ice tea next to the TV controller on the arm of my favorite recliner.” What would be the atmosphere around the hacienda?
Guys: picture this, you’re in the car driving from point A to point B and your lovely bride begins to give you driving tips. Now you get to the next red light and you are sure or you think you are sure that you need to take a right, but your wife is persistent that you need to take a left one question which way are you turning.I don’t know about you butI am turning my way even if it’s the wrong and I’ll get there some how. Might take a little longer but we will arrive my way.
But when we really get a grasp on biblical obedience we then catapult our relationship with Him into all new areas.
Many times as hard as we try we find it difficult to comply in certain areas of our lives. Often we are so busy telling God what we want and need that He just doesn’t have your attention long enough to let you know what is important.
Remember that verse;
Ps 46:10
10 Be still, and know that I am God:
There is another verse we need to get a hold of:
Ps 4:4
4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
When God calls us to obedience and we listen (not harden our hearts Heb 4:7) two things will always happen:
Heb 4:7
To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
1)God will be glorified.
Rev 4:11
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
a)Every thing is created to give God the glory and that is painfully true when it comes to our obedience.
2)You will be blessed. And we will look at this closer in just a few minutes. But the scriptures say;
Gen 12:2
2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:
a)God wants to bless you when you listen to Him.
And we don’t have to look any further to understand the concept of biblical obedience than the life of Christ.
Read Mark 1:9-11, 14:36
From the beginning to end of Christ ministry He wanted to make sure that He was doing what His heavenly Father wanted Him to do. He wanted to make sure that Gods will for His life was being fulfilled.
Dr.Cho the pastor of the largest church in the world (over one million members) was asked the great key to his success. His reply was “I pray and then I obey”.
Obedience is putting into action that which Gods requires. And this morning we are going to look at three areas that are impacted by obedience.
I. Obedience Brings Forth Examination.
God wants to change you! God wants to mold you and make you more and more into the image of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. And the only way to do this is if you are willing to allow Him. David knew this as he wrote in Ps 119:27
1)David’s statement on obedience.
Ps 119:1-2
119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.
2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
a)Seeking God with your whole heart is the first step in obedience.
b) If you’re not seeking God with a whole heart your first step this morning in the area of obedience is to start seeking God.
2)David’s desire for Obedience caused Self-Examination.
Ps 119:
18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
22 Remove from me reproach and contempt;
27 Make me to understand the way of thy precepts
33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes;
34 Give me understanding,
35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.
36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies,
37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity;
38 Stablish thy word unto thy servant,
Ps 139:23
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
a)David didn’t just talk a good talk; he wanted to make sure that he was walking right with God.
b)David’s desire is that disobedience wasn’t hindering Gods work for his life.
i)Search me – check and see if there is anything wrong and tell me Lord.
ii)Make me/understand – check and see if I understand what you are asking of me.
iii)Make me/go – make me change Lord.
3)We don’t like self-examination, do we?
a)Self-examination creates change and many do not like to change.
Everything continues in a state of rest unless it is compelled to change by forces impressed upon it.
Issac Newton, First Law of Motion.
Some people will change when they see the light. Others change only when they feel the heat.
b)O, How often do we hinder Gods work because of our own stubborn heart?
c)O, How often do we be-linger the fullness of His presence n our lives because we just don’t want to change or commit to His leading.
II. Obedience Brings Forth Blessings.
When we commit ourselves to a life of obedience, in other words if we do it Gods way and not our way, then God can bless us.
1)God promises to bless the Israelites.
a)Read Lev. 26:3-13
b)Sounds like a blessings to me.
c)But I want you to notice that in order to receive the blessing they had to be obedient to God.
2)God wants to bless you.
a)Gods desire for Christians is the same, he wants to bless you the question is, “Are you obedient to God?”
i)Have you put your self in the position to receive the full blessings that He has for you?
ii)If not you are settling for second best.
b)If you are here today and have never ask the Lord Jesus to come into your life as your personal Savior Gods desire for you is to enter into a relationship with His son.
i)God wants to bestow upon you the enumerable blessings of Salvation that we find in the scriptures:
An acceptance that can never be questioned. (Ephesians 1:6).
A nearness to God that can never be reversed (Ephesians 2:13).
An inheritance that can never be lost (I Peter 1:3-5).
A deliverance that can never be excelled (2 Corinthians l:10).
A righteousness that can never be tarnished (2 Corinthians 5:21).
A grace that can never be limited (2 Corinthians 12:9).
A hope that can never be disappointed. (Hebrews 6:18, 19).
A salvation that can never be canceled (Hebrews 5:9).
A bounty that can never be withdrawn. (I Colossians 3:21-23).
A joy that need never be diminished (John 15:11).
A peace that can never be disturbed (John 14:27).
III. Disobedience Brings Forth Consequences.
Just as obedience brings forth blessings, disobedience has its ramifications.
1)There is a price for disobedience.
a)Lev 26: 14-17
2)There is higher price for disobedience.
a)Lev 26:18-20
3)There is even a higher price still.
a)Lev 26:21
4)The fire is getting hotter
a)Lev 26:23-24
5)The ultimate price
a)Lev 26:27-28
6)What price are we willing to pay for disobedience?
Conclusion.
So how do we become obedient?
1)Seek God’s direction.
2)Surrender to God’s will.
3)Serve with all your heart.
Salvation invitation.
