*This 3 part series was taught at North Christian Church in July 2025. Please visit www.nccdighton.org to listen to these messages.
I trust the Spirit is inserting this series at just the right time for all of our souls.
Part 2 Download PDF
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. (aka – the humble keep his commands and are blessed by God for it 😊
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.
And God gives grace to the humble (another benefit of obeying God from a good heart).
We also talked about this…
Operating in His love has certain good fruits that come about in our hearts and in our lives.
In other words, living in loving obedience towards God and His commands will establish our hearts pure before Him.
So says the apostle Paul…
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.
One thing we must know is that obedience to God should never result in a cold, robotic heart…
… that means we’re operating from a wrong motivation; not the motivation of love that God provides.
On the contrary, obedience should be out of love and compassion and gratitude. Amen??
As the saying goes; let’s check ourselves before we wreck ourselves 😊
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.
“Let all that you do be done in love”! Right?!
Simple, isn’t it?? – it may not always be EASY, but it is SIMPLE.
1Co 16:13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
1Co 16:14 Let all that you do be done in love.
Notice, love is the capstone here.
You can do all the things mentioned in vs. 13, but they must be done in love, ALL of them.
Love must be the underlying motivation for ALL our obedience.
This good motivation (love) determines whether the fruit that comes about in our lives is good or bad in God’s eyes.
We must make sure our hearts are pure before God, even as we do His work.
We might think that because we’re doing His work, that we don’t have to pay attention to our motivation. (that’s being stuck in religion, doing what’s right for the wrong reasons)
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. (trusting 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.”
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 last Sunday and as we discussed on Thursday, 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, and deacons for that matter).
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 will end up affecting your earthly family, as well!
So, one more time, a couple very important passages to guide us in relation to our authorities…
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!
And we can take care of our Pastor by submitting to his God-given authority, rather than bucking against exhortations and corrections.
Our first reaction to challenging teaching or correction shouldn’t be defensiveness, but rather openness.
And this takes humility, for sure, but stay in that pocket… stay in that place of humility, even if your Pastor points something out to you that you don’t agree with/understand at first.
The only time we have the right to disobey our God-given authorities is if they tell us to do something directly against the Word.
Other than that, we need to stay in the pocket of humility.
i.e.- I’ve had times I’ve been corrected or rebuked over the years (I know, you can’t believe it, 🙂),…
… and I HAD to accept it, even though it was painful, or didn’t make sense at first. (let’s face it, we all get uncomfortable when we’re told we might be wrong, our pride gets offended)
But humility will stay the course and stay submissive to the Pastor, to the advantage of the whole church family, if you think about it.
Perspective: Is there anything more important than respecting and honoring the God-given authorities who are 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!
OUCH! This is unnecessary, but when we act in pride, it puts us in this painful position.
On a side note; we are blessed to have a passionate Pastor, aren’t we?
Can you imagine having a pastor that goes through the motions and doesn’t really care about your well-being??
Obviously, that man is NOT fulfilling the call God has on his life.
Thankfully, our pastor cares greatly, as he wears his heart on his sleeve for us.
And he can be so intense at times, but remember, that’s an expression of how great his love is for us; they are proportionate! (hopefully you know that by now)😊
Honestly, if you think Pastor’s intense, consider the apostle Paul… and don’t just think about the passages in Paul’s letters about God’s grace, but consider all his hard writings to the churches!
Please remember: It’s the shepherd’s heart that makes them so bold at times, for our benefit, even though we might not see what he sees at the time.
And then, consider Jesus…. How many times did He flat out rebuke His disciples?
How many times did He even appear to insult them?
And we KNOW the Lord did everything out of love, right?
Hmmm, interesting…
So, an under-shepherd of the Great Shepherd should only follow in His footsteps…
… caring for the sheep passionately and protectively, ultimately for the glory of God.
As this week’s blog stated, “Growing Pains” are painful!! Amen??
But they’re more than necessary for our growth; to be transformed into the image of Christ. 😊
As an example of the heart of one of Christ’s under-shepherds… let’s read what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians.
