Willingness & Obedience

Personal Testimony and Introduction Expressing gratitude for salvation through Jesus Christ. Acknowledging that salvation is solely due to Jesus’s actions. Sharing a personal experience of conviction and salvation at age 17 during a revival. Experiencing a difficult night after initially resisting the call to salvation. Emphasizing the importance of not delaying obedience to God’s call. Expressing nervousness before preaching despite years of experience. Desiring prayers for the ability to deliver the intended message. Scripture Reading and Theme Introduction Reading Isaiah 1:19: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” Focusing on the words “willing and obedient” as the central theme. Highlighting Jesus Christ as the ultimate example of willingness and obedience. Jesus’s willingness to go to the cross as essential for humanity’s hope. His obedience in not calling upon angels as crucial for salvation. Emphasizing that the initial call to obedience is accepting Jesus as Savior. Expressing continued thankfulness for salvation. The Necessity of Continued Willingness and Obedience Highlighting that salvation is not a passive state but requires ongoing willingness and obedience to God. God provides talents and abilities for kingdom work, requiring individuals to be willing to use them. Experiencing spiritual blessings through personal obedience and the obedience of others. Referencing Isaiah 6, where Isaiah volunteers to go when God asks, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Acknowledging past failures to seize opportunities to work for God due to succumbing to worldly influences. Emphasizing the importance of willingness in serving God. Examples of Willingness and Obedience David’s willingness to face Goliath, questioning, “Is there not a cause?” David’s confidence in God’s power over the giant. Rejecting Saul’s armor to rely on personal experience and faith in God’s Word. David’s past experiences as a shepherd, where God strengthened him to kill a lion and a bear. Sticking with what is known to work, which is God’s Word. Highlighting the importance of God’s Word as the source of help, contrasting it with reliance on worldly programs or other people. Expressing gratitude for those who wrote down God’s word. Consequences of Disobedience and the Mercy of God Experiencing misery when failing to seize opportunities to serve God. Feeling conviction and needing to seek forgiveness and restoration. God’s loving and merciful nature, offering forgiveness and restoration. Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22. Abraham’s prompt action: “rose up early in the morning.” Isaac’s question about the sacrifice and Abraham’s response that “God will provide himself a lamb.” Relating this to Jesus Christ as the ultimate sacrifice. God’s blessings for willingness and obedience. Practical Application and Personal Reflection God expects action on the tasks already given before providing new ones. Recalling a prayer to do whatever God wants, initially with exceptions (e.g., not wanting to be a missionary). Opportunities arose when the exceptions were removed, and a willingness to do anything was expressed. God blesses those who are willing and obedient, allowing them to “eat of the fat of the lamb.” Recognizing the world’s need for salvation and the opportunity to work for the Lord. Acknowledging the gift of gab and the importance of using talents for God’s kingdom work. Seeking forgiveness for past refusals to act when God called. Highlighting the danger of becoming complacent and missing opportunities for God to work through us. Living Sacrifice and Family in Christ Referencing Romans 12:1, urging believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice. Emphasizing that this is a reasonable service to God. The need to give God everything, without exceptions. Recognizing personal fallibility and the need for God’s guidance. Highlighting that obedience is for God’s glory, not personal recognition. Expressing thankfulness for God’s undeserved blessings. Willingness to Renounce the World and Exercise Faith Questioning whether individuals are willing to let go of worldly things. Highlighting the squandering of talents in the world versus using them for God’s glory. Example of talented musicians who started in church but now sing vulgar songs. God’s blessings for those obedient to Him. Acknowledging times of uncertainty in God’s leading, yet trusting in His plan. Emphasizing that faith involves being willing to say yes without knowing the outcome. Testifying that following God’s lead has always resulted in good. The Story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch Philip’s obedience to the Spirit’s call to go south after a successful revival in Acts 8. The temptation to stay where things were going well. Philip encountering the Ethiopian eunuch reading Isaiah in a chariot. God giving Philip the opportunity to help the eunuch understand the scripture. Highlighting that it is the job of Christians to help others understand Jesus’s love and sacrifice. Philip running to the chariot upon the Spirit’s instruction. The danger of overthinking and the importance of trusting God and going. Philip leading the eunuch to the Lord. Emphasizing the precious opportunity to lead someone to the Lord. The Power of Testimony and the Consequences of Disobedience Testimony as a powerful tool to share what God has done. Sharing personal experiences of God’s help and strength, even when facing the unknown. Highlighting the blessings of willingness and obedience throughout scripture. Contrasting this with the consequences of unwillingness and disobedience, citing examples from the Old and New Testaments. Gaining when working for the Lord versus losing when stepping back into the world. Experiencing a loss of closeness with God and begging for restoration after walking away. Believing that God will not turn away a broken heart. Peace Through Obedience and the Justice of God Experiencing the peace of God as a result of willingness and obedience. Highlighting that Satan’s temptations always have a way of escape provided by God. The cost of succumbing to temptation. The peace that surpasses understanding comes from using talents and gifts for God. God’s desire for all of us, not just a part. Obedience is better than sacrifice.