OceanSide church of Christ
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Title: Trust and
Obey!
Wayne Rodgers
Thesis: Looking at the idea and examples of those
who put their faith and trust in God and obeyed His
word.
Introduction:
A. How
much do we truly trust people?
1.
I am sure there are some you trust more than
others.
2.
We all tend to trust some people more than others - policemen,
firefighters, preachers, etc...
3.
My children trust me - they leap into my arms from any height. They know I will take care of them and
protect them.
4.
Would it not be great if only we had that same trust for our heavenly
father?
B. Do we
truly trust in God?
1. We
need to learn more about who He is. (Rom.
10:17) Faith comes from hearing God’s Word this
is where we gain our knowledge of who God really
is.
a.
The Creator
Gen
1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven
and the earth.
Psa
19:1 <A Psalm of David.> The heavens
declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his
handywork.
b.
Faithful
1Co
1:9 God is
faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our
Lord.
c.
Refuge, Strength & Help
Psa
46:1 God is
our refuge and strength, a very present help in
trouble.
d.
Love
1Jn
4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another: for
love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He
that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1Jn
4:19 We love him, because he first loved
us.
e.
Rewarder
Heb
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
Mat
5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for
great is your reward in heaven: for so
persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
f.
Greatly to be feared
Psa
89:7 God is greatly to be feared in the
assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.
Ecc
12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole
matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of
man.
g.
Longsuffering
2Pe
3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish, but that all should come to
repentance.
Act
17:30 And the times of this ignorance God
winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to
repent:
- Now that we know something
of whom God is…Knowing He is faithful and has promised to save us
C. Do we TRUST God
enough to OBEY Him?
1.
This is a personal question -
Do YOU? / Do I?
a.
Consider King David - Psa 31:1
In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me
in thy righteousness.
b.
David did not trust in the fact that he was King, or his mighty men,
etc...
2.
Also consider these Bible passages:
a.
Heb
5:8-9 Though he were a Son, yet learned he
obedience by the things which he suffered;
(9) And being made perfect, he became the
author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey
him;
b.
1Pe
1:21-22 Who by him do believe in God, that
raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might
be in God. (22)
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the
Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that
ye love one another with a pure heart
fervently:
c.
Joh
14:15 If ye love me, keep my
commandments.
D. Just
how important is obedience?
1.
Consider our religious neighbors: with their various beliefs and doctrine
in which they teach – not to beat up on them, but…the differences in belief begs
the question: How important is obedience, when some
teach…
a.
Faith Only...
Eph
2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:
b.
Grace Only...
Heb
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he
is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
c.
Calvinism...TULIP – this is
the background doctrine to the doctrines
d.
These belittle the idea of obedience suggesting that we are teaching we
must work for salvation.
Joh
6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This
is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath
sent.
2.
Consider Biblical examples:
a.
Noah - Heb.
11:7 - By faith Noah....prepared an
ark...
b.
Jericho walls - Heb. 11:30 - by faith the walls of
Jericho fell...after they were compassed about seven days.
c.
Others we will look at later...
d.
The point however is clear that the Word of God teaches and illustrates
the necessity of obedience.
E.
Therefore is obedience necessary?
Discussion:
1.
Obedience is not always EASY:
A.
Abraham is a shining example of true
obedience.
1.
Heb
11:17-18 By faith Abraham, when he was tried,
offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only
begotten son, (18) Of
whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be
called:
2.
Genesis 22:1-13 -
READ
B.
Consider a few questions concerning Abraham and the issue of trusting and
obey.
1.
Was God’s request to Abraham easy to follow?
2.
Did Abraham argue and question God?
3.
Consider how Abraham must have felt.
a.
His only son - the son of promise - Isaac was probably excited about
being able to go with his father. (Expound) – 35 and I still get excited about
the prospect of going with my dad somewhere…
b.
Three day journey - sleepless nights, Isaac slept soundly, Abraham maybe
tossing and turning each night wondering
- “what am I going to tell Sara?”
C. Was
this command easy - surely not - but what a shining example of complete
obedience and trust in God.
D. Yet
consider another servant of God - the king
Jehoshaphat.
1.
2 Chron. 20:1ff -
READ
2.
Notice the feelings of trust of which Abraham and Jehoshaphat possessed.
a.
Both men of God.
b.
Both given a command by God.
c.
Out a great love and respect for God (knowing who he is) we see both of
these men are obedient to God
E.
With these examples describing the proper attitude toward God, where do
we stand?
1.
Are you in complete trust and compliance with the will of
God?
2.
Is our attitude one that is completely trusting in
God?
F.
It is true that obedience is not always easy: It may be that God is
asking us to do things that are hard and not easily completed. Yet, we must be ready and willing to do
whatever he commands.
