Category Archives: Obedience

Make Sure Your Lantern Is Lit!

railroad-lantern-lamp“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
A night watchman was a defendant in a court case. He had been on duty at a railway crossing on the night of an accident in which a train had struck a car resulting in some serious injuries. No one else had witnessed the crash. The watchman testified that he had swung his lantern to warn the driver of the approaching train. The court found the watchman blameless and placed the responsibility for the accident on the motorist. Greatly relieved by the verdict, he whispered to a friend, “And all the time I was afraid they would ask me if the lantern was lit.”
The problem is not in what the watchman did, but in what he didn’t do.
Sin can be divided into two distinct categories. There are sins of commission and sins of omission. Sins of commission are the things we do that we shouldn’t do. Sins of omission are the things we omit to do that we should do!
Think of all the commands and exhortations you’ve ever read in the Bible. For example:
  • Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matthew 7:1).
  • Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not (Romans 12:14).
  • Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you (Ephesians 4:31-32).
  • Speak not evil one of another, brethren… (James 4:11).
Think of the all the sermons and Sunday school lessons you’ve listened to over the years. Think of all the practical application of Biblical Truth that you have been exposed to during your lifetime. We know what is right. We know what is expected of us. Someone once said to me, “Most Christians have the right aim in life; we just never get around to pulling the trigger.”
Our greatest problem today might not be so much the things that we do, but the things that are left undone. There are words or encouragement and kindness that your children, your spouse and others need to hear from you today. There will be those that need your understanding and forgiveness. There may be others that the Lord will providentially bring into your life today with whom you will have the opportunity to share the Gospel.
Make sure your lantern is lit!
Morris Hull
Home Life Ministries

Discipline – A Biblical Balance

“The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame” (Proverbs 29:15).

When it comes to child discipline there are two extremes.

There are some who teach spanking as the predominant aspect of Biblical child rearing, but it’s not. It should be the exception rather than the rule and only when they have intentionally disobeyed. Don’t discipline a child for just spilling a glass of milk if he didn’t intentionally do it on purpose.

The key factor in child rearing is not discipline – if that’s you’re emphasis then you’re headed for trouble. The key factor in child rearing is to win the child’s heart (Proverbs 23:26; Malachi 4:6). If you discipline without having the child’s heart then you are sowing the seeds of bitterness and rebellion. The more you have of your child’s heart, the less you will need to discipline.

There is also a fine line between discipline and abuse. If you discipline in anger then you have stepped across that line (Proverbs 22:8). Don’t ever discipline a child if you’re angry. And if you do, you need to take responsibility for your anger and you need to sincerely ask that child’s forgiveness. You may also need to make yourself accountable to your spouse or church leadership.

The other extreme refuses to discipline at all. The parents themselves may have been abused. They may have witnessed the frustrated mother exploding in the grocery store and they associate any form of physical discipline in a very negative light. But the right kind of discipline is not negative – it’s positive. There is nothing violent or abusive about discipline if it is done Biblically.

The motivation of Biblical discipline is not to punish but to teach the child. Proverbs 29:15 says “The rod and reproof give wisdom…” It would be inapt for a parent not to correct his child’s math allowing him to believe that 1+1=3; but it is also inapt for the parent not to correct his child’s selfishness and disobedience allowing him to believe that his inappropriate behavior is acceptable.

The Bible is very clear that God expects parents to discipline and teach their children. It’s not the job of the school, the day-care, the church or even the state. It is the parent’s responsibility to “… bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4).

Morris Hull, Home Life Ministries

What Do You Love The Most?

“And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2).

Our lives are built around the people and things that we enjoy: a spouse, children, special friends, a job, and possessions. These are the things we tend to put our security in – and if one of them is removed, we feel as though our whole world has suddenly come apart. There are times when God simply says to us, “Let go!” If you’ve ever been in that situation, you know the pressure a test like that can exert on your faith.

There was a day in the life of Abraham when God told him to let go of something which he dearly loved. Abraham did not choose the sacrifice. God did! Beware of self-chosen sacrifice for God! God always starts with the things that we love the most, because unless these things are dedicated to Him they will become the objects of our worship. Unless we are willing to place the things we love the most on that altar and dedicate them to the Lord, God will never be able to use us to our fullest potential and we will never experience God’s richest blessings.

