The Exercise for Spiritual Growth

The= Exercise for Spiritual Growth

How Obedience Mak= es Us Grow

introduction=

If you had a child that was obedient some of the time,= would you call him an obedient child?

If you had a child that chose when= to obey you and when not to obey you, would you call that child obedient?

Are you an obedient child of God???

QUOTE = ; The Making of a Disciple by Keith Phi= llips

&nbs= p; “The Christian life is a continu= ing pilgrimage of obedience.”

THE MOTIVES COMPELLING OUR OBEDIENCE

1. Obedience Is a Reverence Issue

Matthew 13:9=

̶= 0;Anyone who has ears Other= mss add to = hear should listen!”

= The Greek word for obed= ience is two words:

<= span style=3D'color:windowtext'> &nbs= p; Hyper and hearing (akouo) OR “hyper-hearing!”= ;

Hebrews 13:7= . 17

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their live= s, imitate their faith.

Obey your leaders Or rulers and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those w= ho will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief,= for that would be unprofitable for you.

2. Obedience Is a Faith Issue

Faith that believes obedience will be rewarded.= (Heb 11:6)

3. Obedience Is a Greatest Commandment Issue

Love that desires to pleas= e God through obedience

John 14:15

̶= 0;If you love Me, you will keep Other= mss read If = you love Me, keep (as a command) My commandments.”

4. Obedience Is a Lordship of Christ Issue

Submission to the Lordship= of Christ

Luke 6:46

̶= 0;Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don= 217;t do the things I say?”

5. Obedience Is an Honoring God Issue

&nbs= p;

Others see our obedience t= o God and He is honored by it.

Matthew 5:16

Let y= our light shine Or way, your light must shine befor= e men, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heave= n.

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF OBEDIENCE

Obedience is both positive and negative:

It is doing what God tells us to do

And it is refusing to do what He tells us not to do.

Do I obey God in my speech = life?

Do I obey God in my moral l= ife?

Do I obey God in my attitud= e and response to authorities over my life?

Do I obey God in my devotio= nal life?

Do I obey God in my thought= life?

Do I obey God in training my children?

Do I obey God in the way I = treat my spouse?

Do I obey God by selflessly ministering to others?

Do I obey God in my financi= al stewardship?

Have I obeyed Christ’s command to be baptized?

(Baptism is a first step of obedience in believer’s life)

THE BENEFITS OR REWARDS OF OBEDIENCE

1. Intimacy with God

&nbs= p;

John 14:21, = 23

The o= ne who has My commands and keeps them is the one who lo= ves Me. And the one who loves Me will be loved by My Father. I also will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”
Jesus answered, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

2. Joy and Peace in the Holy Spirit

Psalm 119:16= 5

Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; not= hing makes them stumble.

      Jeremiah 15:16=

Your words were found, and I ate them. Your words became a delight to me and the joy of my heart

3.   Power and Effectiveness in Prayer

   &nbs= p;

1 John 3:21-= 22

Dear friends, if our hearts do not con= demn [us] The bracketed text has been added for clarity. we have confidence b= efore God,
and can receive whatever we ask from Him becaus= e we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.

4.   Wisdom and Understanding of God’s Will

   &nbs= p;

Psalm 111:10=

The = fear of the Lord is the be= ginning of wisdom; Pr 9:10 all who follow His instructions Lit follow them have good insi= ght.

Psalm 119:10= 0

I understand more than the e= lders because I obey <= span class=3DGramE>Your precepts.

   &nbs= p;

5.   Strength and Security of Character and Life

      =

(Luke 6:46-4= 9)

THE SUPREME EXAMPLE OF OBEDIENCE

Philippians 2:8=

And being foun= d in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death (i.e. to the extent of death), even death on a cross. (NASB)

Romans 5:19

Through His obedience which stands in contrast to Adam’s disobedience, the many have been made righteous.

Hebrews 5:8

Although He wa= s a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (NAS95)<= /i>

Christians are children of obedience because th= is obedience must embrace their whole lives. In fact they have b= een chosen by God and cleansed and set apart for the purpose of obedience.

1 Peter 1:2, 14

chosen
according to the foreknowled= ge Rm 8:29 of God the Father and set apart <= /span> 2 Th 2:13by the Spirit for ob= edience and [for the]* The br= acketed text has been added for clarity. sprinkling with the blood Heb 12:24 of Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

We are born subjects and to obey God is perfect liberty. He that does this sh= all be free, safe and happy. –Seneca

We are empowered to consistently obey God through our knowledge of Scripture and our surrendered will.

Every act of obedience makes us stronger.

Will you surrender yourself to obey God in all = things,

To truly make Jesus Christ the Lord of= your life?

When you do, = you will begin to grow spiritually as you obey Him!