A Sanctified Family: The Obedience of the Child – Proverbs 1:7-8

A Sanctified Family: The Obedience of the Child – Proverbs 1:7-8

Engage

Most of us feel that obedience is something that is to be rejected, stood up against, somehow diminishes our independence, and shackles us into unwanted slavery. We feel that God is continuously nit picking on our performance and adherence to the Law. Despise that we know we are freed from the power of the Law. We are not condemned by the Law. We are condemned by unbelief. That is demonstrated through disobedience.

Websters 1828 Dictionary

OBE'DIENCE, noun [Latin obedientia.]

Compliance with a command, prohibition or known law and rule of duty prescribed; the performance of what is required or enjoined by authority, or the abstaining from what is prohibited, in compliance with the command or prohibition.

· To constitute obedience the act or forbearance to act must be in submission to authority.

o the command must be known to the person,

o and his compliance must be in consequence of it, or it is not obedience

o obedience is not synonymous with obsequiousness (servility); the latter often implying meanness or servility

o obedience being merely a proper submission to authority.

o That which duty requires implies dignity of conduct rather than servility.

o obedience may be voluntary or involuntary.

o Voluntary obedience alone can be acceptable to God.

· Examples given of obedience

Tension

There are dire consequences to those who do not listen to the instruction of their father and the law of their mother, for they convey the instructions of the Lord and lead to salvation.

The Lord says that if your refuse his council:

· He will laugh at your calamity (Proverb 1:27)

· He mock you when fear comes. (Proverb 1:27)

· He will leave you to bear your fruit of foolishness (Proverb 1:31)

· The turning away of the simple shall slay them (v.32)

· The prosperity of the fools will destroy them (v.32)

· Proverbs 5:23 – He shall die for lack of instruction, and the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:33)

Truth

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

Solomon gives his son simple advice:

(1) Be Obedient to thy Father and Mother

a. Fear the Lord

b. Hear Instruction of thy father

c. Do not forsake the law of thy mother

(2) Then he gives a promise:

a. Obedience will reward you with favor and success

b. Isaiah 1:19 - If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land

c. 2 Corinthians 2:9-11 tell us that obedience in grace protects the church

For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave any thing, to whom I forgave it, for your sakes forgave I it in the person of Christ; Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:9-11)

d. Deuteronomy 4 tell us that obedience:

i. Brings Gods mercies

ii. Brings Gods promise to never leave us

iii. Brings Gods protection

iv. Reminds God of his covenant

v. Brings Gods deliverance

The first thing here is that a proper relationship with God begins with knowledge

This knowledge is passed to us not only by prayer and study, but through the instruction of the father and the law of the mother. Then, by learning of obedience to our father and our mother we learn who God is and what he expects from those who would be obedient. This instruction and law of our parents also puts us in a position to receive blessing from both man and God.

We are told many times in scripture to obey our parents is right and rewarding:

· Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Colossians 3:20)

· Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)

· Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12)

· My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. (Proverbs 3:1-2)

In fact, the Lord tells us that if we are his then we should obey:

· If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15)

· He that saith he abideth in him aught himself also so to walk, even as he walked (1 John 2:6)

· If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10)

· As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: (1 Peter 1:14)

So what do we learn from the Instruction of thy father and the law of thy mother?

From them we learn what has been called the most impactful document ever created in the history of mankind. We learn the 10 Commandments and how they are lived. (over 3500 years ago)

The 10 Commandments

o You shall have no other gods before Me.

o You shall make no idols.

o You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

o Keep the Sabbath day holy.

o Honor your father and your mother.

o You shall not murder.

o You shall not commit adultery.

o You shall not steal.

o You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

o You shall not covet.

In obedience to these we are well pleasing to God.

Jesus broke it down to 2 simple commands that we see in the life of our father and our mother

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 20:36-40)

God expects us to be obedient in LOVE!

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34)

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (Matthew 5:44)

We should love

· God

· One another.

· Those who hate us

· God says love me most, then love everyone just like that…. Are you in obedience of love?

The Apostle to the Gentiles said this,

“By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:” (Romans 1:5-6)

Therefore, faith in Jesus Christ is what gives us this desire for, and ability to be obedient. Through faith in Christ we receive grace and the ministry of the gospel. This gives us the desire to be obedient to the love of the Gospel wherever we find ourselves.

Through this faith in Jesus Christ we receive:

· Justification in the sight of God

· The righteousness of God

· Redemption (deliverance form the law)

Romans 10:17 tells us that this faith comes by hearing! It comes by instruction!

Now we see the error of disobedience the error in rejecting the instruction of the father and the law of the mother.

For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (Romans 10:3-4)

· They are ignorant of God’s righteousness

· They fool themselves thinking they are good when they are evil

· So they have not submitted to the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

So we see her the need for guidance, instruction, and the law. Many miss their opportunity for salvation or to lead others to Chris because they do not

Listen to God in the Instruction of their father

Trust God in the Law of their mother

Or Obey the will of God.

Application:

So what do we do? Those of us who have heard and submitted? How are we obedient?

In Love… 1 John 5:1-5

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The source of obedience,

· BORN AGAIN – whoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God

· Love of Christ – whoever loves Jesus, loves the Father – “I am my Father are one”

o 2 Corinthians 5:14-17

§ Love of Christ constrains us

§ We have died to ourselves

§ We do not walk after the flesh

§ We are a new Creature in Christ

§ We are now ministers to God

What is the Love of God?

· That we keep his commandments

· We don’t see his commandments as a burden

· We overcome the flesh

· No excuses for sin, no strongholds

How do we live in Obedience?

· Faith

o Just as we learn to trust in the instruction of our father; we learn to trust the instruction of our Heavenly Father

o Just as we learn to live in the law of our mother; we learn to live in the Law of Grace in faith in Jesus Christ

· Truth

o Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

· Spirit

o Romans 8:14-17 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Action

How to we walk in Sprit and Truth?

· Obedience (submission)

· Romans 6:16 - Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

· Hebrews 13:17 - Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

· Ephesians 5:12-22 says

o Submit to one another

o Wives Submit

o Husbands Submit

o Children Submit

Closing

· What does Christ own in your life?

· Does he own just a few moments at the end of the day?

· Does he own everything you have?

· Does he own your desires?

· Are you short in your obedience?

· Do you love Christ as he loves you?

· Do you love others as he loves you?

· Do you need to come in obedience to the alter and confess something to the Lord?

· Do you need to come up and surrender something in you life to God?

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Pray…..

Come to the altar and pray: Lay it down before the Lord.