Embracing Obedience: The Pathway to God's Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience as a Pathway to the Kingdom of God

Obedience to Christ's commands is not merely a religious duty but a vital pathway to experiencing the kingdom of God. Jesus commissioned His followers to make disciples and teach them to obey His commands, emphasizing that such obedience leads to the blessing and favor of the Lord. This alignment with God's will and purposes is essential for a fulfilling spiritual life. Obedience is a demonstration of our love for Jesus and our trust in His wisdom and guidance. It is through this obedience that we can experience the fullness of life that Jesus promises. [00:39]

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (ESV): "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God."

Reflection: What is one specific command of Jesus that you find challenging to obey? How can you take a concrete step today to align your actions with this command?

Day 2: True Blessing Through Humility and Dependence on God

True blessing comes from recognizing our utter dependence on God. Jesus teaches that the poor in spirit are blessed because they acknowledge their need for God. This humility opens the door to experiencing the kingdom of heaven and the blessings that come with it. In a culture that often equates blessing with wealth, happiness, and strength, Jesus' teachings challenge us to see that true blessing is found in our dependence on God and our humility before Him. This dependence is not a sign of weakness but a pathway to true freedom and spiritual richness. [19:56]

Isaiah 66:2 (ESV): "All these things my hand has made, and so all these things came to be, declares the Lord. But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to depend on God? How can you practice humility and acknowledge your need for Him today?

Day 3: Finding Comfort in Mourning

Jesus promises comfort to those who mourn, challenging the cultural notion that blessing is always associated with happiness. Mourning allows us to experience God's comfort and understand that trials and tribulations are not the end of the story. This teaching encourages us to bring our sorrows and losses to God, trusting that He will provide the comfort and healing we need. Mourning is a part of the human experience, and through it, we can draw closer to God and experience His compassionate presence in our lives. [26:15]

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."

Reflection: Think of a recent loss or sorrow you have experienced. How can you invite God into your mourning and seek His comfort today?

Day 4: Transformation Through Obedience

Obedience to God's commands leads to abundant life and complete transformation. Jesus calls us to go beyond external religious acts and allow His teachings to transform every aspect of our lives, including our finances, relationships, and daily actions. This transformation is a holistic process that impacts our inner being and outward behavior, aligning us more closely with God's will. It is through this obedience that we can experience the fullness of life that Jesus offers, moving from mere religious observance to a vibrant, transformative relationship with Him. [16:36]

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: What is one area of your life that needs transformation through obedience to God's commands? What practical steps can you take today to begin this transformation?

Day 5: Meekness and Inheritance

Jesus teaches that the meek will inherit the earth. Meekness, or humility, involves surrendering our agenda and embracing God's will. This teaching challenges the world's pursuit of power and wealth, emphasizing that true authority and blessing come from humility and dependence on God. Meekness is not about weakness but about strength under control, trusting in God's timing and purposes. It is through this humble surrender that we can experience the true inheritance that God has for us, both in this life and in the life to come. [34:57]

Psalm 37:11 (ESV): "But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace."

Reflection: In what ways are you tempted to pursue power or control in your life? How can you practice meekness and surrender to God's will today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we began our journey through Matthew 5, 6, and 7, focusing on the teachings of Jesus and the importance of obedience. Jesus commissioned us to make disciples and teach them to obey His commands. This series will emphasize understanding and living out the commands of Christ, as outlined in the Sermon on the Mount. We discussed the significance of obedience, which leads to the blessing and favor of the Lord. Obedience is not just a religious act but a pathway to experiencing the kingdom of God.

We shared testimonies of God's miraculous works among our children and teenagers, highlighting the importance of faith and prayer. These testimonies remind us that the kingdom of God is active and present among us. We also touched on the importance of humility and the need to sit at the feet of Jesus to learn His ways.

We read the first five verses of Matthew 5, focusing on the Beatitudes. Jesus teaches that true blessing comes from being poor in spirit, mourning, and being meek. These teachings challenge the values of our culture, which often equate blessing with wealth, happiness, and strength. Jesus turns these notions on their head, emphasizing that true blessing comes from recognizing our utter dependence on God, mourning our losses, and embracing humility.

