Lesson 18: COMPLETE OBEDIENCE-PART 2

MEMORY VERSE- “And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice o the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth.” Deuteronomy 28:1
LESSON TEXT-Deuteronomy 28:1-14

INTRODUCTION

We have learnt that any disobedience is a sin and that partial obedience is worse. Obedience to God brings with it a lot of blessings. We need to study what we will gain by hearkening to the voice of God and look at some other people who obeyed Him in the Bible. May God teach us as we learn in His feet in Jesus Name.

LESSON OUTLINE

1. CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE
2. EXAMPLES OF PATRIARCHS OF OBEDIENCE

LESSON CONTENT

A. CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE
Every disobedience earns curse(s) from God-Deut.11:28;Daniel 9:11. Disobedience receives God’s judgment. Every believer who disobeys God is courting His wrath, Eph. 5: 6. God will use flaming fire to take vengeance on the disobedient people – 2 Thess. 1:8.lf God punished the people of old who disobeyed Him, He has not changed,1Sam.12:15. God can destroy a nation who refuses to obey Him-Jeremiah 12: 17.Moses disobeyed God’s direct command and God called it a dishonor to Him, God. The result is that Moses did not enter into the promised land, Num. 20: 10-12. Those who obeyed God half-heartedly include Abraham. God told Abraham to do three things – to get out of the country, get out of his kindred and to get out of his father’s house – Gen. 12: 4-5, 9-10. He was supposed to meet blessings, according to God’s promise but he met a grievous famine. God did not talk to him until he parted ways with Lot, Gen 13: 14-16. Also, God asked King Saul to wipe out the Amalekites and to utterly destroy everything in their country. He went there and killed everybody except the king and fat cattle-1 Sam 15: 3, 8-9, 11-22.

B. EXAMPLES OF PATRIARCHS OF OBEDIENCE
There are many examples of people in the Bible who obeyed God absolutely. If it is possible for these people, obedience is equally achievable for today’s believers. Let us look at few of them:
·Abraham was additionally blessed on one occasion because he obeyed God in offering Isaac on the altar-Gen.22:18; Gen.26:5.
·The Rechabites, the children of Jonadab. Their father had commanded them not to drink wine throughout their life time.For hearkening to the instruction of their father, God showered His blessings upon his lineage-Jer.35:1-19.
Joseph. Potiphar put Joseph in charge of overseeing his house and all that he had. Joseph became Prime Minister in a foreign land because he refused to sin against God, he obeyed God absolutely-Gen. 39:7-9;41:14-45.
· Paul. Paul, after his conversion, followed God absolutely. He served God with zeal and seriousness it deserved. No wonder he knew the time of his departure from the world. He saw the crown waiting for him-Romans 1:5;1 Cor.15:10; Rom. 16:26;2 Tim 4:6-8.
·Jesus. Jesus Christ is our perfect example. He kept His Father’s commandment throughout His ministry here on earth. He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death – John 4: 34;Phil 2: 6-11

CONCLUSION

Evidence that a person is a child of God is continued obedience to the commandments of God. Every believer must cultivate the habit of obedience to God. Obedience to Him will put you at great advantage. Fringe benefits of obedience include sound health, joy, peace and wisdom – Phil. 2: 5, 3 John 2

QUESTIONS

1. What are the consequences of disobedience?
2. How can we overcome disobedience?
3. Name some examples of patriarchs of obedience.

ASSIGNMENT

Students should come up with some practical experiences of effects disobedience.