*This 3 part series was taught at North Christian Church in July 2025. Please visit www.nccdighton.org to hear these messages.
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The Spirit has ordained another mini-series while our dear pastor and Tammy are away.
It appears to be another assist towards making the most of new series on Commitment, Responsibility, and Accountability to the Local Church.
We’re not going to do a full review from Sunday, but we will note that the value of obedience came up again, especially in relation to fulfilling our calling to the local church and one another.
Let’s start this way:
Obedience needs to come from the heart; from a place of humility.
Psa 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
Psa 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
Psa 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
Psa 25:11 For your name’s sake, O LORD, pardon my guilt, for it is great.
Psa 25:12 Who is the man who fears the LORD? Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
Psa 25:13 His soul shall abide in well-being, and his offspring shall inherit the land.
Psa 25:14 The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.
Again, obedience needs to come from the heart; from a place of humility.
That results in well-being for the soul (aka peace).
Of course, God sees the heart, and looks at our motives, as we know (ala Heb 4:12)
And as Peter teaches us:
1Pe 1:22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
Operating in His love has certain good fruits that come about in our hearts and in our lives…
1Th 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you,
1Th 3:12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,
1Th 3:13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Do you see the connection there?? – We love one another “so that”… He may establish our hearts blameless before the Father.
All that we do must be done in love (1Co 16:14); and that includes obeying God’s Word in our lives, whatever area of life it might be.
I was up in the middle of the night last night, and the Spirit had me grab my laptop and go to our new, very useful website 🙂
I did a search for the word “obedience”, and a few interesting blogs came up for me.
A Cold Shell of Obedience; Blog from 8/2/19
There are two kinds of obedience: that which is done in love and that which is not. The litmus test is how we treat others. If our obedience forms an impenetrable outer crust, we have failed. If our obedience is a light that guides the way for the lost and the weak, then we have succeeded.
This good motivation (love) determines whether the fruit that comes about in our lives is good or bad in God’s eyes.
Sometimes WE can’t tell, by the appearance, but God knows, of course.
On Sunday, we saw the tree analogy that Jesus used…
Mt 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mt 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mt 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
What determines or differentiates the healthy tree from the diseased tree?
Is it not what’s going on in the heart, the motivation, between each person and God?
Is love his motivation, or is it something else, like appearing religious, or seeking personal gain?
This is why we must guard our hearts and keep an eye out for deception.
We must make sure our hearts are pure before God, even as we do His work.
Pro 4:23 [NIV] Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
On this same note…
Jer 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. (trust is a heart issue, remember)
Jer 17:8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”
Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Jer 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”
Jesus tells us of the connection between our fruit and our heart, as well…
Lk 6:43 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,
Lk 6:44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.
Lk 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
So, the Spirit has us talking about the biblical benefits of obedience, and that obedience must be from the heart.
Commitment to the local church means that, as a member, you are committing to God’s will for your church. Of principle value to this commitment is your obedience in the church (e.g., to the Word and to God’s delegated authority).
The Spirit got very practical with us on Sunday…
… there’s nothing more practical than real life interactions and relationships, especially with those who God puts in spiritual authority over you (I.e.- your Pastor).
Ask yourself: Is there any more important relationship we can have in this life with another human being??
It’s arguably more important than even your relationship to your spouse or your children because it involves the care of your soul and eternal things.
Heb 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
There we see one biblical benefit of obedience; our own spiritual well-being!
If you want your Pastor to be joyful in serving you, and not be distracted or discouraged, then you might want to OBEY this call on your life to be submitting to him.
Is there anything more important than taking care of the one whose keeping watch over our souls???
Ro 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities [includes church authorities/leaders]. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Ro 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
And there we see the other side of the coin; a lack of obedience means some type of suffering for us!
To start, there are two big biblical benefits of Obedience: Protection and Rewards/Blessings.
God gives us commands FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT… for our own protection…
… He knows we’re in the devil’s world, and we have a flesh that’s going to tempt us….
… but His commands are largely to protect us from pain and suffering from our own bad decisions in this world.
