“OBEDIENCE”

1. One of the things that annoys many doctors is disobedience.

2. A doctor prescribes some needed medication for a patient.

A. He says that all the pills are to be taken; half the bottle is thrown away.

B. The doctor says to take 3 pills a day; maybe only 1 or 2 pills’ are taken.

3. Doctors prescribe a certain type of diet; patients refuse to abide by.

4. Doctors tell patients to stop smoking; many don’t.

5. A doctor advised a follow visit; the appointment is never made.

I IN MANY WAYS OUR SOCIETY IS ONE THAT IS SELECTIVE IN ITS OBEDIENCE.

A. This selective obedience is often applied to Christianity.

B. If people like what is described in the Bible;

C. If what some read in scripture meets their approval;

D. Obedience to what God has said is fine.

E. If what some read in the Bible is considered to be undesirable,

F. If people do not like what they read, obedience somehow becomes unnecessary.

G. Today we are going to look at selective obedience.

H. Our text will come from 5 places, the first of which is Gen: 2.

I. The Bible practically opens with a lesson about disobedience.

J. God said that Adam and Eve were not to partake of a certain tree.

K. As we well know, they did eat of this tree.

(1) Eating from the forbidden tree was an act of disobedience.

(2) Think about the first couple’s sin in light of America.

(3) Imagine that there is a beautiful city park in Goshen.

(4) Fruit trees are in this park.

(5) City residents may eat from every tree but one.

(6) One day a wife sneaks over to the forbidden tree.

(7) She snatches a piece of the fruit and takes a big bite.

(8) She passes the fruit to her husband and the couple is caught.

L. What would our society do to these two people?

(1) Would the couple be put to death? No.

(2) Would the two be in prison for life? No

(3) At the worst, would probably be charged with a misdemeanor.

(4) We would expect the law to say, “This is not a serious crime”

(5) “Though you disobeyed the law, it was not a great infraction.

M. Let’s look at Genesis: 2:17- READ

(1) The command was clear: do not eat of this tree.

(2) To us, violating this command may seem to be a small crime.

(3) What is the big deal about eating fruit from a tree?

(4) God promised in Gen: 2: 17 that this would not be as insignificant.

(5) In spite of the warning, Adam and Eve ate the fruit.

(6) As a result of the disobedience there were consequences.

(7) Gen: 3:16-19- READ.

N. A small act of disobedience resulted in serious consequences.

II PEREHAPS THIS WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. MAYBE AS MAN CONTINUED TO POPULATE THE EARTH THE NEED FOR OBEDIENCE TO GOD DECREASED.

A. Two books later we come to Leviticus.

B. By this time a Bible history the Hebrew nation existed.

C. An entire religious system was well established.

D. In this religious system there were rules.

E. God told all people to do things in a certain way.

(1) In Lev. We find that God operated just like we do

(2) At some time in the past most here in the past most here have filled out a form.

(3) A form may ask for our name in a box # 1.

(4) Since we have been told to put our name in box #1.

(5) We do not need a statement which says, “Do not put your name in boxes 2, 3, 4, and etc

F. When we are told what to do, we don’t need a zillion instructions on what not to do.

H. We use this principle every day. Lev: 10 we learn about two priests.

I. These two men needed fire to perform their religious duties.

J. God had told these men to get the fire from a specific place

K. If you have found Lev: 10 let’s read the first two verses: Lev: 10 1-2 READ

(1) The fire used by the priests was “strange fire.”

(2) What was “strange fire?” It was fire which had not been commanded.

(3) These men knew where to get the right fire. These men knew what was required to obey God.

(4) Though they had this knowledge, they took fire from another.

(5) They disobeyed God. The punishment for disobedience was death.

N. Looking at this from our viewpoint, how serious was the disobedience?

O. Most in our country would say, “Fire is fire.”

P. “Fire from one spot cannot be any better than fire from another.”

Q. “They didn’t do it exactly right, but it was pretty close.”

R. “Who cares about where fire comes from?” God does.

(1) To us the eating of the forbidden fruit would be insignificant.

(2) Using fire from another source would not matter,

(3) To God, obedience has always mattered. When He gave instructions (Gen: 2);

(4) Or when He commanded that specific things be done (Lev: 10; Obedience was necessary.

III. TO THIS SOMEONE MAY SAY, “OBEDIENCE IS IMPORDTANT, BUT THERE IS ANOTHER FACTOR TO CONSIDER. WHAT ABOUT A PERSON’S HEART? IN OTHER WORDS, PERHAPS A PERSON IS NOT DOING THINGS EXACTLY RIGHT, BUT THEY HAVE A GOOD HEART. SURELY GOD WILL ACCEPT THOSE WITH GOOD HEARTS, THOUGH THEIR OBEDIENCE MAY NOT BE EXACT.

