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Covenant Love Discipleship Lesson 11 - HOW TO PLEASE GOD THROUGH HEART-FELT OBEDIENCE / ACT OF WORSHIP by Samuel Jeanrenaud
INTRODUCTION:
The great scholar and Godly saint, A.W. Tozer, states, “A notable heresy has come into being throughout our evangelical Christian circles – the widely accepted concept that we humans can choose to accept Christ only because we need Him as Savior, and we have the right to postpone our obedience to Him as Lord as long as we want to!”
In his book, “The Knowledge of the Holy”, Tozer states, “All of our problems stem from a false concept of God.” What he is addressing is that many in the Christian Church are saying that one can accept Jesus Christ as Savior, with all the benefits, but don’t clearly state the responsibilities of following Him as Lord.
I would like to lay a foundation today for the responsibility of all believers and disciples to see obedience as an act of worship, which results in tremendous blessing and a more intimate relationship with the Lord.
Joy Dawson describes what happened when she decided to follow God with an obedient heart. “I was tuned in and turned on to God, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. I took off on an adventure of a lifetime… hearing and obeying God’s voice. I was forever ruined for the ordinary.”
OBEDIENCE – WHAT IT IS NOT:
Obedience is not working your way to Heaven. (Matthew 7:21) It is not legalism. (Genesis 6:22) It is not opposed to God’s grace. (Ephesians 2: 8-10, Acts 10:34-35)
It is not based on one’s feelings. (Proverbs 16:25, Acts 23:1)
OBEDIENCE – WHAT IT IS:
Obedience is a test of our love. (I John 5:3, John 14:15) It is a test of our faith. (Hebrews 11, James 2) It is a means by which spirits are purified. (1 Peter 1:22) It is the means by which we enter into Heaven. (II Thessalonians 1:7-9,
Matthew 7:21-23) It is a confirmation of our knowing God. (I John 2:3-4)
I Peter 1:14 states, “As obedient children, do not conform to evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.”
Definition of obedience (HUPAKOE) is from two words in the Greek (HUPO – under) and (AKOUO – to hear). In other words, one who hears under God. A general reference from the Written Word would be Romans 6:16. “Know ye not that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness.”
SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS:
This is a service of love out of devotion to a living, loving Christ within our hearts. “Know ye not” Romans 6:16 illustrates how God made Christians free from the power of sin by reckoning themselves dead with Christ. Believers share the life of the risen Christ, and are free to serve Him out of sheer love.
EIGHT KEY WORDS TO FULFILLING A PLEASING OBEDIENCE TO GOD:
1. Knowing – Romans 6:3, 6:6, and 6:9 (“Know ye not…”) Identifying – Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:4-5
CONCLUSION:
Obedience brings great pleasure to the heart of God. Because it brings Him great pleasure, we walk in a deeper relationship with Him, and it opens us up to receive all the blessings of God.
“Now, therefore, if ye will obey My voice indeed, ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me from among all peoples.” Exodus 19:5
“The Lord will surely bless thee, if thou only diligently hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 25:4-5
It was said of Jesus, “He learned obedience by the things which He suffered; and having been made perfect, He because unto all them that obey Him the author of eternal salvation.” Hebrews 5:8-9
Heather Mercer, one of the two ladies captured by the Taliban, in Afghanistan, relates that she heard noises that no human ear should have heard (guns blasting, missiles firing, etc, outside her room). She ran under the bed and said, “Jesus, you’ve got to help me. I need to feel your hug and presence right now.” Within a few seconds she said her heart was filled with joy and peace, and she could feel the loving arms of the Lord enveloping her. People were amazed, after she was freed and came back to America, that she would be willing to go back to Afghanistan.
RESOURCES TO KEEP ON COURSE IN OBEDIENCE:
“The Power of A Promise Kept”, Gregg Lewis, Focus on the Family
“My Utmost for His Highest”, Oswald Chambers, Discovery House
“I’m A Good Man, But”, Fritz Ridenour, Regal
“One Holy Passion”, R.C. Sproul, Guideposts
“The Truth Will Set You Free, But First It Will Make You Miserable’, Jamie Buckingham, Creation House
If you have questions, e-mail Info@theNightWatch.com.
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