Obedience, Disobedience, and the Journey of Faith
Summary
### Summary
Welcome, everyone. Today, we delve into the theme of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, drawing lessons from both the Old and New Testaments. We begin by examining the story of Saul in 1 Samuel 15:3, where God commands Saul to destroy everything of the Amalekites. However, Saul and his troops disobey by sparing the best of the livestock and other valuable items, thinking they knew better than God's explicit instructions. This act of partial obedience, rooted in unbelief, ultimately cost Saul his kingship. Unbelief is at the core of our disobedience, and we often think we know better than God, leading to severe consequences ([10:32]).
Moving to the New Testament, we reflect on Matthew 11, where Jesus speaks about John the Baptist. John was the prophesied Elijah who came to prepare the way for Jesus. Despite his significant role, many religious leaders rejected John and, consequently, Jesus. This rejection stemmed from their unwillingness to accept the message and the messenger God had sent. Jesus emphasizes the importance of listening intently and believing the message, not just hearing it ([16:53]).
We then discuss the journey of a new believer. Initially, there's enthusiasm and excitement about being saved and forgiven. However, as challenges arise, doubts can creep in, leading to questions about the authenticity of one's faith. This journey is not a smooth, upward trajectory but rather a series of ups and downs, much like a staircase. It's essential to understand that growth in faith involves making mistakes, learning, and continually seeking God ([21:19]).
I share a personal anecdote about my struggles with understanding complex theological texts. Despite not being academically inclined, I emphasize that the deep things of God are not reserved for the intellectually elite. Anyone willing to put in the effort to study God's Word can grow in their faith. It's about seeking God with humility and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. This journey involves surrendering everything to God, including our strengths and weaknesses, and being open to correction and growth ([22:51]).
Finally, we reflect on the importance of humility in our spiritual journey. Proverbs 12:15 and 18:2 warn against being the fool who thinks they know it all. True wisdom comes from seeking counsel, being open to learning, and admitting when we are wrong. This humility allows us to grow closer to God and become mature, obedient followers of Christ. We conclude with a call to praise God, recognizing the gift of His guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives ([25:37]).
### Key Takeaways
1. Unbelief Leads to Disobedience: The story of Saul in 1 Samuel 15:3 illustrates that partial obedience is still disobedience. Saul's failure to fully obey God's command stemmed from unbelief, thinking he knew better than God. This unbelief cost him his kingship, reminding us that true obedience requires complete trust in God's instructions. [10:32]
2. The Importance of Listening and Believing: In Matthew 11, Jesus highlights John the Baptist's role as the prophesied Elijah. Despite his significant role, many rejected him and, consequently, Jesus. This rejection was due to their unwillingness to accept and believe the message. We are called to listen intently and believe the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. [16:53]
3. The Journey of Faith Involves Struggles: Becoming a mature Christian is not a smooth, upward journey but a series of ups and downs. Initial enthusiasm can give way to doubts and challenges. It's essential to understand that growth involves making mistakes, learning, and continually seeking God. This process helps us develop a deeper, more resilient faith. [21:19]
4. God's Deep Things Are Accessible to All: Understanding the deep things of God is not reserved for the intellectually elite. Anyone willing to put in the effort to study God's Word can grow in their faith. It's about seeking God with humility and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. This journey involves surrendering everything to God and being open to correction and growth. [22:51]
5. Humility in Our Spiritual Journey: Proverbs 12:15 and 18:2 warn against being the fool who thinks they know it all. True wisdom comes from seeking counsel, being open to learning, and admitting when we are wrong. This humility allows us to grow closer to God and become mature, obedient followers of Christ. Recognizing our limitations and seeking God's guidance is crucial for spiritual growth. [25:37]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [01:30] - Introduction to Obedience and Disobedience
3. [10:32] - Saul's Disobedience and Its Consequences
4. [16:53] - John the Baptist and the Rejection of Jesus
5. [21:19] - The Journey of Faith
6. [22:51] - Understanding God's Deep Things
7. [25:37] - Humility in Our Spiritual Journey
8. [28:35] - Closing and Call to Praise
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. 1 Samuel 15:3, 9, 23 - The story of Saul's disobedience.
