HYMN: “When we walk with the Lord ”
CENTRAL THOUGHT
We must obey God completely and fully in all things.
TEXT: GEN. 6:11-14, 22, 12:1-5, 22:1-8, PHIL. 2:5-13, JAMES 1:25
INTRODUCTION:
Obedience to God is the total submission of our will to the excellent and perfect will of God. God does not force any one to obey Him but expects it to be voluntary. A study of the Bible reveals that man’s obedience to God’s will, has always brought man happiness, and disobedience, unhappiness. For this reason we have in the Bible an emphasis on obedience. God said, “The things I command you, observe to do” Deut. 12:32. Again, “if you be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” Isaiah 1:19, “for as by one man’s disobedience man were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).
Redemption, which became necessary because of the disobedience of man, was made possible by the obedience of Christ. Obedience is at the center of man’s problem and likewise God’s solution. It is as we study the true meaning of obedience that we see the necessity of it for salvation, blessing, and God-honoring life. There are many things that make man unwilling to obey God. In this study, these shall be identified and discussed in order for us to have a fruitful Christian life.
LESSON OBJECTIVES
The lesson objectives are as follows:
1.) Have an in-depth understanding of what obedience is.
2.) To know what obedience entails.
3.) Identify some of the things that makes it difficult today for believers to obey God’s word.
4.) To consider the outcome of obedience in the life of some Bible Characters.
BIBLE TRUTH
QUESTION 1.) WHAT DO YOU UNDERSTAND BY OBEDIENCE?
When we generally think of obedience, we think of doing what one is instructed to do. In scripture there are several different words used for obedience. In order to establish the principal meaning of these words in our minds, we will look at two of them briefly.
Shama: This Hebrew word is the primary one used throughout the Old Testament. The word has as its primary root the meaning, “to hear intelligently”. Please note the word hear, it is central to the meaning.
Hupakouo: This Greek word is the primary one used throughout the New Testament. The word is really made up of two words: hupo meaning under or beneath, and akouo meaning to hear. Thus the meaning of the word could be stated as, “to hear under”. It carried with it the thought of subordination, or the recognition of authority and wisdom. it is an attitude of hearing.
Obedience is an attitude of the heart toward a higher authority. As Christians, that higher authority is God Himself. For the Christian, obedience is submitting intelligently to a higher authority because He is the Lord and final authority. Obedience is submission to God’s will, complying with given instructions; doing what God says one should do and not doing what God says one should not do.
QUESTION 2.) WHAT DOES OBEDIENCE ENTAIL?
a.) Sticking to what God says even when it seems unfavorable:
When the Bible speaks of one obeying God’s will, it is teaching that one is to do what God has said, in the way God has said it, and for the reason God has given. Matthew 7:21 states, “Not everyone that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but be that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven”. Genuine obedience to God means that one submits his will to God’s. Genesis 6 and the story of Noah serves as an example of this principle of obedience. God gave Noah the general command to build the ark. He then restricts the general command to build by giving specific commands pertaining to the material to be used (gopher wood), rooms to be built, specific dimensions that the ark was to have, as well as, to “pitch it within and without with pitch” (Gen. 6:14-16). Noah did just as God had commanded (Gen. 6:22). This illustrates that if one is to obey God, he must do what God has said, in the way God has said it, and for the expressed reason God has given.
b.) It involves faith and willingness: Heb. 11:8
Of course the greatest figures of the New Testament, the Lord Jesus Christ, had much to say about obedience as well. Let’s look at some his comments. John 14:15, “If you love me, keep my commandments”. John 14:21, 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. See also, Matt. 7:21, Lk. 6:46-49, John 14:23, 15:10.
c.) It involves suffering or inconveniences: Heb 5:8
If men and women were to become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4), raised out of sin to a level where they could truly know God, enjoy eternal fellowship with Him and share His incorruptible life, then God alone knew how this was to be achieved consistently with His own majestic holiness. It was the way which required the gift of His Son to die on the cross. If then, God suffered, and if, in obedience to the Father, Christ suffered even unto death, the whole problem of man’s suffering is raised to a new level. For the believer, obedience to God in some situations will involve suffering or inconveniences.
d.) It involves loving God.
