REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

"The Truth About Obedience!"

ICEBREAKER: What is your favorite thing about the Super Bowl? ( the snacks, the game, the commercials, the trash-talking competition, the friends & family hanging out, the half-time show, the sports caster's spin, etc...)

INTRODUCTION: Obedience is a top priority in the life of a disciple of Jesus Christ. In the Hebrew language the word for obey starts with having a listening ear. It is impossible to obey if we cannot hear God's voice. Have you ever given your child instructions while they were playing video games or watching television? They can even answer you and later say they never heard you. Often this is how we are with God. Have you ever told your child to clean up their room and that child shoved a few things in the closet and under the bed? Then when asked, the child responds, "Yes I cleaned my room!" The child actually did pick up a few things but partial obedience is still disobedience. We often do the same thing emotionally when refuse to obey God and deal with our issues. We just move into place of denial where we shove our emotional issues out of sight and out of mind. Obedience is paramount for the mature believer. Obedience is a prerequisite for God being able to trust us with people and Kingdom resources. In our confession we will make a commitment to obey. In our outline we will look at what obedience is and what it is not!

CONFESSION: I Will Obey God

· I will obey God when I feel like it and when I don't!

· I will obey God when it's popular and when it's not!

· I will obey God when it's convenient and when it's not!

· I will obey God when I can see the benefits and when I can't!

· I will obey God when I understand why and when I don't understand His reasons.

· I will obey God when I am in public and when I am alone!

· I will obey God when it’s easy and when it's hard!

· I will obey God when I'm in the time of abundance and in lack

· I will obey God when it's politically correct and when it's not!

· I will obey God when I'm in triumph and when I'm in trial

· I will obey God when I'm happy and when I'm sad!

· At all times I will obey God to the best of my ability!

DEFINITION: Obey (Hebrew) Shamah

1. to hear, listen to, obey

a. (Qal)

2. to hear (perceive by ear)

3. to hear of or concerning

4. to hear (have power to hear)

5. to hear with attention or interest, listen to

6. to understand (language)

7. to hear (of judicial cases)

8. to listen, give heed

a. to consent, agree

b. to grant request

9. to listen to, yield to

10. to obey, be obedient

OUTLINE: OBEDIENCE TO GOD AND HIS WORD

1. Obedience is better than sacrifice. (God would rather we obey Him than for us to give Him offerings He did not ask for.)

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. (1 Samuel 15:22 KJV)

2. Delayed obedience is disobedience.

3. Disgruntled obedience diminishes positive results.

Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:17 KJV)

4. Unquestioned obedience is a form of faith. Luke 7:1-10

5. Obedience produces privileges and favor.

If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. (Job 36:11 KJV)

A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. (Deuteronomy 11:27, 28 KJV)

6. Obedience releases honor.

7. Obedience is the greatest evidence of our love for God.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:15-17 KJV)

8. Obedience is the quintessential act of surrender and humility.

Obedience brings exaltation

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (James 4:10 KJV)

9. Obedience is learned through suffering. Hebrews 5:8

10. Obedience opens the door of opportunity.

For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19 KJV)

11. Acts of Obedience produces spiritual maturity.

12. Disobedience is one of the highest forms of disloyalty.

13. Anything less than complete obedience is still disobedience.

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: (Deuteronomy 28:1 KJV)

TEXT:

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV)

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth [is] mine: (Exodus 19:5)

Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump. (Galatians 5:7-9 KJV)

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:7-11 KJV)

Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Ephesians 6:1-20 KJV)

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1. Name someone who disobeyed God in the Bible and tell us what they did.

2. Why do you think obedience and putting on the whole armour of God are mentioned in the same chapter of the Bible? Ephesians 6:1-20

3. How did your parents respond to disobedience in your house growing up? How have times changed? What kind of child were you?

4. Why do you think disobedience is so disrespectful?

5. How do you feel when you know you have disobeyed God?

6. Why is it important to not only obey God but to also have an attitude to obey God?

PRAISE REPORTS & PRAYER REQUESTS:

ACTION POINT: This week I will ask God to show me any acts or attitudes of disobedience in my life. I will ask God to fix my “want to” so I want to obey God.