He also, even though we are only servants doing what we SHOULD be doing,…
… He also rewards us for following His commands! – What?!! (think of the parable of the minas)
This is by grace, of course, since we are all unworthy servants, slaves of righteousness purchased by the blood of Christ.
Luk 17:7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’?
Luk 17:8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’?
Luk 17:9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?
Luk 17:10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”
That’s the truth. That’s the reality of the situation; all of us being guilty sinners saved by the grace of God. Right??
And “by grace”, remember, refers to God’s undeserved kindness towards us.
We don’t deserve a lick; and this is very important to truly appreciating God’s grace towards us.
So, we’ve first seen in the last couple passages about obeying our God-given authorities, that this PROTECTS US from unnecessary suffering.
This brings us to the main passage that triggered this series;
And we’re going to read the whole chapter for encouragement here:
Psa 19:1 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Psa 19:2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
Psa 19:3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. (In other words, even God’s creation speaks to us)
Psa 19:4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun,
Psa 19:5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Psa 19:6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Now here we go; per our mini series on the Biblical benefits of Obedience…
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;
Psa 19:8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
Psa 19:9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
Psa 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Psa 19:11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
Psa 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Psa 19:13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
My friends, as came out on Sunday…
Obedience is a blessing to the humble.
To the humble, His commands aren’t burdensome, but rather, a joy because we know His love motivates His commands for us, whether we understand them in the moment or not. 😊
Our key verse:
Psa 19:11 Moreover, by them (God’s commands) is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.
A good example of this is the parable of the minas.The Lord gives orders to His servants before departing for a while, and they are expected, as servants, to obey and do His will with what He’s given to them.He is the owner and master, after all.
But then, the Lord, out of His great love for His servants, blesses them beyond compare.
This is an undeserved benefit of obedience, to the glory of God’s grace!!
But undeserved?? – you might say “I obeyed”.
But my friend, HOW did you obey??
Does not obedience come from FAITH, and faith comes from God’s GRACE?? (Eph 2:8-9)
This is why all the glory goes to God; for anything good that comes out of us.
Back to the parable of the minas as an example of undeserved rewards received from obedience…
Luk 19:11 As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately.
Luk 19:12 He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.
Luk 19:13 Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ (a command from the king)
Luk 19:14 But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’
Luk 19:15 When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.
Luk 19:16 The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’
Luk 19:17 And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ (What?!!)
Luk 19:18 And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’
Luk 19:19 And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’
Luk 19:20 Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief;
Luk 19:21 for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’
Luk 19:22 He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?
Luk 19:23 Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ (here again; I hope you see good servanthood is an expectation of the Lord)
Luk 19:24 And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’
Luk 19:25 And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’
Luk 19:26 ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Luk 19:27 But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’”
There we see the amazing grace of God extended towards His obedient servants.
But, let’s forget about receiving 10 cities, as amazing as that is…
How about receiving the joy and commendation of the Master of the Universe??… commendation from the Perfect One, who is Love Incarnate??
Mat 25:14 “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property.
Mat 25:15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away.
Mat 25:16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more.
Mat 25:17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more.
Mat 25:18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.
Mat 25:19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
Mat 25:20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’
Mat 25:21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Mat 25:22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’
Mat 25:23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Mat 25:24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed,
Mat 25:25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’
Mat 25:26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?
Mat 25:27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.
Mat 25:28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents.
Mat 25:29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Mat 25:30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Clearly, certain things are simply expected of us as servants of God.
With God saving us from sin and death, we’re no longer our own, we’ve been bought with a price.
Our lives now belonging to Him, we are expected to live in His ways and commands for us, as is good and right!
But then, just imagine for your obedience, hearing this from the Lord’s mouth: “well done good and faithful servant”!
Could there be a better reward?? How happy do you think you’ll be when you hear that?? (I’m going to guess more happy and joyful than you’ve ever been, EXPLODING in your heart!)
This just gives us a glimpse into the rewards of our obedience to the Lord and His delegated authorities. 😊
Again, to start, there are two big biblical benefits of Obedience: Protection and Rewards/Blessings.
We’ll see where the Spirit takes us in Part 2…