Sunday
Morning Bible Study
June 13, 2004
Introduction
Our whole focus this weekend has been on hearing the voice of God.
(James 1:19-25 KJV) Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man
be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: {20} For the wrath of man
worketh not the righteousness of God. {21} Wherefore lay apart all filthiness
and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word,
which is able to save your souls. {22} But be ye doers of the word, and not
hearers only, deceiving your own selves. {23} For if any be a hearer of the
word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a
glass: {24} For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway
forgetteth what manner of man he was. {25} But whoso looketh into the perfect
law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a
doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
(James 1:19-25 NLT) Dear
friends, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. {20} Your
anger can never make things right in God's sight. {21} So get rid of all the
filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in
your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls. {22} And remember, it
is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don't obey, you are only
fooling yourself. {23} For if you just listen and don't obey, it is like
looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance.
{24} You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. {25} But if
you keep looking steadily into God's perfect law--the 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.
It’s a wonderful thing to begin to get a sense of what God is saying to
you. But there is no blessing when you
only hear God’s voice. It’s in
responding and doing what He says that we get the blessing.
Disobedience is self-deception. You’re
only hurting yourself. You get to
thinking that since God has spoken, that’s enough.
Why should I obey?
I’ll share a couple of things, but in your small groups you’ll have a
chance to come up with even more reasons why we should obey.
(Mat 7:24-27 KJV) Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of
mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house
upon a rock: {25} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a
rock. {26} And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them
not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
{27} And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
Lesson
1.
Obedience brings stability
We are all going to go through storms in life.
Storms don’t come because you’ve been bad, storms come because you are
breathing.
What’s important is not avoiding storms in life, but surviving them.
The only way to survive life’s storms is to learn to obey the Lord.
(Acts 8:26-40 KJV) And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip,
saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that
goeth down from Jerusalem
unto Gaza,
which is desert. {27} And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an
eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the
charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, {28} Was
returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. {29} Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot. {30} And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet
Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? {31} And he said, How
can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would
come up and sit with him. {32} The place of the scripture which he read was
this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his
shearer, so opened he not his mouth: {33} In his humiliation his judgment was
taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from
the earth. {34} And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom
speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? {35} Then Philip
opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
{36} And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? {37} And
Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he
answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. {38} And he
commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water,
both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. {39} And when they were come
up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch
saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. {40} But Philip was found at
Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.
Lesson
2. Obedience brings direction
This was an amazing incident that we believe led to the establishing of the
church in Ethiopia. The church was started by this eunuch, who
was led to the Lord by Philip. Yet it
wouldn’t have happened unless Philip obeyed the Lord when the Lord said “go”.
When the Lord said “go”, Philip didn’t know exactly where he was going or
what he was supposed to do. He didn’t
get those instructions until he obeyed the first step of going.
God led him step by step. With each
step he took, God showed him the next step.
If I want to know more of God’s Will for my life, I need to obey what I
already know.
Sometimes you don’t go any further in your life until you obey what’s already
before you.
I think there are areas in our lives where we are just not going to
progress any further until we’ve learned to obey the Lord.
Illustration
We are sitting at first base and we cry out to the Lord to
show us how to go to home plate. He says
to run to second base and we say, “no, I just want to go to home plate”. Yet you don’t get to home plate until you’ve
gotten to second base.
There are no shortcuts.
(John 14:21-24 KJV) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth
them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. {22} Judas saith
unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto
us, and not unto the world? {23} Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man
love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come
unto him, and make our abode with him. {24} He that loveth me not keepeth not
my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent
me.
Lesson
3. Obedience brings intimacy with God
Have you ever prayed for more of God?
Spurgeon: “In the biographies of
eminent saints, you will find many instances recorded in which Jesus has been
pleased, in a very special manner to speak to their souls, and to unfold the
wonders of his person; yea, so have their souls been steeped in happiness that
they have thought themselves to be in heaven, whereas they were not there,
though they were well nigh on the threshold of it—for when Jesus manifests
himself to his people, it is heaven on earth; it is paradise in embryo; it is
bliss begun.”
Has this ever been your desire?
We know that God’s love for us is unconditional.
He loved us when we were still shaking our fists at Him.
(Rom 5:8 KJV)
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us.
He demonstrated His love by dying for us.
(John 15:13 KJV)
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his
friends.
(1 John 3:16 KJV)
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us…
Yet it is one thing to love someone, and it’s another to have them get
close to you.
I may have love and compassion on a total stranger. I can have love for someone who is hurtful to
themselves, to others, maybe even to me.
I may reach out to them and try to help them. But I probably am not going to give them my
wallet, let them have the keys to my house, or let them drive my car.
The key to intimacy with God is building a relationship with Him, a
relationship built on obedience to His will.
(Psa 25:14 KJV) The secret
of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.
God shows His secrets to those that honor Him.
How do I obey?
Have you ever heard of the poem “Footprints in the sand”?
Illustration
One night I had a wondrous dream,
One set of footprints there was seen,
The footprints of my precious Lord,
But mine were not along the shore.
