1 Peter 2:3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.

7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

This message, clearly to those who are saved or are Christians; we explore a major doctrine that has been discarded as much in Church as in society.

Practical Exercise

(In a Sunday School setting, have the students complete a task. One that takes them uncomfortably out of their norm. Do this without a reason, the only requirement is to obey. Example: if room, move them from one side of the room to another. Another might be to stack the chairs, then set them back up. Something that some might do without consideration, others murmuring and complaining)

Obedience is greater than sacrifice (and becomes our sacrifice)

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Obedience as a doctrine today has been replaced with a list that we check off. In one of the many promotions that the Church I attend sponsors, qualifications are to come to church, boys must wear a dress shirt, tie, bring their Bible and memorize a verse. Girls do the same except wear a modest dress. Yet the day the promotion is over, we are back to the same way it was before.

The motivation of obedience was not what would please the Lord, but rather what is the minimum needed to gain something. A simple look across nearly any teen service today would reveal this mindset. I don’t want to pick on clothing except through how one dresses at Church often defines the spirit of an individual, even to a point of rebellion (the opposite of obedience).

As our opening text, Christians are supposed to be set apart and obedient to the things of God. More so than the following of a checklist.. it’s a motivation of the heart.

Do You Love God?

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Christianity today has redefined a Christian on their terms, not God’s. We love God when it’s convenient, or fits in our schedule, or doesn’t change our style. Frankly we want all the benefits of being a Christian without any of the sacrifices…

NOTHING is further than that of obedience.

Think of it in 2 terms:

• To obey: A physical reaction to an acceptable command… One we choose to obey. A Checklist to complete.
• Obedience: Removing any desire we have, any preconceived notion, any motive of self… where the only desire is to follow those that have been appointed or directly what God directs.

If we truly love God it will show in our actions. This mindset of obedience goes well beyond following rules, but taking on each task as if Jesus Christ himself was standing next to us.

NOTE: The day I presented this message at teen Sunday school, there we 2 teen girls, dressed in worldly attire who went outside after the bus dropped them off. Set up their phone and recorded some twirking style dance… DIRECTLY under the church sign. No conviction. No humility. No respect. No obedience to the standards God has set in HIS house.

1 Corinthians 6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

(This is where the opening physical exercise comes into play)

In our exercise of moving over chairs your body may have obeyed, but for some your heart rebelled. Some even murmured and complained, mocked and rebelled. I wonder if coming to church is done in the same breath… Just the physical action to obey… but no heart, no desire to actually be in God’s house for God’s purpose.

Salvation is an act of Obedience

God has always made a path to get to Him… through obedience.

• Don’t eat of the fruit (Adam)
• Get on the boat (Noah)
• Take up your family and move (Abraham)
• Follow the Law (Moses)
• Jesus said “I am the way”

God did all the preparation, created the path… be we need to choose to obey. Where obedience is so important… is that GOD sets the way, not us. We always want to make our own way… change the words of God to justify it… rather than simply obeying God.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.

Jesus is our Example

We would do good to recognize the choice that Christ made in the area of obedience. Even if we look at this from a Parent to a Child and an example that is set. That moves further to that of a servant and a master, we need to know what true obedience is; where we set aside self and only seek to obey.

Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

We Choose to Serve, Choose Wisely

I have, over the years, found those who say that they serve noone are the ones that are under the greatest servitude; and don’t even realize it. Servant to self, servant to vanity, servant to society, servant to a career, servant to a marriage, servant to drugs, servant to alcohol… you get the picture. They fold their arms in rebellion not realizing they are choosing to serve, just not the things of God. 

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that 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?

17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

The Importance of Submission to Leadership

While there is much more that can be said about obedience and even leadership, it is important to realize that obedience isnt an action as much as a condition of the heart. I mean there are many who are in a position of authority, but that authority is useless if God’s people won’t submit to the people He placed into leadership. I have heard some say at the foot of the alter, I only serve God, I will not serve a man; not having a clue how God has ordained the chain of command. God has placed a structure, to provide His people with something and someone to obey… not some mystical thought of obedience but rather a heart motivated action of God’s ordinances… through a man of God placed in leadership. As such we need to submit ourselves, and it’s not easy; the root of rebellion runs deep, but this is how God ordained it to be.

Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.