Obeying God, even when it Hurts

Follow Along with the Message

Obedience is the fruit of being with Jesus. It is the natural consequence of spending time in His presence.

1 Sam 15:22 NIV- “But Samuel replied, ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.’ “

When you have been with Jesus and been filled by His Spirit, your life is never the same.

Following Jesus does not promise a comfy and safe life.

Romans 12:2 NIV- “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

1. Radical obedience requires looking  to the world.

Hebrews 11:7 NIV- By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.” 

2. Radical obedience requires going by faith to places you’ve  been.

Hebrews 11:8-10 NIV- “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

3. Radical obedience requires .

Matthew 10:16-18 NIV- “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.”

Hebrews 11:17-19 NIV- “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son…Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death”

Hebrews 11:32-38 NIV- “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them.”

4. And what for?
Radical obedience produces  with God.
Radical obedience leaves a  that lasts beyond our lifetime.

Hebrews 11:39-40 NIV- “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us...”

What beautiful things, what miracles, what revivals might be unlocked by
your “yes”?

1. Can you think of a time recently when obeying God inconvenienced your life?
2. What is God calling you to do in this season?