We also discussed the importance of trusting in God's character and His ways. Obedience to His commands leads to abundant life, and Jesus calls us to complete transformation, not just external religious acts. This transformation impacts every aspect of our lives, including our finances and relationships.

In conclusion, we are called to trust King Jesus, embrace His teachings, and live out His commands. This journey through the Sermon on the Mount will help us understand the kingdom of God and align our lives with His will.

###

Key Takeaways

1. Obedience to Christ's Commands: Obedience is not just a religious duty but a pathway to experiencing the kingdom of God. Jesus commissioned us to make disciples and teach them to obey His commands. This obedience leads to the blessing and favor of the Lord, as it aligns us with His will and purposes. [00:39]
2. Humility and Dependence on God: True blessing comes from recognizing our utter dependence on God. Jesus teaches that the poor in spirit are blessed because they acknowledge their need for God. This humility opens the door to experiencing the kingdom of heaven and the blessings that come with it. [19:56]
3. Comfort in Mourning: Jesus promises comfort to those who mourn. This teaching challenges the cultural notion that blessing is always associated with happiness. Mourning allows us to experience God's comfort and understand that trials and tribulations are not the end of the story. [26:15]
4. Transformation Through Obedience: Obedience to God's commands leads to abundant life and complete transformation. Jesus calls us to go beyond external religious acts and allow His teachings to transform every aspect of our lives. This includes our finances, relationships, and daily actions. [16:36]
5. Meekness and Inheritance: Jesus teaches that the meek will inherit the earth. Meekness, or humility, involves surrendering our agenda and embracing God's will. This teaching challenges the world's pursuit of power and wealth, emphasizing that true authority and blessing come from humility and dependence on God. [34:57]
### [34:57]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:39] - The Mission of Christ
[01:15] - Learning the Commands of Christ
[01:53] - Celebrating God's Work Among the Nations
[02:27] - Testimonies of Healing and Miracles
[03:54] - The Kingdom of God and Obedience
[05:12] - Reading Matthew 5:1-5
[07:09] - Love and Obedience
[08:14] - Judges 2 and the Call to Obedience
[09:59] - Disobedience and Its Consequences
[12:09] - The Invitation to Obedience
[12:49] - The Standard of the Early Church
[13:25] - Lowering the Standard
[14:18] - Four Truths About the Ways of Christ
[15:01] - Jesus is King
[15:47] - Love and Obedience are Inseparable
[16:36] - Obedience Leads to Abundant Life
[17:23] - Complete Transformation
[18:22] - The Blessings of the Lord
[19:07] - Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
[19:56] - True Freedom in Trusting the Lord
[21:49] - Dependence on the Lord
[23:34] - Trusting the Character of the Lord
[24:11] - Will You Trust King Jesus?
[25:11] - Blessed are Those Who Mourn
[26:15] - Comfort in Mourning
[28:10] - King Jesus Leads Us Through Difficulties
[29:41] - The Inheritance of God's Children
[30:30] - The Blessing of Mourning
[31:21] - Madame Jean Goyen's Testimony
[32:11] - Prayer for Comfort
[33:41] - Blessed are the Meek
[34:57] - The Inheritance of the Meek
[35:38] - Jesus' Example of Humility
[36:45] - Embracing God's Agenda
[37:39] - The Blessing of Meekness

