Faithful Obedience: Embracing God's Higher Ways
Summary
In our journey with the Lord, we often find ourselves at odds with His plans, questioning the strategies He lays out for us. We may feel inclined to follow our own paths, believing our methods are superior, but time and again, we are reminded that God's ways are higher than ours. Our own strategies have led us to repeated failures in relationships, church commitments, and personal growth. Yet, God calls us to a different approach, one that may seem illogical or even foolish by worldly standards, but is designed to lead us to victory and fulfillment.
God's battle plan involves obedience, patience, and trust. It requires us to march around our challenges, not once or twice, but as many times as He commands, until the walls we face come tumbling down. This act of obedience may appear silly to onlookers, but it is the very essence of our faith—to do what God has called us to do, regardless of how it looks to the world.
Our walk with God is not about achieving personal accolades or seeking revenge; it's about being rooted in Him, tending to the land He has given us, and embracing the new territories He leads us to. As we march in obedience, God is chipping away at our imperfections, crafting us into masterpieces, and preparing us for new levels of spiritual maturity.
We are reminded that holiness is not something we achieve on our own but is a gift from God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are called to shake off condemnation and embrace the freedom we have in Him. By doing so, we can run the race set before us with endurance, casting aside every hindrance and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.
In our personal growth, we must put away childish ways and embrace the responsibilities of spiritual adulthood. We are called to feed on the Word of God regularly, not just on Sundays, and to live out our faith in every aspect of our lives. This means showing up, serving, giving, and receiving with a heart of worship.
As we step into the promises of God, we must recognize that the journey will not be without challenges. The greater the promise, the greater the problems we may face. However, these challenges are opportunities for us to praise God and to see Him work in us, chipping away at our flaws and refining us into His image.
Key Takeaways:
- God's battle plan for our lives often defies our understanding and logic, but it is in the act of faithful obedience that we find true victory. Just as the Israelites marched around Jericho, we too must follow God's commands, even when they seem nonsensical, trusting that He is leading us to triumph. [49:33]
- Holiness is not a status we earn but a state we are granted through the blood of Jesus. When we accept this truth, we can live free from the burden of past sins and condemnation, walking in the newness of life that Christ offers. This freedom empowers us to pursue God's purposes with confidence and joy. [42:13]
- Spiritual maturity requires us to move beyond the comforts of our past experiences and to embrace the new work God is doing in us. As we grow, we must be willing to let go of old habits and patterns that no longer serve us, making room for the fresh outpouring of God's Spirit in our lives. [01:17:24]
- The journey into God's promises is not a path free of obstacles. In fact, the size of the promise is often proportional to the size of the problems we encounter. Yet, these challenges are not to discourage us but to draw us closer to God, allowing Him to shape us into the vessels He desires us to be. [01:22:02]
- True worship is not a mere outward expression but a lifestyle of obedience and surrender to God's will. As we offer our lives as living sacrifices, we become a testament to God's transformative power, influencing those around us and advancing His kingdom on earth. [01:20:49]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
2. James 1:2-4: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
3. Joshua 6:2-5: "Then the Lord said to Joshua, 'See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Hebrews 12:1-2 suggest we should do to run the race marked out for us? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on obedience and perseverance? [42:48]
2. According to James 1:2-4, what is the purpose of facing trials and how does it contribute to our spiritual maturity? [56:46]
3. In Joshua 6:2-5, what specific instructions did God give Joshua for conquering Jericho? How does this illustrate the sermon’s point about following God’s seemingly illogical plans? [01:32:49]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "throwing off everything that hinders" in Hebrews 12:1-2 apply to the struggles and labels we carry from our past? [42:13]
2. James 1:2-4 talks about finding joy in trials. How can this perspective change the way we view challenges in our spiritual journey? [56:46]
3. The instructions given to Joshua in Joshua 6:2-5 were unconventional. What does this tell us about the nature of God's plans and our need for trust and obedience? [01:32:49]
#### Application Questions
1. Hebrews 12:1-2 encourages us to throw off everything that hinders. What are some specific hindrances in your life that you need to let go of to run your race with perseverance? [42:48]
2. Reflecting on James 1:2-4, can you identify a recent trial in your life? How can you find joy in this trial, knowing it is producing perseverance and maturity in you? [56:46]
3. Joshua 6:2-5 shows that God's plans can seem illogical. Can you think of a time when you followed God's direction even though it didn’t make sense to you? What was the outcome? [01:32:49]
4. The sermon mentioned the importance of spiritual maturity and putting away childish ways. What is one childish habit you need to let go of to grow in your faith? [01:17:24]
5. How can you incorporate regular Bible reading and personal worship into your daily routine to ensure you are spiritually fed throughout the week, not just on Sundays? [01:18:54]
6. The sermon emphasized the importance of obedience and trust in God's plans. What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God’s plan? How can you take a step of faith in that area this week? [01:32:49]
7. The journey into God's promises involves facing challenges. How can you change your perspective to see these challenges as opportunities for growth and praise, rather than obstacles? [01:22:02]
Devotional
Day 1: Faithful Obedience Leads to Victory
Obedience to God's commands can often seem counterintuitive, especially when His instructions defy our understanding and logic. Yet, it is precisely in these moments of faithful obedience that we find true victory. Just as the Israelites were commanded to march around Jericho, a strategy that seemed nonsensical, we too are called to follow God's commands with unwavering trust. This act of obedience is not about the immediate results but about aligning ourselves with God's will and acknowledging His sovereignty over our lives. It is a testament to our faith when we choose to obey, even when the path ahead is unclear or appears foolish to those around us. By doing so, we allow God to lead us into triumph, often in ways we could never have imagined. [49:33]
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to obey, even though it doesn't make sense to you or others? How can you take a step of obedience today?
