Jesus Uses Scriptures In His Obedience

Hi everyone.  Here is some more information on obedience. We are looking at Jesus' temptations in the wilderness from Matt. 4:1-11. Let's look at some simple lessons.

1. The word gives us power to obey. One of the amazing contradictions in our world is the constant attempt by people (Christians and Christian wannabe’s) to claim obedience to God without knowledge of the word of God. I met a priest on one occasion who said he was obedient to God and then said that studying the word was not part of his work as a priest. I have met some who have been Christians for decades who cannot answer biblically whether or not it is alright to use instrumental music with songs of worship. Jesus was not at doubt about what was right for him to do. He knew what the word said. David said that knowledge of the word can keep us from sin (Ps. 119:11). When we know it, we know how to obey God.

2. The word gives us excuse to obey. That sounds like a strange way to put it.  Sometimes, when our children were growing up and not yet able to stand strong on their own, we would give them an excuse to enable them to do right.  When their friends would ask them to participate in a wrong or questionable activity, we told them they could refuse to do it and blame us.  That is, they could tell their friends that their parents would not allow it. It made obedience easier when they were feeling personally weak.  The Bible does the same for us. When we are being persuaded to do something we are not sure is right, and we are feeling the peer pressure, then it is right to say, “My God would not want me to do that,” or “The Bible teaches me that is not right,” or “I do not believe Jesus would do that.” All of these statements are properly based when we know what the word says. The Bible gives us an excuse to obey.

3. God’s word is to be obeyed in the most difficult of circumstances. We sometimes think that too many hardships come our way when we always follow the Bible or to many to even think about following the Bible. Jesus had been forty days without food. The devil tempts him to prove who He really is by the simple act of making a little bread that he desperately needed. Circumstances do no determine right or wrong. God’s word does. Our awareness of God’s word will gives us strength and remind us that we are not in the battle alone (1 Cor. 10:13).

4. We must learn and study all of God’s word lest we fail to obey some part of it. Jesus said man must live by “every word.” Paul was sure to declare the “whole counsel of God” in trying to persuade men to obey God (Acts 20:26, 27, 31).

5. We must “rightly divide” God’s word if we are to be sure in our obedience. Twice Satan use scripture to get Jesus to follow his words.  Twice Jesus rebutted the scripture with other scripture. You and I know that the Bible does not contradict itself. We must study the word diligently so that we know how to harmonize the scriptures with each other.  This will help us be solid in our obedience and we will be able to help others (1 Pet. 3:15). Someone who knows Eph. 2:8, but not 1 Pet. 3:21 does not know all that is needed to be obedient to God.

 I hope this helps your study tonight.

Mike Glenn