But then some stranger prints appeared,
And I asked the Lord, “What have we here?”
Those prints are large and round and neat,
“But Lord, they are too big for human feet.”
“My child,” He said in somber tones,
“For miles I carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in faith,
But you refused and made me wait.”
“You disobeyed, you would not grow,
The walk of faith, you would not know,
So I got tired, I got fed up,
And there I dropped you on your butt.”
“Because in life, there comes a time,
When one must fight, and one must climb,
When one must rise and take a stand,
Or leave their butt prints in the sand.”
- Author unknown
Is there a secret to learning to obey God?
(Rom 8:1-9 KJV) There is therefore now no condemnation to
them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit. {2} For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free
from the law of sin and death. {3} For what the law could not do, in that it
was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful
flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: {4} That the righteousness of
the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit. {5} For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh;
but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. {6} For to be carnally
minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. {7} Because
the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be. {8} So then they that are in the flesh cannot please
God. {9} But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the
Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is
none of his.
Lesson
1.
Yield to the Holy Spirit
Without yielding to the work of the Holy Spirit, we are unable to do the
things that please God.
(John 15:4-5 KJV) Abide in
me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in
the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. {5} I am the vine, ye are the
branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much
fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
It starts by asking Jesus into your heart – that’s what makes you a
“spiritual” person.
It grows as you learn to yield to the work of the Spirit, allowing Him to
lead your life.
(Phil 4:13 KJV)
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Illustration
Learning to yield to the Holy Spirit, or being “filled with the Spirit” is
a lot like putting a hand into a glove.
When the hand is in the glove, the glove does all the things that the hand
does. When the Holy Spirit is filling or
controlling our life, we will start to do the kinds of things that He does like
…
(Gal 5:22-23 KJV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is
no law.
Lesson
2.
Just do it.
(Mat 5:29-30 KJV) And if thy
right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is
profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole
body should be cast into hell. {30} And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it
off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy
members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Jesus is basically saying, “Do whatever is necessary to obey God”.
Sometimes I think we simply make too much out of looking for the secret of
obeying God.
If you’ve yielded yourself to God, then obey Him.
Just do it.
The goal of obedience
Lesson
Maturity - Service
Holiness isn’t the only reason God thinks it’s important to obey.
Sometimes we come up to a retreat and we’re convicted about certain areas
of our lives that aren’t right. And for
guys that can be stuff like dealing with sinful habits like stuff with drugs,
sex, drinking, swearing, treating your wife right, etc.
But that’s not God’s ultimate goal, just to clean you up. It’s a good goal, it is God’s will, but it’s
not the ultimate.
God’s goal is for you to be mature and serve the Lord.
Illustration
Ray knows about fast motorcycles. He
knows how to build them. He knows how to
repair them. Let’s say that Ray was
working on a bike that was perfect in every way. What will Ray do with the bike when he’s got
it finished? Will he store it in his
garage? Will he take it to a
museum? Will he take it to bike shows so
he can show people what a cool looking bike he has? No.
He’ll race it. He built it to
race it. The bike’s purpose is to go
fast and win races.
Illustration
The movie Chariots of Fire was
about the life of Eric Liddell. He had felt the call of God to go to China
as a missionary with his sister. At one point in the movie, he told his sister
that he was going to delay going to the mission field so that he could continue
training for the Olympics. She was upset. He sought to help her to understand
by saying, “Jenny, Jenny. I know God created me for his service, but he also
made me fast! When I run, I feel God’s pleasure!”
You were created for more than just having a clean life. God built you for service. He doesn’t want to clean up your life just to
take you to Christian shows and have people “ooh” and “aah” at how clean you
are. He built you to race. He wants you
to serve Him.
What does it mean to “serve” the Lord?
(Mat 28:16-20 KJV) Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where
Jesus had appointed them. {17} And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but
some doubted. {18} And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. {19} Go ye therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Ghost: {20} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.
Amen.
The goal is to reach this world for Jesus.
To do that there’s a process involved and all along the way we need
servants to join the cause.
People need to be won to the Lord – evangelism.
People need to be taught what it means to follow the Lord,
how to obey Him – discipleship
And then those who are discipled start the process over –
winning others and discipling them until they start to serve the Lord and win
and disciple people …
(Eph 4:11-16 KJV) And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; {12} For the
perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ: {13} Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the
stature of the fulness of Christ: {14} That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
{15} But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which
is the head, even Christ: {16} From whom the whole body fitly joined together
and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual
working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the
edifying of itself in love.
Sometimes we see the church as some sort of a “spa” where you come to get
the ultimate makeover. And in a way,
yes, the Lord does give us the ultimate makeover. But the church isn’t finished when the
makeover is complete. The church isn’t
supposed to be a “spa”, it’s supposed to be a training center – a place where
you and I are trained to serve the Lord, then urged to go out and serve Him.
What does it mean to “serve the Lord”?
Yes, it might mean teaching a Sunday School class. It might also mean joining the cleaning
ministry and helping keep the church clean. But those are only the tip of the
iceberg.
What are you doing to further God’s kingdom? What kinds of things could you be doing?