Day 2: Holiness: A Gift of Grace
Holiness is not a badge of honor we earn through our deeds; it is a gift we receive through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When we accept this profound truth, we are liberated from the weight of our past sins and the sting of condemnation. This freedom allows us to walk in the newness of life that Christ offers, empowering us to pursue God's purposes with confidence and joy. As recipients of this divine grace, we are called to live out our days in a manner that reflects the holiness bestowed upon us, not as a means to achieve it, but as a response to the love and mercy we have been shown. [42:13]
"But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life." - Romans 6:22
Reflection: How does understanding holiness as a gift change the way you approach your relationship with God and others? What is one way you can live out this gift today?
Day 3: Embracing Spiritual Maturity
Spiritual maturity calls us to move beyond the familiar and comfortable, to embrace the transformative work God is doing within us. As we grow in our faith, we must be willing to let go of old habits and patterns that no longer serve our spiritual journey. This process of maturation involves feeding on the Word of God, not sporadically, but as a regular sustenance for our souls. It is about taking responsibility for our spiritual development and allowing God's Spirit to bring about a fresh outpouring in our lives. As we mature, we become more attuned to God's voice and better equipped to fulfill the purposes He has for us. [01:17:24]
"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation." - 1 Peter 2:2
Reflection: What old habits or patterns are hindering your spiritual growth, and what steps can you take to replace them with habits that foster maturity in your faith?
Day 4: The Promise and the Problems
The journey into God's promises is often accompanied by significant challenges. The magnitude of the promise is frequently matched by the size of the obstacles we face. However, these problems are not meant to deter us but to draw us closer to God, allowing Him to refine us and shape us into the vessels He desires. As we encounter difficulties, we have the opportunity to praise God and witness His power at work within us, transforming our character and preparing us for the fulfillment of His promises. [01:22:02]
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28
Reflection: What challenges are you currently facing that may be connected to a promise God has placed in your life? How can you shift your perspective to see these challenges as opportunities for growth?
Day 5: Worship as a Lifestyle of Obedience
True worship extends beyond songs and rituals; it is a lifestyle of obedience and surrender to God's will. When we offer our lives as living sacrifices, we embody the essence of worship, demonstrating God's transformative power in us. This act of worship is not confined to a particular time or place but is reflected in our daily actions and decisions. As we live out our faith authentically, we become a beacon of God's love and grace, influencing those around us and advancing His kingdom on earth. [01:20:49]
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." - Romans 12:1
Reflection: In what ways can you practice living out your worship to God in everyday life? Identify one area where you can demonstrate obedience to God's will this week.
Quotes
1) "The battle plan of the Lord is always different than ours. We don't want to follow God's battle plan because really we don't think it's the strategy that will help us win." [01:36:00] (Download)
2) "Marching can look silly, obeying God can look silly, but I will do what God's called me to do. I will not follow the world's plan, I'm going to march and take territory as God has planned." [01:37:49] (Download)
3) "We serve such a holy God... we're thinking well how can I be holy... but it's because of the precious wonderful blood of Jesus that we are washed clean, that we are set free." [42:13] (Download)
4) "God's trying to flip the script of the story of your life so that you understand that you are not the main character... let God become the main character in our story." [01:32:10] (Download)
5) "God wants us to grow, he wants and through those trials God trains us, he challenges us, and he changes us. And God is saying the way I'm going to grow you and train you is to allow you to go through some tough and difficult stuff." [01:00:42] (Download)
6) "Christianity is about going to God and asking God what is your agenda. It's time to declare, I do not want to take one more step thinking that just because I represent you I'm always right." [01:29:14] (Download)
7) "God's outlandish battle plan to Joshua: Hey Josh, I want you to zip your lip and march... God's battle plan will always be different from your plan." [01:35:21] (Download)
8) "We want Miracles, God wants us to take action. We want Mana, but God wants us to start working the land he's already given us." [01:13:17] (Download)
9) "God is saying to Israel, keep quiet, there's a miracle in process. Your parents... negated, delayed, prevented the miracle, but you will see victory." [01:39:18] (Download)
10) "God's a good good father and he loves us so much that he's not satisfied with leaving us the way he founds us... he will chip away to liberate the real you." [55:20] (Download)
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