Obeying God: The Call to Bold Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience as a Divine Duty

Obedience to God is not merely a suggestion but a moral obligation, similar to a soldier's duty to their country. This obedience is foundational for believers, as it leads to being filled with the Spirit and understanding God's will. The apostles in Acts 5 exemplified this by choosing to obey God rather than human authorities, even when faced with imprisonment and threats. Their unwavering commitment to God's command to spread the gospel demonstrates the power and necessity of obedience. As believers, we are called to live boldly for Christ, empowered by the Spirit that comes through our obedience. [01:04]

"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." (James 1:22-23, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life is God calling you to greater obedience, and how can you take a step towards that today?

Day 2: Boldness Through the Spirit

The apostles' boldness in preaching the gospel, despite persecution, was a direct result of being filled with the Spirit. This boldness is not reserved for the apostles alone but is available to all believers who prioritize obedience and time with God. Fear often hinders us from sharing our faith, but faith, nurtured by a relationship with God, can overcome this fear. By spending time in prayer and Scripture, we can cultivate a boldness that allows us to share the gospel with confidence and courage. [02:34]

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: What fears are holding you back from sharing your faith, and how can you invite the Holy Spirit to replace that fear with boldness today?

Day 3: The Importance of Correct Doctrine

Ensuring that our beliefs align with Scripture is crucial for fulfilling the mission of spreading the gospel. The apostles filled Jerusalem with their teaching, adhering to Jesus' command to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. This calls us to be actively involved in spreading the gospel, grounded in the truth of God's Word. We must be vigilant against teachings or traditions that contradict Scripture, recognizing the Bible as our final authority. By aligning our beliefs with Scripture, we can effectively participate in God's mission. [09:00]

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)

Reflection: Are there any beliefs or traditions you hold that may not align with Scripture? How can you seek God's truth in these areas?

Day 4: The Danger of Adding to the Gospel

The sermon warns against religious traditions that add to the gospel, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. True faith is not about religious rituals but about a personal relationship with Christ, marked by repentance and belief. Adding to the gospel can lead to a distorted understanding of faith, detracting from the simplicity and power of Christ's sacrifice. As believers, we must focus on the core message of the gospel and avoid the temptation to add unnecessary rituals or traditions. [12:45]

"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ." (Galatians 1:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Are there any rituals or traditions in your life that may be overshadowing the simplicity of the gospel? How can you refocus on the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice?

Day 5: Choosing Whom to Obey

We are faced with a choice: to obey God or man. Obedience to God leads to a life filled with the Spirit, boldness, and joy in sharing the gospel. This choice impacts our spiritual vitality and effectiveness in God's mission. By choosing to obey God, we align ourselves with His will and purpose, experiencing the fullness of life that comes from a relationship with Him. This decision requires us to examine our lives and ensure that we are not just religious but truly in love with Christ and committed to His mission. [28:37]

"And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to obey human authority over God's authority? How can you reaffirm your commitment to obeying God today?

Sermon Summary

In Acts 5:29, Peter and the other apostles boldly declare, "We ought to obey God rather than men." This statement is not just a suggestion but a moral obligation, akin to a soldier's duty to their country. As believers, we are bound to God to share the gospel and make a difference in the world. Jesus exemplified this obedience, even unto death, and through our obedience, we too can be filled with the Spirit and know God's will.

The apostles' story in Acts 5 is a powerful example of this principle. Despite being imprisoned and threatened, they continued to preach in the temple, demonstrating that their authority came from God, not human credentials. This boldness is a result of being filled with the Spirit, which comes from obedience. Fear often prevents us from sharing our faith, but faith, nurtured by time spent with God, overcomes fear.

The message also touches on the importance of correct doctrine. The apostles filled Jerusalem with their teaching, fulfilling Jesus' command to be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This is a call for us to be involved in spreading the gospel, ensuring that our beliefs align with the truth of Scripture. The Bible is our final authority, and we must be cautious of traditions or teachings that contradict it.

The sermon also addresses the issue of religious traditions that deviate from biblical truth, particularly in the context of Catholicism. It emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice and the dangers of adding to the gospel. True faith is not about religious rituals but a personal relationship with Christ, marked by repentance and belief.

Ultimately, the call is to choose whom we will obey: God or man. Obedience to God leads to a life filled with the Spirit, boldness, and the joy of sharing the gospel. It challenges us to examine our lives, ensuring that we are not just religious but truly in love with Christ and committed to His mission.

Key Takeaways

1. Obedience as a Moral Obligation: Obedience to God is not optional; it is a moral duty akin to a soldier's commitment to their country. This obedience leads to being filled with the Spirit and knowing God's will, empowering us to live boldly for Christ. [01:04]
2. Boldness Through the Spirit: The apostles' boldness in preaching despite persecution is a result of being filled with the Spirit. This boldness is available to us when we prioritize obedience and time with God, overcoming fear with faith. [02:34]
3. Correct Doctrine is Crucial: Ensuring our beliefs align with Scripture is vital. The apostles' teaching filled Jerusalem, fulfilling Jesus' command to spread the gospel. We must be involved in this mission, grounded in the truth of God's Word. [09:00]
4. The Danger of Adding to the Gospel: The sermon warns against religious traditions that add to the gospel, emphasizing the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. True faith is about a personal relationship with Christ, not rituals. [12:45]
5. Choosing Whom to Obey: We must decide whether to obey God or man. Obedience to God leads to a Spirit-filled life, boldness, and joy in sharing the gospel. This choice impacts our spiritual vitality and effectiveness in God's mission. [28:37]
** [28:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:20] - Introduction to Acts 5:29
[00:49] - The Meaning of "Ought"
[01:22] - Bound by Duty to God
[02:06] - Obedience and the Spirit
[03:03] - Apostles' Boldness
[04:09] - Authority of God's Word
[05:29] - Truth Invites Scrutiny
[06:35] - Fear vs. Faith
[08:02] - Strategic Witnessing
[09:00] - The Call to Missions
[10:10] - Importance of Correct Doctrine
[12:45] - The Danger of Adding to the Gospel
[14:57] - Personal Experience with Catholicism
[17:00] - The Role of Tradition
[19:32] - The Power of Christ's Sacrifice
[22:38] - The Need for True Repentance
[28:37] - Choosing Whom to Obey
[34:24] - The Witness of the Holy Spirit
[38:08] - Obedience and the Spirit's Filling
[45:18] - The Call to Be Born Again

