Embracing Obedience: Trusting God's Authority and Purpose

Summary

Today, we delved into the challenging yet vital topic of obedience. We began with a light-hearted exercise, asking everyone to crow like a rooster, which served as a practical demonstration of obedience. This led us to explore why obedience is often difficult for us. We discussed how our natural inclination is to question, overthink, or feel unqualified or above certain tasks. This resistance to obedience is rooted in our sinful nature and skepticism.

We examined the importance of obedience through various examples, including children, military training, and biblical stories. The core of obedience, we discovered, is trust. Trust in the authority asking us to act, whether it be a parent, a boss, or God. When we trust and align our actions with the will of the one in authority, we gain their power and resources to accomplish the task at hand.

We emphasized that obedience is not a sign of weakness but a willful alignment with someone more powerful. This is especially true when it comes to God. By trusting and obeying God, we tap into His universe-creating power to achieve His purposes. Proverbs 3:5-6 beautifully encapsulates this: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."

We also looked at the story of Saul from 1 Samuel 15, where partial obedience led to significant consequences. This story underscores that God values complete obedience over sacrifice. Our obedience should be full and unwavering, trusting that God's plans are for our benefit and growth.

To bring these concepts to life, we heard testimonies from members of our church who have said "yes" to God's call. Katie shared her journey to the Philippines, Nate discussed his involvement in local missions, and Kyle spoke about a personal call to pray for his wife, which led to a miraculous healing. These stories illustrate that obedience can take many forms, from grand missions to simple acts of faith, and that each act of obedience brings us closer to God's power and purpose.

In closing, we encouraged everyone to listen for God's call and respond in obedience, whether through worship, prayer, or taking a tangible step like joining a life group or serving in a ministry. Obedience starts with listening and grows from there, leading us to experience God's power in our lives.

### Key Takeaways

1. Obedience and Trust: Obedience is fundamentally an issue of trust. When we trust the authority asking us to act, we align our will with theirs, gaining their power and resources to accomplish the task. This is especially true with God, whose plans are always for our benefit and growth. [32:50]

2. Obedience is Not Weakness: Obedience is not a sign of weakness but a willful alignment with someone more powerful. When we obey God, we tap into His universe-creating power to achieve His purposes. This alignment brings strength and clarity to our actions. [35:30]

3. Complete Obedience Over Sacrifice: The story of Saul in 1 Samuel 15 teaches us that God values complete obedience over sacrifice. Partial obedience or altering God's commands to fit our understanding can lead to significant consequences. Full obedience is a testament to our trust in God's wisdom. [39:41]

4. Personal Testimonies of Obedience: Hearing testimonies from fellow believers, like Katie's mission to the Philippines, Nate's local service, and Kyle's prayer for his wife, shows that obedience can take many forms. Each act of obedience, whether grand or simple, brings us closer to experiencing God's power and purpose in our lives. [50:48]

5. Obedience Starts with Listening: The root of obedience is listening. By taking time to listen to God's call, we can discern His will and respond accordingly. This listening leads to action, which in turn allows us to witness God's power at work in and through us. [01:17:45]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[28:42] - Introduction to Obedience
[30:06] - Reasons We Struggle with Obedience
[31:27] - Military Training and Obedience
[32:50] - Trust and Obedience
[34:12] - Aligning with Authority
[35:30] - Obedience is Not Weakness
[37:07] - Proverbs 3:5-6
[38:22] - Saul's Partial Obedience
[39:41] - Complete Obedience Over Sacrifice
[41:02] - God's Plans for Our Benefit
[42:18] - Peter and the Apostles' Obedience
[45:04] - We Must Obey God Rather Than Man
[46:23] - Aligning with God's Power
[48:44] - Katie's Testimony
[50:48] - Nate's Testimony
[54:47] - Trusting the Boss
[55:59] - Prayer for Katie
[57:19] - Different Forms of Obedience
[58:39] - Nate's Continued Service
[01:01:30] - Upwards Basketball Ministry
[01:05:52] - Peter's Call to Serve
[01:07:11] - Team Night Announcement
[01:08:27] - Kyle's Testimony
[01:11:27] - Simplicity in Obedience
[01:14:21] - Peter's First Encounter with Jesus
[01:15:44] - Dropping Everything to Follow Jesus
[01:16:58] - Listening and Responding
[01:17:45] - Worship and Response Time
[01:18:15] - 40 for 40 Initiative
[01:19:16] - Defining Your Step
[01:19:45] - Prayer Response Team
[01:20:48] - Aligning with God's Will
[01:21:18] - Closing Prayer
[01:32:58] - Celebrating Katie's Long-Term Mission

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
2. 1 Samuel 15:22 (NIV): "But Samuel replied: 'Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.'"
3. Acts 5:29 (NIV): "Peter and the other apostles replied: 'We must obey God rather than human beings!'"

### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 say about the relationship between trust and obedience?
2. In 1 Samuel 15:22, what does Samuel say is more important than sacrifices?
3. According to Acts 5:29, what was Peter's response to the religious leaders' command to stop teaching in Jesus' name? [45:04]
4. What were some reasons given in the sermon for why people struggle with obedience? [30:06]

### Interpretation Questions
1. How does trusting in the Lord with all your heart (Proverbs 3:5-6) influence your ability to obey His commands?
2. Why do you think Samuel emphasized that obedience is better than sacrifice in 1 Samuel 15:22? How does this apply to modern-day acts of worship and service?
3. What can we learn from Peter and the apostles' decision to obey God rather than human authorities in Acts 5:29? How might this principle apply to situations we face today? [45:04]
4. The sermon mentioned that obedience is not a sign of weakness but a willful alignment with someone more powerful. How does this perspective change the way you view obedience to God? [35:30]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you questioned or resisted a simple request. What was the outcome, and how might trusting the authority have changed the situation? [30:06]
2. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us to trust in the Lord and not lean on our own understanding. What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God fully? How can you take a step towards greater trust this week?
3. Samuel's message in 1 Samuel 15:22 is that obedience is better than sacrifice. Are there areas in your life where you are offering "sacrifices" instead of full obedience? What changes can you make to align more closely with God's commands?
4. Peter and the apostles chose to obey God rather than human authorities. Is there a situation in your life where you feel torn between obeying God and following human expectations? How can you prioritize God's will in that situation? [45:04]
5. The sermon highlighted personal testimonies of obedience, such as Katie's mission to the Philippines and Kyle's prayer for his wife. Can you think of a time when you said "yes" to God's call? What was the result, and how did it impact your faith? [50:48]
6. The sermon emphasized that obedience starts with listening. How can you create more space in your daily routine to listen for God's voice? What practical steps can you take to ensure you are attentive to His guidance? [01:17:45]
7. Consider the story of Saul's partial obedience in 1 Samuel 15. Are there commands from God that you have only partially followed? What steps can you take to move towards complete obedience? [39:41]

Devotional

Day 1: Trust and Obedience
Obedience is fundamentally an issue of trust. When we trust the authority asking us to act, we align our will with theirs, gaining their power and resources to accomplish the task. This is especially true with God, whose plans are always for our benefit and growth. Trusting God means believing that His commands are for our good, even when we don't fully understand them. This trust allows us to step out in faith, knowing that God will provide what we need to fulfill His purposes. [32:50]

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Reflection: Think of a situation where you find it hard to trust God's plan. How can you take a step of faith today to trust Him more fully in that area?

Day 2: Obedience is Not Weakness
Obedience is not a sign of weakness but a willful alignment with someone more powerful. When we obey God, we tap into His universe-creating power to achieve His purposes. This alignment brings strength and clarity to our actions. Obedience to God is an act of strength and courage, as it often requires us to go against our own desires and understanding. By choosing to obey, we demonstrate our reliance on God's wisdom and strength rather than our own. [35:30]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you feel weak or inadequate. How can you invite God's strength into that area through obedience?

Day 3: Complete Obedience Over Sacrifice
The story of Saul in 1 Samuel 15 teaches us that God values complete obedience over sacrifice. Partial obedience or altering God's commands to fit our understanding can lead to significant consequences. Full obedience is a testament to our trust in God's wisdom. God desires our wholehearted commitment and trust, not just our outward acts of worship or sacrifice. True obedience means following God's instructions fully, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. [39:41]

1 Samuel 15:22 (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.'"

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you partially obeyed God. What steps can you take to ensure your obedience is complete and wholehearted in the future?

Day 4: Personal Testimonies of Obedience
Hearing testimonies from fellow believers, like Katie's mission to the Philippines, Nate's local service, and Kyle's prayer for his wife, shows that obedience can take many forms. Each act of obedience, whether grand or simple, brings us closer to experiencing God's power and purpose in our lives. These stories remind us that God calls each of us to different acts of obedience, and each one is significant in His eyes. By saying "yes" to God's call, we open ourselves to His transformative power. [50:48]

Hebrews 11:8 (ESV): "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Reflection: Consider a recent testimony of obedience you have heard. How can you be inspired by their story to take a step of obedience in your own life?

Day 5: Obedience Starts with Listening
The root of obedience is listening. By taking time to listen to God's call, we can discern His will and respond accordingly. This listening leads to action, which in turn allows us to witness God's power at work in and through us. Developing a habit of listening to God requires intentional time in prayer, reading Scripture, and being still before Him. As we listen, we become more attuned to His voice and more willing to follow His guidance. [01:17:45]

James 1:22-25 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing."