One cannot love God without obeying Him. Our Blessed Lord pointed this out time and time again the night before He died. “If ye love me, keep my commandments”, (Jn. 14:15). See also 14:21-24, 15:10, 14. From scripture it is clear that obedience must be motivated by love.
e.) Having a knowledge of your purpose:
Jesus was able to fulfill his ministry here on earth because he knew what he was here on earth to do. Heb. 10:7-9, Phil. 2:6-8. Believers should also have the knowledge that we are only pilgrims on earth, our ultimate destination is God’s kingdom. This should make us live in obedience to God’s will.
QUESTION 3.) WHAT ARE SOME OF THINGS THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR BELIEVERS TO OBEY GOD’S WORD TODAY?
a.) Sometimes, we don’t obey Him because it will make us uncomfortable. Some believers do not obey God’s word because they fear that obedience to God’s word will bring them some discomfort; for some their desire, goals, ambition run contrary to the declared word of God.
b.) Ignorance of God’s word. Many believers do not take time to study God’s word, as a result of which they are ignorant of His mind and will; therefore, they are unable to obey.
c.) Impatience. Impatience may make us disobey God’s instruction. This was manifested in 1 Samuel 13:8-13, who couldn’t wait patiently for Prophet Samuel to arrive to offer the sacrifice and give further instruction about the battle against the Philistines.
d.) Pride. Pride may also hinder us from obeying God’s instruction. An example in scripture is Naaman who on account of pride would have been hindered from experiencing divine healing.
e.) Fear and pressure from people. Some believers out of fear of man (parents), husband, wife, boss, Church-leaders, find it difficult to obey God’s command in certain situations. On the other hand, some church leaders for fear of losing key financial members fail to preach sound doctrine which will help the people know God more. In 1 Samuel 15:1-34, King Saul out of fear of the people disobeyed God’s command. See also 1 King 12:25-28.
QUESTION 4.) WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF OBEDIENCE IN THE LIFE OF THE FOLLOWING BIBLE CHARACTERS?
a.) Noah: Noah was instructed by God to build an ark to save the godly of his day. His obedience to God’s command brought him and his household deliverance from the flood that came upon the earth. God established His covenant with Noah because of his act of obedience in building the ark the way God commanded. Gen. 9:8-16.
b.) Abraham: “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went”, (Heb. 11:8). Abraham, like Noah, did not question the directive of God. There is a very important lesson here for all of us. Obedience is not based on understanding, but on faith in God and in His wisdom. Even when God told Him to sacrifice his son, he did not complain, he carried out the instruction exactly as God instructed. (Gen. 22:16-16). As a result of his obedience, God blessed and prospered him and promised that through his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed. This promise is fulfilled in Christ Jesus.
c.) Jesus Christ: Christ himself set the example of obedience to the Father’s will. “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”, Hebrews 5:8-9. Christ said “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me” John 6:38. Again Christ said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven”, Matt. 7:21. On account of His obedience, God highly exalted Him and gave Him a Name that is above every other name (Phil. 2:9-11).
DAILY LIVING APPLICATION
Everything God has ever said to us in the Bible is for our own good and happiness in this life and prepares us for the life that is to come. It is therefore profitable for us to pay heed to His word. We are blessed by obeying His word.
MEMORY VERSE:
1 SAMUEL 15:22
“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”.
DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
Monday: Obedience is doing the will of God.
Gen. 6:11-14, 22, Matt. 7:21
Tuesday: Obedience demands that you know your purpose.
Heb. 10:7-9, Phil. 2:6-8
Wednesday: Pride will hinder obedience.
2 Kings 5:1-18
Thursday: Impatience hinders obedience.
1 Sam. 13:8-13.
Friday: Noah, an example in obedience.
Gen. 9:8-16, Heb. 11:7
Saturday: Obedience, based on faith in God.
Gen. 22:16-18, Heb. 11:8