Who Do You Obey?

Imagine for a moment, we are all crew members of a fancy cruise ship and the pilot of the cruise ship got sick and could not take the ship safely back into the harbour.

So we radio in for a new pilot and the coast guard brings in a new pilot, when aboard the new pilot takes control of the ship and we all tell Him how thankful we are and how we have faith in him and trust that he will take us safely into the harbour.

just after that we all get up and leave our stations. Navigation officer, engine room controller, rudder control officer, weather advisor, communications officer, captain, engine room crew, cooks, deck hands all simply head back to our cabins.

now, the pilot needs to have all hands on deck in order for him to get us back to harbour, so he says “Hey! where are you guys going? why are you all running away from me?”

one of us answers back, “well you see, because we trust you. you are the pilot and you said you can get us safely back into the harbour. we put our trust in you. So, the captain and crew headed back into their cabins. And if you can see its quite the storm out side, its hard work, its cold on the deck and the ship is being tossed around because of the storm. So we would rather be comfy and snug in our cabins than have to be up on the deck. need I remind you, you did say that you can get us safely back into the harbour.”

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon Really Trusting the Pilot (Genesis 45:28; Luke 6:46; John 15:14; 2 Timothy 1:12)

The pilot would of course reply, “You do not really trust in me, for if you did, you would do as I tell you. You are mocking me; you are insulting me. You have brought me on board your ship to make a fool of me. If you really trusted me, every man would take his proper place and do his duty, and then, as I gave the word of command, it would be obeyed, and so you would be brought safely into port.”

The pilot would of course reply, “You do not really trust in me, for if you did, you would do as I tell you. You are mocking me; you are insulting me. You have brought me on board your ship to make a fool of me. If you really trusted me, every man would take his proper place and do his duty, and then, as I gave the word of command, it would be obeyed, and so you would be brought safely into port.”

We

Lets open in prayer...

1 Peter 1:13-16

If you have your Bibles with you today, please turn to

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, with your minds ready for action, be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance.

But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;

for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.

Transition - we learned about salvation, the assurances of salvation but the next step is “be obedient to God by being holy in everything you do.”

You

You: Be obedient to God by being holy in everything you do.

The first step to being obedient to God is to be ready to learn.

The first step to being obedient to God is to be ready to learn.

Text - Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Text - Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

I love the choice of words in this translation, it sounds old, bizarre and frankly really funny.

I cant help but research the history behind such an odd figure of speech, doing so you are met with a quite the interesting illustration. Picture for a moment, a robe (Slide) such as this one up on the screen. now if you were running away from a dog (Slide) such as our pal kujoe! you are going to want to have maximum leg extension! (Slide) that is what “Gird up your loins means” it means (Gird up loins Slide)

yes, it allows you to become mobile in a moments notice.

The goal of the text today is simply this, “get your thinking caps on” “get physiqued in” “mentally prepared” we are preparing our minds to be obedient to God. In order to do this we have to clear our minds of anything that is going to prevent further growth in your life as a Christian.

Things like worry - “how am I going to pay my bills” or “what if the problems I have get found out by others, what would they think of me?”

Fear - “I can’t share my faith with others… I just cant. its to scary.” or “I cant let go of control in my life, if I do things are going to spin out of control”

is to clear your mind of anything that would prevent further growth in your life as a Christian.

Jealousy - “why can’t I have a body like that, I’m cubby and don’t like it” or “Oh, I wish I had that kind of cash like so and so. with their new car and fancy coat”

Hate - “Oh frank is such a jerk! I don’t care if he does claim to be a Christian. He treats me like garbage”

Unforgiveness - “i’m sorry, but what Dean had done to me all those years ago was not fair. How dare he treat me like that. I can’t bring myself to ever forgive him”

impurity - “if only people knew what I really thought of them… oh

Such as worry, fear, jealousy, hate, un-forgiveness, or impurity.

, fear, jealousy, hate, un-forgiveness, or impurity.

God expects us as His children to be subjected to the Holy Spirit’s ministry, When God chose you before the foundations of this world be His child, the Holy Spirit started to work in your life when the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached to you. You by faith accepted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

God then expects you as His child to be obedient and be subject to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and that happens through the study of God’s Word and prayer.

through the personal study of God’s Word and prayer, the Holy Spirit produces life and removes from you anything that would prevent further growth as a Christian.

