Search Here

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Obedience Defined


Text: Philippians 2:12-13
Title: Obedience Defined

Last week, we talked bearing Godly fruits even in the midst of trials. Today, we will be talking the real meaning of bearing fruits, the meaning of Obedience.


I. Consistent Obedience v.12 – “always obeyed” Paul said here that “as you always obeyed”. This signifies a continuous obedience. A true commitment to obedience should be continuous accompanied by consistency. Consistency involves maintaining the shape. Meaning, if we are obedient by heart and by actions, then we will continue to be obedient by heart and by action.
Sometimes, Christians are continuously serving God, but without consistency. If God has taught us last Sunday to continue serving God, right now He’s telling us that we not only continuously serving God, but also consistently serving him. Many Christians are on and off with their service with God. It’s a sign of immaturity. When God called you, did he said that you can obey him on and off? No, but he said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross DAILY and follow me.” Jesus did not use “today”, or “tomorrow”, he used the word, “DAILY”. Take note that almost if not all translation used the word “daily”.
This is the main reason why back-sliding is not good for Christians. It is because at the first hand of disobedience, we already fell into sin of not taking up our cross. Instead of claiming God’s promises, we tend to escape from our problems. The Lord is speaking to us right now to start being consistent in Him.


II. Honest Obedience v.12 – “not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence” The Philippian church is obedient to Christ, even with or without their minister. They are obedient even if there are no eyes looking on them. It is more on putting their responsibility as Christian in as a serious matter.
But sometimes, Christians – in our context – only obey if the pastor is looking at them. Remember that even if the pastor is not looking at you, God in heaven is looking at you. It is not the pastor whom you are serving, it is our Lord. Ephesians 6:7 says, “serve wholeheartedly, as if you are serving the Lord.”
This is for sure, if you have been dishonest in your obedience to God, the Bible said in 1Timothy 5:25, “25In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.” This means, that whatever we do even in secret will be disclosed sooner or later. This next verse is even more powerful, Hebrews 4:12-13, “12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”


III. Working Obedience v.12 – “work out” We are to work out our salvation. It’s not about losing the salvation that God gave but putting into action a new life that God gave to us through his Son Jesus Christ. It’s like taking off our old self and living a new in Christ Jesus.
It’s not just saying and praying, ”Lord I commit to you my life or Lord use me in your ministry.” In addition to it, after the service, you say to me or to our leaders, “Sir I am committing myself to this ministry beginning today. What are my assignments?” After you have been given an assignment, then you will do it.
Working obedience is allowing yourself to be discipled. It is not only professing as Christians but working as Christians. This is a mandatory statement, “continue to work on your salvation”.
Just for self evaluation. Since the time that we’ve been a Christian, let’s ask ourselves, did we ever involved ourselves in the church? Did we ever work before as a one part of the body of Christ? If we did that before, how about now? Are we doing the same? Or simply we stop working because its boring and an additional work?
Guess what; sometimes we think that being in the ministry is an additional work for us? Because we have our job, we are busy, we have businesses, the more we become busy. Just to remind you brothers and sisters, it is Christ who gave himself up for a sinner like us. And he did not demand anything from us except to be obedient in his words.
Luke 7:41-43 41“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
This is the story of a sinful woman who washed brought Jesus a perfume in an alabaster jar. She stood behind Jesus at his feet, weeping. Then she began to wet Jesus’ feet with her tears and after that pouring out perfume at his feet and wiped it with her hair. The story ended with Jesus saying that the woman loved him the more. How about us? Do we feel like loving Jesus the more?
Take note that the woman showed her repentance with action. Now let me tell you this, we really love God and if we really say that we obey his words, then why not put into actions what we profess. If we truly committed our lives in the service of our Lord, this is what I believe, we can and will put that commitment into actions. Because it means nothing if we pray a commitment prayer, but cannot put it into action.


IV. Fearful Obedience v.12 – “fear and trembling” What Paul is saying here is that we have to be fearful in our obedience, as if we are serving a high ranking official like a King.
In the Bible, the word fear NIV version was used for 255 times. Now you will see lots of passages that talks about fear. There are some passages that says, “do not fear”, but there are some that talks about “fear God, or fear Him”. Let me summarize this so that it will be clear to all of us.
If the word fear is about us obeying the Lord, then it says, “do not fear”. If the statement involves disobedience it will say “fear the Lord”. Example: 1 Corinthians 16:1010If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am. It mentioned about “nothing to fear”, take note Timothy is about to become a minister. How about this passage, Proverbs 3:7 “…fear the LORD and shun evil.” It’s about fearing God if we disobey.
Sometimes this is what we are lacking. We do not fear God anymore. Sometimes, we fear pastor more than we fear God. Fearful obedience means being fearful to disobey, being afraid to commit mistakes. It is more on watching carefully our own lives on how we obey God. Do we still fear God? Now if we do not fear God anymore, maybe we need to ask ourselves right here right now. Brothers and sisters, we now we see that we have a calloused heart, well, I think it’s better to reflect on ourselves. Let’s talk to God and ask Him, “Lord, do I still fear you? Is my heart so calloused now that I can’t even stop my sinful acts? How about my hidden sins?”
Brothers and sisters, the passage is speaking to us directly, fear the Lord. Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Do not fear to obey God but fear to disobey Him.


Conclusion
Philippians 2:14-16
14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life…

Also visit: http://wsmuniversity.blogspot.com.
Technorati Profile

Related Posts with Thumbnails