OBEDIENCE SCHOOL.

Bruce Chant

generation-j

18 May 2001

OPENER.

(Turn in your bibles to Proverbs 19:24 – funny verse)

Who’s ever been in a situation where you’ve been told one thing but you’ve gone “nah!” and gone and done another?

That’s the story of my life!

e.g. BUMPER STORY

- p-plater, 17 years old, ticket to world domination

- Mum’s powder blue late 80s Toyota Corolla – fridge features

- Mum says “be careful”

- But Mum’s driving style not what P-Platers see for themselves –

speed limit minus GST, room for USS constellation aircraft carrier

- Ripped the bumper off after “being told”

- Dad drove me there in absolute silence

We’re told our listening skills are poor but what’s worse is our willingness to carry out what we’re told.

It gets down to one word – a dreaded word – but a word we all must become intimate with: OBEDIENCE.

INTRO.

When I hear that word I think of the dog obedience schools – the PAL Superdog jumping over barrels, jumping thru tunnels, up ramps, down ramps… all for a tin of PAL. NO THANKS!!

Obedience – the word, the concept – is unappealing.

It’s unattractive exterior though hides it’s true power.

God said He chose the simple things of the world to confound the wise.

Obedience is GOD’S WAY. There are lots of competing voices out there – but God says ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LISTEN TO ME AND DO AS I SAY.

If you get a hold of this simple but powerful truth it will change your life and you will be on your way to a successful Christian life.

TO OBEY IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE.

1 Samuel 15:22 says “to obey is better than sacrifice”.

Sacrifice – is a big part of Christianity – but not as important as Obedience.

Why? We say sacrifice on balance is better for me.

Why? Because I keep control, the “what I want” factor is still there.

Sacrifice = if I want a new watch I sacrifice $100 = X hours worked to get it and it’s mine.

Obedience says God says I want you to give that $100 to your church or to this person because I said so. We don’t like that – not just because we miss out on the watch – but we lose control.

Eg Bible says lots about giving. 10% tithe plus give offerings – expect blessings.

“give and it shall be given unto you”,

“God loves a cheerful giver”,

“For God so loved the world that He gave…”

It’s clear – if I do these things I am obeying God.

But we are prone to Sacrifice – on our own terms.

It’s like going to the local bank, steal my sister’s pantyhose for my face, hop in the powder blue corolla, stick my finger in my jacket pocket, swipe some cash, get chased by the Police – Steve Bosley from Water Rats – Shots firing –chase scene from Blues Brothers – pull in at the church and say “this is for you!” as they drag me off to jail.

Then I wonder why is this happening God I did this for you?

God says you’re stupid! All I asked for was 10% - I’m not impressed by your sacrifice. Why? Because it was on our own terms.

All God wants is us to OBEY!

Giving is one of the easiest areas to obey God in – you just do it.

(I can say this – on money comes to me.)

Dave and Ann told me about your First Fruits coming up.

Exodus 23:16 “celebrate the feast of the HARVEST with the FIRST FRUITS of your crops you SOW in your field”.

God doesn’t need your money:

- no shops in heaven

- besides the exchange rate sux…

But he requires that you give.

Seek God for first fruits and OBEY and see what God does!

HOW TO HEAR GOD TO OBEY.

Some of you are going – “I want to hear God and obey but I just don’t know how to hear Him.”

There are the obvious things we should do but also…

Isaiah 55:10a-11 “as rain and snow come down from heaven… so is my word that goes out from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

God is speaking. LIKE RAIN – IT FALLS.

Sure there are droughts, But if you never go outside – you’ll never get wet.

- read the bible

- pray, speak to God and ASK him to speak to you.

- Go to church

- Go to life groups

YOU DO IT! When it looks like rain get out there!

Next time it rains remember God’s word to you and His promises.

3 BENEFITS TO OBEYING GOD’S WORD AT ALL COSTS.

1. ENABLES YOU TO BUILD.

I want to build righteousness into my life!

What is righteousness? Righteousness is standing “right” before God.

It’s having a clear conscience.

Romans 6:16 says that “If you are a slave to obedience it’ll lead you to righteousness.”

Eg. When I was at school I wasn’t a leader I just flowed and had a laugh. By doing that even though I started out as a good boy I just flowed with the crowd and into sinful living – smoking pot and boozing etc. The reason? I hadn’t built righteousness into my life I had built rebellion into my life and I started to harden my heart to God. I sat through 100s of alter calls, each one hardening my heart more.