Reflection: Set aside a specific time today to listen to God. What is He calling you to do, and how can you take a step of obedience in response?

Quotes

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "When we align our actions, our will, to the boss, in whatever circumstance it may be, we now have the power, of the boss, to accomplish the task at hand. Think about it. Think about it at work. If your boss asks you to go do a certain project, and you're in that project, and you're having a problem, you go to him, hey, I'm struggling with this. He's going to, what do you need? What resources do you need? Let me help you get the project done that I, but if the boss gives you a project, and you're like, yeah, this is kind of dumb. I think we should really be doing this. And then you go to your boss, and you're like, yeah, I know that, but I'm doing this. He's not going to give you the funds. And the man, like, what are you doing?" [34:12] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Obedience is not weakness. It is willful alignment with someone more powerful. Let me say that again. It's not weakness. It's willful alignment to someone more powerful than ourselves. And we've talked about drill sergeants and parents and bosses at work. When we're talking about God, is there any more powerful? When we follow what God has asked us to do, we have universe-creating power and authority behind us. To accomplish whatever it is that God is asking us to do." [35:30] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. And verse 6, in all your ways, submit to the Lord. Submit to him and he will make your path straight. In this one just beautiful set of verses from Solomon, who was given godly wisdom. We see just this process of what it means to be obedient to God's will. Trust in the Lord. It starts with trust. I believe he has my best interests in mind and he's the boss. Trust in him with part of my heart. No, all of my heart." [37:07] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We must obey God rather than man. I guarantee when God is calling you to do something, there is going to be not just resistance from yourself. Why are you talking to me? There's going to be resistance from other people from the world. That's going to come at you and be like, that doesn't make sense. That's not a good idea. Why are you doing that? Here's what you should do. And said, oh, everyone will have lots of good ideas for us of what we should do rather than the thing that God himself is calling us to do." [45:04] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "If God is calling us to do something, it makes most sense to follow what he's calling, use his power and authority to do that. What we're going to do here now for the rest of our time together mostly is, is we, and again, we could share so many stories from the Bible of people who, but, but let's, let's bring, let's make this a little bit more real today. We have some, some people right from our own church who want to share their experiences of saying yes to God and what that looked like." [46:23] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "When the moment comes, and the person of authority is the person under them to listen and obey, especially if it's important or immediate, there's a reason. They need to be able to, yes, sir. Yes, mom. Yes, boss. Right? It's important that we learn to follow those under authority. And ultimately, what it comes down to, when you boil all of it down, the whole obedience issue, it's an issue of trust. It's an issue of trust. Do I trust that person who's in authority over me? Do I trust that person who's in authority over me? Do I trust them so that when they say to jump, I'm just saying the how high, right?" [32:50] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "When we align our actions, our will, our decisions with whoever's sending us in that direction, we have their authority. We have their power to accomplish what they ask us to do. Right? And in doing so, we tend to think of obedience as like submission. It's weakness. This is very important. We need to understand this, because if we understand it, there's power. Obedience is not weakness. Obedience is not weakness. It is willful alignment with someone more powerful." [35:30] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "So many times people are like, how do, well, you, yeah, you're talking about God's calling and how do I know? I'm not hearing that audible voice. What you just said right there is you prayed about it. And the things, the things were on the table and you put them on the table. You like laid them at God's feet. If metaphorically, if I'm, don't let me put words in your mouth and you prayed about it. And this one you had peace with. Yeah. I believe it sounds like you do too, that that is for many of us, the process to hear God's voice, to hear from him, the thing that you're, I don't, should I do this?" [48:44] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We are going to grow as a person in whatever way we need to through that obedience and accomplish some, I should say, and, or, and, or accomplish some purpose that he has when we say that. Yes. So let's quickly look at an example from the Bible. And there's many examples in the Bible of disobedience. Jonah comes to mind who like, ran from God and ended up in a whale. Don't do that. So many stories of obedience. We could talk about Abraham. We could talk about Moses, Daniel, Mary, Jesus's mom. I am the handmaid of the Lord. Do as you will. And of course, Jesus, the ultimate example of obedience." [41:02] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Peter's very first time he met Jesus, he experienced Jesus. Uh, and we can, you can read about it in Luke chapter five, um, which ironically Luke wrote Acts. So in chapter five of Luke that Luke wrote, you, Peter meets Jesus and in Acts five, he's filled with the Holy Spirit. It's amazing. I love the Luke five. We read the story of, of Peter fishermen with his brother, Andrew, their buddies, James and Don, these guys, they've been working all night. Haven't caught any fish. They're cleaning their nets. And this guy comes along. This is like preacher unknown. And he's just sitting there and crowds are following him, pressing in on him. Jesus sees an opportunity." [15:44] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?