Obedience to God

Scripture Texts:  Acts 5:29-30,

Deut 28:1-14 

By Kemi O.

        

What is Obedience?

Obedience, according to the dictionary is defined as the state or practice of obeying, the observance of a set of rules, submission to another's will.  A Greek word for obey in the New Testament means "to trust."

What are other words that are also related to or used to mean obedience?

Submission

Conformity

Compliance

Surrender

Dutifulness

Obeisance

Yielding

        Numerous times God's Word assures us of His desire to bless our lives if we follow His ways, obey His commands.  We're also told that willful disobedience will eventually result in disheartening consequences.  Often times, we can determine the outcome of life's situations by the extent to which we willingly walk in obedience to God's commands.  As Dr. Stanley stated in one of his teachings on the topic of obedience, he said obedience is the "Bottom line" in the Christian Life.  Basically, this means that it is not just enough to have faith in God but following His instructions, doing what He says we should do is a huge part of our Christian lifestyle.  Several destinies have been destroyed as a result of willful disobedience.

  To obey means doing what God says in the timing and manners He commands to do it, not when we feel like it, but when God tells us to, because our God is a God of time and season, He is a time sensitive God and we have to be sensitive to his instructions/commands. 1 day too early or 1 hour too late could make all the difference in the assignment or instruction He gives us.  Everything must be done in order and accordingly. We can see that in several places in scripture; when the Lord is leading His people to fight against their enemies, they only make a move at the time and place God tells them to.   We must then, know what His instructions are because we can't comply with something we don't understand unless by His Spirit who helps us in understanding what God is requesting us to do and also directing us on the proper steps to take.

  I am not saying it is always easy to obey God, believe me it is not, and the enemy doesn't help much either because he does not want us to obey God since he knows that there are always wonderful blessings for those who obey the Father and so satan makes sure he brings all sorts temptation our way to distract us.  In our scripture text today, we will look at what the bible says about obedience and the rewards the Lord gives to us, should we continually obey His commands.  I also want you to be aware that all the blessings that were promised under the Abrahamic Covenant & the Mosaic Law i.e. from Genesis – Deuteronomy, still holds true for His children today because what did Jesus say in Matt 5:17,"Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the Law of Moses or the writings of the prophets.  No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”  What we are grateful for as New Testament believers is that the Grace has broken the curse of the law that was once active, however the blessings of God still holds true for both the Jewish people and the New Testament believers.  See James 1:17, 3 John 1: 2, Proverbs 10:22, etc.  I believe we are all witnesses of God’s rewards of obedience and trusting in Him no matter what.  We hear and see great testimonies of His goodness all the time in our lives and that of our loved ones and fellow believers.

Why should we obey God?

1.  Because we love Him - Jesus states in John 14:15, “If you love me, obey my commandments.  (Very straightforward).  Our Lord Jesus calls all believers to obedience for He was the perfect model of obedience; Jesus Christ was faithful and obedient even unto death. He didn’t allow temptation, people, fear etc. to distract Him from His mission.  Our motivation for obedience as followers of Christ is love.

 2.  Because it is an act of worship unto God - Obedience to God flows from a heart of thanksgiving for the grace i.e. the gift of salvation we have received through the sacrifice made for us by our Lord Jesus Christ.  Our worship to God is not complete without obedience. 

3). Because He is God, our Creator, Our Sustainer and He loves us so much.

4).  Because He deserves to be obeyed and worshipped with our whole being for who He is, what He has done in our lives and that of others.   Romans 12:1-2

5). Because obedience leads to a fulfilling and prosperous life.

6). Because obedience brings about blessings, peace, joy etc. in our lives.

 What are the rewards for Obedience?

        Over and over again, throughout scripture, especially in the Old Testament, we see how God always blessed His children when they followed His commands.  Many a times, we see how God will state " If you do this, I will do this” and because God is not man that He should lie nor the son of man who should repent, His word always comes to pass, no matter what and it is confirmed in Psalm 138:2 “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy loving kindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” In a nutshell, this verse means our God is a covenant keeping God, He does not go back on His promises, and He honors His word above His name.  Let us look at some of the rewards noted in scripture.