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What are the specific blessings mentioned in the first five verses of Matthew 5? ([05:12])
According to the sermon, what is the relationship between obedience and blessing? ([01:15])
How did Jesus describe those who are "poor in spirit" and what is promised to them? ([19:07])
What examples of God's miraculous works among children and teenagers were shared in the sermon? ([02:27])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of being "poor in spirit" and how does this contrast with cultural values? ([19:07])
How does the concept of mourning in Matthew 5:4 challenge the cultural notion that blessing is always associated with happiness? ([26:15])
What does it mean to experience "complete transformation" through obedience to God's commands, as discussed in the sermon? ([17:23])
How does the sermon explain the connection between humility (meekness) and inheriting the earth? ([34:57])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt utterly dependent on God. How did that experience impact your faith and understanding of being "poor in spirit"? ([19:07])
In what ways can you practice humility in your daily life to align with Jesus' teaching that the meek will inherit the earth? ([34:57])
How can you cultivate a heart of obedience to God's commands in your everyday actions, including your finances and relationships? ([17:23])
Think about a recent trial or loss you have experienced. How can you find comfort in mourning, knowing that Jesus promises comfort to those who mourn? ([26:15])
What steps can you take to trust in God's character and His ways more fully, especially in areas where you struggle with obedience? ([16:36])
How can you actively seek to make disciples and teach them to obey Jesus' commands in your community? ([00:39])
Identify one area of your life where you need to surrender your agenda and embrace God's will. What practical steps can you take to make this change? ([36:45])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "Obedience and blessing go hand in hand. So I pray that you are ready to receive. So excited for tonight. I got this amazing Nigerian garb on. This is so comfortable. Now I know Dr. Enya is so comfortable every Sunday morning. And Shadrach, man, you guys are awesome. Tonight is going to be so much fun just as we simply celebrate what the Lord is doing in our church amongst the nations." [01:53] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "This is the kingdom that Jesus invites us into. And so it's humbling. And therefore we want to learn about his ways. We want to learn about him and be obedient to his ways. Because this isn't just religious games. This isn't just like religious antics. Religious theatrics. This is the kingdom of God that Jesus introduced. And so there should be this like sobriety that comes upon us." [04:31] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So the question is will you trust King Jesus this morning? Will you trust him? Will you believe that there is freedom in trusting the Lord? Or are you going to continue to cling to the reigns of your life? Will you trust him? That's the question. Close your eyes right now. Just close your eyes. Because it's King Jesus here teaching. He's sat down to teach his people." [24:11] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Jesus did not say that we won't have difficulty. He says, in fact he says the opposite. He says in this world you have tribulation. But here's the resurrection side to it. But take heart, I have overcome the world. So that's why in the midst of any difficulty we're facing, we can know that we can endure. Because we can do anything difficult for a short period of time." [28:53] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So there's blessing in his kingdom for those who set aside their agenda and they embrace the agenda of the Lord. That's convicting. It's convicting for all of us. Because we all have a plan. We all have an agenda. We all have a trajectory, a dream, an expectation of where our life is headed and where it's going. Where the kingdom of God calls us to surrender all of that." [36:45] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "There is this kingdom principle that love and obedience are inseparable. And so I've just felt compelled that the Lord is inviting us into understanding his ways all the more. If we're going to be a people that love him, we're also then going to be, it just comes with us, part and parcel. We're also then going to be a people that obey his ways. Seek to learn his ways and follow in his ways." [07:09] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Obedience to his ways lead to abundant life. This comes down to understanding the character of God altogether. And Pastor Alex began to really dive into this a couple weeks ago. As he talked about the book that he wrote. Right. But oftentimes we don't embrace his commands because we distrust his character. We think that we know better than God. We think that we know better than King Jesus." [16:36] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Jesus is leading us to complete transformation. This was a huge emphasis of his earthly ministry was tearing down external religion. That just dealt with cleaning up the outside to look good. He came to bring transformation on the inside that leads to transformation on the outside. And on top of that, he brings about transformation that impacts. Every facet of our life." [17:23] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So the world is telling you to pursue as much territory and real estate and net worth. And accumulate as much as you can this side of eternity. The kingdom of God turns all of that on head. So surrender to him and his agenda. His will. And all of those things will be added unto you. We talked about that already in prior months as we looked at Matthew 6. And finances." [37:39] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So the Lord is working out something so much bigger. Part of it is character formation for us to look more like Christ. And what did Christ do? He came and submitted himself to the difficulties and trials of this world for a joy that was set before him. For something bigger. For something better. For something even more beautiful. And so there's an invitation for us to experience the blessing of the Lord even in the midst of mourning." [30:30] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?