The Substance Of Faith Part 3

WARM-UP

What is our usual response when we don’t like to do what we  are told to do? Do you say, “You’re not my parent. You can’t tell  me what to do.”? Are you a rule follower or someone who resists  obedience?

ONE BIG IDEA

Genuine faith can only be demonstrated by obedient action.

STUDY (1 Samuel 15:1-9)

“1One day Samuel said to Saul, “It was the Lord who told me to  anoint you as king of His people, Israel. Now listen to this message from the Lord! 2This is what the Lord of Heaven’s  Armies has declared: I have decided to settle accounts with the  nation of Amalek for opposing Israel when they came from  Egypt. 3Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite  nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats,  camels, and donkeys.” 4So Saul mobilized his army at Telaim.  There were 200,000 soldiers from Israel and 10,000 men from  Judah. 5Then Saul and his army went to a town of the  Amalekites and lay in wait in the valley. 6Saul sent this warning  to the Kenites: “Move away from where the Amalekites live, or  you will die with them. For you showed kindness to all the  people of Israel when they came up from Egypt.” So the Kenites  packed up and left. 7Then Saul slaughtered the Amalekites from  Havilah all the way to Shur, east of Egypt. 8He captured Agag,  the Amalekite king, but completely destroyed everyone else. “9Saul and his men spared Agag’s life and kept the best of the  sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs—  everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only  what was worthless or of poor quality.” (NLT)

LEARN

WHY SHOLD WE OBEY GOD?

GOD GAVE YOU EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAVE

At the command of the Lord, Saul was anointed by Samuel as the  king of Israel. Before becoming a king, Saul thought little of  himself. However, God chose him to be the leader of the tribes of  Israel; but here’s the problem: when he became the king, Saul  changed. He wanted to please people more than the Lord. He  made decisions for the people of Israel without even asking the  Lord; He became arrogant. The position, wealth, and power went  into his head.

If we are grateful to God for providing us all things, obedience is  the least that we can offer Him.

GOD HAS A GOOD PURPOSE

When God commanded Saul to destroy Amalekites, God had a  good purpose for His order. God wanted to settle accounts with

the Amalekites for opposing Israel. Why would God have the  Israelites exterminate an entire group of people, women and  children included? This is a difficult issue; we do not fully  understand why God would command such a thing, but we  should trust that our God is just. And we should recognize that we  are incapable of fully understanding a sovereign, infinite, and  eternal God. His ways and thoughts are higher than our own  (Isaiah 55:9). We have to be willing to trust God and have faith in  Him even when we do not understand His ways.

GOD WILL REJECT YOU IF YOU DON’T

Saul disobeyed the Lord more than twice. He burnt incense for

God which was only allowed for the prophets of God to do. He  consulted a witch to talk to Samuel when Samuel was already  dead. In the Scripture that we read, Saul did not destroy the  Amalekites and their animals even if he clearly knew that God  instructed him to do so. Consider what happens to those who  claim to be God’s children and yet reject God’s will to pursue their  own. The Israelites had done this. Whenever we reject God’s  Word, it is like we denounce God as our Father. The same  happens whenever we desire anything in this world over God,  including the closest of human relationships. Every child of God  needs to ask himself this very important question: “Are my desires  and passions an indication of my identity as a child of God?” Bear  in mind, “When we reject God, God rejects us.”

What happens when God rejects a person? a. God takes out the  blessing (1 Samuel 15:23b); b. The Holy Spirit departs (1 Samuel 16:14a); c. God metes out punishment (1 Samuel 16:14b-15

GOD CONSIDERS DISOBEDIENCE AS REBELLION

Rebellion is defined as opposition to one in authority or dominance  (Merriam-Webster Dictionary). Why does God reject us when we  disobey Him? He rejects us because it is equivalent to rebellion. We are opposing His authority as our God and master when we disobey  Him. Worse, God equates rebellion to witchcraft and worshipping idols.

What can we expect in obeying God? God never intended for us to be  harassed about the decisions we make each day. Sometimes when we  pray, we immediately discern the will of God. Other times, we must  wait, trusting Him to show us when and how to move forward. Or at  times, He spends a great deal of time preparing us to step forward  through an open door. The bottom line is that there is never a time  when it is okay to disobey God. We should obey Him regardless of  what we think or how we feel.