2. Matthew 11:13-15 - Jesus speaks about John the Baptist.
3. Proverbs 12:15; 18:2 - Warnings against being a fool who thinks they know it all.
#### Observation Questions
1. What specific instructions did God give Saul in 1 Samuel 15:3, and how did Saul and his troops disobey these instructions? ([10:32])
2. According to Matthew 11:13-15, who does Jesus identify John the Baptist as, and what was the reaction of the religious leaders to him? ([16:53])
3. What characteristics of a fool are described in Proverbs 12:15 and 18:2? ([01:30])
4. How does the pastor describe the journey of a new believer in terms of their faith and struggles? ([21:19])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why did Saul's partial obedience in 1 Samuel 15 ultimately cost him his kingship? How does this relate to the concept of unbelief? ([15:24])
2. In Matthew 11, why was the rejection of John the Baptist significant for the religious leaders' acceptance of Jesus? ([18:19])
3. How do the warnings in Proverbs 12:15 and 18:2 about being a fool apply to our spiritual journey and growth? ([01:30])
4. What does the pastor mean when he says that the deep things of God are accessible to all, and how does this challenge the notion of intellectual elitism in faith? ([22:51])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you thought you knew better than God's instructions. How did that situation turn out, and what did you learn from it? ([10:32])
2. How can you ensure that you are not just hearing the message of Jesus but also truly believing and acting on it? ([18:19])
3. Think about your own journey of faith. What are some specific challenges or doubts you have faced, and how did you overcome them? ([21:19])
4. In what ways can you seek to understand the deep things of God more fully? What practical steps can you take to study God's Word more diligently? ([22:51])
5. How can you cultivate humility in your spiritual journey, especially when it comes to seeking counsel and admitting when you are wrong? ([01:30])
6. Identify an area of your life that you have not fully surrendered to God. What steps can you take this week to surrender that area to Him? ([13:38])
7. How can you praise God for His guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? What specific ways can you incorporate praise into your daily routine? ([25:37])
Devotional
Day 1: Unbelief Leads to Disobedience
When God commanded Saul to destroy everything of the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15:3, Saul chose to spare the best livestock and other valuable items, thinking he knew better than God's explicit instructions. This act of partial obedience, rooted in unbelief, ultimately cost Saul his kingship. Unbelief is at the core of our disobedience, and we often think we know better than God, leading to severe consequences. True obedience requires complete trust in God's instructions, even when they don't make sense to us. Reflect on how unbelief can subtly influence your actions and decisions, leading you away from God's perfect will. [10:32]
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: Is there an area in your life where you are partially obeying God, thinking you know better? How can you fully surrender this area to Him today?
Day 2: The Importance of Listening and Believing
In Matthew 11, Jesus speaks about John the Baptist, who was the prophesied Elijah sent to prepare the way for Jesus. Despite his significant role, many religious leaders rejected John and, consequently, Jesus. This rejection stemmed from their unwillingness to accept the message and the messenger God had sent. Jesus emphasizes the importance of listening intently and believing the message, not just hearing it. We are called to listen with open hearts and minds, ready to accept and act on the truth of the Gospel. [16:53]
Matthew 11:14-15 (ESV): "And if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
Reflection: Are you truly listening to God's message in your life, or are you selectively hearing what you want to hear? How can you open your heart to fully accept and believe His message today?
Day 3: The Journey of Faith Involves Struggles
The journey of a new believer is often filled with enthusiasm and excitement about being saved and forgiven. However, as challenges arise, doubts can creep in, leading to questions about the authenticity of one's faith. This journey is not a smooth, upward trajectory but rather a series of ups and downs, much like a staircase. It's essential to understand that growth in faith involves making mistakes, learning, and continually seeking God. This process helps us develop a deeper, more resilient faith. [21:19]
James 1:2-4 (ESV): "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
Reflection: Think about a recent challenge or doubt you faced in your faith journey. How can you see this as an opportunity for growth and deeper reliance on God?
Day 4: God's Deep Things Are Accessible to All
Understanding the deep things of God is not reserved for the intellectually elite. Anyone willing to put in the effort to study God's Word can grow in their faith. It's about seeking God with humility and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. This journey involves surrendering everything to God, including our strengths and weaknesses, and being open to correction and growth. The deep things of God are accessible to all who earnestly seek Him. [22:51]
1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (ESV): "These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God."
Reflection: Are you willing to put in the effort to study God's Word and seek His deeper truths? What steps can you take today to grow in your understanding and relationship with God?
