PP2005
FAITH WITHOUT OBEDIENCE IS DEAD
Hebrews 11:8-10; Text verse Vs. 8; 1 Samuel 15:22.
INTRODUCTION: Turn first to Genesis 12:1, and we will read verses 1-4 in this chapter of God’s Word in conjunction with what we have already read. The world would have never heard about Abraham had he not obeyed the command of God given in Gen. 12:1-4.
This was Abraham’s first experience with God. He had been born and raised in the land of the Ur of the Chaldees, Gen. 11:28. This would be the present Iraq, and at the time of Abraham, it was a land of idol worship. It is not likely that Abraham had heard of or from the God of heaven before this time. I see in this event the overwhelming of the presence of God. Abraham completely concedes his will and position to God. When a person comes in contact with God in the manner Abraham did, he will follow Him.
I. ABRAHAM’S OBEDIENCE WAS A COMPLIMENT OF HIS FAITH
A. There Were No Questions Asked.
Gen. 12:4, “...so Abraham departed...”.
I believe this is the same principle that James wrote about (James 2:20 KJV) "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
(James 2:26 KJV) "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
Obedience is the name tag for faith. No obedience - no faith. You will not live in obedience without faith, and neither will you live in faith and be disobedient. Jesus instructed His disciples, “If ye love me keep my commandments.”
Abraham was given a promise that was out of this world. It would seem too good to be true. A promise that would seem impossible to really happen; some voice out of the sky saying, “I will make a great nation”; I will bless all the families of the earth”. How would you feel to know that you were a blessing to all of the earth?
There were no questions asked.
B. There Were No Conditions Demanded.
Abraham didn’t bargain with God. He didn’t require any special benefits before he agreed to follow.
Let’s see the hands of those of you that would do what Abraham did. Would you leave your home, your family, and the land you loved and were secure in, for a place somewhere in the wild blue yonder? Abraham did. The destination was to be God’s choice. Perhaps everyday, Abraham would ask God, “Is this it”? Or, “Are we almost there yet?” God would reply, “No, keep on going.” Abraham would turn around to the camel train, and say, “Camels, Ho!”
His obedience was a compliment of his faith.
II. ABRAHAM’S OBEDIENCE WAS A COMMITMENT HE FOLLOWED.
A. Total Expectation Was Of God. Abraham fully expected God to provide any and everything that would be needed for the journey that he was beginning. How do we know that? By the fact that, “….Abraham departed…”. The journey would never have started if Abraham had not been expectant of God to fulfil His promise.
Gen. 15:6 says, “Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Faith brought righteousness. Obedience brought faith.
If we are ever to be in a position to see what Abraham saw we must be committed in obedience. Do right no matter the situation.
B. Obedience Must Come Before Experience.
This was a new relationship for Abraham. There had not been years of experience in this matter of faith, and knowing the faithfulness of God. Abraham must act in obedience before he will see the working hand of God.
The principle is the same for everyone here today. Most will never see what Abraham did because of the lack of “obedience”.
God says to you – “Step out further in Christian service.”
“Involve yourself more in soulwinning.”
“Lead your family closer to the Lord.” Yet most of you never “depart” the present life style. Therefore you will never be in a position to experience what Abraham did.
Abraham took his wife Sari, and his nephew Lot to Canaan with him Those who travel to Canaan, or maybe we should say, “following God in obedience”, will take others with them. Abraham left all and followed God. Sari left all and followed her husband. Ladies, you are not a good Christian unless you follow your husband’s faith. What if his faith is small? Follow him anyway.
(Matthew Henry) Abram believed that the blessing of the Almighty would make up for all he could lose or leave behind, supply all his wants, and answer and exceed all his desires; and he knew that nothing but misery would follow disobedience. Such believers, being justified by faith in Christ, have peace with God. They hold on their way to Canaan. They are not discouraged by the difficulties in their way, nor drawn aside by the delights they meet with. Those who set out for heaven must persevere to the end. What we undertake, in obedience to God’s command, and in humble attendance on his providence, will certainly succeed and end with comfort at last. Canaan was not, as other lands, a mere outward possession, but a type of heaven, and in this respect the patriarchs so earnestly prized it.
(Adam Clarke) Not knowing whither he went. Therefore his obedience was the fullest proof of his faith in God, and his faith was an implicit faith; he obeyed, and went out from his own country, having no prospect of any good or success but what his implicit faith led him to expect from God, as the rewarder of them that diligently seek him. In all the preceding cases, and in all that follow, the apostle keeps this maxim fully in view.
III. ABRAHAM’S OBEDIENCE WAS A CHARACTERISTIC HE FASHIONED
A. Abraham Obeyed God In The Ur Of Chaldees.
He had married in Chaldees. He had family roots there. Why leave that which was home to he and his wife? God said leave, and he left.
His first experience with God was obedience, and that began a journey of obedience.
B. He Obeyed God In Haran. This must have been even harder to leave than was Chaldees. Now some of his family was buried there. Haran was a homestead for them. Now God is telling them to leave that, “…so Abraham departed…”
C. He Obeyed God With Isaac At Mt. Moriah. This was the hardest of all. He was to take the son that had been promised him and offer him a sacrifice before God. This command was not in the original promise given him back in Haran. Abraham had been obedient up to this point and had seen God fulfil his promises, so it was known that God could and would fulfil again all that He has promised. Heb 11:17 "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son."
Heb 11:18 "Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:"
Heb 11:19 "Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."
The more one obeys God, the more you can obey – as long as you remain disobedient, you will never understand obedience.
