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The urban dictionary classifies a hacker as: as someone who strictly pursues creature comforts through completely legal means that while frustrating to others; allow him to live his best life.
We are all hackers looking for shortcuts or ways to do things which are less stressful and more comfortable.
SALT! for:
Coffee stains
Stinky Hands (salt and vinegar)
Flowers
Salt scrub (? salt, teaspoon honey, tsp olive oil, essential oils)
Toothpaste (? baking soda, tsp salt, 10-15 peppermint)
Life is hard enough so finding the fastest way to, or through, the obstacles of life seems like an appropriate subject in this covid reality we have found ourselves in.
So over the last few weeks, we have been sharing simple shortcuts to help you live your best life. We offered hacks on scripture, financial, relationship, parenting, purpose. And this week a simple but not easy shortcut to God.
To talk about today’s shortcut, we must first ask ourselves why we, as humans, have such a hard time living ‘The Story God’ written for each of us.
<story of a person who knew Jesus but just couldn’t adhere to the ways of the lord and suffered the consequences>
There are three key scriptures of obedience
1) Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
2) “Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.'” John 14:23
God’s love language is Obedience.
3) “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.” 1 John 2:17
We have a choice: Obedience to the World and what it promises, Obedience to God and what He promises.
In short, Faith is trusting God enough to do what he says. The simplest of all of life shortcuts is obedience. If we would just obey God’s directives, life would be so much satisfying.
There are seven ideas we must be aware of because any of the following seven will derail our obedience to the mission we are on for Christ.
(1) The first derailing issue in our obedience is the idea that our conscience can be our guide.
Have you ever been in one of those situations where the two options felt equally “right” and you were afraid to choose and an old friend told you to “trust your gut.” This is the same as letting your conscience be your guide. Proverbs tells us:
The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. Proverbs 12:15
We think our conscience was given to us so we know what God wants of us. The problem is God only gave us a conscience to know if we are living up to our standards, not His. So every time we believe we have peace about a decision without first consulting what God may suggest on an issue, we are asking for our will to be done, not His.
Now, I know some of you have led your life by your gut and it often has proven profitable for you. However, Paul, the apostle, the man who wrote 25% of the New Testament, the man who would be imprisoned, beaten and even martyred for the faith said the following about following his gut or conscience:
My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me.1 Cor 4:4
If the apostle Paul wouldn’t trust his gut, what makes you think you can.
(2) The second detriment to being obedient is when we: Ask for more proof when God has already spoken clearly. (Judges 6-8)
Tell the story Gideon as the least likely to deliver the people.
He wanted a miracle to make sure he was on the right side of the decision. A wet fleece and dry land confirmation and its reversal. Because of that, many believe it's okay to put God to the test but the end of the story tells us how that idea culminated in a ridiculous practice that would ruin a great deal of people. They would become the people who became an idolatrous nation always asking God to jump through the hoops to provide direction. Listen to the scripture:
33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side. Judges 8:33-34
(3) The third issue derailing our obedience is we confuse risk with faith. (Luke 14:28-32, Proverbs 19:3)
A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord. Proverbs 19:3
Obedience means using your brain. There is not one place in the bible where people hadn’t already experienced God’s love, grace, mercy or even witnessed God’s miraculous powers, before they stepped forward in faith. So why do we?
<a story of someone who stepped out in faith without logic and paid the consequence>
Even Jesus said when talking about the life of a disciple said,
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? 29 For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you,
We shouldn't ignore common sense before taking steps in faith. There is always a time to analyze the situations of life. Obedience means weighing all the factors and proceeding.
(4) The fourth way we derail our obedience is failing to check in with God because the decision seems obvious. (Joshua 9:1-27)
The greatest of all lies is the idea that we fully understand what is happening in the world around us. God gives us a lot of freedom and we sometimes begin to think we have God’s game plan.
There is a great story in Joshua about God’s direction.
The background to the story is Israel was commanded to eliminate a very decadent group that lived in the land God had given them. After a few victories, people began to take notice of Israel. Then, some of the unholy group decided to trick them. Let's dig into the scripture.
24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you.” 26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. And that is what they are to this day.
(5) The fifth great derailment is “Asking God what to do without asking him WHEN to do it.”
Have you ever heard the modern day proverb - Timing is everything. It’s credited to a greek poet who wrote: “ Observe due measure, for right timing is in all things the most important factor.” - Hesiod - A didactic poet (~800 BC). Although, Salomon offered something similar in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 that might have been simplified. In either case, its wisdom personified.
In Acts 7:20-36, Luke tells the story of Moses and his emotional outburst which left a man dead. For this impetuous bout, Moses would spend the next 40 years in the desert because he jumped the gun and acted without first inquiring of God when the best time would be to free his people. The lesson is acting hastily is often not God’s plan. After all, he is the creator of time. He determines the movement.
< a personal story of acting correctly at the wrong time.>
(6) Another stumbling block to obedience is Ignoring the advice and direction of those around you who want the best for you. (Ephesians 5:21-25)
One of the great passages about biblical oneness is written by Paul when addressing a church plant in Ephesus. He was very clear. Marriage is a submission to the person you have pledged your life to. The scripture actually says:
5:21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
The implication being that because you have committed to one another in love under the rule of God, the other person has a duty to be honest and direct with you. In the same way, when you decide to become part of a Christian tribe, you have made a covenant to be just as supportive to those you worship beside. It's another form of a loving covenant only found under God, through Jesus and with his Holy Spirit.
7) The final derailment to obedience to God is believing God can't or won't use you in your less than perfect state.
Christian obedience means believing God's grace is sufficient to use us without regard to human failings. There is no one with earshot of this message who is perfect. We all fall short of the glory of God. All means all.
Scripture proves this assertion. Look at every great Saint. Hebrews 11 shares their names. They all had a blemish of disobedience but God used them mightily. Don't believe the lie that anything you have done disqualifies you from doing His will in this life.
Faith is trusting God enough to do what he says. The simplest of all of life shortcuts is obedience. It’s a loving command to each of who call Him Lord. Obey God’s directives and find abundant life.
