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THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OBEDIENT SERVANT: TREADING THE NARROW PATH OF FAITHFULNESS We have come to a point in the history of the church when the need to make a daily choice to remain faithful to God has never been more important.
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THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE OBEDIENT SERVANT: TREADING THE NARROW PATH OF FAITHFULNESS We have come to a point in the history of the church when the need to make a daily choice to remain faithful to God has never been more important. The Call: TO MAKE A DAILY CHOICE TO REMAIN FAITHFUL TO GOD.
Therefore, to remain faithful as God so expects us to be, the Bible reminds us of the following commands. 1) BE OBEDIENT TO GOD AT ALL COSTS ~ Read Acts 4:14-22 ~ see 4:1-4 and 3:11-26 ~ also 3:1-10 ~ Lk 21:15
They were a living illustration of our Lord’s words in Jn 3:19. ~ SUCH IS THE BLINDNESS OF SIN; THEY KNEW THE TRUTH, YET REFUSED TO ACCEPT IT. Ironically, the early believers had to be commanded to be quiet, while many modern ones have to be commanded to speak! This was an important crossroads in the history of the church.
~ EVERYTHING HINGED ON THEIR WILLINGNESS TO OBEY GOD AT ALL COSTS – EVEN THEIR LIVES. It is a clearly biblical principle that believers are to obey their government. ~ 1Pet 2:13-17 (cf. Rom 13:1-7). ~ The reaction of Peter and John, however, marks the limits of that obedience.
~ They would gladly obey if they could do so without disobeying their sovereign Lord. ~ BUT WHEN GOD’S COMMANDS CONFLICT WITH THOSE OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE GOVERNMENT MUST BE DISOBEYED. ~ Ex 1:15-17 and Dan 6:4-10
Although Peter and John refused to obey the Sanhedrin, they nevertheless treated them with respect. The content of their message, what they had “seen and heard”, stresses that they were eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death, and, especially, His resurrection (cf. 1Jn 1:1, 3). ~ In other words, they were taking an absolute stand and declaring an absolute truth!
IN THE MIDST OF PERSECUTION, PETER AND JOHN REMAINED OBEDIENT TO GOD. ~ Like them, no bribes or threats should cause us to be unfaithful to our Lord. ~ 1Pet 3:13-15