The Table California
The Table is a church family in Arroyo Grande, California. Our desire is to give Jesus His desire...a house where He can be Himself with His family. This podcast hosts the weekly teachings from our Sunday evening gatherings and occasionally supplemental conversations throughout the week.
The Table California
Obedience When We Don't Understand
Could our obedience to God be more important than making the "smart" decisions? As we continue looking at qualities of the kingdom of God, we look at the necessity of obedience. Kingdom people don't wait to understand before they obey God, they simply obey by faith. It's obedience in the absence of understanding that demonstrates incredible faith.
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while the kids are passing the bread and the cups. Paul says in I think it's 1 Corinthians 11, he's trying to address the situation where the church is eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols and he says to them don't you know that whoever eats of the sacrifice joins themselves to the altar? So the picture there being don't eat the meat sacrificed to demons, because you're joining the altar of the demons, you're saying amen to that altar and you're participating in everything that that altar stands for. So the counter to that is, when we eat of the sacrifice of Christ, we join ourselves to His altar, we participate in the cross, we receive the benefits that flow down from that altar. So that's what we're doing now we're joining ourselves to the altar of Christ, we're joining ourselves to the cross, we're feasting on the flesh of the Lamb and His blood and by way of that, we're receiving the benefits of His altar. That's what Jesus says in John, chapter 6. Eat my flesh, drink my blood, and my life will be in you. You'll receive my life, we will be one. It's the beauty and the mystery and the scandal of communion. I love communion. Thank you, judah, thank you Jane. I'll pray over the bread. David, would you mind praying over the cup? Thank you, jesus. Thank you for the sacrifice that you made. Jesus, lord, we remember that your body was broken, your blood was shed, that you gave of your life willingly for the sin of the world, that, god, you didn't send salvation, you brought salvation. You wrapped yourself in flesh and you came so that you could bleed for us. Thank you, jesus, but we don't take this lightly. The sacrifice that you made Jesus so holy, so precious. So, lord, by faith, we join ourself to your altar. Right now, we forget none of your benefits. This one who forgives all of our iniquities, who heals all of our diseases, who redeems our life from the pit, who crowns us with steadfast love and mercy, satisfies our desire with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle, with good things, so that our youth is renewed like the eagle. We bless you, lord, and we remember your sacrifice, and we proclaim to one another and to powers and principalities that Jesus is king, that his blood was shed, he died, he rose from the grave and he is now ascended and enthroned in heaven. The name above all names. So, lord, right now we receive this bread. We're believing that you are the living bread of God that stepped down from heaven to give life to the world. So we receive by faith, right now, the body of Christ. Thank you, jesus, amen.
Speaker 1:I am excited about this message. You can go ahead and turn to 1 Samuel 15. I've got two main verses. I'll just reference the second one. Alright, 1 Samuel 15.
Speaker 1:Today okay, let me back up we have been talking about the kingdom of God, specifically Now we've been talking about qualities of the kingdom people. So remember, we're not just saved, we are saved into a kingdom and there is a culture of that kingdom that is so different from the culture that we grew up in. It's so contrary to the kingdom of this age. Do you like my hand motions? This culture of the kingdom is in opposition to the muscle memory that we have from the culture that we grew up in, in the kingdom of America or the kingdom of this world, or the spirit of this age. So we don't just want to be people who are saved, who are grateful for salvation, and then just kind of coast through life being a believer but not being kingdom. We want to be kingdom, we want to be Jesus people, because in the kingdom we aren't just a collection of individuals that assemble together. Remember, we are a family In the kingdom. We are generous. In the kingdom, like we talked about last week, we understand the power of our words, we understand the flame that is our tongue, and in the kingdom we understand obedience. So we're going to talk about today.
Speaker 1:So I want to presuppose something. This isn't a message on hearing the voice of the Lord or understanding the word. I want to go ahead and make a presupposition that if we want to know what God is saying to us, we can very easily find it. It's in this, right here. We've got it at our disposal. At any moment in any day, we can know what God's will is. Open up the Bible and you're going to find his word and you're going to find his word. In addition to that, we also have the Holy Spirit, who Jesus says in John 16, guides us into all truth, reveals mysteries to us. We are a people of the Spirit, we are a prophetic people. So there's the written word of God, the Logos, and there's the Rhema word, the spoken word of God. As people full of spirit, we believe that God speaks to us in both ways. Now, this isn't a message on discerning the voice of the Lord, understanding his will for your life. But I want us to at least have that foundation that, if we want to know what God is saying to us, it's very easy Open your Bible, pray, ask God to reveal something to you, if you have a question, if you're at an intersection in life, god is a God who speaks. Now I want to jump into what we are going to talk about, which is being obedient when he does speak, whether he speaks through his word, whether he speaks through his word, whether he speaks through his spirit, whether he speaks through a dream, whether he speaks through a prophetic word. When God speaks to us, kingdom, people are an obedient people.
