HIS GLORY WITNESSED: through YOUR OBEDIENCE
“…If you love me, you will keep (cooperate with or follow) my commandments…” (John 14:15). “…to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness...” (Romans 6:16 KJV).“... If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love...” (John 15:1-10 KJV).“… [Jesus]... bec[ame] obedient unto death, even the death of the cross...” (Matthew 20:28 & Philippians 2:8 KJV). “…I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me” (John 6:38 KJV).
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“…If you love me, you will keep (cooperate with or follow) my commandments…” (John 14:15). What does YOUR obedience to God consist of? Obedience to God consist of HUMAN CHOICE. Obedience to God is NOT forced upon any of the redeemed; it is “their” CHOICE to obey God or not to obey God.
For example, Adam and Eve were the first, living souls, to be given a CHOICE to obey or not to obey. God, the Holy Spirit, GAVE them one HOLY instruction: “…of every tree of the garden THOU MAYEST FREELY EAT: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou SHALT NOT EAT of it; for in THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE…” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV).
BUT“…The woman [became] ... convinced [to eat from the tree, anyway]... She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it...” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
“….She [CHOOSE to take] ... some of the fruit and [eat] ... IT. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and HE ATE IT, too …” (Genesis 3:1-7 NLT).
Not only is obedience to God a CHOICE, but it is a willful act of submission to HIS instructions as the ONE who has sovereign authority over your life.
Obedience as a “willful” act means it is the redeem’s loving desire to submit to God’s instructions. Jesus said: “…not My will, but Yours be done..." (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
The “ONE” in sovereign authority over the redeem’s life is God, the Holy Spirit. “…If the Lord will, [I] ...shall live, and do this, or that...” (James 4:16 KJV). “…not My will, but Yours be done..." (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).
When the redeemed person SUBMITS to God, the Holy Spirit, they are choosing to willfully YIELD their human wills to HIS divine will. “…to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness...” (Romans 6:16 KJV).
Yielding in willful obedience, to whomever you CHOOSE, means you have decided to COMPLY with “their” instructions for your life. “…to whom ye ...[CHOOSE TO]...yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye...[CHOOSE TO]... obey...” (Romans 6:16 KJV).
Not only is obedience a CHOICE and a WILLFUL ACT; it is a demonstration of LOVE for the ONE you follow. “...why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?...” (Luke 6:46 KJV). “...If you love me, you will keep (cooperate with or follow) my commandments (the things I say to you through my word)…” (John 14:15).
Obedience cannot be REDUCED to simply following a bunch of religious rules and regulations. God’s holy instructions don’t just guide ethical or religious behaviors, but they also transform the human heart. “...This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me...” (Mark 7:6 KJV). “…for thy heart is not right in the sight of God…” (Acts 8:21 KJV).
Those who, through self-effort, follow or adhere to the list of rules, regulations, biblical instructions, or commandments greater than others, often, consider themselves MORE holy or righteous.“… Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted…” (Luke 18:9-14 NLT).
Self-effort or trying to follow God’s Holy instructions through the flesh is NOT obedience and will NOT profit the believer. “...the flesh (sinful nature) profits nothing…” (John 6:63 NASB). “…The sinful nature is always hostile to God …” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT). “...[The SINFUL NATURE]... never did obey God’s (HOLY) laws, and it never will…” (Romans 8:1-14 NLT).“…The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants ...so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. … …” (Galatians 5 NLT). “….“…I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t…” (Romans 7:14-25 NLT). “… [ALL have become]…..unclean and [their so-called] righteousnesses (efforts to do right is) as filthy rags….” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV). “... APART FROM [Christ]... you can do nothing …” (John 15:1-11 NASB). “…[jesus “is”] ...the GIFT of righteousness (goodness)…” (Romans 5:17 KJV)."....The [indwelling] ...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [y]our lives...goodness …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
The problem with MERELY following or adhering to rules, regulations, biblical instructions, and commandments, through self-effort, is that it MAY help regulate BEHAVIOR, but it “WON’T” transform the human heart. It is the heart that matters to God.“...God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). God zooms in on the “…hidden man of the heart…” (1 Peter 3:4 KJV).
