Obey with Understanding

Introduction

Learning to follow orders at Basic Training (personal story)

The lessons learned drilling.

Faith is not just memorizing principles or rehearsing lists, faith is ment for action.

The activity of faith for the believer is an essential component to everything about being a Christian.

Faith is essential in our relationship with God.

Text

Hebrews 11:6 ESV

6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Main Idea and Transition

Activity of faith and believing is obedience.

Jesus said:

John 3:36 ESV

36 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.

James, the Lord’s brother, addressed the subject of faith and obedience in his letter to the early church—and to every church and Christian.

James 1:3 ESV

3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

And then he makes the case on how we should approach live in obedience to God.

Keep your Emotions Grounded.

James 1:19–21 ESV

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Don’t let your emotions drive you away from the presence and power of God.

Keep your emotions settled firmly on the precepts of God’s Word.

Emotions left uncheck will convince you to live your life your way instead of God’s way.

Know how God wants You to Live.

James 1:22–24 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.

Know what God wants you to do begins with reading and studying God’s Word. There is no other way.

The big challenge Christians in America face today is that we live in a culture that views God’s Word as irrelevant.

Make it you priority to know how God wants you to live from His perspective—not from your emotions.

But we cannot stop in just knowing what to do—it has to be more than an academic exercise.

Live in full Alignment with God.

James 1:25 ESV

25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Knowing what to do and doing it is called obedience.

Faith is real faith when we take real action in accordance with God’s truth.

Another way of saying it is that the fruit of our faith—the evidence of our faith is living out our faith.

We need to be a doer who acts!

What is the results:

Enjoy the Blessed Life.

James 1:25 ESV

25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

Obedience ushers you in the stream of God’s blessings.

In other words, your act of faith in God empowers your actions.

Meaning, what you do in obedience to God produces a benefit to His kingdom.

You will be blessed.

The people around you will be blessed.

God will be blessed (glorified and worshipped).

Final Thought.

Living by faith is living in obedience.

Obedience is hard work

Study God’s Word (Biblical intake)

Live a prayer-filled life.