Blessing Comes FROM Obedience

Again, I want to start my sermon with a precursor.

Just because you are obedient doesn’t mean only blessed things will happen to you.

I firmly believe and know that you can’t just cherry pick things out of the bible that you want to be true and leave the totality of context out of the picture. There is suffering. There is Job who walked upright before the Lord and still had unimaginable loss and pain, and most importantly there is Jesus who was perfect in all ways and still crucified.

But at the same time while those things are true there is a “hinge” to blessings.

Every time you see a blessing come there is something specific that happens…

Every time you see a curse broken there is something specific that happens…

I don’t know much about carpentry or woodworking at all but I do understand the concept of a door hinge. While you used to use Webster’s definition, now I will use AI…”A door hinge is a mechanical device that allows a door to swing open and close. It typically consists of two metal plates (the leaves) joined by a pin, allowing the door to pivot around the pin. The hinge attaches the door to the doorframe, enabling the door's movement.”

Picture of a Door Hinge

And in the case of a blessing the one word that I always see associated is

OBEDIENCE

Blessing Comes from Obedience

In other words, your obedience opens the door to God Blessing.

Deuteronomy 26:16-19

16 The LORD your God commands you this day to follow these decrees and laws; carefully observe them with all your heart and with all your soul. 17 You have declared this day that the LORD is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him. 18 And the LORD has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands. 19 He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised.

This is not the only time, this is every time.

The word “obedience” appears 96 times in the Bible. It is used 81 times in the Old Testament and 15 times in the New Testament. The word “obey” appears 165 times whiled “obeyed” only 48 times.

But more importantly in Hebrew obey means “to listen.”

The word Listen in the Bible…that is written over 1000 times

Obedience brings a blessing.

(Ex. Kids) (things done in the house vs not done) (how much more true spiritually)

Learned Obedience stems from habit and societal norms. It is often ingrained and automatic. (We typically follow the rules, we are generally nice and kind)

Transactional Obedience is driven by seeking benefits or rewards. Also to avoid negative consequences. (I don’t want a ticket so I will drive the speed limit)

Responsibility Obedience focuses on fulfilling duties and obligations or commitment. ( I am not going to cheat because I am married)

Faithful Obedience is an expression of love and gratitude and deep connection to a higher authority or ideal. It’s often characterized by a willingness to obey even when it’s difficult or not immediately beneficial. (This is what the Lord wants)

The statement "Obedience is better than sacrifice" is a principle emphasized in the Bible, particularly in 1 Samuel 15:22. It highlights that God values a heart that is willing to obey and follow His commands more than the outward act of offering sacrifices. This is because obedience demonstrates a deeper love and trust in God, while sacrifices can sometimes be performed without genuine heart involvement.

1 Samuel 15

15 And Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel; now therefore listen to the words of the LORD. 2 Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way when they came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction[a] all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

4 So Saul summoned the people and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand men on foot, and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 And Saul came to the city of Amalek and lay in wait in the valley. 6 Then Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 And Saul defeated the Amalekites from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt. 8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive and devoted to destruction all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calves[b] and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction. 10 The word of the LORD came to Samuel: 11 “I regret[c] that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night. 12 And Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning. And it was told Samuel, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself and turned and passed on and went down to Gilgal.” 13 And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD.” 14 And Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?” 15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites, for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice to the LORD your God, and the rest we have devoted to destruction.” 16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me this night.” And he said to him, “Speak.”

17 And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And the LORD sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go, devote to destruction the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. 21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” 22 And Samuel said,

“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king…”

Hosea 6:6 For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offering.

Over and over again the prophets say the same thing.

Then Jesus shows up and says it was never about the sacrifice, it was obedience.

He wants our faithful obedience!!

Our God wants an expression of love and gratitude and deep connection similar to Adam and Eve in the garden, who were BLESSED by the way. It’s often characterized by a willingness to obey even when it’s difficult or not immediately beneficial.

You want the blessing of God in your Dating Relationships

Are you being Faithful and Obedient to Do it His Way? I just want to say His way is not the world’s way. Culture says try it on and Jesus says live in purity between one man and women in covenant together so the world can get a picture of Him.

You want the blessing of God over your finances

Are you stewarding and giving in the way that He has asked? You are spending unaccounted for money, buying everything you desire instead of what you need. Tithe is on the back of the list instead of the front.

You want the blessing of God over your marriage

Are you living your marriage according to the truth of the Word of God. Living in the fruit of the spirit. Not being quarrelsome. Submitting to one another. Preferring one another.

You want the blessing of God over your health?

You do realize that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. We are called to steward that well. Physical exercise is good and has it rewards. What you eat is like a hinge to your health.

You want the blessing of God over your calling and purpose

But you never spend time in His presence. You want the gifts to overflow in your life but you never spend time with the gift giver. How can God bless you if you never show up to get blessed?

You want the blessing of God over your job and work

Are you willing to submit to leadership because when you do you honor the Lord. Are you willing to work for your boss or job as unto the Lord.

You want the blessing of God over you and future generation

Are you breaking generational curses now, or are you letting some slip saying that one doesn’t matter or nobody will notice these things.

And I could go on and on with the blessing that we seek…

But the Obedience that is not put into practice…

God is looking for more than learned obedience, transactional obedience, or relationship obedience…

He is looking for Faithful Obedience.