The Holy Spirit then produces life in you and removes from you anything that would prevent further growth as a Christian, all the fear, jealousy, hatred and unforgiveness comes under the power of the Holy Spirit and is cleared out of your mind.

Transition - once you are clear of anything that would prevent further growth you are able to see the next step, and not be crippled by the mental difficulties.

Transition - once you allow the Holy Spirit to clear out anything that would prevent further growth in your life, you are able to see the next step, and not be crippled by the mental difficulties that come from the world we live in and leads to the next step.

The second step to being obedient to God is to surrender your former way of life.

The second step to being obedient to God is to surrender your former way of life.

Text - as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; all alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one. Their throat is an open grave; they deceive with their tongues. Vipers’ venom is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and wretchedness are in their paths, and the path of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Meme: we are all sinners Harry

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

We are all born into sin, and from that sin we have an inward reflection that means our inner self; the thoughts, emotions, secrets, plans, motives; things that are hidden from the world, is by our fallen nature, from the world. And tends to be evil in nature.

The inward reflection of yourself leads to an outward expression in some form or fashion.

The inward reflection of yourself leads to an outward expression in some form or fashion.

The inward reflection of yourself tends leads to an outward expression in some form or fashion.

Such as habits

mannerisms

The way you dress

expressions, and behaviour

Now, you become “aware” of all these things when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit brings to light the areas of your life that are offensive.

You become “aware” of all these things when you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. The Holy Spirit brings to light the areas of your life that are offensive.

But here is the truth, some times people go through the full motions of salvation and stop right there. They are convicted of the sin in their lives and freeze up. They want “Fire Insurance” and don’t want to go to Hell… They want the benefit of salvation without obeying God. They want Jesus and the Father but not the Holy Spirit.

Masquerading around as the world

How can God be separated, He is not a buffet that you can choose the meat and potatoes then skip the veggies. Salvation without Holy Spirit transformation is like calling yourself a christian but Masquerading around as the world

looking like the World on the outside, while trying to hide God within your heart.

This brings to mind a story.

During the last recession a wealthy business man named Charlie had 3 managers working for him at his firm here in Canada. Charlie had gone overseas to start a new international company and left his 3 managers in charge. He gave them each a sum of money to further his business.

Joe got $100,000

Frank got $50,000

Glenn got $10,000

Joe right away took the money and put it into a Scotiabank iTrade high risk account and doubled his money.

Frank heard about this and did the same thing and he also doubled the money.

However, when Glenn got the money put it into a sock and left it at home. He didn’t like Charlie very much, so he figured he would just give the money back so he didn’t have to waste time at the bank.

Well a few years later Charlie comes back and calls a meeting with the three. During the meeting Joe and Frank told Charlie that they had invested the money and managed to double the value. Pleased with this Charlie told both them that they would be district managers of the new businesses he had setup overseas and they would be very rich men.

When it came to Glenn, he said “Charles, your a hard man and frankly, quite the sly business man. You gave these idiots a huge pile of money, they turn around and double it. man, must be nice to not have to lift a finger to get all that extra cash.

well to be honest with you, Charles, i’m not that dumb, heres your cash back. I put it in a sock at home cause really. why would I risk losing your money on the stocks… sure they made some more money but at such a high risk, these guys can make one wrong move and bang! you lost a huge pile of money or business for that matter.

I don’t think they undrestand how scary you can be at times, so playing it wise I managed to break even. “

Charlie looked at Glenn enraged. Took the money from him and gave it to Joe. the said to Glenn.

“Glenn, you ungrateful, lazy excuse of a manager. you were so sure that I am a... how did you say ‘sly business man, who does not have to lift a finger’ you should have had the brains to at least put my money into a bank account so that you could have gained intrest on my money that I gave you… Your fired!”

Glenn left the meeting that day shocked. At the end of his life Glenn died, poor, homeless, lonely, broken shell of a man.