Speaker 1:Okay, one afternoon, during a wartime scenario, a French general sent one of his young soldiers onto the bridge of Basel with these very strict orders he said young soldier, I want you to stay on that bridge for one hour. I want you to watch everyone closely and then report back to me what you see. That was all that the general told the young soldier Go to the bridge, wait one hour, watch closely, tell me what you see. So the young soldier makes his way to the bridge as instructed. He sees a young girl, probably Jane's age selling flowers on the bridge. He sees other children coming and going and playing. He sees other soldiers milling about coming and going. He sees a man with a stick tapping on the bridge.
Speaker 1:An hour passes. The soldier returns to the base a little disappointed and a lot confused. The young soldier reports to the general about the little girl selling flowers, the soldiers milling about, the children playing and the man tapping with his stick. And at that point the general's eyes light up. He says how many times did the man tap? The young soldier says, sir, he tapped three times. The young soldier had no idea, but this was the prearranged signal informing the general to attack the neighboring fortress that very night. Neither the man tapping nor the soldier watching understood why they had been sent to the bridge that afternoon but thankfully for the war effort, both obeyed.
Speaker 1:Now the point I want to make is kingdom, people don't wait to understand before they obey. They simply obey the young soldier. He didn't understand why he was on the bridge, but he obeyed. The man told to tap on the bridge three times didn't understand why he's doing something as silly as tapping on a bridge with a stick, but but he obeyed. Kingdom. People don't wait to understand before they obey. They simply obey. In fact, obedience in the absence of understanding is one of the qualities of kingdom people. Why? Because it's a demonstration of great faith. I obey even when I don't understand him, and it demonstrates my faith in who he is.
Speaker 1:There's a story in 1 Samuel of King Saul being told to do something. It was strict orders from the General Capital. G General, I want you to attack the Amalekites, I want you to completely destroy them. Don't take anything, don't take plunder, don't take spoil. Destroy them, wipe them out. Well, king Saul, he didn't understand this. It didn't make much sense. I mean, if we're going to defeat them, why not take some of their stuff? In fact, how about this? Okay, we won't take their gold, but let's take their sheep, their oxen, their goats, their bulls and we'll sacrifice them to Yahweh. That's a righteous thing to do, right? That makes more sense, god. So that's what King Saul did. He didn't understand what he was told to do, so he did what he thought was a better idea.
Speaker 1:1 Samuel, 15, verse 22, says this Samuel the prophet. He comes to King Saul, sees what he did and he says this to King Saul Does the Lord have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to pay attention is better than the fat of rams To obey is better than sacrifice. So I'm going to make three quick points today. Point number one we don't make smart decisions. We obey God's word. Number two our need to understand robs the world of encountering God. And number three God will continue to speak to us to the degree that we obey what he's already said. Got it Okay? Point number one Kingdom. People don't make smart decisions. They obey God's word. Make smart decisions. They obey God's word.
Speaker 1:Hebrews 11, 8 says this by faith. Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out of the place which he would receive as an inheritance, and he went out not knowing where he was going. An incredible act of obedience by faith. An incredible act of obedience by faith. Whenever I have understanding as a prerequisite to obedience, the result is God made in my image. God made in my image. It's a God who thinks like me. It's a God who thinks like me. It's a God who makes sense to me. It's a God who does things according to my likeness. It's a God made in my image. I can understand that God. I can understand what he's doing.
