Obedience

OBEDIENCE

1 Samuel 15:1-23

INTRO: There is a wicked and foolish philosophy going around that teaches

you can be Christians and do not need to be under the discipline of the Church, the Bible or anything else. The philosophy teaches that you can just "add on Jesus and go on doing your own thing."

God demands that we be obedient to him, and if we are not, we will suffer the judgment of God for not being obedient. Lets look at some biblical examples.

I. SAUL FAILED THE TEST.

A. He was told by God to destroy the Amalekites.

B. He spared Agag, and the best of the animals.

1. God told him to "spare them not."

2. Saul disobeyed god.

C. He excused his disobedience by saying he spared the animals

for a sacrifice (vv. 21-22).

II. ABRAHAM PASSED THE TEST.

A. God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac.

B. Abraham was obedient to God so God spared Isaac.

III. HAVE WE PASSED OR FAILED THE TEST?

A. God has commanded us to be obedient to Him.

1. In faithfulness to our Church.

2. In service to Him.

3. In the stewardship of our possessions.

B. The commandment that instructs us to honor our parents,

applies to us as well.

1. God is our heavenly parent.

2. Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testa

ment, so the moral laws are binding, but not the sacrificial

laws.

C. Rebelling against parents is rebelling against god.

1. The same is true for rebelling against the Church.

2. Rebellion against the Church is a reflection of the rebellion

against civil authority.

IV. SECURES ENTRANCE INTO HEAVEN.

A. Matthew 7:21 says that not every that says Lord, Lord...

B. When we are obedient we will follow Christ completely.

C. We will do everything commanded and surrender all to him.