Obedience
2 Corinthians 10:6 “And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.”
God is saying that He will vindicate…..will bring about justice, if we will fulfill our obediences.
We often feel that obedience is simple…..you hear what is said, and do it.
Genesis 2:16-17 “And the Lord God commanded the man,….of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”
See how obedience to the command of God is the one virtue of Paradise….the one condition for Adam and Eve, and their posterity….to abide there.
It was the one thing his Creator asked of him.
(I find it amazing that people think that God does not have “the right” to demand of us!
As our Creator….He has the right to command and decide about each of us…..yet has given us a mind, a heart, and a will that we might will after Him, that we might see the reasonableness and goodness of His commands.
Of course, as our Savior, He has a double right to command us….for all He has done has been for our good. Romans 8:29)
Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
We have all missed the mark…..the goal to which God made us…to love and glorify Him by obedience.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
This is man, born under the sun’s full obligation, to His Creator.
Obedience is the act of acknowledgment. We know, because the Lord has given us His Word…..and we acknowledge His Voice, and obey.
Obedience is the act of a learner to his Master…..for we understand that God has a plan for us….
…and this obedience is part of the overall discipline that the Lord is doing in us.
Obedience is the act of submission. It is done, not always seeing the “why” of the command…..
….but believing and yielding to the God of the command.
And obedience is worship…..counting Him worthy of our all.
In the life of every man…..but especially every Christian, obedience is the one thing that is to decide his destiny.
I could go to the Old Testament for many examples….
….but let us look in Acts…at Stephen.
Now Stephen was a believer. But you never hear of him until there was a need for service.
Acts 6:1 “And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose murmuring….because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.”
The church had begun to deliver food from those who brought their goods to the Apostle’s….to the widows and those who could not see to themselves.
But some felt that they were being cheated, so complained.
(Now, though the complaints were bad, yet it opened a door of service to men who would later be called deacons. They were to see to the material side of the work….who needed what….and to try and meet that need, in prayer and service.
This is the first time the Apostle’s are not choosing…..but the people in the church….”look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.”)
Stephen was the first chosen. (Acts 6:5) and he went right to work….and was blessed in it.
Acts 6:8 “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.”
Whether this was for the supply of food, or other supplies….God was blessing his obedience.
This lead men to first argue with him…..(so much jealousy is over the opinion of others! And not over God’s Will.)
Then, because “they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake”…..they paid some to slander and accuse Stephen.
We know what happened…..he was dragged before the council….”and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council.”
Yet, even they saw the truth…..if they had obeyed it.
Acts 6:15 “And all that sat in the council (and that included Saul of Tarsus),
looking steadfastly on him (boy, they wanted to see something bad),
saw the face as it had been the face of an angel.” (God’s light and love for them shining in him.)
Then they not only saw the light…..they heard the Truth….
…Stephen taking them back to the beginning of the nation…Abraham and his call….right up to the building by Solomon of the Temple.
Showing them how the nation had rebelled against God’s way, many times.
Reminding them that God does not live in a building…..for He has made all things…
….and that it is our hearts that is the receiving or resisting of God.
Ending his message, with:
Acts 7:51, 54 “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost:….
When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart,…”
Stephen then looked up…..past them….to the Lord Jesus, who saved and called him to service….and proclaimed:
“Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56)
They refused the Word of God again…..and “stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him:”
Obedience is acknowledging God, is understanding and learning from God,….it is submission to Him….and counting Him worthy of our all.
Stephen, even in pain and death….spoke like His Lord….
“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.”
This obedience Saul could never get around….God avenged Stephen’s obedience on Saul…..and saved this murderer.
Are we fulfilling our obedience to God?
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 