Obedience becomes a matter of character.
One reason we see so much disobedience in homes is because of so little character.
It takes character to be obedient consistently.
It takes character to be obedient when you are far away from those whom you know.
I am reminded of the disobedience in the children of today. Obedience should be taught and then practiced. Children following in obedience will build strong character. A child who obeys only when threatened to be punished is not obedient, but rather totally disobedient. A child that must be punished for the same disobedience that they were doing three months ago is not obedient. An obedient child obeys without threat.
Obedience will bring safety and security to a child.
Illustration: A father and son were in the woods one day. The father told his son to immediately drop flat on his stomach and crawl slowly toward him. The young boy followed his father’s instructions exactly. When he was by his father’s side his father pointed to a snake that was on a limb just above his head.
How would most children react to that command? For the most part, very few today would obey to the same point that son did. We have to threaten them, or promise them something in return. The only thing my mom ever promised me was a board to the bottom. If I wasn’t obedient, she always delivered.
IV. ABRAHAM’S OBEDIENCE WAS A CHOICE HE FAVORED
He chose to be obedient. Obedience wasn’t forced upon him. God didn’t have to threaten him if he did not obey.
Obedience can become a habit or a pattern. Obedience must always be because of love - yet we can be obedient because it is the right thing to do.
Every member of this church has the same choice. You can be just as obedient as was Abraham. Don’t forget, the first step to all that Abraham was depended on that first step of obedience. “…so Abraham departed…” All that Abraham was promised or all that he became depended upon those three words, “so Abraham departed.”
Let’s make the application fit you here today.
There are some that God has been telling to begin soul winning participation. When we talk about it, you say, “I should do that.”
Some to sing in the choir.
Some to work in the nursery.
Some to enroll in the Bible Institute.
Some to answer the call to preach.
Some to begin an “Others” ministry by just getting involved with people. Our widows, shut ins, and others need someone to care and to check on them often. Is that something you could do? The rest homes - Arky, Pat Byrd. Then there is Mrs. Childers that needs for someone to check on her often. Who is willing to do that?
Maybe there is one here that God has called to go into mission work.
Perhaps some of these young ladies, maybe teenagers, God is calling you to become a Christian school teacher.
Our retired people – what is God expecting from you in obedience?
Whatever the call, your next step is “…to depart”.. in the act of obedience.
Some have stalled out along the way. You can go no further until you obey and proceed in God’s call.
None of these can be substituted for another calling that God may have called you to fulfil. If God has called you into a specific area of service, you cannot choose another that may be more appealing to you. That is disobedience.
Serving God is not like going to college - if you don’t like a certain subject you can drop it - not so with God.
If you have disobeyed God, He is waiting on you to come back to the point where you disobeyed and make that right. He will allow you to wander in misery as long as it may take.
V. ABRAHAM’S DISOBEDIENCE BROUGHT CALAMITY TO THOSE HE FATHERED
God promised Abraham a son. He was growing too old to see that promise fulfilled, and he sought fleshly means to help God fulfil the promise. God does not need our help. Our advice to God is wasted verbiage.
A. Hagar. Egyptian handmaid. Had the handmaid idea been the right thing it would have been incorrect to choose an Egyptian handmaid. Egypt always speaks of the worldly expression. The Egypt concept means the flesh in control, and that would not be of God. God will never permit His work to be done with the tools or manners of Egypt.
B. Ishmael. The enemy of Isaac. He mocked Isaac. (Gen 21:9 KJV) "And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking." Abraham’s disobedience brought jealousy to Sarah, so we can see that it affected his wife.
C. Ishmael’s Offspring, The Arabic Nations, Are Israel’s Enemy Today.
The nation Israel has been persecuted and has suffered for thousands of years over the one act of Abraham’s disobedience.
Now listen to me real close. A decision you make that would be disobedience may haunt your family for many, many years.
Dad, if you make a decision to move to another place because of a better job and you don’t consider the church situation in that town more than you do the financial, you will be disobedient and will bring a great calamity to your family.
Mom, if you decide to go to work in the market place just so your family may upgrade the lifestyle you will have been disobedient and a great calamity may very well come.
You older teenagers, when you shove aside the wisdom and knowledge of your parents and you exercise your own will of disobedience you will suffer great calamity for years to come. Your mom and dad may be old fashioned, but they have more experience and knowledge than you.
Mark it down, I’m telling you the truth.
Had it not been for Abraham’s obedience we would have never have been heard of it in the Scripture. Abraham may not have been the first man God called to leave to go to the land that Abraham did. Therefore the only real reason that Abraham became what he did was because he “obeyed and departed”.
Moses may have not been the first man that God called to deliver the Children of Israel.
Who knows what will result in the work of God is you refuse God’s call in disobedience? If you continually act in disobedience you may send your children or grandchildren to hell. How tragic. Think about Lot and his disobedience - his children went to hell.
In the early 1970’s God led me into the ministry. I had refused for fifteen years. Suppose I had continued to refuse: since answering the call of God and acting in obedience my wife, and all of my children have been saved. All of them including my wife had made an earlier profession. Suppose I had not “departed” out of the land that I loved? I shudder to think about it.
This matter of obedience is of greatest importance.
Won’t you please yield in obedient faith?
INVITATION
BETH HAVEN BAPTIST CHURCH MINISTRIES
PO BOX 891523
OKLAHOMA CITY OKLAHOMA 73189-1523
405-691-8701
www.bhbc.net icasteel1@cox.net
