Why Should We Listen to God?

Let’s get to know each other first.

My introduction…

Y’all can ask me five questions, but you’ve got to answer the question you ask me.

What’s the theme of camp for this week?

The Voice. What does that mean?

What’s the camp verse?

Proverbs 3:5–6 ESV

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

So we should listen to God, not the world. I want to spend our time together today answering this question: Why?

Why should we listen to God?

First, the basis for my argument today comes from the Bible. Y’all have talked about the Bible today already, looked at 2 Tim 3:16-17… , so because I fully believe that everything I’m going to tell you about why you should listen to God is based on what the Bible says. If you don’t believe the Bible, then we need to have another conversation later!

He is the Creator

Genesis 1:1 CSB

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:16 CSB

God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars.

Genesis 1:21 CSB

So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:25 CSB

So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:27 CSB

So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female.

Imagine if someone created some incredible invention, what’s a problem we need solved? So you come up with this invention to solve this problem for humanity and it’s really complicated and advanced and you’re going to teach us all how to use it, and I came in and started trying to tell everyone how to use it.

God is the one who knows how we should live because He is the one who designed us. He knows what is right and what is best. He knows it all! That’s part of who He is!

He knows everything

Psalm 139:16 CSB

Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.

That’s scary right? There are some things I think that honestly I want to just stay in my head and nobody know. Certainly not God!

This is called omniscience.

And it’s not just us He knows, but He knows what’s going to happen in the world.

Isaiah 46:9–10 ESV

remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’

And of course He knows it all, He also planned it all! And His plans will come to pass!

He is all-powerful

Psalm 115:3 CSB

Our God is in heaven and does whatever he pleases.

This is called omnipotence.

I got to go to a river last weekend. Rivers flow in one direction generally. If I were to hop in that river, I can’t stop the flow of that river. I could try… I could try to swim against it, but ultimately I can’t do it. So it’s better for me to just work with the river.

Now if we couldn’t trust God, this would be scary. But we can trust Him, we can rely on Him

He’s eternally perfect

Eternally; that means He always has been, He is today, and He always will be. His perfection isn’t changing.

James 1:17 ESV

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Matthew 5:48 CSB

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

But we can’t be perfect. We sin…

But there is good news, the final reason I want to give you about why we should listen to God…

He loves you

Ephesians 2:4–5 CSB

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

We have to understand something here. The “you” that Paul is talking to here are those people who have put their faith in Jesus…

So given all of this, why would you not listen to God? About everything! Why would you not seek Him out to gain his wisdom about how you should live every aspect of your life?!

If you believe what we’ve talked about today, what his Word tells us, if you have put your faith in Him, then you can trust that all his plans and instructions are for your good. Far better that what even you could come up with for yourself!