Complete Obedience: Overcoming Spiritual Interference
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, Waymark Church. Today, we continue our series, "Penalty Flags," focusing on the penalty flag of pass interference. Just as in football, where interference disrupts the intended play, in our spiritual lives, interference can obstruct God's plans for us. This interference can come from external sources or, more often, from our own actions and decisions. We explored the story of King Saul from 1 Samuel 15, where Saul's partial obedience to God's command led to his downfall. God had instructed Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites and everything they owned, but Saul spared King Agag and the best of the livestock, thinking he could use them for sacrifices. This act of disobedience, though seemingly minor, was significant in God's eyes and led to Saul losing his kingship.
The key lesson here is that God requires complete obedience. Partial obedience is still disobedience. Saul's failure to fully follow God's command was seen as rebellion and arrogance, equated with the sin of divination and idolatry. This story teaches us that our choices can create obstacles that hinder God's plans. We must strive for 100% obedience, as even a small deviation can lead to significant spiritual fallout. God values our obedience over our sacrifices and religious actions. True obedience involves surrender and submission to God's will, without trying to rationalize or justify our actions based on our understanding or cultural norms.
As we reflect on this message, let's examine our lives for areas where we might be partially obedient and seek to align fully with God's directives. Remember, God doesn't need us to produce our sacrifices; He provides what we need. Our role is to obey completely and trust in His provision.
### Key Takeaways
1. Complete Obedience is Essential: God requires 100% obedience to His commands. Partial obedience, even if it seems minor, is still disobedience and can lead to significant spiritual consequences. Saul's failure to fully obey God's command led to his rejection as king. We must strive to follow God's directives fully, without deviation. [46:54]
2. God Values Obedience Over Sacrifice: God delights more in our obedience than in our religious actions or sacrifices. Saul thought sparing the best livestock for sacrifices was a good idea, but it was not God's plan. True obedience involves surrendering our will and following God's instructions completely. [50:22]
3. Interference Hinders God's Plans: Our choices can create obstacles that hinder God's plans. Just as interference in football disrupts the play, our actions can interfere with God's work in our lives. We must be vigilant to avoid becoming the "bird on the antenna" that disrupts God's signal. [36:39]
4. Fear of Consequences Can Lead to Disobedience: Often, we fear the consequences of obedience more than the consequences of disobedience. Saul feared his men and chose to disobey God. We must trust that God will handle the consequences and follow His commands without fear. [54:35]
5. Cultural Influence Can Lead to Partial Obedience: Cultural norms can pressure us into partial obedience. We must be careful not to let societal standards dictate our actions. True obedience to God may go against cultural norms, but it is essential for maintaining our spiritual integrity. [01:02:00]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[20:37] - Call for Volunteers
[21:26] - Prayer and Offering
[31:38] - Introduction to Penalty Flags Series
[32:27] - No Condemnation in Christ
[33:18] - Previous Penalties Discussed
[34:24] - Understanding Interference
[35:25] - Removing Interference
[36:39] - Spiritual Pass Interference
[37:33] - Trusting God's Plan
[38:17] - Pledge to God's Word
[39:08] - Saul's Disobedience
[41:09] - Samuel Confronts Saul
[42:38] - Obedience Over Sacrifice
[46:54] - The Importance of Complete Obedience
[50:22] - God Provides the Sacrifice
[54:35] - Fear of Obedience Consequences
[01:02:00] - Cultural Influence on Obedience
[01:10:52] - Saul's Confession
[01:14:04] - Call to Confession and Realignment
[01:20:38] - Closing Prayer and Business Meeting Announcement
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1 Samuel 15:1-23 (NIV)
### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did God give to Saul through the prophet Samuel regarding the Amalekites? (1 Samuel 15:3)
2. How did Saul deviate from God's command when he attacked the Amalekites? (1 Samuel 15:8-9)
3. What was Saul's justification for sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock? (1 Samuel 15:15)
4. How did Samuel respond to Saul's justification for his actions? (1 Samuel 15:22-23)
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does God equate partial obedience with rebellion and arrogance in 1 Samuel 15:23? How does this perspective challenge common views on obedience?