1Th 2:8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
1Th 2:9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
1Th 2:10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.
1Th 2:11 For you know how, like a father with his children,
1Th 2:12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
That sounds like our dear pastor, to me.
And BTW, this is NOT to put any pastor or apostle on a pedestal… they are servants of God and vessels of mercy, only, just as we all are.But the point is we should HONOR them, acc. To the Word of God, for putting their own lives aside and attentively looking after our souls; having a unique gift given them by God.
Amen?
Here’s a little more encouragement on how to relate to our spiritual authorities…
1Th 5:12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
1Th 5:13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
Any questions?? 😊
If we are humble enough to have high respect for our spiritual authorities, we’re the ones who end up blessed, not to mention having encouraged men of God.
Back to our series topic:
To start, there are two big biblical benefits of Obedience: Protection and Rewards/Blessings.
The fact is that God gives us commands FOR OUR OWN BENEFIT… for our own protection…
i.e.- God knows we live in enemy territory, so He provides commands to preempt the temptations we will face!
He’s given us commands in every area of our lives so we know the right way…
… so we don’t get seduced by the world, and our flesh, that so likes to give in to worldly things.
Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Eph 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
Can you say spiritual warfare?
And God, knowing ALL the details, and ALL the schemes in this devil’s world, will even give us personal commands in our own walks with Him, to protect us from falling into evil.
(if God tells you to do something, or NOT to do something, please listen to your conscience! 😊)
Because we ARE in a spiritual war, and He gives commands to us because He’s looking out for our best interest!
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Again. God knows we live in enemy territory, so He provides commands to preempt the temptations we will face!
God also REWARDS us for following His commands, which is just astonishing, considering where we’ve come from.
This is clearly something God does not have to do; since we are simply unworthy servants, in reality.
We were reminded of that in Luk 17:10, by our Lord Himself!
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.’”
So, we can conclude that by God’s amazing grace, He rewards those who do His will, beyond our imagination even (if not in this life, certainly the next).
This brings us to the main passage that triggered this 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.
When we adhere to God’s commands and God’s precepts, we are blessed… this blessing takes many different forms.
i.e. – can you put a price on PEACE??
Imagine if, in any and all circumstances, you were truly able to hold onto peace in your soul??
Imagine if you were NEVER bothered by anything!!
We’ll never be perfect, but this is where God wants to take us, and obedience is a big key to possessing His peace!!
“Obedience Relieves Stress”, Blog from 11/18/22
The more we are sanctified over time, the more we understand that peace and obedience are two sides of the same coin.
-Isaiah 48:17-18 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.
Stress is antithetical to peace. What’s our escape? Obedience relieves stress and leads us back to peace. Our part in sanctification is obedience. The mystery is that we do not go it alone, “But by the grace of God I am what I am” (1 Corinthians 15:10). If this is a difficult concept to understand, keep praying!
-1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
Our key verse for this series:
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.
Again. To start, there are two big biblical benefits of Obedience: Protection and Rewards/Blessings.
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.’ (This is an expression of the amazing grace, undeserved kindness, of God towards His children!!!)
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.’
For the sake of time, we’ll leave the rest about the unfaithful servant for now.
But I’m sure you recall; he suffered loss due to DISobedience; so there is a negative consequence to not obeying God’s commands.
On Thursday, we then looked at the even greater blessing of receiving personal commendation from the Lord Himself one day… something we can hardly imagine the pure joy involved. 😊
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.’
Could there be a better reward? How happy do you think you’ll be when you hear that?
Take a moment to imagine that.
This just gives us a glimpse into the rewards of our obedience to the Lord and His delegated authorities. 😊
We’ll end today with this encouraging passage:
Heb 6:9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation.
Heb 6:10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.
Can you say loving obedience?
Not only obedience done out of love, but may we learn to love obedience itself; being a primary way we honor our God and Savior.
And we should be greatly encouraged by God’s great faithfulness and generosity to His children.
Amen??