WTFMT 35 HGM 23 AUGUST 2016

WILDERNESS TRUTHS FOR MODERN TIMES-35 TEXT: "And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying," (Numbers 9:1)

I. MORE ABOUT OBEDIENCE

       A. Part of His indwelling life is obedience. One of the reasons for which God brings us into the wilderness and the unknown is to learn obedience.
       B. The first few lessons of obedience are not difficult. God did not immediately tell the Israelites to go up and possess the Promised Land. But one of the first lessons was relatively simple. "And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel." (Numbers 14:5)
       C. He starts teaching us obedience in the small things. Things we think are not important to God, things that we believe are insignificant, things that God does not notice. As a new believer we cannot handle the heavier things of God. But, moving in obedience in the small things of God will qualify us for moving in the bigger heavier things of God.
       D. By learning to develop an understanding of the importance of obedience and the ability to recognize His voice we then can move in a greater understanding of what obedience to God is. In other words; We understand and move in greater obedience to the Lord by being obedient to the Lord. How can we can grow in the Lord if we do not do what He is teaching us?
       F. If we cannot hear the Lord's voice and move in obedience in small things we will not be able, in the future, to move in greater things of the Lord.
      G. The passover was instituted while they were in Egypt. Once they were in the Wilderness of Sinai, the Lord commanded them to keep the Passover. In this way they could begin to exercise obedience to the Lord in times of freedom or times when we can exercise our free will.
      H. If obedience was not learned in the wilderness, the children of Israel would not enter the Promise Land. The first relatively simple lessons in obedience soon fade into the background in light of more difficult lessons thrust upon us as we progress in our schooling. Obedience in the glory of His presence, when there is water aplenty, is not to difficult. What is much more difficult is obedience in darkness without water. In our difficult terrain we learn the most about obedience. Thus it is necessary that God takes us over rough roads to train us properly.
     I. Proper training in obedience prepares us (it is hoped) to obey without questioning. When God speaks and leads, He does not usually say why or explain the purposes. If we learn our lessons well, we will walk in His command without asking , "why?"
    J. After we learn not to ask why, the next trick we use to get our way is to make stipulations. This will not work. We must learn to follow Him without questions and without stipulation and without deals. Obedience should be based upon nothing but that which God commands. Our lives may depend on it.
   K. Immediate obedience may save our physical life or preserve us from other dangers. For more important reasons than our physical well-being God wants us to learn obedience. This is why in the school of obedience God gives us a very rough course. Usually one does not know what's going on in the realm of obedience until it is completed.
    L. Little did King Saul realize that failure in his test of obedience would cost him his kingdom. (I Samuel 15:11-28) In disobedience there is loss. In obedience there is gain, not just for the one, but for many others. "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19) There is no substitute for obedience. Some folks will pray rather than obey.
    M. A lady was playing the organ, God directed her to pass out tracts beginning with her nearest neighbor, but she was so taken up with her tearful worship and the presence of God she ignored God directive. A second time the Lord urged her, but still she continued to play the organ. About two hours later she heard a great commotion outside. She looked and saw at the nearest neighbor home am ambulance, fire truck, and police. She later found out that the neighbor, alone at home had committed suicide.
    N. Obedience is better than the tearful joy of basking in the presence of God. Nothing will take the place of obedience.

II. PARTING THOUGHTS
    A. Obedience is of great importance. It goes beyond ourselves into an ever broadening area. If we were the only one involved in our obedience, the importance would be greatly diminished. Consider the case with the disciples of Jesus. Their obedience has reached out over two thousand years to touch our lives.
    B. We are one grain of wheat, one seed. We come into God's life and obedience. We fall into the ground and die to self. Now there is a production which touches the lives of many. Where does it end? It never does. And this is just your obedience, no one else's.