Obey & Experience

Experiencing God Reality #7: You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you.
But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than the offering the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22 NLT)
1) Obedience establishes the proper relationship between ourselves and God.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had…When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor… (Philippians 2:5, 8-9 NLT)
2) Obedience acknowledges that God knows and wants what is best for us.
When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ (Jeremiah 7:22-23 NLT)
3) Obedience enables us to know and love God.
Jesus: “If you love me, you will obey my commandments.” (John 14:15 GWT)
To love God means that we obey his commandments. (1 John 5:3a GWT)
4) Obedience expresses faith in God.
Moses protested, “Who am I to lead them the people out of Egypt?” God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” (Exodus 3:11-12 NLT)
5) Obedience unleashes the supernatural power of God in our lives.
But Peter and the apostles replied, “We must obey God rather than any human authority.” (Acts 5:29 NLT)
The apostles were performing many miraculous signs and wonders among the people…Crowds came, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil spirits, and they were all healed. (Acts 5:12, 16 NLT)
6) Obedience gives us the opportunity to participate in God’s work in the world.