The Expedience of Obedience | Part 1

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Today Adrian Rogers continues in a series called living supernaturally.

Today's message is the expedience of obedience. Obedience is a verb, it is action verb right. It unlocks the door to God's blessings and so I think when we walk in obedience.

We truly see God move will we have been in a series of the book of acts called living supernaturally and there's two volumes one and two were actually moving into the second volume of our series with today's message. I think before we continue on to just remind ourselves we talk about living this life of supernatural living. Adrian Rogers emphasizes it best.

This way, while somatic people are living superficially. What I mean by that is that they are trying to live the Christian life and the strength of the flesh, and very much is like driving a car with the brakes on when God saved us God gave us all that we need to live the Christian life.

But so many people are living in the flesh where the list supernaturally. Now I don't mean by that that way to be performing miracles everyday but our life is to be a miracle.

The very life that we live is to be the life of the son of God in us know Byron that ties right back into God's call to have a closer walk with him and I think when we do that obedience becomes a subset right and so I think it's, you know, choose you this day whom you will serve and obedience is the bedrock of all that well. That's why think the message title was so appropriate expedience of obedience being a Christian is a joyous thing of the reason we are not filled with joy. This Christian life could be a matter of disobedience yet I think we are disobedient in your out of of right relationship with God. The nothing works. But when you remove that and repent and get back in that closer walk right things happen will Asian Roger says obedience is the missing ingredient in so many Christian lives, and I see that my own life to know at times when I'm not obedient and the lessons learned a far greater right right absolutely, you know, our good friend Todd Eaton years ago would always teach on obedience every week.

Obedience. Obedience. Obedience and he would say, is there anything else and I think that's true will when it comes to being obedient. We appreciate the faithfulness of our love, or funny listeners to let us know how the program is impacting their lives scary and we have been privileged. The last couple of weeks to have Nicole from ministry services to come in and to share with us responses in the goal you have a response. I think from Facebook before we go there tell us a little something about what you get to do. I think this is a crazy thing ministry services you get to hear from everybody from the TV listeners watchers radio. You know you get to hear from everybody social media on how the program is impacting their lives).

There are so many avenues that we get to hear from our listeners, and it is just so encouraging to hear the testimonies to see them come in on email.

They text as their testimonies. They ride on then on Facebook. There's just so many opportunities for us to hear what an impact that Leavenworth Finan has made in the lives that are listeners. In fact, I do have a testimony that came interface that that led to share with you today. It says pastor Rogers sound biblical messages had been a great influence to me and I love how God continues to use his ministry here on earth.

This is just one of the testimonies and we just received volumes and down that we just walk away encouraged every day knowing that our labor is not in vain. Great example of obedience we receive the Holy Spirit. There is joy in our hearts and then the gospel is shared and believed again obedience will with today's message the expedience of obedience part one peers.

Adrian Rogers, let me ask a question, how many really happy, happy, and victorious Christians, do you know second question when you look into the mirror, you see one of our you really a happy victorious Christian.

I don't give me the answer that sounds good because I want to dance out loud. I want you to answer internally but truthfully are you happy are you victorious well it all the I love the song assess trust and obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus. What but to trust and obey. And that's what I want to talk to you about today is oh readings.

I wonder if God is been speaking to you about something that he wants you to do and you've not yet has God been telling you that there is a confession of sin that you need to make some sin that you need to confess and you has God been telling you there's some restitution that you need to perform someone that you need to go to make amends with and you've not yet done has God been telling you there's some gift that you want to give you not yet given it maybe even to a level that knows the smell the roses. If you going to do you want to do this. There is a testimony witness that you give has God like some soul upon your heart and you know that you are God's appointed messenger to speak to that person and you have not yet done and then you might wonder, why do I not have joy in my life.

Trust and obey. What is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey element of the background for the passage of Scripture going to read in just a moment what the apostles had been witnessing God been moving Jesus ascended he gave the great commission Jesus went up the Holy Spirit came down the apostles went out, the loss came in they turn that world upside down and inside out to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Sadducees, the Pharisees that Herodian's and the whole shooting match were upset at what they were doing and the high priest took these apostles and put them in jail for preaching the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ but an angel came at night and set them free. Sort of a sanctified jailbreak the apostles I had been commanded not to preach, not to teach in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and that they are. The next morning out there in the same place, preaching and teaching Jesus. They been put in jail for that come to the high priestess that I thought you put those guys in jail illustrate preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and so they call them back again one more time and now we get to our text. Let's start in verse 27 and when they had brought them.

They set them before the Council and the high priest asked him, saying that not we straightly command you, that you should not teach in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. Now this man they were referred to as the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said we all to obey God for all the then man if you don't mind marking your Bible. I like to mark that sentence we ought to obey God rather than men skip down to verse 32. Here's what else they said and we are his witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Ghost, whom God had given to them that opening now twice in this paragraph.

He's mentioning obedience and that's what I want to talk to you about today is obedience. The expedience of obedience. The Christian railroad runs on two tracks trust and obey the OT you know is the railroad of redemption and so I want you to learn something about obedience and I want to lay three basic things on your heart some subpoints with three major major foundational points today on your heart because I want you to be happy and I want to be victorious and I am reminding you that when I'm speaking to you. I'm also speaking to myself.