Day 5: Humility in Our Spiritual Journey
Proverbs 12:15 and 18:2 warn against being the fool who thinks they know it all. True wisdom comes from seeking counsel, being open to learning, and admitting when we are wrong. This humility allows us to grow closer to God and become mature, obedient followers of Christ. Recognizing our limitations and seeking God's guidance is crucial for spiritual growth. Humility is the key to unlocking deeper wisdom and understanding in our spiritual journey. [25:37]
Proverbs 12:15 (ESV): "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride or thinking you know it all? How can you practice humility and seek God's guidance and wisdom today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "If you make a mistake, that's okay. But realize that when you make a mistake and your confidence goes down, that's a perfect opportunity for you to start doing some investigation, some seeking of, well, okay, I was really confident. I made a mistake. I don't know everything. Well, how can I become an expert? But a lot of us stop there. We stop it and you're going to, you'll see how I'm going to work this into our Christian life. But a lot of us stop there. We make a mistake and we go, forget it. I'm done. I'm not going to try that again because I thought I knew it. I made a mistake. It was too difficult. I know nothing. I'm just going to quit." [07:35]
2. "Don't be the fool who thinks he knows it all. Based on, again, Proverbs 12, 15, and Proverbs 18, verse 2, don't be the fool who thinks he knows it all. A couple of examples, nobody in this room, a couple of examples for you to try to kind of build this idea of who this, this fool is and how you can avoid being that fool. Think about a person like this. One example of mine is showing up to work at Pioneer, or I was at Pioneer, taking auto tech. I was hired to work at Whitey's Auto Mall. They've changed the name to Mansfield Motor Group since then. Shows how old I am." [01:30]
3. "If I want to be closer to God, I need to know him. And you can do that by reading his word. And you can grow in your faith. It's not going to look like this graph, by the way. You're not going to just gradually, perfectly smooth, become a mature, obedient follower of Christ. You're going to have bumps in the road. It's going to be more like a staircase, probably. Like, man, some days you feel amazing. And you feel like you got all the answers that are asked about God. And then you're going to go to the next day, like, you're going to make mistakes. Somebody's going to ask you a question. You're like, I don't know. I don't know where that's in the Bible. I don't even have an answer for you. But that's growth. That's okay." [24:16]
4. "I believe every believer is indwelled with the Holy Spirit. That's what scripture says. Some of us, I don't say reject it. I don't say reject it because we may even very much try to be obedient and do what Christ says. But I think even the Holy Spirit's at work and people who don't think that the Holy Spirit's at work, they just don't realize it. And I've seen people's lives so strong and say, man, that can only because God working in their life, because they weren't like that before. They were not the kind, gentle, patient person before meeting Christ. And then now they are. That seems to be a work of God to me." [28:35]
5. "Are you going to listen to that, though? Are you going to accept it and say, man, Jesus truly is our Savior? I believe there's a God who created this world and created humans and everything else that's in it. There's complete order. When I look at the vastness of the cosmos and the planets and the stars, like, man, there's got to be a creator. But who is that creator, Jesus Christ, and John the Baptist said, he is the one. He says, I am that person. But are you going to receive it? Are you going to accept that message?" [19:47]
### Quotes for Members
1. "God, our relationship with God is so important. Our relationship with God should be so great that we're willing to surrender everything else for that relationship. Because what Saul did, we are often guilty with as well. Well, man, this thing that I probably shouldn't be doing, I really don't care about. Okay, I'll stop doing that. God, I'll give you that part of my life. The one that I don't really want anyway, you can have that part. But this other part that, man, I've done this my whole life. I might even be addicted to it. Can't give you that part though. That's kind of what Saul and his troops did. God says, destroy everything. And they say, well, we'll destroy the worthless parts. That's not enough." [13:38]
2. "Here's the problem is that unbelief is at the core of our disobedience. For Saul and his troops, when God said, go to war, destroy everything. Ultimately, they didn't believe him completely. They believe them a little bit. God, I know you called us to go defeat our enemy. That's easy. I mean, the battle's not easy, but I accept that part of what you're telling me to do. The destroy everything. I'm not so sure about that part. I don't know if I believe you on that part. I'm going to, I'm going to test you. I might even disobey and see how that turns out. Because ultimately it was their unbelief. They didn't take God at his word completely. And that's what cost him his kingship. So unbelief is at the core of our disobedience." [15:24]
3. "If you have, I want to share with you an encouragement about your spiritual walk, because you might experience that same graph as you try to attempt to be a disciple of Jesus. If that's what we're here for, if the Great Commission says to go and make disciples and then teach them all things about God and about Scripture and about Jesus, what does that look like? Well, a lot of times when you first become a Christian, you're very enthusiastic. You're excited. Like, man, I've just been saved from hell. I've been forgiven of my sins. That's amazing. I'm so excited. Then you make a mistake. Then you start facing some troubles. And then you start thinking, man, this isn't as easy as I thought it was. This isn't everything they told me it was going to be. And then you realize that you're going to have struggles and you can respond similar to the graph I showed you earlier." [21:19]
4. "I think if we put the effort in, and not that this is our own works type salvation, I don't believe that. But if we take the initiative and say, all right, I'm going to study God's word to get to know who he is. If I want to be closer to God, I need to know him. And you can do that by reading his word. And you can grow in your faith. It's not going to look like this graph, by the way. You're not going to just gradually, perfectly smooth, become a mature, obedient follower of Christ. You're going to have bumps in the road. It's going to be more like a staircase, probably. Like, man, some days you feel amazing. And you feel like you got all the answers that are asked about God. And then you're going to go to the next day, like, you're going to make mistakes. Somebody's going to ask you a question. You're like, I don't know. I don't know where that's in the Bible. I don't even have an answer for you. But that's growth. That's okay." [24:16]
5. "I find it so encouraging when somebody says, I've been wrong. Now, I hope it hasn't caused problems. They've been wrong, but to just hear somebody say, you know what? I actually put my own preconceived ideas of what God was like or what the Bible says and put that aside for a minute to actually study it. And I came out with a different opinion. That shows me that that person is not a fool, but they're wise because they sought counsel. They let God work rather than just sticking to their own. Traditions, the way they've grown up, all that kind of stuff." [25:37]
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