4.The Secret Of Obeying Is Loving
I. LEVELS OF OBEDIENCE
A. THE LEVEL OF "FEAR"...
1. Where we obey because we know what will happen if we don't - Ephesians 5:5-7 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of Elohim upon the children of disobedience.
[7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
2. Now, there is certainly a place for a proper "fear of Ahaiah"
a. Which can motivate us to initially turn to Ahaiah - cf. Acts 10: 1-2 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
[2] A devout man, and one that feared Alohim with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to Alohim alway.
[3] He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of Alohim coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.
[4] And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Master? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before elohim.,
34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that Elohim is no respecter of persons:
[35] But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.
b. Which can continue to motivate us in our service to Yehovah -
Phillipians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
c. And which should certainly motivate us to repent when we have disobeyed Yehovah - Hebrews 10:26-31 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
[27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
[28] He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
[29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of Alohim, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
[30] For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith Ahaiah. And again, Ahaiah shall judge his people.
[31] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living Alohim.
3. But the Lord would have us progress beyond fear as the only motive for obedience
a. Yehoshua indicated that He desires our relationship to be much closer and loving -
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
1) A "slave-master" relationship is based upon fear
2) But a relationship based upon "friendship" is what Ahaishua wants
b. Fear, while proper in its place, can rob us of the real joy that Yehovah wants us to experience when as we obey Him
1) Motivation based solely on fear builds walls instead of bridges
2) As John wrote: "he who fears has not been made perfect in love" -
1 John 4:18
B. THE LEVEL OF "SELFISHNESS"...
1. We obey because of what we know we will get in return
2. This attitude was manifested by Peter on one occasion -
Matthew 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?
3. The difference between the level of "fear" and the level of
"selfishness" can be easily demonstrated in children...
a. Some children will obey parents to avoid discipline (the level of fear)
b. Other children will obey parents to incur favor (the level of selfishness)
4. The sad truth is that many Believers never rise above these two levels of obedience
a. Some obey Ahaiah only because they fear the Judgment
b. Others obey Ahaiah only because of the promise of eternal reward
5. But there is yet a higher level of obedience...
C. THE LEVEL OF "LOVE"...
1. This is the highest level of obedience
2. This is where we obey Alohim because we love Him, and will continue to obey Him no matter what the circumstances or outcome will be.
3. This is the level of obedience upon which Jesus wants us to do His will...
a. "If you love Me, keep My commandments." - John 14:15
b. "If anyone loves, Me, he will keep My word..." - John 14:23a
[Not only is "obeying out of love" the highest level of obedience, it is
also the secret to obeying...]
II. THE SECRET TO OBEYING IS LOVING
A. AHAIAH HAS ALWAYS DESIRED THAT HIS PEOPLE OBEY HIM OUT OF LOVE...
1. So He wanted the nation of Israel to obey Him - Deuteronomy 6:4-5 Hear, O Israel: Ahaiah our Elohim is ECHAD:[5] And thou shalt love Yehovah thy El with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.; 7:9 Know therefore that Ahaiah thy El, he is elohim, the faithful El, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 10:12-13And now, Israel, what doth Yehovah thy El require of thee, but to fear Ahaiah thy Al, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Ahaiah thy Al with all thy heart and with all thy soul,
[13] To keep the commandments of Ahaiah, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?; 11:1Therefore thou shalt love Yehovah thy El, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.
2. And so Ahaishua wants His disciples to obey Him - John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
B. THE VALUE OF OBEDIENCE OUT OF LOVE CAN BE EASILY SEEN...
1. While we may initially obey out of fear, or out of selfishness...
2. The key to continued and successful obedience requires that it be done out of love!
a. Suppose things are going so well for us that we are not mindful of Ahaiah's impending judgment? - We are not likely to be motivated by "fear"
b. Suppose things are going so well for us that we do not sense any need for things from Ahaiah? - We are not likely to be motivated by "selfishness"
3. Only when we are motivated by "love" will we be faithful in our obedience in good times as well as in bad!
REVIEW
If we desire to truly enjoy the "abundant life" that Jesus offers,
then let us learn to obey Messiah out of "love"...
a. For the more we love Him, the more we will obey Him
b. The more we obey Him, the more we will abide in Him
c. The more we abide in Him, the more we will bear fruit
d. And the more we bear fruit, the more we will truly experience the
"abundant life!"
The secret to living is bearing fruit;
The secret to bearing fruit is abiding;
The secret to abiding is obeying;
The secret of obeying is loving...
What is the secret of loving?