Here's the first thing I want to live in your heart. We should review the reasons for obedience about if you have a good reason for obeying you probably will not obey. So I think it is altogether fitting that we look at this passage and review the reasons for obedience. Here's the first reason obedience is a duty, a duty to be fall. Now notice what he says we all to obey. We ought to obey. There isn't to it. There's no contest. We ought to obey God rather than men, not men said to do one thing God said to do something else and they said well that's a no-brainer.

We're going to obey God were not going to obey man if what men say and do contradicts what God does.

Does God have any right to command you because you we ought to obey God. Why, because God is a sovereign God and with all 20 Bay him we get into trouble many times because we do not simply obey God. I will give you an ancillary verse and I likely to write it in your margins is first end of chapter 15 verse seven chapter 15 versus 22 and 23 God told the king to do a particular thing, and the king substituted his own will, his own way his own ideas what God told him to do and hear the prophet of God rebukes the king and here's what the prophet Samuel said half the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord. That is, there is no way that you can come here today and by God bribed God you say will I put a big offering in the offering plate know God wants not your sacrifices. God wants you obedience had God is great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord.

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and a hearken than the fat of rams.

What it means is offering the very best animals on the altar. Now listen to verse 23 for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Remember that word and stubbornness is as iniquity. Remember that word and idolatry.

Remember that word is what God says disobedience is like if you're disobedient Christian. Here's what disobedience is like. First of all, it is like witchcraft. It is like witchcraft that are you disobeying something God told you to do now tell you that you are practicing a form of witchcraft think you practicing witchcraft.

But disobedience puts on the same side of the fence as Satan. That's what made the devil. The devil was his rebellion against the will of God and so disobedience is witchcraft and before long Saul who had disobeyed the Lord was consorting with a which, if you know your Bible. Secondly, disobedience is not only like witchcraft. But it's also iniquity. Disobedience is a clenched fist in the face of God.

It is saying God not doing well but mine be done now, it may be a small thing, but disobedience over small thing is not a small thing because disobedience is a big thing even if the thing is a small thing that you disobeying there may be some small thing in your heart and your life you got is prompting you to do, but if you define God over a small thing that small thing becomes a big thank God says it is witchcraft. God says that it is iniquity, and then God says it is idolatry. Idolatry. That's what he says disobedience is idolatry.

Why could it be idolatry well. What is an idol anything you love more, serve more fear, more on a more than God is an idol. And if God wants you to do something and you don't do it is because you put something else before God, which is idolatry. Think about what disobedience is. It is witchcraft.

It is iniquity. It is idolatry. If we were to see that man ought to obey God rather than man. It is a duty to be performed. Secondly, it is a debt to be paid. It is a debt to be paid. Know what I mean by that I mean friend Jesus has done so much for us in this particular passage of Scripture.

Notice what he says is he's giving his rationale for obeying.

He says here in verse 29.

We ought to obey God rather than man and then he explains it, the God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hang on the tree him have God exalted with his right hand to be a prince and a Savior and to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sin. Think what Jesus Christ is done for me think what is done for you.

He suffered glad and died upon that cross road to grace how great a pattern daily.

I'm constrained to be, but drops of grief can never repay that debt of love I will hear Lord I give myself away to all that I can do. Look at Calvary bloodied Calvary and then tell me if you have a right to disobey know it is a duty to be performed. It is a debt to be paid not to something else. It is a delight to be preferred. Obedience is a delight to be preferred. Don't get the idea that the will of God is something you have to do got negative force it on you.

It is something you get to do and when you learn to obey then you going to learn the joy that everybody is talking about in the Christian life. There is no such thing as a happy, disobedient, Christian.

It is a contradiction in terms look in chapter 5, verse 41 then they departed from the presence of the Council rejoicing, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. I am telling you that obedience and rejoicing come together. It is a lie out of hell that doing the will of God is painful and makes you miserable Bible says his commandments are not grievous. Now the reason that some of us don't obey the Lord and understand this joy in obeying the Lord as we don't trust the Lord and we have difficulty taking command from a stranger that we don't know.

You get to know the Lord Jesus Christ and you will learn that his commands are not grievous. Now I want to say for thing about obedience. Not only is it a delight but friend it is a decision to be practiced that you must you must decide to obey God will allow you to disobey ever ahead of us LOL God's will be done. God's will be done.

Everything is God's will just praise God. God wanted to happen will happen if God does want to happen.

He won't let happen. That my friend is Greek word flatness baloney. I want to tell you something. Listen to me listen God's will is not always done better. Some people say that God's will is always done everything God's will is not always done it God's will is always done.

Why did Jesus teach us to pray by kingdom come, thy will be done well there a lot of things that are not the will of God and God will allow you to disobey him and that does not diminish God's sovereignty at all.

God gives man the power to rebel against him without diminishing God's sovereignty. God has given man a choice. You can choose to obey or you can choose not to obey. Now some people stumble over this. I wonder why the world and the mess that it is I say what God is all-powerful, why doesn't God just go away with evil and suffering. Well, if he doesn't do away with evil and suffering maybe is not all-powerful.

