Obedience (2)

Lord, would you give me a powerful story.

1. Obedience to Christ is the flip side of Belief in Christ (John 3:36)

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Christian belief is an active belief.

Your actions will flow from what you believe about reality:

If I told you that I had a check for 10 billion dollars in this envelope; and I would give it to you this envelope in exchange for your car, would you do it?

If yes, it would be because you really believed that there was a valid check for 10 billion in the envelope.

If no, it would be because you did not believe.

You would act in accordance with your beliefs.

Thats the same with biblical belief.

Because you believe, you obey.

Everyone does what makes sense to them.

If a person is living a life of disobedience to Jesus, its because obedience doesn’t make sense to them. It doesn’t line up with what they truly believe.

If a person obeys Jesus, it’s because it makes sense to them. It lines up with what they truly believe.

This does not mean you will never sin if you are truly saved. You are still going to be tempted, and fall into temptation at times.

But it does mean that the trajectory of your life is now lined up with Jesus.

2. We obey because we love.

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

John 14:21 (ESV)

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me.

You start to gravitate towards what you love.

For me, it’s BMX.

What is our motivation for our love for Christ?

1 John 4:19 ESV

We love because he first loved us.

What is it that you just feel off about?

Something you said to someone.

Thought of bitterness/anger

Something you did

Sexual sin: Lust, pornography, went too far physically.

God sees it, and he still sent his Son to die for you.

Romans 5:8 ESV

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

He doesn’t expect us to do it alone. He gives us the Holy Spirit!

3. Obedience involves stopping what is wrong and starting what is right. (2 Tim. 2:21-22, James 1:22)

Story of the friend who was a sex addict

Stopping what is wrong

Illustration by LeeRoy Eims: Dirty Crystal glass vs. Clean penut butter jar

2 Timothy 2:21–22 ESV

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

You can be the smartest, strongest, likeable, popular, good-looking person. But if you are messing around with sin, you are not putting yourself in a position for being useful.

On the other hand, you can be someone who may seem insignificant in the worlds eyes (not the smartest, not cool, not great at what others value), yet be powerfully used by God if you make yourself usable to him.

Starting what is right

James 1:22 ESV

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

It is active: Takes initiative rather than waits passively.

Like a Baseball game:

Learn the goal of the game.

Start working towards that goal.

Not waiting for the coach to tell you exactly what to do.

Like a soldier (2 Tim. 2:4

2 Timothy 2:4 ESV

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

“I’m waiting for God to tell me what to do!”

Ok, so pray and be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

We already have the game plan: “Make disciples of all nations.” “Care for the orphans and the poor.” “Raise up godly offspring.” “Proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”

Why do you need a voice when you have a verse?

Next Steps:

Choose to believe in what Jesus did for me, and begin to obey.

Turn from what is wrong.

Begin doing what is right.

Learn his commandments. (The 10 commandments are a good place to start).

Join in God’s mission:

A Discipleship group. - Daily life ministry

Pursue joining the Core Team.

Apply for the evangelism course.

Apply for the Summer Missions Trip or Project SD