Absolute Obedience is the theme of this month.
Welcome to our Sunday Service at RCCG Peace Assembly, Lilburn, GA.
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Main Text:
1 Sam 15; Isaiah 1:19; Jonah 1:1-5; 1 Samuel 15:22; 2 Cor 10:6; Job 36:11
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BIBLE TEXTS
ISAIAH 1:19, JONAH 1:1-5, 1SAMUEL 15:22
-Isaiah 1:19 KJV: If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
- 1 Samuel 15:22 KJV: And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.
The Bible has a lot to say about obedience.
In the list of Ten Commandments, we see just how important the concept of obedience is to God. Deuteronomy 11:26-28 sums it up like this: "Obey and you will be blessed. Disobey and you will be cursed."
In the New Testament, we learn through the example of Jesus Christ that believers are called to a life of obedience.
The general concept of obedience both in the Old and New Testaments relate to hearing or hearkening to a HIGHER AUTHORITY.
However, biblical obedience to God means to hear, trust, submit and surrender to GOD AND HIS WORD.
WHY ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO GOD?
1. JESUS CALLS US TO OBEY COMPLETELY:
In Jesus Christ, we find the perfect model of obedience. As his disciples, we follow Christ's example as well as his commands. Our motivation for obedience is love:
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15, ESV)
2. PARTIAL OBEDIENCE IS NO OBEDIENCE:
Partial obedience by King Saul lead to his dethronement and rejection by God as King of Israel.
1 Samuel 15:3,7-9,20-23 KJV
Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. [7] And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. [8] And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. [9] But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuses, that they destroyed utterly. [20] And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. [21] But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God in Gilgal. [22] And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams. [23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
3. ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP
True Christian obedience flows from a heart of gratitude for the grace we have received from the Lord:
And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1, NLT)
4. GOD REWARDS ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE.
Over and over again we read in the Bible that God blesses and rewards obedience:
"And through your descendants, all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me." (Genesis 22:18, NLT)
Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." (Luke 11:28, NLT)
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. (James 1:22–25, NLT)
5. ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE TO GOD DEMONSTRATES FAITH
When we obey God, we show our trust and faith in him. Abram's obedience to God's instruction in Genesis 12:1 was an act of faith.
And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments. If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth. But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love him.
That is how we know we are living in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did. (1 John 2:3–6, NLT)
6. OBEDIENCE IS BETTER THAN SACRIFICE
The law required the Israelite people to offer sacrifices to God, but those sacrifices and offerings were never intended to take the place of obedience.
vBut Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the LORD, he has rejected you as king." (1 Samuel 15:22–23, NLT)
Conclusion
Only Jesus Christ is perfect, therefore, only he could walk in sinless, perfect obedience. But as we allow the Holy Spirit to transform us from within, we grow in holiness. This is the process of sanctification, which can also be described as spiritual growth. The more we read God's Word, spend time with Jesus, and allow the Holy Spirit to change us from within, the more we grow in obedience and holiness as Christians:
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. (2 Corinthians 7:1, NLT)
The verse above says, "Let us work toward complete holiness." We don't learn obedience overnight; it's a lifelong process that we pursue by making it a daily goal.
Thank you for worshipping with us today.
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RCCG Peace Assembly
Location: The Redeemed Christian Church of God Peace Assembly, 2158 McDaniel's Bridge Court, Lilburn, GA 30047
About RCCG Peace Assembly
The Redeemed Christian Church of God Peace Assembly is a multicultural international and non-denominational church that is located in Lilburn, Georgia. Peace Assembly under the divine mandate of God was established to further enrich the lives of people in Georgia.
In 2004, Pastor Francis Tekobo was installed as the new pastor of the Peace Assembly parish. With the divine grace of God, Peace Assembly has increased in number and size. From celebrating new births to the constant addition of new souls, Peace Assembly is destined for greatness.
People from many nations can call Peace Assembly their home.
Peace Assembly has over thirty ministries under its belt. Fondly called RCCG P.A, Peace Assembly is a church that aims to integrate the Big Three in the lives of believers: Communication, Orderliness, and Unity. Communication with Christ, Orderliness in the lives of believers, and Unity in the church of God.
We believe that by the Grace of God, all three can be simultaneously achieved.
God Bless you!
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