Obedience: The True Measure of Faithful Commitment

 

Summary

Throughout scripture, God calls His people to demonstrate their commitment through obedience. It's not enough to simply profess faith with our words; our actions must align with our declarations. True commitment is tested by our obedience, as anyone can speak eloquently about faith, but it is the alignment of our actions with our words that truly matters. Jesus emphasized this by stating that those who love Him will keep His commandments. This means that love for Jesus is not just an emotional feeling but is demonstrated through our actions and obedience to His teachings.

The challenge for us is to examine the areas in our lives where we may not be fully obedient to God's Word and will. It's crucial to make necessary adjustments to align our lives with His commandments. As stated in 1 John 2, many believed in Jesus, but He did not commit Himself to them because they were not ready to fully commit to Him. To experience the fullness of God's commitment to us, we must be willing to go all the way in our obedience and commitment to Him.

Key Takeaways:

- Obedience as a Measure of Commitment: True commitment to God is demonstrated through obedience. It's not enough to speak about faith; our actions must reflect our words. This alignment between proclamation and performance is essential for authentic faith. [00:35]

- Living Faith Beyond Sunday: Saying "Amen" on Sunday is not the same as living it throughout the week. Our faith should be evident in our daily actions, not just in our words during worship. This consistency is crucial for a genuine relationship with God. [00:58]

- Love Demonstrated Through Obedience: Jesus taught that love for Him is shown through obedience to His commandments. Emotional feelings are not enough; true love is demonstrated by aligning our actions with His teachings. [01:14]

- Self-Examination and Adjustment: We must examine areas in our lives where we are not fully obedient to God's Word. Making necessary adjustments is crucial for aligning our lives with His will and experiencing His full commitment to us. [01:33]

- Going All the Way with God: To experience the fullness of God's commitment, we must be willing to fully commit to Him. This means going beyond mere belief and taking action to align our lives with His commandments. [01:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:20] - Commitment Through Obedience
- [00:35] - Authentic Faith Tested
- [00:58] - Living Faith Beyond Sunday
- [01:14] - Love and Obedience
- [01:33] - Self-Examination
- [01:51] - Going All the Way with God
- [02:05] - Closing Remarks

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. John 14:15 - "If you love me, keep my commands."
2. 1 John 2:3-4 - "We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person."

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Jesus say is the evidence of our love for Him according to John 14:15? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on obedience? [01:14]

2. In 1 John 2:3-4, what is the relationship between knowing God and keeping His commandments? How does this passage relate to the idea of authentic faith discussed in the sermon? [01:33]

3. The sermon mentions that saying "Amen" on Sunday is not the same as living it throughout the week. What examples were given to illustrate this point? [00:58]

4. How does the sermon describe the difference between professing faith with words and demonstrating it through actions? [00:35]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of obedience as a measure of commitment challenge common perceptions of faith as merely a belief or feeling? [00:35]

2. What might be some reasons why people struggle to align their actions with their words of faith, as discussed in the sermon? [00:58]

3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that self-examination and adjustment are necessary for aligning our lives with God's will? [01:33]

4. How does the sermon interpret the passage from 1 John 2 about Jesus not committing Himself to those who were not ready to fully commit to Him? What does this imply about the nature of commitment? [01:51]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your daily life. Are there specific areas where your actions do not align with your professed faith? What steps can you take to address this inconsistency? [00:58]

2. Consider the statement, "If you love me, keep my commands." How can you practically demonstrate your love for Jesus in your daily routine this week? [01:14]

3. Identify one area in your life where you feel you are not fully obedient to God's Word. What practical adjustments can you make to align with His commandments? [01:33]

4. The sermon challenges us to live our faith beyond Sunday. What specific actions can you take to ensure your faith is evident throughout the week? [00:58]

5. Think about a time when you professed faith but struggled to act on it. What was the barrier, and how can you overcome similar challenges in the future? [00:35]

6. How can you encourage others in your community to align their actions with their faith? What role can you play in supporting them? [01:51]