Have you ever dedicated the things that you love the most to the Lord? We do that by building an altar in our heart and saying, “Lord, from this moment on these things belong to You. I give them to You. I have no more rights to them or claim on them. If you choose to take them, I will thank You for that. If You allow me to continue enjoying them, I will thank You for that also.”

Like the young boy who gave the Lord his meagre lunch, God is able to multiply whatever we give Him to be a blessing to others.

Obedience Is Non-optional

One of the major reasons why many of our young people are constantly making wrong decisions is because they have never been taught God’s purposes for authority.

God has designed authority to function like an umbrella of protection. As long as we remain under God-given authority, nothing can happen to us that God does not design for our ultimate good and His ultimate glory. But the moment we rebel against our authority, we move out from underneath that umbrella of protection and expose ourselves to the destructive temptations of Satan.

Scripture says that “…rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” (1 Samuel 15:23). A person who is involved in witchcraft has given himself over to Satan and his power. Exactly the same thing happens the moment you step outside that umbrella of protection. That’s why as I have opportunity to talk with young people, I urge them to honor and obey their parents.

Do you know anyone and things don’t seem to be going well for them? Many times it can be traced back to a violation of this Biblical principle of authority. This is true not just for young people but for adults as well. If someone comes for counsel and tells me that things aren’t going well for them, the first questions I ask is, what is your relationship like with your parents? What is your attitude toward authority? Were you rebellious as a teenager? Did you marry against your parents wishes? Have you ever made that right?

Understand that God wishes for things to go well for us. Whether they do or not is conditional upon our attitude toward authority (Ephesians 6:2-3). That doesn’t mean that we should blindly obey our authorities. If they ask us to violate the clear teaching of Scripture then “…we ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).

This is a Biblical principle that our children desperately need to understand.

Morris Hull
Home Life Ministries

Two Dimensions of Obedience

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3).

One of the first character qualities that needs to be taught is obedience. Children need to be taught the meaning of the word, “No.” They need to be taught from an early age how to respond to the voice of their parents.

There are two characteristics necessary for obedience to take place. First, there is a time dimension – it must be immediate. If you have to keep telling your children over and over again to do something, then you’re really training them for disobedience.

Second, there is an attitude dimension – it must be honoring. If the child follows the instruction but he does it with a rotten attitude, then it’s not obedience. If he gripes, complains or rolls his eyes, it’s really disobedience.

Disobedience, however, is not a licence for the parent to lash out in anger. Anger is never appropriate and will never accomplish God’s righteous purposes (James 1:20). The parent who disciplines in anger is out of control and is sowing the seeds of bitterness and rebellion in the heart of that child. Scripture gives the stark warning that “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:2).

The phrase “in the Lord” means that a child should always obey his parents unless they ask him to do something which violates God’s Word. As Christians, we must obey God rather than man (Acts 5:29).

Paul says, “…for this is right” – this is righteous! This is Christ-like! This is exactly what Jesus would do. We know that from Luke 2:51 where it says that Jesus went down with His parents “to Nazareth, and was subject unto them…”

Paul says, “ Honor your father and mother…that it may be well with you…” Do you know anyone and things don’t seem to be going well for them? Many times it can be traced back to a violation of this Biblical principle of authority. This is true not just for young people but for adults as well. If someone comes to me for counsel and tells me things aren’t going well for them, the first question I ask is “What is your relationship like with your parents – what is your attitude toward authority?”

Children learn just as much by example as they do by instruction. Ultimately, how we respond to the Lord and to the authorities that He has placed over us will be mirrored by our children. When they are disrespectful or slow to obey, or grumble about what they have to do – are they mimicking our own response and attitude toward authority? First, we need to correct our own heart attitudes and then we will be in a position to correct those same attitudes in our children.

Morris Hull
Home Life Ministries

Obedience to God

1) Commanded # De 13:4

2) Without faith, is impossible # Heb 11:6

3) INCLUDES
3a) Obeying his voice # Ex 19:5 Jer 7:23
3b) Obeying his law # De 11:27 Isa 42:24
3c) Obeying Christ # Ex 23:21 2Co 10:5
3d) Obeying the gospel # Ro 1:5 6:17 10:16,17
3e) Keeping his commandments # Ec 12:13
3f) Submission to higher powers # Ro 13:1