Speaker 1:In that scenario, my obedience to God will have reasons. Our obedience to God cannot be built on our ability to understand and then turn around and make good decisions. That's not faith. That's living by sight, not living by faith, and in fact, that's way too subjective. If I'm waiting to understand what God is doing before I obey what he's saying for me to do, then I've just inserted into a system that operates by faith my need to understand. The kingdom functions by faith. If I'm waiting to understand before I move, I've inserted into that system that operates by faith my need to understand. It doesn't work that way. Sure, I would prefer that the general tell me why I'm going and waiting on the bridge. That would make more sense to me. I'd love for the general to tell me what I'm looking for on the bridge. That would make more sense to me. I'd love for the general to tell me what I'm looking for on the bridge. But look, in a kingdom whose enemies have already been defeated. The man tapping three times isn't the point. Me hearing the voice of the general and obeying is the point. That's what matters.
Speaker 1:Are we willing to endure the confusion of vague commands. Go to the park, sit by the monkey bars on a bench and wait. Why just do it? Are we willing to endure the confusion of vague commands? Are we willing to obey a god who speaks in parables and riddles? Are we willing to move forward into the mystery of obedience in the absence of sufficient explanations? Are we willing to have our daily rhythm disrupted by something God says that doesn't make sense? Write a letter of forgiveness to that person who hurt you? Doesn't make sense, god. They haven't apologized yet. Give that person $100. Cook that family dinner in the neighborhood even though you've never talked to them before? Doesn't make sense, god. Are we willing to do these things that don't make sense and they don't come with all of the details? Or will the testimony of our lives be that we made some really smart decisions? God is watching to see who is obediently standing on the bridge and who is waiting to understand their orders first. So point number one kingdom, people don't make smart decisions. We obey God's word.
Speaker 1:Number two Our need to understand Will actually rob the world Of encountering God. Maybe he wants you to go sit on that bench in the park by the monkey bars Because there's someone there who needs prayer that day, your need to understand before you obey is going to rob that person from receiving prayer. Or maybe there's a child that's going to fall from the monkey bars and they need somebody to help them. Your need to understand is going to prevent that kid from having somebody help them. Maybe there's a lost person that's going to sit down on the bench with you and strike up a conversation and you say something that injects eternity into their life.
Speaker 1:Our need to understand and becoming handicapped by understanding and reason and logic robs the world of encountering God. Art Katz writes this in Apostolic Foundations how many of us predicate our decisions on our own reason and logic, but at the expense of being led by the Spirit of God? We cannot meet the demands of our high heavenly calling on the basis of our own reason. I want to make a suggestion here. Could be wrong, but I think it's pretty accurate. I believe that reason and logic are the fundamental reasons. We have not stepped into the measure of obedience that the world is dying for the church to operate in reason and logic. The other is fear, but that's another message for another day. Our need to understand keeps us from being led by the wind of the spirit. Our need to understand keeps us from walking in the spirit where everything is by faith.
Speaker 1:Hebrews 11.6,. Does anyone know it? It's a great verse, man. It's a good one to memorize Hebrews 11.6, for he who comes to him must believe that he is, and he's a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Our need to understand keeps us from being led by the wind of the Spirit.
Speaker 1:Bob Gladstone he had an encounter with. I won't go into the whole story, but the point is this man who was dying I think it was part of the Hebrides revival Gladstone was at this man's deathbed and some of the final words that came out of this man's mouth was God is only satisfied with what God himself does. I love that line God is only satisfied with what God himself does. So what's the point? How does it relate to obedience? If I'm waiting to understand before I do something, I'm making good decisions. God is waiting for a people who say I don't understand, but I know who you are and by faith I'm going to step into obedience. Faith, I'm going to step into obedience.
Speaker 1:Reason and logic are both fruits of the same tree, the tree of knowledge. The fruit of that tree was forbidden to Adam and Eve to eat. Now God was going to teach Eve and Adam everything that they needed to know when they were ready. But Eve, she became tempted with a question. Remember, satan comes to her and he asks her a question. What does Satan ask Eve? Did God really say he tempts her with a question? By asking her a question, he caused her to question what God had said. Did God really say?
Speaker 1:And in that moment of question, she looks to the tree of knowledge and thinks maybe I can get some answers there, because not only is she questioning what God said, but she's questioning who God is. Did God really say I don't know. Now that you've mentioned it, I'm not quite sure. She's questioning who God is. So she looks to the tree. Maybe that tree will give me some answers. She saw that the fruit of that tree was actually good for food. It was beautiful to look at. Not only that, it had the ability to impart understanding. That fruit can help give me answers. What could be so bad about that? It doesn't make sense that I shouldn't be able to eat of that tree. I don't understand why God would tell me not to eat from that tree. It looks so good. It makes so much sense Bite, bite tree. It looks so good. It makes so much sense Bite.
