OBEDIENCE: The Pursuit of Holiness

“At 14yrs old she turned pro — a legendary tennis career — No. 1 ranking and seven Grand Slam titles. Rising up from the streets of Compton, along with her sister she would go on to win 23 Grand Slam titles. Both would become who many consider to be the greatest players of all time.

“I went to my wife and said, ‘Let’s have kids and make them tennis players,’” Richard Williams said. At 4 1/2 Serena played and won her first tournament. Their father challenged — and changed — tennis with his vision and mission for his daughters Venus and Serena to take over the sport.”

God’s story is a vision for his children…created in his image…with the hope they would become like him

Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

From the moment I trusted Christ as my savior, I knew there was something at work in me, a greater influence that I could not ignore...God’s vision for my life, one that is still unfolding...

(S) — What is that vision? For all of God’s children?

Romans 8:29 (NLT)

For God knew his people, and he chose them to become like his Son...

Living a Jesus Shaped Life (book) — Christ-likeness — Made for this

Matthew 5-7 — Beatitudes...

The OBEDIENCE of Jesus and his vision for his disciples...

Matthew 7:24 (NLT)

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

(S) — Jesus’ words are an invitation into a life of obedience — Hebrews tell us that, Jesus learned to be obedient to his heavenly father.

Hebrews 4:15 “Jesus understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.”

Jesus consistently said yes to God!

The heart of today’s message — The pursuit of holiness.. is learning to be obedient to God’s vision for us.

Becoming like his son God’s vision for us. Are we living into that vision?

PRAY

You must obey...

Simon Says Game — Fun when we were kids, but...

(S) — Obedience is not...

An OBLIGATION of submissiveness to God

Example (Gen.14:18-20) — Tithe — Command/law —

“If tithing was practiced by righteous Abraham, then it follows that it is also practiced by other servants of God.”

Tithing was never intended to be an obligation. Why we find it so hard to do?

Matthew 6:21 (NLT)

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

(S) — Obedience is not...

2. An IMPERATIVE to receiving God’s love —

1 John 4:19 “We love each other because he loved us first.”

“Obedience does not clear the way to receive God’s love, it flows out of it”

(S) — Obedience is not...

3. A Legalistic PRECEDENT or following of a set of rules

It’s not checking off all the boxes…

Luke 6:33 “And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!”

(S) — Obedience is not...

4. Seeking the BENEFIT of blessing, praise, or reward

1 Thessalonians 2:4 “For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.”

(S) — Obedience is...

Living a Jesus-shaped life...the PURSUIT of HOLINESS

“Jesus’ life was marked by obedience to the father. For us, growing in Christ-likeness requires developing the same habits. “ It’s learning how to follow Jesus with both your head and your heart

Good news — We have Jesus’ example — He practiced what he preached, modeling a life of obedience to his father in heaven.

Jesus — Disciples — Parable — Wise: house on rock — Foolish: House on sand

(S) — Two very practical disciplines of obedience

Matthew 7:24 (NLT)

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

The fruit of a Jesus-shaped life of both listening and following, firmly set the believer when storms come...

(S) — It is also a warning to those who refuse to be obedient— Living on unstable ground (sand)

Matthew 7:26 (NLT)

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.

Ever had the rug out from under you?

Notice how both listen…but only the wise are obedient...

How to life a Jesus shaped life of obedience — Jesus

Jesus was obedient to the WILL of God

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching…

How did Jesus know the will of God…?

Listening is the first step of living into the will of God.

Obstacle to our own obedience — Paying little attention to the voice of God

1 Samuel 3 — Eli/Voice of God/Samuel — Paying attention

Older — Paying attention to my aches and pains

(S) — Jesus knew the will of his father...

John 6:38 “For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.”

How often Jesus was tempted to fulfill his own needs over that of his father.

Hungry — Tired — Angry — Frustrated — Giving up

Matthew 26:39 “He bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.””

Obstacle to our own obedience — Putting our will over that of God’s will

Author of this book says, “disobedience points to a…lack of trust

Solders (pg, 35-36)

The disciples where attentive to the teacher — Listening so they could better follow — Be like Jesus

Becoming Christ-like means having an attitude of listening and asking, what is God’s will for my life?Fiances, work, family, relationship, calling?

(S) — Jesus was obedient to his father in heaven…paying attention and being obedient to the will of God

Jesus was obedient to the WORK of God

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise...

Obedience is acting on the will of God —

(NIV)Anyone who, puts them into practice...

Jesus’ purpose was not only to come, grow to the age of 32 years and die…it was to show others how to live and be obedient to the work of God.

(S) — What is the work of God?

Luke 4:18-19 ““The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.””

Obedience is being participants in the work of Jesus...

John 6:28-29 “They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.””

Belief in Jesus, that leads to obedience, and living into the will and work of God

(NRSV) Everyone who hears these words of mine…present tense — To what i am saying now to you...

Obstacle to our own obedience — Not acting on the will of God

I can do something about my shape — Training — Exercise, eating right — Results?

Bottom line: Growth in godliness is hard work. Living a Jesus-shaped life takes effort— It takes obedience to the will and work of God

(S) — Jesus was obedient to the work of God

Jesus was obedient to the WAY of Salvation

“...Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house...

Jesus was telling his disciples that the storms were coming!

Obedience is a difficult road. it was for Jesus. The way of salvation for Jesus was what?

Philippians 2:8 “he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

Living an obedient Jesus shaped life doesn't mean that troubles won’t come. In fact it’s a guarantee.

Matthew 16:24 “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

(S) — What is your cross? It’s there for a reason! For you to work out your salvation by being obedeint to Jesus and the way of salvation.

Philippians 2:12 (NLT)

Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.

Work out — “to fashion i.e. render one fit” — To shape by bringing ones life into obedience to God’s will, work and way.

Obstacle to our own obedience — Avoiding the hard way of following Jesus

(S) — God’s vision for his children is the same today. It is that we would live Holy lives — Grow to be like his son. It takes pursuing obedience — Living into the will of God — Acting on the work of God (jesus) — following the way of salvation

Jesus was obedient to being shaped by God…a sure foundation for anyone who listens to the will of God, acts on the words of Jesus (teaching), and is obedient to the way of salvation

This parable shows us that, there is a choice...

Matthew 7:26-27 “But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.””

The result of Christ-like obedience living a Jesus shaped life? ...faith that prevails through the storms

Living a Jesus Shaped life is , a willingness to listen, act and follow Jesus.

Jesus’ words are an inviation into a life of obedeice. Are you growing to better hear the will, to work...and follow ways of God?