Title: Obedience (1 Samuel 15:17-23)
Content God is the absolute sovereign of the universe. And, as a creature of God, there is only obedience before God. It is impossible for finite human beings to argue in front of an omniscient, omnipotent God. In Romans 13:1, the Bible commands each person to submit to the superior authorities. Therefore, the deeper the faith, the more we realize that absolute obedience and obedience are the only true attitudes of man before God. God always tests our obedience before giving us grace.
1. In my opinion, the relationship between good works and obedience to God's Word1) Destroy the Amalekites and destroy them.
1 Samuel 15:2-3 "This is what the LORD of hosts says...Go now, and smite the Amalekites, leaving no remnant of all their possessions, but destroying them...
2) What King Saul thought was good 1 Samuel 15:9 "Saul and the people left Agag and the best of its sheep and cattle, the fat and the lamb and all that is good, and did not take pleasure in destroying them, but destroyed all that were worthless and lowly.
3) God's Judgment (Samuel the Prophet) 1 Samuel 15:22-23 "...obedience is better than sacrifice, and to listen better than the fat of rams; for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft; stubbornness is the sin of worshiping idols, Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, the LORD has rejected you as a king." -God doesn't ask for good works;
2. Only sacrificial obedience is faith.1) Mary's obedience (Luke 1:30-38) 2) Joseph's obedience (Matthew 1:18-21)
3. Test of Obedience and Blessing1) Abraham and Mount Moriah 2) Covenant of Blessing (Genesis 22:15-18) (Conclusion): Even Jesus, the Son of God, was obedient in the sight of God to the point of death ( Philippians 2:5-11) ). The measure of our faith is obedience. Faith without obedience has no fruit, no matter what he says.