A. Let’s look at the next book in the Bible of Numbers.

B. Under the OT system of worship there was an “Ark.”

C. Inside this box were certain items

D. There were times when this ark was carried.

E. God said that the ark was to be carried in a certain way.

F. Num. 4:15 READ

G. The “sons of Khoath (Levites) were to carry the ark. (A plain command)

H. At a later time in Bible history the ark was put on a cart.

I. This was violation of the command in Num. 4.

J. As the ark was on the cart (2 Sam.6); it looked like it would fall.

K. Picture what happened.

L. An essential religious item was being moved.

M. It is about to fall and perhaps be seriously damaged.

N. There is a man standing by and he realizes what is happening.

O. Since he can see that the ark is bout to fall, he moves (acts) to keep the ark from falling.

(1) In our culture we would say that this man saved the day.

(2) He possibly saved a precious object from serious damaged.

(3) Some type of honor might be given to him. Reward the man.

(4) What does 2 Sam. 6 say? Verses 6-7- READ

(5) Not only was the ark to be moved by Levites carrying it,

(6) Uzzah had no authority to touch it. This man Died

Q. Everything indicates that Uzzah was a man with good intentions.

R. His heart appears to have been in the right place.

S. It would seem that he simply wanted to do a good deed.

(1) The forbidden fruit seems like such a small matter;

(2) Fire from the wrong place – that seems insignificant;

(3) Trying to keep a divine item from harm – would seem to be a good thing.

T. In each of these cases we have disobedience.

U. The lack of obedience brought serious punishment

IV. LET’S LOOK AT A TYPE OF SITUATION WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONES WE HAVE STUDIED UP TO THIS POINT. WHAT ABOUT AN EMERGENCY? SURELY IF THERE IS SOME TYPE OF CHRISIS. OBEDIENCE MAY BE OVERLOOKED.

A. A man named Saul had 3 major encounters with the Philistines.

B. 1 Sam. 13 records one of these battles.

C. Saul knew that a sacrifice needed to be offered before the battle.

D. Saul was not authorized to offer the sacrifice. Hence, he was waiting for the right man to come.

E. Saul waited and waited for the right man to come. Waited seven days; he though he ran out of time F. Saul believed that this was an emergency situation vs. 8-9.

G. Did a crisis situation excuse Saul from Obedience? Was Saul justified because of the military problem?

I. The answer is in the text 13A- READ.

J. It does not sound like Saul’s emergency justified his disobedience.

K. Let’s keep reading 13B-14.

L. If we skipped over to chapters we will come to another incident:

N. 15:23 says that rebellion (disobedience to God is always wrong.

O. Yet, we have thousands of so-called Christians who say,

P. “We do not do things quite like the Bible says, but “we agree on the big things;

Q. “Smaller issues do not matter.”

(1) When we hear that smaller issues do not matter,

(2) We need to ask, “what about the fruit?’ “What about the fire?

(3) “What about the man trying to steady the ark?”

(4) What about the wrong men offering the right sacrifice?”

V. WE HAVE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND SEEN THAT IN EVERY CASE, DISOBEDIENCE WAS ALWAYS PUNISHED. LET’S NOW LOOK AT AN EXAMPLE OF SOMEONE WHO WAS DEAR TO GOD.

A. Would God chastise His children if they are disobedient?

B. Our answer comes from 2 Chronicles. 26.

C. At the age of 16 a man named Uzzah became a king.

D. Uzzah also live as God wanted v, 4 READ

\ E. The Bible says that God helped Uzzah (v.7 of our text).

F. Uzzah also lived as God wanted – v, 4 READ

G. This man was on good terms with God.

H. Skipping down to vs. 16-21 READ

I. No one will be excused for disobeying God.

J. For this reason Christians must walk in the light; repenting & confessing.

K. This is why every accountable person needs to become a Christian.

L Can not pass over disobedience on the part of accountable

M. If we want to serve God, we must be willing to obey God.

N. We start by obeying what is in His word, adding nothing to.

O. We continue by obeying what is in His word, adding nothing to.

P. Is each one here, right now, obedient to God.

Q. If we answer “king of, sort of, somewhat, partially, or No”.

(1) Think of the fruit, the fire, the ark, Saul, and Uzzah.

(2) We have no hope without obedience to God.

(3) If you have been thinking about obedience.

(4) Based upon what has been said today, finalize that decision to be obey

(5) We invite you to do that now as we stand and sing.