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Acts 5:29
- Matthew 28:18-20
- Galatians 1:6-9

Observation Questions:

What was the context in which Peter and the apostles declared, "We ought to obey God rather than men"? How does this context enhance the significance of their statement? [00:20]
How did the apostles demonstrate their boldness and commitment to God's command despite facing imprisonment and threats? [03:03]
What role did the Holy Spirit play in the apostles' ability to preach boldly and fill Jerusalem with their teaching? [09:00]
How does the sermon describe the relationship between obedience to God and being filled with the Spirit? [02:06]

Interpretation Questions:

In what ways does the sermon suggest that obedience to God is similar to a soldier's duty to their country? How does this analogy help us understand our responsibilities as believers? [01:04]
The sermon warns against adding to the gospel with religious traditions. How does this relate to the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice, and why is it important to maintain the purity of the gospel message? [12:45]
How does the sermon address the issue of fear in sharing one's faith, and what practical steps are suggested to overcome this fear? [07:05]
What does the sermon imply about the importance of correct doctrine, and how does it relate to the mission of spreading the gospel? [09:00]

Application Questions:

Reflect on a time when you faced a choice between obeying God and following human authority. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? [28:37]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of being filled with the Spirit through obedience. What specific areas of your life require greater obedience to experience this fullness? [02:06]
Consider the traditions or teachings you have encountered that may not align with Scripture. How can you ensure that your beliefs are grounded in the truth of God's Word? [10:10]
Fear often prevents us from sharing our faith. Identify a specific fear you have about sharing the gospel and discuss practical ways to overcome it with the help of the Holy Spirit. [07:05]
The sermon challenges us to choose whom we will obey: God or man. What steps can you take this week to prioritize obedience to God in your daily decisions? [28:37]
How can you actively participate in spreading the gospel in your local community, as the apostles did in Jerusalem? What practical steps can you take to be a witness for Christ? [09:00]
Reflect on your personal relationship with Christ. How can you deepen this relationship beyond religious rituals to experience true faith marked by repentance and belief? [12:45]

Sermon Clips

In the same way that a soldier is bound by duty to the Armed Forces, guess what? You are bound to God to do what? To present the gospel, to go out and to make a difference. We are bound. It's not like you ought to do this. The ought there means we are bound to do this. [00:01:16]

Obedience leads to the filling of the spirit as well as knowing God's will. If you want to be filled with the spirit and you want to know God's will, guess what? We have to be obedient. And sometimes the church has made that into a bad word like, oh, we got to obey. [00:02:09]

The apostles were uneducated and untrained men, but wait a minute, they'd been with Jesus three years. These men were filled with the spirit of God, so they came with the boldness and the authority of God's word. That's all you had to do. That's it. You don't have to worry about this and that. [00:04:44]

Fear is the reason we don't share, isn't it? Me too. Oh, goodness gracious. Yes, often it's fear because we don't share. We don't want to. Fear prevents us from sharing, but faith is the opposite of fear. And as you spend time in God's word, as you obey his principles, as you're filled with the spirit, you have to share. [00:07:05]

You have to answer this question: Are you involved somehow in getting the gospel out there? If you're not, you're missing one great commandment to go and get it to Jerusalem, to get it locally, to get it out to the Nations. That's what we're called to do. We miss that commission. [00:09:38]

The inherency of scripture is so important that we look to this as the final Authority because without this, you have no Authority. Everything contradicts itself on every point. So let me take this long Rabbit Trail here, and the reason I want to talk about meeting with that Catholic priest... [00:10:20]

The gospel is complete. Christ is an all-sufficient savior. My debt has been paid in full, and so is yours. There's no purging that needs to take place. So that's where the conversation started, and she said, would you like to speak to, can you speak to my priest about these issues? [00:13:06]

We cannot believe the Bible and the traditions of the church in the same way. I cannot believe the Bible and other books of other religions. You can't believe both. You can never, you can't have both. One is authoritative, and the other must come underneath it. [00:15:05]

Who are you going to listen to? God or man? Who are you going to listen to? Are you going to listen to God or man? Because who you listen to is who you obey, isn't it? Who you listen to is who you obey. [00:28:03]

The god of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to the right hand to be Prince and savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sin. And we are his witness to these things, and so also is the holy spirit whom God has given to those who obey him. [00:28:55]

The more you obey God, not out of ritualistic rules and I have to and I can't do this and I can't do that, but out of an obedient heart that wants to please the father and be filled with the spirit, the more you obey God, the more you're filled with the spirit. [00:37:00]

Obedience equals filled with the spirit equals boldness. And I wasn't kidding about children's ministry. Our kids, they are more bold than we are. Why? Often because they have that love of God. They haven't been tarnished much from the world. [00:39:08]

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Obeying God: The Call to Bold Faith

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience as a Divine Duty

Day 2: Boldness Through the Spirit

Day 3: The Importance of Correct Doctrine

Day 4: The Danger of Adding to the Gospel

Day 5: Choosing Whom to Obey

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Obeying God: The Call to Bold Faith

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