7. Reflect on the idea of going "all the way" with God. What does this mean for you personally, and how can you take steps towards deeper commitment? [01:51]

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience Reflects True Commitment
True commitment to God is not merely about verbal declarations of faith; it is about aligning one's actions with those declarations. The essence of authentic faith is demonstrated through obedience to God's commandments. This alignment between what one professes and how one lives is crucial for a genuine relationship with God. Jesus emphasized that those who truly love Him will keep His commandments, indicating that love is not just an emotional feeling but is shown through actions. This calls for a deep introspection into our lives to ensure that our actions reflect our professed faith. [00:35]

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you align your daily actions more closely with your professed faith today?


Day 2: Faith Beyond Sunday
Living out one's faith is not confined to the walls of a church or the moments of worship on a Sunday. True faith is evident in the consistency of one's actions throughout the week. It is easy to say "Amen" during a sermon, but the real challenge is to live out that affirmation in everyday life. This requires a conscious effort to let one's faith influence decisions, interactions, and behaviors consistently. By doing so, one can cultivate a genuine relationship with God that transcends mere words and is rooted in daily practice. [00:58]

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate your faith into a routine task or interaction you have today, making it an act of worship?


Day 3: Love Through Obedience
Jesus taught that love for Him is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments. This means that love is not just an emotional response but is shown through actions that align with His teachings. Emotional feelings, while important, are not sufficient to demonstrate true love for Jesus. Instead, it is through the conscious decision to follow His commandments that one truly shows love. This understanding challenges believers to evaluate their actions and ensure they are in line with the teachings of Jesus, thereby reflecting genuine love for Him. [01:14]

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one commandment of Jesus that you find challenging to follow. What steps can you take today to better align with it?


Day 4: Self-Examination and Adjustment
Self-examination is a crucial aspect of spiritual growth. It involves identifying areas in one's life where there is a lack of obedience to God's Word and making necessary adjustments. This process requires honesty and humility, as it may reveal uncomfortable truths about one's spiritual state. However, it is through this examination and subsequent adjustments that one can align more closely with God's will and experience His full commitment. This ongoing process of self-reflection and change is essential for a vibrant and authentic faith. [01:33]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel you are not fully obedient to God's Word? What practical steps can you take to address this today?


Day 5: Going All the Way with God
Experiencing the fullness of God's commitment requires a willingness to fully commit to Him. This means going beyond mere belief and taking concrete actions to align one's life with His commandments. It involves a wholehearted dedication to living out one's faith in every aspect of life. By doing so, believers can experience a deeper relationship with God and the fullness of His promises. This call to full commitment challenges individuals to move beyond superficial faith and embrace a life of complete devotion to God. [01:51]

"And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific area of your life where you can deepen your commitment to God today? How can you take a step towards that commitment?

Quotes


Throughout scripture, God has called on his people to demonstrate their commitment with their feet. That is, through their obedience. He doesn't just want to hear it from our mouths, He wants to see it in our movement. He doesn't want to just hear from our lips, He wants to see it in our life. He doesn't wanted this here for my talk, he wants to see it in our walk. Obedience is the test of authentic commitment. [00:08:00]

Anybody can talk a good game, anybody can rap great information, but if your performance is not in sync with your proclamation then that is failure to the nth degree. Saying "Amen" on Sunday is not the same as living amen on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Two different things. [00:39:00]

That's why Jesus often said, "They affirm me with their lips, they talk a good game but they don't follow through. They don't act on it." Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep My Commandments. So you can have butterflies all in your stomach about how much you love Jesus, but he says if you don't obey me, you really don't love me. [00:67:00]

You just got some, maybe you ate too much pizza but it's not the love I'm asking for. So, in what way are we not obeying the Lord, where we know we're violating Wis Word and his will? Begin to make those adjustments because, as first John 2 says, "Many believed in Him, but He wouldn't commit himself to them because He knew they weren't ready to go all the way." [00:95:00]

Go all the way so you can experience what it's like when He goes all the way with you. [00:122:00]

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Transcript
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