Obedience NEVER comes from the outside in (through behavior), but from the inside out (through transformation). God knows it is “…from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts… wickedness…All these evil things come from within, and defile a person.” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).
The heart “…is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked…who can know it [except God?]…” (Jeremiah 17:9 KJV).
“…What shall it profit a man (woman), if he (she) shall gain the whole world (through ethical or religious behaviors), and lose his (her) own soul?...” (Mark 8:36 KJV).
Following rules and regulations, though self-effort or the flesh could lead to hypocrisy.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward (religious), but are within (the heart) full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness… ” (Matthew 23:27 KJV).
“...Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law (Holy Word) and you will only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t know the first thing about entering the kingdom...” (Matthew 5:19-20 MSG).
“…He (Jesus) knew what was in each person’s heart…” (John 2:24-25 NLT).
“...hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup (religious behavior) and of the platter, but within (in the heart) they are full of extortion and excess...” (Matthew 23:13-33 KJV).
“...hypocrites!... Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. ..” (Matthew 23:13-33 KJV).
“…This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me…” (Mark 7:6 KJV). “… Many deceivers have gone out into the world…” (2 John 1:7 NLT).
“…If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person IS A LIAR and is not living in the truth…” (1 John 2:4 NLT). “…If we “SAY” that we have fellowship with him, and WALK IN DARKNESS (in disobedience), WE LIE, and DO NOT THE TRUTH…” (1 John 1:6 KJV).
Authentic OBEDIENCE comes from a sanctified HEART. “...God SEES NOT as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART…”(1 Samuel 16:7 NASB). “…No one needed… to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart…” (John 2:24-25 NLT). “…Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men…” (Acts 1:24 KJV). “… He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked…” (Psalm 11:4-5 NLT).
A sanctified HEART comes from the indwelling Spirit which also EMPOWERS God’s people to obey his Word. . “…I can do ALL THINGS through Christ …” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).
Authentic obedience will EMPOWER you, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, to follow and adhere to God’s commandments, which means it is NOT gained by self-effort or duty-bound behavior. “….apart from Me (the invisible, indwelling Holy Spirit), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
Authentic obedience REQUIRES trust in, dependency upon, and cooperation with the indwelling Holy Spirit. “…God … does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his. … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “… God … work[s] … in … [you] … what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
1) You TRUST IN the indwelling Holy Spirit to WORK obedience “in” and “through” you.“…The [invisible] … HOLY SPIRIT …does the work (of obedience) IN and THROUGH [his people]… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).“...The HOLY SPIRIT DISPLAYS God’s power (to enable obedience) THROUGH each of us … (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT).
2) You DEPEND UPON the indwelling Holy Spirit to strengthen and empower you to obey. “…I can do ALL THINGS through Christ (by depending upon him) which strengtheneth me …” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…God …works in you TO WILL (to want to obey) and TO ACT (to actual obey) in order to fulfill his good purpose…” (Philippians 2:13 NIV).
3) You COOPERATE with the indwelling Holy Spirit by willfully choosing to follow and adhere to God’s instructions (WORD). “… Let the Holy Spirit guide your lives (by choosing to cooperate with the Holy Spirit). Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. …” (Galatians 5 NLT). “…I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye…” (Psalms 32:8 KJV).
Jesus trusted in, depended upon, and cooperated with God, the invisible Holy Spirit.. “...He (Jesus) gave Himself over to Him (God, the Holy Spirit who judges) ...justly (fairly)...” (1 Peter 2:23 KJV). “…I (Jesus,) do nothing of myself…” (John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me (Jesus), he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…He helps me…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT). HOW? “…God (the Holy Spirit) anointed (empowered) Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit (himself) and POWER, …” (Acts 10:38 NIV).
“…Jesus of Nazareth ... went around doing good and healing all (HOW?)...because …God [the holy spirit]… was with him…” (Acts 10:38 NIV).
“…The [Holy] ...Spirit of the Lord (of Jesus) … anointed [empowered HIM] to preach the gospel to the poor ... [empowered him] to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).
REMEMBER, “… [Jesus was EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit FIRST and then he] ...went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; [BECAUSE] ...GOD WAS WITH HIM…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV). “…Apart from [God, the Holy Spirit] YOU can do nothing….” (John 15:5 KJV).
Was God’s GLORY WITNESSED through Jesus’ obedience? “…Jesus saith … he that hath seen me hath SEEN THE FATHER…” (John 14:9 KJV). “…The Son is … the EXACT representation of his being (presence, power, goodness, etc.)…” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV). “...Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does...” (John 5:19 NLT).
Jesus was a WITNESS for God’s GLORY by what he DID in OBEDIENCE. Through Jesus’ obedience we WITNESS God, the Holy Spirit’s presence, his power, and his goodness or his GLORY. “…The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord…” (John 4:16-21 KJV).“… [Jesus] ...went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; [BECAUSE] ...GOD...[the Holy Spirit]... WAS WITH HIM…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV).
Jesus was a WITNESS to God’s GLORY (his presence, power, and goodness upon the earth) because he was also UNITED in a covenant relationship with HIM. "...I and my Father are one.,," (John 10:30 KJV). “…I do nothing of myself…” (John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “…for GOD WAS WITH HIM. And we are witnesses of all things which he did …” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV).
God’s MANIFESTED GLORY through Jesus backed up and PROVED Jesus was WHO he claimed to be. “…God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and WITH POWER: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for GOD WAS WITH HIM. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV).
“…God (the Holy Spirit) publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. …” (ACTS 2:22 KJV).
“…I do nothing of myself…” (John 8:28 KJV). “…the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
Jesus, had an earthen vessel, just like YOU, so WHO “actually” DID the WORKS, through HIM?
The Holy Spirit, within Jesus, actually DID the WORKS. “…[Jesus said]…the Father (the Holy Spirit) that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV). “... The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. …” (Galatians 5 NLT). “…Ye shall know [those with the indwelling Holy Spirit]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV).
“…He who ABIDES in Me and I in him (her), he (she) bears much fruit … ” (John 15:1-11 NASB). "… [if you] ...bear much fruit, [you] ... PROVE to be My disciples” (John 15:8 NIV). “…The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). “…God (the Holy Spirit) publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. …” (ACTS 2:22 KJV).
God backs up Jesus’ claims with the demonstration of his PRESENCE, his POWER, and his GOOD nature. For instance, JESUS saves through God’s INDWELLING presence, power, and kind nature “...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house…” (ACTS 16:31 KJV).
“…God saved us ...He did this, not because we DESERVED it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his GRACE (GOODNESS) through Christ Jesus…” (2 Timothy 1:9 NLT). “…Since it is through God’s kindness (GOOD NATURE)…[and] not by [your] good works... [it].. is—free and undeserved…” (Romans 11:5 NLT).
GOD’S GLORY IS WITNESSED THROUGH Jesus’ WILFULL OBEDIENCE, WHICH WITNESSES HIS PRESENCE UPON EARTH, HIS POWER AND GOODNESS. “…The invisible [Holy Spirit]…from the creation of the world …[was] ...clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made…” (Romans 1:20 KJV). “... The [invisible]...Holy Spirit produces (makes)... this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
“…The [invisible] … HOLY SPIRIT …does the work (of making spiritual fruit) IN and THROUGH all of us who are his… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). "… [The]… Father is glorified (his presence, power, and goodness is made known or WITNESSED) by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit (such as spiritual fruit), and ...PROVE to be [his]… disciples” (John 15:8).
WHEN YOU, like Jesus, TRUST IN, DEPEND UPON, AND COOPERATE WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT by following God’s instructions; HIS GLORY WILL BE WITNESSED THROUGH YOUR OBEDIENCE too!
Your obedience is not MERE acts of your flesh witnessed through religious behaviors, but obedience is an act of the HEART WITNESSED through willful submission to follow God’s instructions for your life.
Obedience is NOT an act of duty or obligation, but one of LOVE. “….love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…” (Luke 10:27 KJV). AND “…If you love me, you will keep (cooperate with or follow) my commandments …” (John 14:15).
Obedience is a CHOICE, it is WILLFUL SUBMISSION, and it is an ACT OF LOVE. No one is perfectly obedience, but they have a desire to be obedient, and will daily make an effort to work out their own salvation.“….WORK OUT [your]… own salvation…” (Philippians 2:12 KJV). “
Working out your own SALVATION includes following God’s instructions daily by: “…[Choosing to put]… aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to SAVE YOUR SOULS….” (James 1:21 NASB).
It is actively “…[choosing to] …throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life…” (Ephesians 4:22 NIV).
“ ... [It is also choosinb to]…put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor…” (Ephesians 4:25 NLT).
It is “….[choosing to]…let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice…” (Ephesians 4:31 KJV).
“….Ye also [choose to]…put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth….” (Colossians 3:8 KJV).
“… [You choose to lay] … aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings…” (1 Peter 2:1 KJV).
How can you obey and work out your OWN salvation on a daily basis? “…[You]... can do ALL THINGS through Christ (the Word of God) which strengtheneth ...[you]…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). .“…it is God (the indwelling Holy Spirit) which worketh in [you]… both to will (to desire to obey) and to do (to actually obey)...” (Philippians 2:13 KJV). “….Apart from Me (the Word of God; the indwelling Spirit), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).
Working out your OWN SALVATION is also a CHOICE. “… [You]… are given...exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be PARTAKERS of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance PATIENCE; and to PATIENCE godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ…[CHOOSE TO]...GIVE DILIGENCE TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND “ELECTION” SURE; FOR IF YOU “DO” THESE THINGS, YE SHALL NEVER FALL...” (2 Peter 1: 4-9 KJV).
BELIEVERS have a CHOICE to willfully SUBMIT and loving FOLLOW God’s instructions. “... I ...[choose to] ... die daily...” (1 Corinthians 15:31 KJV). "…My Father is glorified by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit (much spiritual fruit)” (John 15:8 NIV).
HOW? “…God ...does the work IN AND THROUGH all of us who are his… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…The fruit of the Spirit (the righteous conduct of the Holy Spirit) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22-23 KJV). "....The [indwelling] ...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [y]our lives …” (Galatians 5 NLT).
"…My Father is glorified by this, that “YOU” bear much fruit (much spiritual)...” (John 15:8 NIV).
When god’s glory is upon something or someone, it means, at that moment, IT OR THEY are being a witness for his “very” presence, his power, and his immutable goodness. “…The Son (Jesus, the Word of God) is the RADIANCE (witness, revelation) of God’s Glory (his presence, his power, his goodness) and the EXACT representation of his being (Holy nature))…” (Hebrews 1:3 KJV). “…Jesus saith unto him, Have I (the WITNESS of his Holy Spirit) been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath SEEN ME (Jesus) HATH SEEN the Father (God, the Holy Spirit); and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?” (John 14:9 KJV). “… I (Jesus) and my Father (the Holy Spirit) are ONE [and the same]…” (John 10:30 KJV).
“..... [Jesus]... took the humble position of a slave ...” (Philippians 2:5-7 NLT).
“…[Jesus]...HUMBLED himself and became obedient unto death (inward), even the death of the cross (outward)…” (Philippians 2:8 KJV).
“… [Jesus] ...went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; [BECAUSE,] ...GOD [THE HOLY SPIRIT] ...WAS WITH HIM…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV). “…The Father that dwelleth in [JESUS], he doeth the works…” (John 14:10 KJV).
“…Jesus saith unto him ...he that hath SEEN ME (Jesus) HATH SEEN the Father (God, the Holy Spirit)...” (John 14:9 KJV).
"…My Father is glorified by this...” (John 15:8 NIV).
GLORIFIED BY WHAT? YOUR OBEDIENCE!
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