Speaker 1:Before the question, eve obeyed what God had told her by faith. His word was enough. But once the question was asked Come on, hallie, let's get it together. That was funny. So Eve needs some answers. She looks at the tree. That tree will give me answers. She eats the apple. But think about this. Before the question was asked, eve obeyed everything that God had said to her by faith. His word was enough for her. But once the serpent asked a question, now there's a need to understand. Now, all of a sudden injected into Eve's world is this need to understand things, to question things. Faith in what God had said was no longer enough. Now she needed answers. So she disobeyed God, and she had her reasons. Eve's disobedience put a taste in her mouth for something that God designed only to be satisfied by faith in him, and you and I have inherited Eve's taste buds.
Speaker 1:Our need to understand keeps us from walking in the spirit and demonstrating to the world what a life of faith and obedience actually looks like. Now pause for a second. Don't hear what I'm not saying. Are we mindless, vapid, empty-headed robots just not thinking and considering and understanding at all? Of course not. The Bible is very clear that we understand God's ways, we understand His commands, we understand the laws, we understand who he is. But as important as understanding is in the kingdom, it can never be more important than faith. So when God moves in and says something that doesn't make sense, it could be as simple as pray for those who are persecuting you. It doesn't make sense. God, you don't hear the things they're saying about me. God, you don't see the threats that they're leveling against my family. God, we don't wait for understanding in that situation. By faith, we obey what God is asking us to do. So are we a people of understanding? Yes, absolutely Amen. Even more so, though, we are a people of obedience by faith. Does that make sense? Did I clear up any question of what I may not have been saying? We want to be smart, intelligent, wise, understanding people who obey by faith. All right, so number one, kingdom, people don't make smart decisions. We obey God's word. Number two our need to understand robs the world of encountering God. And number three, god will continue to speak to us to the degree that we obey what he's already said.
Speaker 1:In Mark 4, jesus tells a series of parables the parable of the sower, the parable of the wheat and the tares, the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of leaven. Now, at the end of those parables, mark writes this in verse 33. With many such parables, jesus spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. Jesus spoke to them as they were able to hear it. Now, it wouldn't be a fun Sunday afternoon if we didn't talk about the Greek language for a minute. A quick Greek lesson to help you understand what Mark and I are trying to say.
Speaker 1:Mark uses two words that, when combined, become very important. The first word is edinanto. Titus say edinanto. Very good, edinanto. Edinanto is what we translate as able, as in they were able to hear. Now, edinanto is built on the root word dunamai. Does anyone know what dunamai means? That's right. Good charismatics know what that word is Dunamai. So edinanto has this connotation of having the ability and the power to do something. Okay. The second word that Mark uses that's important is akuin. Titus say akuin. Akuin. Akuin means to hear, which is how most English Bibles translate it. But this is the important part. It doesn't just mean to hear, as in I hear a fire alarm. It actually means to apprehend what you're hearing and respond in obedience to what you're hearing. So I hear a fire alarm, so I'm going to run out of the building. You see the difference there. Akuen means to hear and respond in obedience to what is being said. So together, edinanto, akuen means to have the ability and the power to hear something that Jesus is saying and then respond in obedience to what he's saying. So now let's put that together in the verse Mark 4, 33.
Speaker 1:With many such parables, jesus spoke to them according to their capacity to hear and respond with obedience. This is why he says in verse 24, with the same measure In the kingdom of God, it's not just your standard of hearing that determines his measure of speaking, it's your standard of hearing and obeying that becomes his standard of speaking. My measure, according to scripture, of hearing and obeying Becomes his measure in speaking. Your measure of obedience today to what he has said will become his measure of speaking to you tomorrow. Your measure of obedience today to what he's already said is going to be his measure of speaking tomorrow. I'll prove it to you. I feel like I already have, but I'll prove it some more. This is still in Mark, chapter 4. This is verse 23 through 25.
Speaker 1:Jesus says this If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear, take heed or literally see what you hear With the same measure that you use. It will be measured back to you, and to you who hear, more will be given. For whoever has to him, more will be given, but whoever does not have even what he has will be taken away. How many of you know that verse? You understand those words, but you think it's talking about finances or gifts or something else. It's not. He's talking about hearing and obeying his word. Whoever has more will be given, has what Edenanto the power to hear and obey. If you possess that, then you possess tomorrow's revelation.