2. In what ways did Saul's fear of his men influence his decision to disobey God's command? (1 Samuel 15:24) [54:35]
3. How does the story of Saul illustrate the principle that God values obedience over sacrifice? (1 Samuel 15:22) [50:22]
4. What are the potential consequences of allowing cultural norms to influence our obedience to God's commands? (1 Samuel 15:24) [01:02:00]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you were partially obedient to God's command. What were the consequences, and how did it affect your spiritual life? [46:54]
2. Saul justified his disobedience by claiming he intended to use the spared livestock for sacrifices. Have you ever rationalized disobedience by thinking your intentions were good? How can you avoid this in the future? [50:22]
3. Fear of consequences led Saul to disobey God. Are there areas in your life where fear is preventing you from fully obeying God? How can you trust God more in these areas? [54:35]
4. Cultural norms can pressure us into partial obedience. Identify a specific cultural influence that has affected your obedience to God. How can you counteract this influence? [01:02:00]
5. Saul's disobedience led to him losing his kingship. What leadership roles or areas of influence in your life could be at risk due to partial obedience? How can you ensure complete obedience in these areas? [51:57]
6. The sermon emphasized that God provides what we need and does not require us to produce our sacrifices. How can you practice surrender and submission to God's will in your daily life? [47:52]
7. Reflect on the concept that partial obedience is still disobedience. What steps can you take this week to ensure you are fully obedient to God's commands in a specific area of your life? [46:54]
Devotional
Day 1: The Necessity of Complete Obedience
Complete obedience to God's commands is essential for our spiritual well-being. In the story of King Saul from 1 Samuel 15, Saul's partial obedience led to his downfall. God had commanded Saul to destroy the Amalekites and everything they owned, but Saul spared King Agag and the best livestock, thinking he could use them for sacrifices. This act of disobedience, though seemingly minor, was significant in God's eyes and led to Saul losing his kingship.
This teaches us that God requires 100% obedience. Partial obedience, even if it seems minor, is still disobedience and can lead to significant spiritual consequences. We must strive to follow God's directives fully, without deviation. Our choices can create obstacles that hinder God's plans for us. We must be vigilant to avoid becoming the "bird on the antenna" that disrupts God's signal. [46:54]
1 Samuel 15:22-23 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.'"
Reflection: Think of an area in your life where you have been partially obedient to God's commands. What steps can you take today to fully align with His directives?
Day 2: Obedience Over Sacrifice
God values our obedience more than our religious actions or sacrifices. In 1 Samuel 15, Saul thought sparing the best livestock for sacrifices was a good idea, but it was not God's plan. True obedience involves surrendering our will and following God's instructions completely.
This story teaches us that our sacrifices and religious actions are not as important to God as our obedience. God delights more in our obedience than in our religious actions or sacrifices. We must strive to follow God's directives fully, without deviation. Our choices can create obstacles that hinder God's plans for us. We must be vigilant to avoid becoming the "bird on the antenna" that disrupts God's signal. [50:22]
Micah 6:6-8 (ESV): "With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you prioritized religious actions over obedience to God. How can you shift your focus to true obedience today?
Day 3: Avoiding Spiritual Interference
Our choices can create obstacles that hinder God's plans. Just as interference in football disrupts the play, our actions can interfere with God's work in our lives. We must be vigilant to avoid becoming the "bird on the antenna" that disrupts God's signal.
In the story of King Saul, his partial obedience created interference with God's plan for him. This teaches us that our actions can create obstacles that hinder God's plans for us. We must strive to follow God's directives fully, without deviation. Our choices can create obstacles that hinder God's plans for us. We must be vigilant to avoid becoming the "bird on the antenna" that disrupts God's signal. [36:39]
Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV): "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Reflection: Identify a specific action or habit in your life that may be causing spiritual interference. What steps can you take to remove this interference and align more closely with God's plan?
Day 4: Trusting God Over Fear of Consequences
Often, we fear the consequences of obedience more than the consequences of disobedience. Saul feared his men and chose to disobey God. We must trust that God will handle the consequences and follow His commands without fear.
In the story of King Saul, his fear of his men led him to disobey God's command. This teaches us that we must trust God to handle the consequences of our obedience. We must strive to follow God's directives fully, without deviation. Our choices can create obstacles that hinder God's plans for us. We must be vigilant to avoid becoming the "bird on the antenna" that disrupts God's signal. [54:35]
Isaiah 41:10 (ESV): "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
Reflection: Think of a situation where you are afraid to obey God because of potential consequences. How can you trust God to handle the outcomes and take a step of obedience today?
