Obedience

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24 - 27(NIV)

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.  “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”    Acts 5:17 - 20 (NIV)

OBEDIENCE

Usually triggers opposition.

They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.    Acts 5:18 (NIV)

Often releases God’s miracles.

But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out.    Acts 5:19 (NIV)

Always requires faith.

“Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”    Acts 5:20 (NIV)

You can’t play it safe and please God.

And without faith it is impossible to please God.    Hebrews 11:6a (NIV)  

You don’t have faith if you have a guarantee.

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.    Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)

At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.    Acts 5:21 (NIV)

Delayed obedience is disobedience.

Partial obedience is disobedience.

“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”    Acts 5:28 - 29 (NIV)