Jesus said that the “unprofitable servant” would be cast into the “outer darkness” The Christian who does not obey the commands of Christ would stand before Jesus on the last day and hear the terrible words “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Transition - When you have a clear mind and you are ready to learn, and you become obedient to God by becoming aware of your former self you are then transformed by the Holy Spirt.

The third step to being obedient to God is to be transformed by Holy Spirit.

Text - but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,

Paul said to the church in Rome in one of his letters “Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

A lot of folks will get to this step in their walk with Christ and stop. They become Sunday only Christians or special occasion only Christians.

Jesus did not tell us “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me but does not do the works that I do. will have eternal life”

will also do the works that I do.

Jesus said “Truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do.” He also said “If you love me, you will keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you.”

When we accept Christ as our Lord, we dont just say “yes, but...” we say “yes, Lord.” we give Him our everything, with that we need to also give up our former selfs. the habits, the baggage, the sins, the everything we give it to God. We allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds.

Our former evil life style gives way to inward holiness by THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Jesus said that “the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”

Jesus said that “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words.” “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you.”

Our former evil life style gives way to inward holiness by THE HOLY SPIRIT.

The transformation is not just knowing what Jesus commanded us to do it is to

When you allow the Holy Spirit to transform your mind your inner reflection will no longer be of the world, but an inward reflection of holiness that will be expressed outwardly such as:

But will reflect things such as:

Confession of sins, and turn from that sinful life to follow Christ

Openly confess your walk with Christ by baptism

worship God freely

A commitment to daily prayer

A desire to share the Good news of Jesus Christ with others

intentionally show love by helping others, restore broken relations with people you hurt or others who have hurt you.

freely worship God without fear of what others think.

partaking in the Lords Supper, that has meaning and not just a “thing we do”

cheerfully, not out of compulsion give to the needs of the Church, our mission, and to the community.

A desire to come together in a fellowship such as this church.

And the commitment to a life long walk with Christ through the daily study of the word.

On the day of pentecost when the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Apostles and all who were gathered in Jerusalem, Peter gave the first message of the church. He said “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

Peter did not say Repent and baptized only. He said to Repent be Baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Paul Says: “If I speak human or angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give away all my possessions, and if I give over my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.” He is talking about the Holy Spirit.

looking like a Christian on the outside without allowing the Holy Spirit to work on your inner-self is like “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal”. Doing God’s work without the transformation of the Holy Spirit is unfruitful, unprofitable, dangerous.

He is talking about the Holy Spirit.

But, when you allow the Holy Spirit to do the transformation work in your life

Transition - So the question becomes “Who do you obey?”

Transformation from within reflects an outward expression active in your life.

What do we do?

Who do you obey?

Take a look at your handouts from today. Remember when I got you to fill out the 1- 5 in the AM and 1-5 in the PM?

Put the question “Who do you obey?” in the blank space above the AM/PM

Now, take a look at that list, what is number 1 on your list? if its anything but God you need to change your priorities. Obedience to God should be the first and last thing you do every day.

Brothers and Sisters, Jesus said that “If you love me, you will keep my commands.”

Brothers and Sisters, Jesus said “The one who has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. And the one who loves me will be loved by my Father. I also will love him and will reveal myself to him.”

God then expects you as His children to be obedient and be subject to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and that happens through the study of God’s Word and prayer.

if you neglect the word of God and prayer you open your self up to the lies of the enemy. Worry, fear, jealousy, hatred, unforgiveness starts to grown in your mind and you are no longer ready to learn and act when God calls you. If you cant learn, you cant see the former life and you start to act like the world around you and finally you believe lies that keep you from being transformed by the Holy Spirit and you start to back slide.

Jesus said that “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words.”

My challenge to you is this. look at your obedience list from the hand out, if you know that you need a priority change start by praying, pray for forgiveness for not making God your highest priority, pray that the Holy Spirit will renew your mind and transform your life.

Take the bulletin with you today. included in the insert are 2 tools that will help you get your prayer life and bible study life back on track.

I want you to start today; praying and seeking God in His word each day and next week I will ask “what has God done in your life this past week?” and we will praise God in our prayer time for all the amazing things He will do in our lives.

lets pray.