G.
Consider these:
1.
Visit the wayward member...
Jas
5:19-20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the
truth, and one convert him; (20) Let
him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall
save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of
sins.
2.
Attendance...
Heb.
10:25
Mat
6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you.
3.
Giving...
1Co
16:1-2 Now concerning the collection for the
saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. (2) Upon
the first day of the week let every one of you
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him,
that there be no gatherings when I come.
4.
Praying for those who persecute and despitefully use
us...
5.
Etc...for the
Christian, but what about for the one who
has never obeyed the Gospel?
- It must be difficult to think of leaving the world as you know it and
have been accustomed to it for all this time.
- To now knowing who God is… knowing it is time to make a choice… knowing
you can no longer live in the world… knowing that God has sacrificed His Son on
your behalf… knowing he has laid a plan of salvation in front of you, one easily
seen in the pages of the NT
- It must be difficult to think of having friends or family that may not
understand our choices, who may no longer support us because of what we
believe.
- But, it is more difficult to
imagine how horrible the depths of HELL will be if we do not believe and obey
God in His Gospel plan to save us.
2.
Obedience can be costly:
A. We
are instructed by the Word of God to follow in the steps of the
Savior.
B. Yet
Jesus gives stipulations for following Him:
1.
Luk
9:23 And he said to them all, If any man
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and
follow me.
2.
Joh
14:15 If ye love me, keep my
commandments.
C. To be
a follower of Jesus one must be willing to crucify that old
man.
1.
Romans
6:3-6 READ - This will certainly cost me
something that old man has to go away, he can no longer rule my life. B/c Christ now rules in my life! I have to give up all things to
Christ!
But Christ is not asking us to give up anything that is good for
us!
2.
Eph
4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former
conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts; (23) And
be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
(24) And that ye put on the new man, which
after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness.
D. But
how is being a follower of Christ COSTLY?
1.
Consider Moses - Heb 11:24-26
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter; (25)
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
(26) Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater
riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of
the reward.
a.
What did it cost Moses?
b.
Riches, power, friends, those who he had learn to
love.
c.
yet he focused on the true reward.
2.
Being a disciple of Christ may cost you that which your not wanting to
give up:
a.
People you associate yourself with.
1Co
15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications
corrupt good manners.
b.
Places you enjoy going...
1Th
5:22 Abstain from all appearance of
evil.
c.
I am reminded of the rich young ruler in Luke 18 who asked what he must do to
inherit eternal life - Jesus said, sell all that thou hast and come follow me -
he departed sorrowful.
But Christ is not asking us to give up anything that is good for
us!
E.
Mar
8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he
shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
1.
No price is too great.
Nothing is more valuable than your soul!
Obedience is not always
easy...
Obedience can be costly...
3.
Obedience is always necessary:
A.
Consider the account of Naaman in the Old
Testament
Rom
15:4 For whatsoever things were written
aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of
the scriptures might have hope.
1.
2 Kings 5:1-11 – Naaman - Tell story and how it relates
to our study.
2.
Obedience is what cleansed him - not the water of
Jordan.
B. How
do you think the children of Israel understood the significance of putting blood
above the door and on the side post? (Ex. 12:22)?
1.
Was it the blood of the lamb that saved them? No, it was their obedience to
God.
C. What
about BAPTISM today?
1.
Did Jesus really mean what he said? Mark 16:15-16 - Go ye in to all the world...
2.
Did the early church and those which went about spreading the Gospel
understand baptism?
a.
Every account in the book of Acts - baptism
b.
1 Peter
3:21 - baptism doth also now save us...
3.
Just like with Naaman, It is not the water that saves us - we
are not working for are trying to earn our salvation - just simple OBEDIENCE!
D. When
one considers Nadab and Abihu we see that God means what he says - Lev. 10:1-2
E.
How can baptism not be essential when we consider
- 2 Thess. 1:7-9
And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be
revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, (8) In
flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the
gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
(9) Who shall be punished with everlasting
destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his
power;
Conclusion:
A. Do
you trust in God enough to obey Him?
How will we respond to God…Humble obedience putting our trust and faith
in Him?
B. Trust
and Obey!
1.
Obedience
is not always EASY
- consider Jesus going to the cross. It is not easy to admit when we are wrong
and need to repent -
2.
Obedience
can be costly - it
may cost you friends, relatives, even your job, etc... Yet, not to obey will cost you your
soul.
3.
Obedience
is always necessary - one cannot be saved without
obedience to God’s design and plan of salvation – through our belief in Christ,
repentance of a sinful life, confession of Jesus as the Son of God, and baptism
for the remission of sins.
APPEAL
