Sermon on Obedience – When Obedience is Hard
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TITLE: When Obedience is Hard
INTRODUCTION:
A. Hebrews 5:7-8
B. Following the course of least resistance makes men, as well as rivers, crooked.
C. Invariably doing the easy thing is a dangerous way to live.
D. We cannot please God if we always do the easy thing, because obeying God sometimes requires the doing of things that are not easy.
E. “Sometimes” obedience is not really obedience
1. James 2:10
2. In other words, we stand condemned by the whole law when we violate any part of it
F. The test of true faith is whether we obey when it is hard to obey. It is hard to obey…
DISCUSSION: [discussion of this sermon on obedience]
A. OBEDIENCE: WHEN I AM NOT “IN THE MOOD”
1. If we decline to do the right thing when we simply don’t feel like it, what kind of commitment to God does that reflect?
a. That is not commitment at all!
b. What if God was not in the mood to sustain the universe?
c. If we are not in the mood to obey God – we need to change our mood quickly
2. We need to resolve to be “be instant [urgent – ASV; ready – NKJ] in season, out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2).
a. Remembering and abiding by Mark 12:30 will help us get into the mood
b. In reality, not being in the mood to obey God is out right disobedience – it is disrespect for God
3. It is hard to obey.
B. OBEDIENCE: WHEN IT IS NOT “CONVENIENT”
1. Felix is the classic example of one who postponed doing the right thing until “a convenient time” _ Acts. 24:25
2. If we think we will delay obedience until it becomes easier, we usually find that it only becomes harder
a. Matthew 19:21-22
b. The cost of discipleship usually rises with time.
3. If we are not careful we may reveal that our schedules, routines, habits, etc. are more important to us than the Lord’s will.
a. It this is true of us, how can we fulfill what the Lord requires?
b. Matthew 6:33
4. It is possible to be so possessed by our usual routine that the Lord has to “make an appointment” if He needs us for anything!
a. Would we like for the Lord to treat us in this fashion?
b. We can go to the Lord at any moment and He will be there for us – we must have an open schedule for the Lord at all times
5. The real work of the Lord rarely fits into the neat pattern of “convenient” openings in our lives
a. Significant involvement in the Lord’s work often involves the same kind of disruptions that a new baby brings into a household.
1) Some things can’t wait – even at 3:00 in the morning
2) There is much in the Lord’s work that cannot be put on the back burner
b. Obedience to the commands of God are not always convenient
1) Going to worship is not always convenient
2) Home Bible study is not always convenient
3) Benevolent efforts are not always convenient
4) Standing for truth will not always be convenient
c. Friends, obedience is not always convenient
6. It is hard to obey
C. WHEN I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GOD HAS REQUIRED SOMETHING
1. We may not always comprehend the “why” of God’s will – or how more good than ill can come from doing what God wills.
2. But people of true faith have always trusted God enough to obey:
a. Noah – Genesis 6:13-22
b. Abraham – Genesis 12:1-4
c. Moses – Exodus 3:7-10
3. Understanding can wait – obedience cannot!
a. We may not understand why adultery is the only scriptural grounds for divorce and remarriage – but that is what God said
b. We may not understand why we are only to sing acappella in our worship – but that is what God said
c. Obedience is sometimes hard when we do not understand why God has required something
4. It is hard to obey
D. OBEDIENCE: WHEN MY PREFERENCE IS OTHERWISE
1. Human “wisdom,” “emotion,” etc. often interfere with genuine obedience.
a. Proverbs 14:12
b. Jeremiah 10:21
2. But, again, people of true faith have always been willing to subordinate self-will to God’s will:
a. Abraham – Genesis 22:1-3
b. Naaman – 2 Kings 5:10-12
c. Jesus – Hebrews 5:7-9
3. It is often times hard to obey God when our preference is otherwise
4. It is hard to obey.
5. Finally, in this sermon on obedience…
E. OBEDIENCE: WHEN IT WOULD EMBARRASS ME
1. We often use the word hypocrite to describe the worldly person who comes to church on Sunday morning and pretends to be a godly individual.
2. But hypocrite can also describe the person who pretends not to be a believer in order to avoid the risk of others’ displeasure:
a. The chief rulers – John 12:42-43
b. Peter
1) Luke 22:54-62
2) Galatians 2:11-13
3. Refusal to obey because of embarrassment is really denial of the Lord
a. Mark 8:38
b. Friends, let’s be honest, It is sometimes difficult to obey or stand up for God because of fear of embarrassment
CONCLUSION: Concluding this sermon on obedience…
A. Paul said that to be consistently obedient he had to discipline himself
1. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
2. Self discipline is vital in our pleasing God
B. Jesus, of course, is the supreme example of consistent obedience
1. Matthew 26:39
2. Hebrews 12:2
C. In true perspective, disobedience is “hard” and obedience is “easy”
1. Proverbs 13:15
2. Matthew 11:28-29
D. May nothing stand in our way of being obedient until the Lord.