4) Better than sacrifice # 1Sa 15:22

5) Justification obtained by that of Christ # Ro 5:19

6) Christ, an example of # Mt 3:15 Joh 15:20 Php 2:5-8 Heb 5:8

7) Angels engaged in # Ps 103:20

8) A characteristic of saints # 1Pe 1:14

9) Saints elected to # 1Pe 1:2

10) Obligations to # Ac 4:19,20 5:29

11) Exhortations to # Jer 26:13 38:20

12) SHOULD BE
12a) From the heart # De 11:13 Ro 6:17
12b) With willingness # Ps 18:44 Isa 1:19
12c) Unreserved # Jos 22:2,3
12d) Undeviating # De 28:14
12e) Constant # Php 2:12

13) Resolve upon # Ex 24:7 Jos 24:24

14) Confess your failure in # Da 9:10

15) Prepare the heart for # 1Sa 7:3 Ezr 7:10

16) Pray to be taught # Ps 119:35 143:10

17) Promises to # Ex 23:22 1Sa 12:14 Isa 1:19 Jer 7:23

18) To be universal in the latter days # Da 7:27

19) Blessedness of # De 11:27 28:1-13 Lu 11:28 Jas 1:25

20) The wicked refuse # Ex 5:2 Ne 9:17

21) Punishment of refusing # De 11:28 28:15-68 Jos 5:6 Isa 1:20

22) Exemplified
22a) Noah # Ge 6:22
22b) Abram # Ge 12:1-4 Heb 11:8 Ge 22:3,12
22c) Israelites # Ex 12:28 24:7
22d) Caleb &c # Nu 32:12
22e) Asa # 1Ki 15:11
22f) Elijah # 1Ki 17:5
22g) Hezekiah # 2Ki 18:6
22h) Josiah # 2Ki 22:2
22i) David # Ps 119:106
22j) Zerubbabel # Hag 1:12
22k) Joseph # Mt 1:24
22l) Wise men # Mt 2:12
22m) Zacharias &c # Lu 1:6
22n) Paul # Ac 26:19
22o) Saints of Rome # Ro 16:19

Obedience/Disobedience

(A) OBEDIENCE

(1) To God, the duty of
Whole-hearted Required  # De 26:16 32:46
The Price of Success # Jos 1:8
Better than Sacrifice # 1Sa 15:22 Jer 7:23
Secures Entrance into God’s Kingdom # Mt 7:21 Lu 8:21
The Imperative Duty of Life # Ac 5:29
(2) Examples of
Noah   # Ge 6:22
Abraham # Ge 12:4 22:2,3
Bezaleel   # Ex 36:1 Nu 9:23
Joshua # Jos 11:15
Hezekiah # 2Ki 18:6 Ezr 7:23 Ps 27:8
Joseph and Mary # Lu 2:39 Ac 16:10
Paul # Ac 26:19 Ro 16:19
Christ # Heb 5:8
(3) Blessings Promised for # Ex 19:5 De 4:30 5:29 7:12 28:1 1Ki 3:14 Job 36:11 Zec 3:7             # Jas 1:25 1Jo 3:22 Re 22:14
(4) Christ’s Example of # Joh 14:31 15:10 Ro 5:19 Heb 5:8 10:9

(B) CHRIST’S WORDS CONCERNING OBEDIENCE
The Basal Rock of Character # Mt 7:24
Essential to Membership in God’s Family # Mt 12:50
The Key to Spiritual Knowledge # Joh 7:17
Secures the Blessing of Divine Fellowship # Joh 14:23 1Jo 2:17

(C) OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST, examples of # Mt 4:20 7:24 9:9 21:6 26:19 Lu 5:5 6:47 # Joh 2:7 11:29 14:21 21:6

(D) DISOBEDIENCE
(1) Penalty for # De 11:28 28:15 1Sa 12:15 28:18 1Ki 13:21 Jer 12:17  Eph 5:6 2Th 1:8 1Ti 1:9 Heb 2:2,3
(2) Examples of # Ge 3:11 19:26 Le 10:1 Nu 20:11 Jos 7:1 1Sa 13:13 Jon 1:3 Zep 3:2

Reasons Why God Has Established Authority

1. For our protection

God has designed authority to function like an umbrella of protection. As long as we remain under God-given authority, nothing can happen to us that God does not design for our ultimate good and His ultimate glory. But the moment we challenge and disobey our authority, we move out from underneath that umbrella of protection and expose ourselves to the destructive forces of Satan. That’s why Scripture says that “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” (1 Samuel 15:23). A person who is involved in witchcraft has given himself over to Satan and his power. Exactly the same thing happens the moment you step outside that umbrella of protection – you expose yourself to the destructive forces of Satan. Satan’s strategy is to get us outside that umbrella of protection because he knows he can’t harm us as long as we remain under our God-given authority. 