Are they say well if he is all-powerful and then do away with it maybe is not all loving God is all-powerful and God is all loving but God has given to man a choice. God is giving you a choice everyone of you. You can choose to obey our you can choose to disobey.

Now some people say what God can do anything that's not true is not true. Let me give you little room.

My grandson asked me this. What is more powerful and God. What is more evil than Satan. What is it that rich people think that they need.

What is it that poor people have plenty. And what is it, if you eat a chilled that Angela, what is more powerful and better than God.

What is more evil than Satan.

What is it that rich people think they need. What is it the poor people have plenty of and what is it, if you needed to buy answer that question. Nothing. Nothing is more powerful than God, nothing is more evil and Satan rich people think they need nothing for people.

I plenty of nothing and eat nothing. You cannot answer that whole thing is nothing, nothing that Fran some things God cannot do by that. Why can God not doing you say nothing you be wrong because some things that God cannot do I wait talking about here that obedience is a decision to give you something to God can do. I give six things a God can't do because God is omnipotent God can't fail can't cannot fail. Ephesians 1 verse 11 says he works all things after the counsel of his own will is impossible for God to fail number to the something else. God can do. God cannot do evil. Titus one verse two in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began. God cannot lie.

God cannot steal God cannot do evil because he's a holy God onto something else. God cannot do.

God cannot be tempted. James one versus 1314 let no man say when he is tempted, I'm tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil God can't be tempted to say, I thought Jesus was tempted Jesus was tempted in his humanity. He was not tempted in his essence as Almighty God. God cannot be tempted. What else can God not do.

God cannot deny himself. Second Timothy two verse 13. If we believe not here by the faithful. He cannot deny himself after something else.

God cannot do. God cannot be on Jost. That's the reason for the cross. Romans three verse 26 to declare, I say this time his righteousness that he might be just and the justifier of him that believe it. In Jesus is saying there some things impossible for God to do it is impossible for God to forgive sin without a sacrifice. The reason that Jesus died on the cross is that he might be both just and the justifier to remember what Jesus said in the garden of Gethsemane when you pray father if it be possible, let this cup pass from me, but the silence from heaven said no, that is impossible, that is impossible. Had there been some other way than the cross, God surely would've taken it before he allowed his only son to die upon the cross by God's very nature God cannot overlook or God cannot bypass sin onto something else. God cannot do, and I've been building this point God cannot force loving obedience, God cannot force loving obedience, God cannot make you love him because it is a contradiction in terms force.

Love is not love at all. God cannot force somebody to receive a gift God will not force you to obey him. That doesn't mean that God loses his sovereignty. That simply means that there certain things by God's very nature that God cannot do, is not that he cannot do them because he is limited in power is that he cannot do them because of his very nature. Now I'm telling you that you must choose to obey him now. You cannot obey him unless he enables you to obey him. We love him because he first loved us and is God that works in us both to will and to do this. Good pleasure. Obedience to God is like breathing is breathing a gift of God. Well, you better believe it is because God gives you lungs and got give you where which of his mother.

If you want.

Obedience is a gift of God in the sense that God gives you the will. God works in you. But there comes a decision and God is not going to force you to obey him don't you shrug your shoulders and say what God wanted happen, it will happen no, there is different a decision to be practiced.

You must say, I will obey him. These are the compelling reasons for obedience now. Not only should we look at the reasons for obedience. We should recognize the requirements for obedience that one of the requirements for obeying God.

I want to mention some of them if you would really obey God number one. Your obedience must be informed obedience. It must be informed obedience. Can you obey God if you don't know what it is that God wants you to do now these apostles have had a command from God. Chapter 5 begin looking in verse 17 that the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, which is the sect of the Sadducees and were filled with indignation and laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in common prison watch verse 19 but the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said go stand and speak in the temple to all the people all the words of this life can be planar. They were told what to know now. The reason they were doing it is because they've been told to do. All true obedience is informed obedience. You must hear from God in order to obey God that just don't go out doing things just because you want to do them and think that you're living the Christian life. What God doesn't initiate God doesn't appreciate God is going to tell you what to do and God is never promised to bless any endeavor that he is not commanded. There must be number one informed all obedience, number two, there must be intentional obedience.

You see doing right is not merely abstaining from doing wrong is very obvious that these apostles wanted to know the will of the Lord Jesus Christ is what God wants me to do it just may be your fault, but this verse down Proverbs chapter 8 verses 32 and following now therefore hearken on to me. Oh you children for Blessed are they that keep my ways hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates waking at the post of my door are you hearing God. Are you reporting for duty coming up tomorrow will report to this important message but maybe today you have questions about who Jesus is what he means to you or how to begin a relationship with God through Christ glorifying God's love page@lwf.org/radio. There you'll find resources and materials.

The answer questions you may have about placing your faith in Jesus Christ. Go to LWF.org/radio and click the tab that says find God's will. Thank you for studying God's word with us today if you like to start receiving daily devotions and links to our program sign-up for our daily emails LWF.org/radio and tune in next time for part two of the expedient several online word