The Big IF:If you obey

Sermon By Pastor Corky Calhoun

This is one of the biggest "if's" in all of scripture. Have you ever wondered why submission, and surrender, and obedience are such difficult concepts? Well the sin nature in us rebels against authority of any kind and so we see these terms and concepts as violations of our personal rights. However, once sin is defeated in us our lives now belong to Christ, meaning our lives should be the very witness of surrender and submission. I think Biblical Obedience is always reflected by Love-plus-Trust-plus-Action. I believe obedience initiates faith. I believe obedience is expressed loyalty. Obedience is first and foremost a Lordship issue...and if we are honest, all of us want a Savior, we would just rather not have a Lord. We want to call the shots shots over our rescued life. Listen, you don't have to go to church very long to figure out that disobedience leads to sin. God has a different objective in mind...he wants to lead us through obedience into holiness. I think we need to keep in mind that partial obedience is still disobedience, and yet so many Christians try to live in this place of partial obedience. The Bible has a name for partial obedience...its called Luke Warm, and we know what God says about that (Revelation 3 in case you not sure). Here is the deal, following never happens without obedience, hearing the call of our Lord and getting up and following him, this is an act of obedience. Jesus says IF you love me, then keep my commands...in other words obedience and love are tied together...its the Jesus way! I can't wait to be able to share another Sunday with our church family.