Complete Obedience
(notes)
By Suzanne Leitz |
“I’ll
do this, but I won’t do that.”
1
Samuel 15. Read all.
Look back:
v.
9: “They were unwilling”
to destroy everything that they considered to be good, “but everything that
was despised and weak they totally destroyed.”
Many
of us do this today. God tells us
in the Word the way He wants it, and we begin to reason through it. We obey
the part that is good, but we are unwilling to obey the parts that we don’t
want to obey, and we reason through it. “God
knows my situation; He understands why I can do this but not that.”
NO, HE DOESN’T.
I
know you said to destroy everything, but look!
We’ve kept out the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to God! God
likes sacrifices!
Read.
vs.
22-23.
We’re
very easy on ourselves, aren’t we? None
of us would use a strong word like rebellion to describe our failure to
fully obey God.
“I’m
working on it,” we say, justifying our disobedience.
What we really mean is, “it’s too hard and I don’t want to.” Or, “It requires more effort than I’m willing to put
forth at this time.”
We do what we’re willing to
do. We’re not as willing to do
what is uncomfortable, or requires us to change lifestyle patterns (habits).
After this incident, God
withdrew His Spirit from Saul. He
sent Samuel to anoint another king of Israel—David.
Even though Saul remained king for a while longer, he was without
God’s blessing on his life and he was, in a word, miserable.
What are some areas that
God is dealing with you about? If
He’s not dealing with you about anything, then maybe you haven’t been
reading His Word, because when you read His Word, you see areas you need to
change. But you must then be
obedient to do it. If not, why
should God show you another area to change? You haven’t shown your willingness to be obedient.
Tithing.
One area where many people
tend to be resistant to instruction is the area of their finances.
Our finances are such a personal part of us.
We spend much of our time making our money, and what we have becomes
precious. Jesus said, “Where
your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
It’s OK to have money, but it’s not OK for your money to have you.
Are you boss of your money, or is your money boss of you? Are you giving to God the portion of your money that is His
(the tithe)? If you are keeping
it, you are robbing Him, and you are bringing a curse on yourself and your
money. Would you rather have 100% of cursed
money, or 90% of blessed money.
Malachi 3:7-12.
Obeying
the laws of the land.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all
record Jesus saying, “Render unto the Caesar the things that are Caesar, and
unto God the things that are God’s.”
Caesar requires taxes; God requires tithes.
Walking in love.
Faith works by love, and
without faith it is impossible to please God.
So we must be walking in love. And
to walk in love means to forgive.
Walking
in forgiveness.
Matthew
6:12; Matthew
18:21, 35;
Luke
6:37; Luke
17:3; 1
John 1:9; Ephesians
4:32; Colossians
3:13; Proverbs
17:9. The bottom line is,
if we want God to forgive us, we must forgive others.
Walking
in integrity.
Can people depend on what you
say? Is your word good? God’s
Word is good. We are to be like
Him. John
8:44; Psalm
120:2; Proverbs
19:5; Psalm
63:11; Proverbs
6:6-19.
“There
can be no permanent change in your life until you study the Scriptures and
begin to pattern your life after them…..Ephesians
1:4 tells us that before the foundation of the world we were chosen to
live lives that are holy and pleasing to God. To live holy means ‘to live
in total obedience and submission to God.’ Our obedience to God and His
Word is what activates the anointing within us and positions us to receive
from Him. Don't think that because God has adopted you into His family that
you can live any way you choose. Not at all! In fact, obedience is the key
that will open the doors of prosperity in your life.”
--Creflo Dollar
|
