Today we want to focus on the Power of Obedience.
What emotions do you feel when you hear the word Obedience?
I confess that for me, being obedient (compliance with an order, request; or, submission to another's authority) is easy when:
I perceive the expected outcome to be pleasant or in my likeness,
There are no apparent risks involved,
I agree,
It makes sense to me,
Obedience will not compromise my own plans/agenda.
1 Samuel 15:22-23(ICB)
But Samuel answered, “What pleases the Lord more:
burnt offerings and sacrifices or obedience?
burnt offerings and sacrifices or obedience?
It is better to obey God than to offer a sacrifice.
It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of male sheep.
Refusing to obey is as bad as the sin of sorcery.Being stubborn is as bad as the sin of worshiping idols.
You have rejected the Lord’s command.
For this reason, he now rejects you as king.”
The first step in learning/training ourselves in Obedience starts with Obeying our parents irrespective of age.
Ephesians 6:1-3 (ICB)
Children, obey your parents the way the Lord wants.
This is the right thing to do.
The command says, “Honor your father and mother.”
This is the first command that has a promise with it.
The promise is:
“Then everything will be well with you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”
Note: *We are not required to obey orders/requests or submit to authority that are immoral and/or will conflict with our allegiance to our God.
The bible also advises us to obey our "Masters". Since none of us reading this are slaves in the true meaning of the word. Let's interpret the term Slave used in the text below in terms of employee/employer relationship......
Ephesians 6:5-8 (ICB)
Slaves, obey your masters here on earth with fear and respect. And do that with a heart that is true, just as you obey Christ.
You must do more than obey your masters to please them only while they are watching you. You must obey them as you are obeying Christ. With all your heart you must do what God wants.
Do your work, and be happy to do it.
Work as if you were serving the Lord, not as if you were serving only men. Remember that the Lord will give a reward to everyone, slave or free, for doing good.
Note: *We are not required to obey orders/requests or submit to authority that are immoral and/or will conflict with our allegiance to our God.
Fnally, how can we truly submit and Obey the unseen God we believe in? What is the Power in our Obedience to God?
The answer is Faith. Faith requires believing and complying with God's order/request and Authority.
The accounts of great men in the bible that we read about like Moses, Noah, Abraham, Joseph amongst others activated their obedience through faith by doing exactly what God told them to do. The Powerful rewards from God were evidenced as a result of their obedience.
"Obey God and Leave All the Consequences to Him" -Charles Stanley
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