Listen And Obey

To Obey Is Better Than Sacrifice 1 Samuel 15 “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” (1 Samuel 15:22) We as Christ followers need to have a listening and a responsive heart. How hoten do we hear from God and then not respond when His Spirit nudges us to put it into action? (John 14:26), this verse is encouraging us to listen and respond to the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who wants to give us wisdom in facing the trials of life and the good things God wants to do in and through us. This is why He wants us to listn and obey, friends to hear God and not obey Him is one of our biggest mistakes. In 1 Samuel 15:22, Saul is chastened by Samuel’s words: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice.” Also read, (Ecclesiastes 5:1) “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools.” Today, the Spirit can help us take time to listen to what God is saying to us when we pray. Im hearing here that it is easy just to go to church and listen (look into the mirror you might say, and then go away and forget what we look like. (James 1:23-24) This is not listening and obeying, it isn't even listening True listening and obeying His voice, really means hearing His word as He speaks to you through the scriptures and then putting what you heard into action thrrough obedience in faith believing He will help you carry it out. Hearing and obeying go hand in hand. If we are listening to the scriptures, we would understand that obeying God's voice (Actually hearing Gods voice and doing what He says) is more valuable than just obediently going to church each Sunday as an asct of sacrifice, going out of duty not out of desire to meet God. It can become jus a religious sacrifices or rituals (1 Samuel 15:22). What I am saying here is that we as believers need to be careful not to fall into a rut of just hearing the Sunday morning message and then going home and forgetting what you have heard. We need to get into the practice of hearing, (looking into the mirror) going home and concidering the necessary changes that need and should be made (James 1:22). Jesus says, His sheep hear His voice and follow Him,through listning and acting they set a firm foundation for their feet to stand on and because of that choice they have a closer walk with God in their dy to day life (John 10:27). As I have taught in the past, God speaks to us in many different ways, but the number one way He speaks is through the bible the very words of God. It is a reliable road map of wisdom for a life seeking to follow God on the roads of life. God also speaks to us through our inner being, through our conciance, The Holy Spirit will guide us quietly with whispers, or sometime even with a much louder voice , and if we will listen He will help us disipher the difference between truth from error. As we learn to respond right away, to obey the guidance when it comes, it will leads to deeper spiritual growth and further clarity from God and we will see God at work in our lives more often and we will see us moving towards maturity in the faith. • Deuteronomy 28:1–2: If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God • 1 Samuel 15:22: "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." See our verse aas we started today. • Isaiah 1:19: "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land." • Luke 11:28: "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." • Joshua 1:8: "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips... then you will be prosperous and successful." • John 14:15: "If you love me, keep my commands." I want to finish with saying these blessings do not mean everyone who is obedient to God and his will, will get rich financially and or be very, very prosperous materially, but rather the belssings of God are many, coming from many directions, often unexpectedly Often we are surprized when we are not looking for them or expecting them, but just being obedient. They can come in the ways of good health, sleeping well and waking up feeling strong,it may even mean struggling but having peace of mind, have a calm feeling will going through some chaos or stress in your life, also one of the promises is that of having a long life, extra time to enjoy the beauty of this earth we were created to be in. It also can be in our relationships, injoying deep connections with family, or having many friends, but all of these blessings can be of a different flavour for each person. We are not all blessed the same. God is in control of that. Obey and enjoy Gods blessings that were designed for you. Father God, thank you for the many blessings you have poured out on me, I pray I will be obedient to you, because I love you. help me except the blessings from you as they come, help me not to seek after them but rather just enjoy them as gifts from you It is in your name I pray AMEN