Speaker 1:Understanding is important, but understanding is not nearly as valuable in the kingdom as hearing and obeying. It's actually obedience in the absence of understanding that becomes a witness of faith, the evidence of things that cannot be seen or understood. Bill Johnson, he said this is a fantastic quote. We never have the right to put God on trial. Many people withhold their obedience until they have understanding. We don't have that right. He does not owe me anything. If he ever reveals a reason, a purpose or a promise to me, then that's a bonus. All I need to know is what to do. I have no right to hold him hostage to an explanation so good. I have no right to hold God hostage to an explanation so good. I have no right to hold God hostage To an explanation. I'm going to close with this. I may do a supplemental teaching this maybe in the middle of the week, so keep an eye out on the podcast for that.
Speaker 1:I want to talk more about Moses and the story of how he struck the rock. Water came out, and then, 40 years later, the story of how he struck the rock Water came out. And then, 40 years later, he's told to speak to the rock, but he disobeys. He strikes it again. I have this picture in my head of a triangle. Now picture this with me.
Speaker 1:The base of the triangle, the wide base, is where we begin with God, and within this triangle are the boundaries that he permits us to operate in. At the base of that triangle, you've got a lot of latitude, a lot of freedom, god. I don't understand, explain it to me, god. Or maybe your boundaries for what he even permits you to do are a lot wider. But as you grow in maturity and you walk with God. You move higher and those boundaries become narrower and narrower. To where, finally, you get to the top and there's not much wiggle room. Others can, but you can't. Even what you did 20 years ago is not permitted anymore. Why, you've grown in maturity. You know who God is now. You understand the ways of his kingdom.
Speaker 1:So what does that have to do with Moses striking the rock? When God first tells him to strike the rock, he's at the base of the triangle, so to speak. But after 40 years of walking with God, of seeing him face to face, moses should have been told speak to the rock. No questions asked. Okay, I don't understand it, but sure Rock produced water. He knew better. He had walked with God a long time. His latitude of what was permissible was pretty narrow at that point. So what happens? He strikes the rock in disobedience. Fascinating. It still produces water, but the consequence now is very extreme. Moses can't go into the promised land. Why? He knew better. He'd walked with God in an intimate way for 40 years.
Speaker 1:So what does that have to do with what we're talking about? God's going to meet us where we're at, in our walk with him. Maybe today you need some explanation of why he's asking you to do something. He's good, he's kind, he understands our frame, he'll give you exactly what you need today, but the point is not to leave you there. The point is to take you higher, to where he's going. So how he functions with you today may not be the way he functions with you next year or 10 years from now. The point is that we grow in knowing who God is, how to discern his voice, how to obey by faith.
Speaker 1:Amen, obedience, man. It is a beautiful thing when we are obeying a God who is kind, who is good, who's faithful, who's trustworthy, the God that we were singing about earlier. Whatever he says, we can trust. It is for our good, even when it doesn't make sense. And obedience in those moments when we don't have all the reasons becomes an opportunity for high praise, beautiful worship. Then worship becomes so much more than just a song. It actually becomes a life lived in obedience, a life of faith that testifies to the world how good our God is.
Speaker 1:Any questions, any comments, any contributions? Good, okay, let's pray. Thank you, lord. Lord, thank you that you are a God who speaks and thank you that you give us the grace to obey Holy Spirit. We ask for faith, faith that obeys, faith that believes, that faith of Abraham that becomes righteousness. Thank you, god. Lord, we want to demonstrate you rightly, lord. We want to not lean on our own understanding, but, in all of our ways, acknowledge you, trusting you that you will lead our paths straight. Thank you, lord. Would you baptize us in these things, god? Thank you, lord.
Speaker 1:Lord, thank you for our time together. Thank you for this beautiful day. Thank you for this meal that we're getting ready to smash. Thank you for everyone who contributed to this meal. Lord, bless them. We honor them. We thank you for the contribution that they're making to dinner tonight. Oh, we love you, we praise you, we worship you, king Jesus, and we say that there is none like you. Thank you that our eyes have been opened to see the beauty of the gospel in your face. We love you, jesus, and it's in your name that we pray. Amen.