1). Genesis 22:18 “and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” This verse proves how much God values obedience from His people.  He is willing to bless a whole race of people, a whole nation of people for the obedience of one man. 

2). Luke 11:28 " But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”  That word “blessed” already tells you that a reward is coming for you, but only the Lord knows what it will be. 

 

3). Deut 28: 1-14 - This portion in scripture lists all the blessings from God to His children if they obey His commands.   Here there are :  “And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, 

the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, 

if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 
3 Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock.
 5 Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 

6 Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. 
7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 

8 The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 

9 The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. 
10 And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 

11 And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.

 12 The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 

13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, 

14 and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them."

 4). James 1:22-25 “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."

5). Psalm 128:1-6 "How joyful are those who fear the Lord—all who follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How joyful and prosperous you will be!  Your wife will be like a fruitful grapevine, flourishing within your home. Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table.”   
That is the Lord’s blessing for those who fear him.  Beloved, fear of the Lord leads to Obedience. 

        Now the Lord desires to bless His people but sometimes we hinder Him from moving in our lives as a result of disobedience.  How many times has God spoken to us concerning a situation and we fail to listen and sometimes we even doubt if it’s the Lord speaking to us or if that prophesy is true because we are not liking what He is telling us to do.  The Lord speaks to us more than we know and a number of times, He is giving us instructions, directions for our lives or that of others and we have no clue because we are trying to block it out with all sorts of distraction.  Then we begin to wonder why we are struggling or why that thing we are doing is not working or why we are still stagnant, not moving forward.  I am talking to myself too because I know there have been times even probably now, that I am not in walking in obedience. Some examples of acts of disobedience include : not giving to the poor as Jesus commanded us, not giving towards the work of the kingdom ,  ( offering), not loving our neighbor, especially the ones who have offended us are all acts of disobedience, not training our children the way God has told us to, is an act of disobedience, putting other things, people, career ahead of God is an act of disobedience because we are breaking His commandments when we do so, not honoring our parents is another major one and the list goes on and on. 

Beloved, no one is saying obedience to God is easy to achieve,  it is indeed a challenge because we are still living here on earth and still operate in the flesh, but God knows that even though the flesh is weak, the spirit is willing to do what is pleasing in God's sight and that is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to help us in our weakness.  Beloved we serve a God that is holy and therefore He desires us to walk in obedience and live in holiness no matter what. 2 Corinthians 7:1 “Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. “   Our love for God is reflected in our desire to follow his instructions, to obey him.   The Lord also reminds us in 1 Samuel 15:22–23, that obedience is better than sacrifice and compares disobedience i.e. rebellion (refusal to obey) to the sin of witchcraft. Can you imagine that!  A willfully disobedient child of God  is no different from one who practices sorcery/witchcraft .   God truly frowns upon disobedience.

Friends, our God's desire for His children is to prosper, to enjoy all of Him, His goodness but we cannot do that if we live in disobedience.  My advice for you today is to spend quality time this day or week reflecting on your current relationship with God and if there are any areas in your life  where you feel that you have been or are currently disobeying the Lord, not doing what He has commanded you to do, for example, maybe God has given you an assignment to do and you are still saying Lord, I am waiting on the right time when He has told you the time is now or maybe He has told you to make amends with that sister or brother who hurt you so badly and you are still there harboring unforgiveness, which is dangerous of course or if you are one, who has made a vow and promised God if you do this, I will do that, and you are still owing God, and you know the Lord has been speaking to your heart to fulfill that vow,  I want you to go to Him in prayer right now confessing your sins and asking Him to for the grace and strength to obey His commands and do His will.  Ask God to cleanse your listening ear this day and heart so that you can hear Him clearly and know what He is directing you to do in that situation or where to go and the Holy Spirit shall help you in Jesus name.  Your breakthrough shall come, liberty shall come, prosperity and healing shall be yours this day in Jesus name.