It Starts Small

Ask yourself, am I a truly happy victorious Christian?

Why do we lack joy in our lives? Joy is the byproduct of the peace of God. When we are obedient to him, our lives, despite circumstances, is filled with Joy. Unbelief and disobedience are the key factors to having no peace and no joy in our lives. Obedience is the key to living a life of peace and joy.

We are not saved because we are obedient, we are obedient because we are saved!

29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Acts 5:29-32

God’s Sovereignty demands Obedience – ought

Why do we obey the Lord God?

God is not a man. He is the Great I AM! He has all power and authority. When God tells us to do something we don’t have a logical reasonable choice. He has every right to command us.

And say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Jeremiah 11:3

I don’t know about you, but just knowing disobedience brings a cursed life is enough for me to want to be in complete obedience. I’ve been living a cursed life. I have bee in complete rebellion to God and my life was a chaotic train wreck that repeated over and over again. There’s no alternative to obedience except disobedience. There’s no gray area to obedience. You either are, or are not.

Disobedience, rightfully, brings God’s hand of judgement upon me.

8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Thessalonians 1:8

Jesus is coming with the fire of vengeance to those who do not obey the gospel.

God’s Saving demands obedience – a savior

Jesus suffered and died for us. The word ought comes from the word owe. We owe it to God to be obedient for what he has given us.

We serve and obey because we love him. We desire to obey and please him because we love him. Our motive in all we do, is because we love him and desire to keep his commandments. A good test of being double minded is to ask yourself, just how much do you love God and your Savior? You know by how much you obey. If you struggle in obedience, where are your loyalties divided? Are you idolizing yourself through pride, but trying to serve God? It never works. We have to have complete surrender and loyalty to him.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15

What are the requirements to obey?

Intelligent Obedience: we can not obey unless we know what it is God wants us to do. We must know the will of God.

Intended Obedience: we have to seek the will of God. You have to intend to be obedient. Ignorance is no excuse for not knowing the will of God. God will hold us accountable for what we hear and what we would have heard if we were listening. Obedience is intended listening. Most often, we hear, but we run because God asks us to do what we do not want to do.

Immediate Obedience: The verses in Acts describe an interesting situation. The high priest has asked Peter to stop preaching, at the same time Peter continues to preach. When God tells you to do something, don’t wait to see if the circumstances are favorable. Don’t do it tomorrow or the next day. Don’t weigh if it’s reasonable by human reasoning. Our procrastination to obedience is just disobedience guised.

Inflexible Obedience: this is obedience that doesn’t faint grow weary to circumstances. The high priest was out to kill these men. Their lives were in danger and Peter didn’t even pay attention. He continued to preach. They stood up and said we are going to stand here and preach.

Impassioned Obedience: Obedience with Joy! They had an emotional zeal and served God with the gladness in their hearts. We are not in mourning! We are rejoicing a new life and sharing our new lives with others. We can not serve half hearted or pretend! Do you love the Lord so much that song and praise leaps from your heart?

What is the reward for obedience?

And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Acts 5:32

We gain supernatural power. God does not give spiritual power to those in rebellion. He only gives spiritual power to those who are diligently seeking him and in obedience to him.

And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. Acts 5:41

We gain a supernatural joy! They walked away with their hearts full of joy. They could’ve been dragged out and stones for preaching, yet they obeyed and were filled with peace and joy! Disobedient lives have no peace, nor joy. Often times, disobedience will bring a false emotional peace. A happiness they you’re doing what you want and getting what you want, but that “happiness” is very short lived. Real joy, real peace comes supernaturally. Happiness is the byproduct of joy and peace.

If Jesus Christ is not real to you, you are living In disobedience. Don’t say you love Jesus is you are living a life of disobedience. Jesus said:

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. John 14:21

Disobedience clouds and hides God from our lives. A great test to know if you have reverence and love is to ask yourself how much are you obeying? This isn’t a question of perfection, it’s a question of are you truly being obedient? Our obedience and love for Jesus manifests God in our lives. If God is not real to you, actively working and transforming you, what are you being disobedient about?

God’s will is not hidden from us. Disobedience hides God’s will. It is actively saying you are not lordship over me and I’m not going to seek you or obey what you command. If your life is joyless and chaotic, the best advice I have gotten is go back to the last thing the Holy Spirit revealed and spoke. Seek God and he will answer. His will is not some hidden treasure you have to go find or some great revelation to be revealed. It’s right there, you just have to choose to obey, or be a rebel.

It’s not enough to just be good and do right. We must choose to experience obedience.