2. For direction

The most essential means of finding God’s will (second only to the Word of God) is checking with our authorities, because God directs through your authority. Now that’s radical teaching for our society! Parents are often the last on the list that our young people come to for advice, and that’s tragic. This explains why so many Christian young people today are constantly making wrong decisions and are just drifting through life with no vital spiritual purpose for living. It’s only as we submit to the authority of those God has placed over us – parents, government, employer, leadership in the local church – that we can benefit from God’s protection and direction.

 

3. For character development

Every single one of us has a multitude of character deficiencies that need to be perfected. Authorities are the tools in God’s hands that He uses to chip away at the rough edges of our character and to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ (Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.). If we react and resist and get out from under the reproofs and authority of our parents, God only has to raise up new “tools” to continue the job.

God Has Ordained Four Basic Structures of Authority

Romans 13:1-2 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

1. The Family

The family was the very first authority structure that God ever established, and it is foundational to all other structures of authority. Strong families will produce strong churches and nations. Weak families will produce weak churches and weak nations. Scripture makes it very clear that the husband is under the direct authority of God…The wife is under the authority of the husband…And the children are under the authority of their parents. This is the chain-of-command which God has established within the family. If this chain is broken or perverted in any way, if the husband resigns the spiritual leadership of the family to his wife, if the children are undisciplined and allowed to do whatever they want, then there will be serious consequences in the lives of that family.

2. The Government

Submission to the entire structure of government from the leader of our country, all the way down to the local police officers is commanded in Scripture. 1 Peter 2:13-14 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.

3. The Church

God has provided the leadership within a properly functioning local church to be responsible for the spiritual care and welfare of each member. Hebrews 13:17 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.

4. Our Employers

Paul, in Ephesians 6:5, writes, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ.”

Is there ever a situation when we should disobey those in authority over us? Acts 4:19-20 infers that if we are confronted with a situation and are asked by our authorities to violate a Biblical command or principle, then we must obey God rather than man.

Projects for Obedience

  • Can you report to your children that you fully obeyed your parents or that you have asked them to forgive you for not obeying?
  • Does your family see you making sacrifices to obey God?
  • Do you quickly obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit?
  • Have your children seen you violate traffic laws?

Character Definitions of Obedience

  • Submission to the restraint or commands of authority. (Dictionary Definition)
  • Freedom to be creative under the protection of divinely-appointed authority. (Operational Definition)
  • Learning the importance of limitations and the meaning of the word “no.” Responding to the wishes of God, parents, and others in authority. Yielding the right to have the final decision.  (Operational Definition)

Bible Verses Related to Obedience

Spend an evening (or several) looking at just one of these verses at a time. Don’t forget to ask your children the questions: Who? What? Where? Why? When? and How? Discuss with your family what each verse or story teaches about the character quality.

  • 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.
  • Proverbs 30:17 The eye [that] mocketh at [his] father, and despiseth to obey [his] mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. {the valley: or, the brook}
  • Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
  • 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?
  • 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; {imaginations: or, reasonings}
  • Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
  • Colossians 3:20 Children, obey [your] parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
  • Colossians 3:22 Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
  • Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
  • Hebrews 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
  • Hebrews 13:17 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. {have…: or, guide}

Be Decisive to Obey God’s Word

Just about every Christian has asked the question – “What is the will of God for my life?” And whenever a Christian asks that question, he implies 2 things:

1. He doesn’t know God’s will but he would like to.
2. He would like to know God’s will; but because he doesn’t know, it’s God’s fault.

But God has already revealed His will to us. Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 4:3, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification…” You don’t have to pray about that! Sanctification is the process by which we become less and less like ourselves and more and more like Jesus.

God’s will for our lives then is not first and foremost a matter of our vocation or our location but a matter of the condition of our hearts. It’s not where you are; it’s not what you’re doing; but it’s what you are that is of primary importance to God.

In John 17:17, Jesus prays to His Father and says, “Sanctify them with Thy truth; Thy Word is truth.” God’s will is that we be sanctified, and Jesus is telling us how that happens: by a constant exposure to the Word of God. A Christian that is in the will of God is a Christian that is in Word of God.

Resolve to be a Christian that is in the will of God by not only reading but applying God’s Word.

Morris Hull – Home Life Ministries