Obedience-Disobedience
OBEDIENCE/DISOBEDIENCE
EXPLANATION
Obedience is the practical acceptance of the authority and will of God, including both the inward glad submission and the outward expressing of actions, reactions, words, and thoughts.
Disobedience is evidence of rebellion and distrust in God, preference to self will and the lack of surrender to and desire for the will of God in all things.
BIBLICAL STATEMENT
God expects obedience Deut. 11:26-28.
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
To choose Christ is to choose obedience John 14:15-21.
John 14:15; 21
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (KJV)
To become disobedient is to sin or rebel against God=s expectation and rights 1 Samuel 15:22-23.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king. (KJV)
SCRIPTURE
Isaiah 1:19 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: (KJV)
Luke 6:46 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (KJV)
James 1:22 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (KJV)
COUNSEL
To help individuals discover areas of disobedience (either deliberate or subconscious), you may ask questions about different areas of their life, e.g. personal relationships, behavioral patterns, God=s Lordship in their marriage or job or other areas, personal devotions, church attendance etc.
Thank God for the problem. Obstacles of disobedience are being uncovered and removed, so that new joy and fuller faith can come (Rom. 8:28).
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (KJV)
Confess the disobedience as sin. Ask for forgiveness on the basis of Christ=s atonement, and claim the promise of complete pardon. If others are involved in the reason for the disobedience, this must be rectified.
As an act of the will the counselee needs to relinquish this specific item, by faith embrace God=s will concerning it, and thank the Lord for strength for obedience.
Plan specific actions, e.g., ask forgiveness of others, make amends where needed, seek the fruit of the Spirit.
PRAYER
Pray for the fruit of the Spirit Afaithfulness@ to be produced in the person (Gal. 5:22-23).
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)
Thank and praise God for revealing disobedience to us, and for giving Ameekness@ (submissiveness) to be obedient, and Alove@ for God and one another - even enemies.