Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 15:1-28
Memory Text: So Samual said: “He 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 heed than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22
Lesson Aim: To establish the importance of maintaining relationship with God and others through obedience.
Key Points
- The pulse of one’s relationship with God is obedience.
- Obedience liberates the believer.
- Obedience is a complete lifestyle.
The Omnipotent God, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Master of the universe, the Conductor of every orchestrated breath of air we draw, the Keeper and Lover of our souls rests His hand on the pulse of our relationship with Him – obedience! Our obedience to God proves that there is a level of relationship, love, and admiration. We choose to obey God! God entreats us to love Him and that love relationship translates into obedience.
Before there were any written laws, God gave Adam and Eve free access to everything in the Garden of Eden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God told them that of this tree they should not eat, for in the day they do they would surely die. It is quite obvious to us today that Adam disobeyed God’s command because mankind has been suffering with the consequences of Adam and Eve’s decision to disobey God’s command.
So often obedience is characterized as bondage. The opposite is true of obedience. True liberation is found through obedience. Obedience sets us free. Obedience gives us an identity; it affirms us. Obedience gives us an arena in which to operate where there are no hindrances; there is no wondering what will happen to us, because the power of God surrounds us. Bondage comes when there is disobedience. That is when the heaviness, fear, and guilt come. But when there is total obedience, there is no fear. There is no guilt. There is liberty, joy, and happiness (Hagin).[1]
Obedience is not just an act, or a series of actions; obedience is a complete lifestyle; a life principle or attitude of heart by which to live. “Faith is of the heart, invisible to men; obedience is of the conduct and may be observed. When a man obeys God he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God.”[2]
In the past, some of us may have pondered the question, “Why is the power of God not manifested in my life?” Without total obedience, God cannot trust us with His power! It is when we come in line with Him and His Word in every area of our lives, that God can fully trust us. Then we are no longer out to serve ourselves, but we are dedicated to His service.
Many Christians today are walking in disobedience to God and have not realized it. This disobedience has hindered them from receiving God’s best in their lives. God also has great victories He wants to lead them into! Yet for some, disobedience is the reason their prayers have not been answered, or the longings of their hearts have not been fulfilled. It may be that God has spoken to their hearts to do something for Him, but they have flatly refused to obey. For others, it may be that they are in opposition to certain principles in God’s Word, and therefore, God cannot answer their prayers until they come in line with His Word (Hagin).[3]
We can tell if a person is alive and breathing by a heartbeat and pulse. The pulse of our relationship with God is obedience. When we totally surrender our will to Him and our hearts pant earnestly for Him, walking in total obedience will become a lifestyle. Others will see that we are alive and doing well in God. Let us live each day desiring to please His Majesty, Jesus, through TOTAL OBEDIENCE.
[1] Hagin, Kenneth, Jr. The Life of Obedience. Tulsa: Rhema Bible Church, 1986. p. 27-28
[2] Vine, W. E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Old Tappan: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1981.p. 124
[3] Hagin, p. 18.
Questions and Discussion
- Does God call for us to be obedient to Him? Luke 11:28; John 8:51; 14:15; 15:10
- What are some of the attributes of obedience? Ephesians 2:6; Hebrews 11:6; John 14:23; 1 John 5:2-3
- In what way were the following individuals in total obedience to God, and what impact did their actions have on them and/or on others?
- Noah and the Ark – Genesis 7:5-9; Hebrews 11:7
- Abraham/Sarah – Hebrews 11:8-10; Romans 4:20-22
- Jesus Christ – Philippians 2:5-9; Matthew 26:39
- What are some of the attributes of disobedience? Genesis 3:8-10; Hebrews 3:15-19; John 8:24; John 14:15; Proverbs 16:18; 1 Peter 5:5; Psalm 138:6
The following are examples of individuals who were not in total obedience to God: Let us see how their actions adversely affected them and/or others:
***Saul and the Amalekites – 1 Samuel 15:1-3, 9, 12-15, 19-21
5. Why did the Lord regret making Saul king of Israel? 1 Samuel 15:10-11
6. What were the consequences of Saul’s disobedience? 1 Samuel 15:23, 26
***David, Uzzah and the Ark of God – 1 Chronicles 13:1-10
7. In what way did disobedience play a factor in the death of Uzzah? 1 Chronicles 13:1-10; Exodus 25:10-15; Numbers 4:15
*** Achan and the Babylonian garment and money – Joshua 6:17-18; 7:1, 19-25
8. How did Achan’s actions affect Israel? Joshua 7:1-5, 10-12
9. How should we confront and correct disobedience? Jeremiah 3:12-14
10. Can we find success in obeying God’s Word? Joshua 1:8; Isaiah 1:19; Luke 6:38; Psalm 119:1-8