Day 5: Cultural Influence and Obedience
Cultural norms can pressure us into partial obedience. We must be careful not to let societal standards dictate our actions. True obedience to God may go against cultural norms, but it is essential for maintaining our spiritual integrity.
In the story of King Saul, cultural norms and pressures influenced his decision to partially obey God's command. This teaches us that we must be careful not to let societal standards dictate our actions. We must strive to follow God's directives fully, without deviation. Our choices can create obstacles that hinder God's plans for us. We must be vigilant to avoid becoming the "bird on the antenna" that disrupts God's signal. [01:02:00]
Romans 12:2 (ESV): "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
Reflection: Reflect on a cultural norm that pressures you into partial obedience to God. How can you resist this pressure and fully align with God's commands today?
Quotes
1. "But what we learn about penalty flags is just like in football, in the game of life, we all face times when there's an authority that throws a flag on us. God blows his whistle. The Holy Spirit convicts us and throws a flag. And says, hey, you messed up. I'm going to penalize you for that. But I want you to remember this, is that the penalty flags of life are not because God is condemning us. It's because he's showing us his grace. If you remember, our scripture was in Romans 8, 1, it says, therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are now in Christ Jesus." [32:27] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "So God wants to give us a message. Here's what I know right now. There's many of you that came in here today, and there's some interference in your mind. There's some interference in your heart. There's some interference in premeditated things that's happened this week that are going to try to obstruct the message from heaven that God has for you through the vessel of his word that wants to give you a beautiful message of grace and hope and truth for a better future and a better tomorrow." [34:24] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Our choices will create obstacles that will hinder God's plans. And we've got to be very careful about the choices that we make. Either our obedience is 100% obedient and complete, and if it's not 100% complete, it is disobedience." [44:39] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God does not need you to produce in you what he wants you to sacrifice. Did you hear what I said? He doesn't need you to produce from you what he wants you to sacrifice. Remember the story when Abraham took his son Isaac to sacrifice him? You remember what God said? I will provide the sacrifice. It was God who provided the little ram. Caught by his horns in the thicket." [47:52] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So what we see in this passage in verse 23, Samuel is speaking to Saul on God's behalf as a prophet. Now this is the end of all this story. And it says these words. Look at verse 23. For rebellion, he says, you've rebelled against God. It's like the sin of divination. That's like fortune telling, palm reading, and Ouija boards, and all that mess. And arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected what? The word of the Lord. He has rejected you as king." [49:25] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "God does not need us to provide our sacrifices. He doesn't need us to work hard to sacrifice. All he needs us to do is surrender. If we will surrender and be totally obedient to God, he will always provide the lamb and the thicket. Always, always, always. He never fails. So sacrifice always begins with surrender. And surrender begins with submission. Submit, surrender, and sacrifice. That's the goal." [50:22] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "It is the fact that God requires 100% obedience in order for us to receive the blessing from our obedience. If you cut corners and you fall short in doing what God calls you to do, he reserves all the right to withdraw his blessings from you. He can withdraw his ordination from you. He can withdraw his anointing from you if we are disobedient to him. And I'm not just talking about church pastors and Christian leaders. I'm talking about those who are blood-bought, born-again believers in Christ." [51:00] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "I think that we have a fear of the consequences of obedience more than we have a fear of the consequences of disobedience. There's some of you in here today and you are struggling in your life. You're struggling in so many areas and it comes down to one thing because there's a disobedient area. God's called you to something and you have not fallen through with that 100%. And God says I cannot bless you this side of obedience." [54:35] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "God does not need us to try to outthink him. He is sovereign. He's all-knowing. He knows all things, past, present, and future. God only needs one thing, and that is obedience. And I'm going to tell you, you want an unrealistic blessing in your life? Practice some unrealistic obedience. When the rest of the world says there's no way and God's telling you to do something, you do that and watch the unrealistic blessing that comes through unrealistic obedience." [57:01] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "When we hear God's command, we've got to understand that our response, our response always matters. Specifically, as Samuel relayed to him, the word of the Lord. Now maybe God has spoken to you in an audible voice. I praise God if he has. But I'm going to tell you something. The way that he speaks to us today is through the written word of God. And he demands that we respond to the word." [58:09] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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