“The Freedom of Obedience”

Genesis 3

9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Acts 5

32 We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.

God gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey. Learn to listen and obey. Saul was sacrificing a fattened calf when Samuel found him. Saul was disobeying God. even though he justified himself by saying that he was offering the best to the Lord. But, obedience is better than sacrifice.

1 Samuel 13

9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash.

15 And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

22 So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.

Humble yourself and bow, and unite yourself to God’s will. There is phenomenal joy and sweetness in obedience.

We read in Genesis 3:9-11 about Adam hid when God came to find him. Why? He had lost his garment of freedom and the life God had given him. He was no longer innocent he had wanted that knowledge that so many young people want to get. God had put him in a certain place and he wasn’t there anymore. What makes you afraid? Why do you hide? Do you creep away from the company of the Lord’s people? Have you eaten something you shouldn’t have eaten? True freedom is obedience to God not just doing anything you want to do. You can see God’s freedom and gift of life in a person’s face. Have you lost the garment of freedom and you are ashamed and in hiding from God and his people? If you side with the devil you will avoid God and those in whom God dwells. You will rather seek out those who are backsliders.

Adam and Eve longed for evil things and were chatted up by the devil? Is he doing that to you? To stay pure is an amazing thing for it brings liberty and protection.

Exodus 15

26 He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.”

Deuteronomy 30

15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction.

16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

Keep the Lord’s commands. Diligently listen to God to obtain blessing. It is in your best interest to obey. It blesses all around you too. God sets this before us today – not 10 years ago. Do you love the Lord more than anything? Even your own life?

If we say we love God we will obey his commands (John 14:15). Rememer that God’s commands are not burdensome. True freedom, joy and peace become yours when you live in obedience to your Lord.

Deut. 28 Go and read it! Diligently obey. If you are bad-tempered or so burdened with cares you get depressed, or filled with hatred or anxiety it’s because you do not cast yourself on the Lord.

Choose to obey God, today! Therein lies your freedom.