We can do that even as believers – it’ll take you away from God.

To build righteousness into my life - I needed to start obeying God.

David didn’t built righteousness into his life and it led to chronic sin that almost destroyed him. He should’ve been fighting the war but wasn’t. Instead he was perving on his next door neighbour, that led to adultery and that in turn led to murder. All thru disobedience.

Building is a process – eg Kari at Broad.

Do it well = good building, Do it poorly or wrongly = pathetic building.

Same with our lives – building your life is a process of Decisions and Actions (good & bad).

There is a saying:

Sow a thought, reap a belief.

Sow a belief, reap an action.

Sow an action, reap a habit.

Sow a habit, reap a lifestyle.

A habit is a repeated action –

Eg Michael Jordan – Why are you so successful?

“I just recalled my past experiences – I’ve done this before, I can do it again”

If you obey, obey , obey actioning it over and over you’ll build that habit into your life and make it a way of living.

When troubles come, when temptations arises, when tough decisions need to be made – righteousness comes thru!

OBEDIENCE, thru righteousness, is the foundation from which you will fulfil your destiny.

2. MAKES YOU BOLD

The world needs Bold Christians! The way we rock our world is through boldness.

Obedience leads to Righteousness,

“righteous are as bold as a lion” Proverbs 28:1

You are right with God, have a clear conscience, nothing to fear: this is the way God intended we live.

When Adam and Eve sinned what did they do? Ran and Hid.

Disobeying Christians are running and hiding Christians.

Proverbs 28:1 “the wicked flee though no one pursues”.

That isn’t a good way to get people radically saved.

201 in 2001 will take boldness which comes from stepping out and obeying God!!

But what if God tells me to do something I don’t want to do?

I could comfort you and say God would never do that – but that’d make me a liar and God would turn me into a pillar of salt which would make this a really boring sermon for you and bad news for me as I’d be dead.

Eg As a leader I’ve had to say things that I’d rathe leave unsaid. One worship leader was having a bad effoect of the people because he wore his pants too high. Another former leader guy had a problem of talking to the female leaders chests. I didn’t particularly want to do it. But I did.

Eg Dan E – “church music isn’t fun”. The next Henry –since when is fun the criteria. Did God call you to it? Then do it. Carrying the cross gives splinters sometimes!

Here’s something to really scare you – Isaiah 20.

God tells Isaiah go to the Egyptians I have a word for them. Get naked. And go and tell them. What? Yep – butt naked! Here’s the kicker – for three years!!

Only one person here who do that – Darren Bennett! The big Brother Ministry awaits!!

Hasn’t evangelism come along way!!

But God’s heart is the same – radical evangelism. God wants someone who’ll say I’ll do anything to see people saved. 201 in 2001? You need to obey!

Faith comes by hearing

Confidence comes by seeing

Boldness comes by doing!

3. POSITIONS YOU TO BE BLESSED.

How many times does the bible say “if you obey..” Everywhere! All related to promises.

Deut 28. is the best at this.

V1 “If you fully obey” – this shouldn’t be scary. If you do you’ll be blessed. Simple.

How?

V7 “Defeat your enemies”. (World, thinking, temptation, habits, depression etc)

V8 “Blessings upon your study/work”. (divine favour – financial, marks, social etc)

V9 “Establish you as a holy people”. (“righteousness exalts a nation”. Youth group/Church feared and respected).

V11 “Abundant prosperity”. (financial, family, health, relational)

V13 “Head and not the Tail. Top not the bottom” (you’re winners not losers)

God’s Promises to you. Just obey.

SUMMARY.

OBEY GOD and

1. BUILD YOUR LIFE
2. BECOME BOLD

And 3. POSITION YOURSELF TO BE BLESSED.

WRAP UP.

Deut 28:7 says Enemies come at you from ONE DIRECTION and flee in SEVEN.

If you ares truggling to obey God – tackle your enemies one by one – beginning with the biggest.

Which enemy are you struggling with most? – obey God (cast your burdens on Him…)

- Pride.

- Coldeness of heart.

- Sinful Living – drinking/drugs, - thoughts, - lust, - speech.

- Rebellious Spirit.

- Fear and Intimidation.

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