Spiritual Warfare – Part 13
If you haven’t yet read Part one of this study, please click here.
THE WEAPON OF OBEDIENCE
- Read Matthew 28:19-20
The word “obey” in verse 20 is very important. What difference does it make to the meaning of the verse?
Now read verse 18 of the same chapter…. I want to suggest that if we are not fulfilling verses 19-20, then we are not submitting to Christ’s authority. Do we really consider ourselves obedient?
Obedience was a very positive characteristic in the lives of many Bible characters. For example…
- Noah, building the ark. Genesis chapters 6-9
- Abraham, leaving his family. Genesis 12:4
- Nehemiah, building the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah chapters 1-4
- Gideon, destroying the town’s idols. Judges 6:25-27
- Ananias, going to pray for Paul after he was blinded. Acts 9:10-19
Can you imagine what would have happened, or not happened in every one of these cases if the principle player had not been obedient?
Jesus is looking for OBEDIENT disciples today.
- Read John 14:21
Is it time to look again at the commands we read at the beginning of this study?
- Read 1 John 2:3-6 and 1 Peter 4:17
Do you know what the outcome will be for those who do not obey?
- Read Matthew 25:31-46
Now do you know what will happen to those who do not obey?
That reminds me of another time when Jesus was talking about the end of the world as we know it…
- Matthew 7:22-24
“ I never knew you” must be one of the saddest verses in the Bible.
Our obedience today will mean that Jesus doesn’t say that to you and me on judgement day.
There are many passages in the epistles calling us to be obedient, let us look at just one of them. 1 Peter 1:13-15
What does “being holy” mean to you?
Before leaving the subject of obedience, let us look briefly at the consequences of disobedience.
Can you remember any situations in the Bible arising out of disobedience?
- Genesis 3:16-19 Probably the most well known example of disobedience, and with far reaching consequences.
- Jonah 1:4-17 Jonah’s disobedience resulted in the sailors turning to God, but a lot of discomfort for Jonah.
The Old Testament is a continual story of the Jewish people being reprimanded by God for their disobedience, their being brought back into line and their falling again.
Even some of the people we think of as being very obedient brought great problems on themselves and others because they did not obey God’s instructions to the letter.
Here are 2 examples:
- God told Abraham to leave his family, but Lot tagged along.
Genesis 12:1&4 Genesis 13:1&5…
Read on through chapters 14, 18 & 19 to find some of the hassles that Lot caused.
Lot fathered his own grandchildren!! The Moabites and the Ammonites caused lots of problems for the Israelites through future generations. - Read Exodus 3&4
Feel the intensity with which God convinced Moses that he was the Lord’s chosen leader to bring His people out of slavery. In spite of the burning bush, the rod becoming a snake; and a leprous hand Moses still didn’t have the confidence to trust God entirely.
Do I?
Do you?
The result was that Aaron went too. Read again Exodus 32 to find one of the problems that caused, with the golden calf incident.
The Lord is looking for obedient children today, just as His own Son was obedient all the way to the cross. Philippians 2:4-8
We do not have to go to the cross because Jesus did it for us. That should make us want to be more and more obedient to Him.
Read Deuteronomy 28:1-14 to find the blessings God still promises to give to those who obey Him.
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EN
FR