Growing a strong church one member at a time
Lesson 4 - An Obedient People
Philippians 2:12-13
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Introduction
God gave mankind a mind so we can make decisions for ourselves. We can chose to seek Him and His path He has created for us or we can chose to walk the path we create for ourselves. The bible skeptic will try to question God's existence by asking, "If God wanted us to obey then why would He give us the option to chose?" The answer is simple. God's desire is that we chose to obey him. The world will tell us that obedience is not important to God but this disagrees with what we know about God through His Word (John 3:36, Romans 6:16, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 2 Thessalonians 3:14). In this lesson we will explorer our attention, actions and attitude related to obedience.
Attention
It is not human nature to obey. Children must be taught to obey their parents from a young age. Galatians 6:4 says fathers must bring up their children, it doesn't just happen. Without this training their life will not be as successful and well adjusted as it otherwise could have been. Adults, too, must decide that obedience to God will be part of the fabric of their lives (as a side note, if a child never learns obedience to their parents they will have a very difficult time learning it for God). Our minds must be resolved to obey God not matter what the circumstances. We cannot wait until faced with the challenges of life and then decide which path we will take. Peter and the other apostles had this mind-set in Acts 5:29 when they disobeyed the council and instead obeyed God and risked their very lives in the process.
An important part of following God's path is submitting ourselves to His leadership within the church. The Hebrews were in danger of returning to the path of Judaism. Obedience was a theme throughout the book using Abraham as an example (Hebrews 11:8). The writer encouraged Hebrews to obey the leaders within the church. Perhaps one of the reasons they were straying from God is their failure to submit themselves to the local leadership.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep
watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do
this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for
you.
Action
Obedience demands action on our part. This action will define our obedience therefore our love for the Lord (John 14:15). Many people chose their own path in life because of the mistaken belief that Christianity in a life of being told "no" by God. A life of not being able to do things. Actually the opposite is true. God's path is full of things we can, and must, do for Him, or fellow man and ourselves. Every instruction God gives us is for our benefit and the benefit of our fellow man.
When we decide to follow our own path the end of the journey will not be where we want to end up and it will not be where God wants us either. Romans 2:8 tells us the selfishness do not obey and the end result of this life is not Godly.
Being active in our obedience will help us maintain our focus on God and His plan for each one of us. If we busy ourselves doing the work we have been called to do there is
no room left in our lives for evil. It is really that simple, let God
and His work reign in your life and squeeze sin out. The opposite of
this simple formula for success can be found in Romans 6:12.
Romans 6:12
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts.
Attitude
Have the attitude of a servant is critical to leaving an obedient life. When the core of our life is God and His ways we will be able to reach any goal. Of course the most important goal for which we strive is a heavenly home. When the core of our life is based in our obedience to God we will enjoy His salvation (Hebrews 5:9). Furthermore this attitude will reflect Christ to those around us by carrying out His will. We preach Jesus and be His servants (2 Corinthians 4:5).
Philippians 2:12-13
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
John 3:36
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
Romans 6:16
Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
2 Thessalonians 1:8
dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 3:14
If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that person and do not associate with him, so that he will be put to shame.
Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Acts 5:29
But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men.
Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
Hebrews 13:17
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.
John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
Romans 2:8
but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
Romans 6:12
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts.
Hebrews 5:9
And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.
2 Corinthians 4:5
For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake.