OBEDIENCE REQUIRES GOD'S PEOPLE TO CHOOSE TO BECOME "ALL IN"

                                                                                        

OBEDIENCE, REQUIRES 

GOD'S PEOPLE TO BE  "ALL IN"

“…Obedient unto death…” (Philippians 2:8 KJV)

 

In the mutual relationship with God, the Caregiver does the “drawing for a response” and you, the believer, his child, are enabled to respond to God’s drawing, by exercising faith, when you hear and learn about the “good news” of the gospel.

The newly, restored attachment abilities are empowered by the indwelling fruit of faith to activate the mutual love bond between Christ and the believer. “...A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul...” (Acts 14:16 NASB).

God loved you first, so you can NOW love him back. Remember, “...We love, because he first loved us...” (1 John 4:19 ASV).

Once the mutual relationship begins, the infant believer will show obvious signs that she or he is “joined,” restored, or attached to God. Jesus said, “… that the world may know that I love the Father…” (John 14:31 KJV).

One major sign, that you have a very intimate and mutually loving relationship with God, is “obedience.” “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

Jesus loved God as Father and Caregiver. Philippians 2:8 (KJV) says, "… he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross...”

Obedience is an important sign of an intimate mutually loving relationship between Christ and the believer. “…that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandments, even so I do…” (John 14:31 KJV).

A mutually loving relationship with God is a holy and intimate bond. "...I and my Father are one..." (John 10:30 KJV).

A holy and intimate relationship with God is a commitment of love, on God’s part, that is everlasting.  “...[Nothing]…shall be able to separate us (his children) from the love of God, which is IN Christ Jesus…” (Romans 9:39 KJV).

God’s holy and intimate commitment of love toward his children is one of unyielding devotion. “... [Nothing]…shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is IN Christ Jesus…” (Romans 9:39 KJV).

The child of God’s role in the mutual relationship is a committed role too. However, ONLY through Christ, are they able to be truly committed to God. “…Know ye not…that Jesus Christ is in you …” (2 Corinthians KJV). “…I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me…” (Philippians 4:13 KJV). “…Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant (relationship with God, the Holy Spirit)…” (Hebrews 7:22 NIV). “….apart from Me (Jesus), you can do nothing…” (John 15:5 NIV).

Jesus becomes the guarantee, for YOU, that the intimacy with God will be maintained (Hebrews 7:22). Again, “…Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant (relationship with God, the Holy Spirit)…” (Hebrews 7:22 NIV).  “….apart from Me (Jesus), you can do nothing…”(John 15:5 NIV).

God established a way for his children to sustain the intimate relationship with Him.  “...By so much was Jesus MADE a surety (guarantee) of a better testament (intimate relationship with God)...” (Hebrews 7:22 KJV). “…Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant (relationship with God, the Holy Spirit)…” (Hebrews 7:22 NIV).

You have Jesus to join, restore, or attach you to God through a one Spirit (ultimate intimacy) mutual union. “… [He sent the ] …one … who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus…” (1 Timothy 2:5 NLT).

Therefore, you can participate, cooperate, and experience an ongoing intimate, mutual, covenant relationship with God through Christ. Obedience is always the telltale sign that Christ is working “in” and “through the child of God. “...For it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure...” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).  “… the God of peace… may he work in [you, through the indwelling Holy Spirit]… what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ…” (Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV). “…The …HOLY SPIRIT …is the SOURCE of [all covenant intimacy]. …it is …God who does the work IN and THROUGH all of us who are his… (1 Corinthians 12:4-11 NLT). “…He helps me (his child)…” (Psalms 28:7 NLT).

Being willfully cooperative through obedient says you love God. It also says you are wholeheartedly in the intimate, mutual covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit. “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

Obedience demonstrates the honorable and sincere, heartfelt love you, personally, have for God, the Holy Spirit. “…this people draw near me with their MOUTHS and their LIPS do honour me, BUT ….their heart is [removed]…far from me…” (Isaiah 24:19 KJV). In other words, lip-service is NOT obedient behavior.

God deserves all honor. If you truly love him, your actions will TOO. You will not, “…withhold…good from [HIM] to whom it is due, [especially,] when it is in the power of thine (yours) to do it…” (Proverbs 3:27 KJV). “…Render… to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor…” (Romans 13:7 KJV).

God is truly due all honor, especially from his children. “…[God has done] great things for us (for mankind and his children)…” (Psalm 126:2-3 KJV). Therefore, obedience is how his children show they love him and are thankful for all he has done.

When his children obey Him, they are actually showing their love for God. “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

This love for God can ONLY be demonstrated through their compliance to his commands. The love for God will be revealed in every behavioral act of humble obedience to his commandments. “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

Keeping his commandments means you are totally committed to God through Christ within the mutual covenant relationship you’re experiencing with God, the Holy Spirit. “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

In the mutual covenant relationship, total, committed obedience is given to God through Christ. Your LOVE for God will always motivate obedience. “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV). I keep repeating this scripture for a reason, I hope you get it.

When God is truly your Father and Caregiver, and you LOVE him, you will NOT do what is right in your own eyes, but God’s. “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

Back in the Old Testament, when there was no “...King (Honored Caregiver) IN Israel, …every man did that which was right in his own eyes.…” (Judges 17:6 KJV). The bible also says, “...For it is God who worketh IN you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure...” (Philippians 2:13 KJV).

What’s in you comes out: “...For from within, out of the heart of man, proceed evil thoughts… wickedness… pride...  All these evil things come from within...” (Mark 7:21-23 KJV).

In a mutual covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, you will obey, simply because you love God; PERIOD!!! “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

Heartfelt love for God is costly. Therefore, it is costly to “…come after [Jesus]…..” (Luke 14:27 KJV).

When love for God is operating in your life, it will be evident by your obedience. It will further be evidenced through a transformed and fruitful life. “…Therefore if any man(woman) be in Christ, he (she) is a NEW creature: …” (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV). “… we all (new creations) … are changed into the same image [of Christ] …” (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV).

“…Ye shall know [NEW CREATIONS]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “... The [indwelling]...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [the] lives [of his children]: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (obedience). …” (Galatians 5 NLT).

Obedience is part the transformation process and experience in action. Furthermore, along with the empowerment of the indwelling Holy Spirit, that produces God-given faith; these things (obedience, empowerment, & faith) will work together to help you actually “become” Christ-like. “…In this world we are LIKE JESUS…” (1 John 4:17 NIV). “…be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29 KJV). “...I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me...” (Philippians 4:13 KJV).

Transformation is experienced through a life progressively growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ through obedience “…Grow in the grace and knowledge or our LORD and SAVIOUR Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:18).  “… [Therefore, God’s children]… are changed into the same image [of Christ] from glory to glory …” (2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV).

A true child of God will never feel comfortable living independent of God’s commandments. Jesus said, “...For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me...” (John 6:38 KJV).

“... Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness ...  the one who practices sin is of the devil ...  No one who is born of God practices sin...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).

“...By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of GOD...” (1 John 3:7-10 NASB).

Obedience will demonstrate your love for God and will be proof of your ongoing involvement in the mutual covenant relationship. It will also be witnessed by Godly fruit. “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).“…Ye shall know [God’s children, who love him,]… by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:16 KJV). “... The [indwelling]...Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in [the] lives [of his children]: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (obedience). …” (Galatians 5 NLT).

There is no way you are going to be in an ongoing, intimate, mutual relationship with the Living God and remain the same. You will BECOME “like” the company you keep. “... Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble...” (Proverbs 13:20). “…be conformed to the image of his Son…” (ROMANS 8:29 KJV).

“...Be … imitators of ...[Jesus]…” (Hebrews 12:14; Ephesians 5:1 ASV). “… growing in every way more and more like Christ…” (Ephesians 4:14-16 NLT). “…In this world we are like Jesus…” (1 John 4:17 NIV).

Jesus said, “…..what he seeth the Father doing… he doth… in like manner...” (John 5:19 KJV). Again, you start behaving like the people you keep company with. “… Jesus Christ is in you (keeping you company)…” (2 Corinthians KJV). “...For in him (through him) we live, and move, and have our being (our NEW IDENTITY)...” (Acts 17:28 KJV).

If you say you are in a mutual, intimate covenant relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, and continue “…to walk in darkness, [you]…lie, and do not the truth…” (1 John 1: 6 KJV). However, the Word tells us, “...If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness...”( 1 John 1:9 KJV).

You are totally responsibility for your willful actions, your voluntarily disobedience, and your human choices, which are usually DONE independent of God’s will and his commandments.

God has done his part, which he “finished” upon the cross through Jesus Christ (John 19:30 KJV). His children, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, NOW possess “...all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3 KJV).

His children are free to live an obedient life “through” Christ. The bible says “…if the Son…shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE indeed...” (John 8:36 KJV). “...God is not a man that he should lie…. hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?...” (Numbers 23:19 KJV). If God made you free, you’re free. “…ye shall be FREE indeed...” (John 8:36 KJV).

However, the same God warns that some people, “…after [he freed them and they] escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb. The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire” (2 Peter 2:20-22 KJV).

God’s children, who are in a mutual relationship with Him will live “…as obedient children, not fashioning [themselves] according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in ALL manner of conversation; because it is written, BE YE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY...” (1 Peter 1:14-16 KJV).

Initially obedience is a struggle, but the struggle helps obedience become a way of life. Jesus learned obedience by the things he suffered or struggled with (Hebrews 5:8). “...Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV).

In addition, “….he that hath suffered (struggled) in the flesh hath ceased from sin…” (1 Peter 4:1 KJV). In other words, the one who suffers or struggles to live righteous; ceases from sin and gains holiness instead.

“...Whereby are given unto us 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…” (2 Peter 1: 4-9 KJV).

Wherever you are purposefully or voluntarily or willfully living in the flesh and have not “…ceased from sin…” - instead of living in obedience – it is evident that you DO NOT truly love God. The BIBLE SAYS: “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

 Salvation and obedience are on the SAME team. So simply talking about it or wearing the title of Christian means nothing without obedience to his commandments. “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

Obedience says to God I am here to serve you God and NOT myself or my flesh. The bible clearly tells us Jesus did “…not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 NIV).

According to Strong’s, the Hebrew word for serve is abad  (to work). There are many definitions, but I will use this one for this book. I interpret that ABAD is not man’s work, but God’s.  ABAD doesn’t serve man’s purpose, but God’s. ABAD doesn’t glorify man, but God.

ABAD is a work given by God and not man. It is a work God sent someone, to earth, to do. This work is about God’s will and not man’s will. Therefore, it is a spiritual, holy, and supernatural work (abad).  

Jesus said, “…for the works which the Father has given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent Me...” (John 5:36 KJV). “...For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will but the will of him that sent me...” (John 6:38 KJV).

Jesus was fulfilled from serving God in obedience.  “...Then Jesus explained: "My nourishment (fulfillment) comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work...” (John 4:34 NLT).

Jesus was not just “doing” God’s will like one who follows rules and regulations, but he literally “became” God’s personal servant from his heart. According to Strong’s, another Hebrew word for serve is sharath (to “minister to or become a personal servant to”).

Jesus wholeheartedly obeyed God’s will and served him. Jesus confidently said, “…the ... works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father has sent me” (John 5:36 KJV). Again, Jesus did “…not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28 KJV).  

Jesus was God’s servant while on earth and God was his Caregiver. Jesus willfully served God in obedience by becoming “…a ransom for many...”

The bible boasts that Jesus “…humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8 KJV).

Jesus is the ultimate example of how and why obedience is important in the relationship with God. It is God’s will that every child of his “…be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:28). God is saying “become” like Jesus, my obedient, personal servant (sharath).

God’s work is for you to do his will and become like his Son, Jesus, who is the forerunner and example of true obedience. Obedience is transformation in action and will lead YOU to the actual work (abad) of God in Christ. ^"Jesus answered, and said…This is the work of God: that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29 KJV).

Obedience shows you believe in Jesus and his finished work on the cross. Jesus was obedient and God sent the indwelling Holy Spirit to help and empower you do the SAME thing. Jesus became a  “…ransom for many….” through obedience (Matthew 20:28 KJV).

Jesus learned obedience through the things he struggle with. “...Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things he suffered…” (Hebrews 5:8 KJV)

Jesus learned obedience through the things he suffered, and he stayed the course no matter how difficult it became. Therefore, Jesus can “…be touched with the feeling of our infirmities...” (Hebrews 4:15 KJV). Jesus experienced human struggles too just like we do, “…yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15 KJV).

Jesus, “...Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him…” (Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV). “...Therefore, since Christ suffered in his flesh, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin…” (1 Peter 4:1 NIV).

Being obedient, in the flesh, was challenging for Jesus too. “… He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them and knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done..." (Luke 22:42-43 NIV).

Jesus demonstrated to YOU the transforming power of obedience. It wasn’t easy for Jesus, but he was obedient out of his love for God and it benefited YOU. Aren’t you glad Jesus willfully and voluntarily choose to be obedient to God? “…And being made perfect, he became author of eternal salvation unto all them who obey him…” (Hebrew 5:7-8-9 KJV).

 Jesus suffered through some stuff, upon earth, but he chose to stay obedient out of his deep love for God. Jesus’ obedience revolutionized the whole religious world.   

Now Jesus is “highly exalted” with a “name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). In addition,“…at ...the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father...” (Philippians 2:10-11 KJV).

Our struggle with obedience is rewarding and transforming. If we obey, Jesus said “...Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he (she) do also; and greater works than these shall he (she) do; because I go unto my Father...” (John 14:1 KJV).

“…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…” (Acts 10:38-39 KJV).

“…The Spirit of the Lord [was].. upon [Jesus], because he hath anointed [him]… to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent [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).

“...the works that I do shall he (she) do also; and greater works than these shall he (she) do...” (John 14:1 KJV).  

We go through many different trials and tribulations in life that last for hours, days, weeks, months, or years and get caught up with the details of what is happening in the situation or circumstance. Don’t get caught up in the details, “…the suffering of this present time are not [even] worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us….” (Romans 8:18 KJV).

However, when God does allow for struggles, it is not usually about what is actually happening TO you as much as it is about what is happening IN you. God wants you to keep his commandments “….if ye LOVE me… [as you say], [you will] … keep my commandments…” (John 14:15 KJV).

God took Israel through the wilderness (trials) for forty years to humble them, test them, and to see “…whether…[they would]keep his commandments, or not…” (Deuteronomy 8:2 KJV).

Forty years seems like a long time to be in the wilderness, but sometimes it takes people a long time to see their ongoing disobedience in the holy light of God’s truth. Some of you have walked with God for years and still participate in a life of willful disobedience.

Many who lay claim to being God’s children are willfully disobedient and have not truly turned from their wicked ways. “…If My people which are called by My name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV).

If you don’t “…turn from [your]…wicked ways…” remember that it is another “spirit …[that] worketh in the children of disobedience…” (Ephesian 2:2; 2 Chronicle 7:14 KJV). God says, “Be not ye therefore partakers with…the children of disobedience…” (Ephesians 5:6-7 KJV). Instead, “…mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry; for which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience” (Colossians 3:5-6 KJV). “…if the word spoken by angels was steadfast and every…disobedience received a just recompense of reward; how shall we escape?…” (Hebrews 2:2-3 KJV)

Opportunities for obedience clearly exposes whether you will keep God’s commands or not (Deuteronomy 8:2).  

The wildernesses we go through for hours, days, weeks, months, or years are the events God uses as a way to encourage obedience. The enemy of obedience is SELF-will.

It is the most difficult trials and tribulations that exposes whether you will keep God’s commandments or not. Job lost everything and the Hebrew boys went through the fire, but they kept God’s commands.

 Disobedience is always in conflict with God’s commandments, but wilderness experiences often come to bring about opportunities for obedience, which is transformation in action.

 Like in the cases of King Hezekiah or King Nebuchadnezzar, certain wilderness experiences bring about repentance and obedience. God allows certain trials and tribulations to intervene in our lives to bring about obedience, which, again, is transformation in action.  How is obedience transform in action?

In my last book I wrote about how a caterpillar goes through metamorphoses in order to yield the butterfly. We too must experience a similar metamorphoses in order to yield the image of Jesus Christ “...All things (whether we like it or not) work together for GOOD  to them that LOVE GOD, to them who are THE CALLED to his purpose...” (Romans 8:28 KJV).

You are not a caterpillar or a butterfly. I am using the caterpillar and butterfly as a metaphor only. In order for a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly, it must surrender to the transformation process that happens within a cocoon.

During the transformation process the caterpillar dies to its old self and changes into a butterfly. In order for the caterpillar to shed its old self, the old body must die or be completely replaced by the new body; the butterfly. 

The caterpillar had to die. This is the key and only path to true transformation; is death. Jesus “…humbled himself, and “became” obedient unto death...” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). Before Jesus could finish what God sent him here to do he had to “..humbled himself and [become] obedient…” (Philippians 2:8 KJV).

Humility is the opposite of pride. Pride happens when an individual thinks more highly of themselves than they should and is usually fueled when comparing themselves to other humans. “…but in lowliness of mind (humility) let each esteem other better than themselves… [Jesus] made himself of no reputation and took upon him[self] the form of a servant…” Philippian 2:3, 7 KJV).

However, humility happens when an individual thinks of themselves in the right perspective by comparing themselves to the holiness of God. “…for without [God], YE CAN DO NOTHING…” (JOHN 15:5). “…If My people which are called by My name shall humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways…” (2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV).

Jesus“…humbled himself, and “became” obedient unto death...” (Philippians 2:8 KJV). God sent Jesus to willfully and voluntarily, through obedience, die for you, so you could choose to willfully and voluntarily die, through obedient, for HIM.