Justifying our disobedience? Today's main scripture
is 1 Samuel 15 verse 22 through 23, and this
is taken from the NLT version. It says, but Samuel
replied, what is more pleasing to the Lord, your
burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience
to his voice? Listen. obedience is better than
sacrifice and submission are better than offering
the fat of rams rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft
and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols so
because you have rejected the command of the
lord he has rejected you as king so our disobedience
cannot be justified. We cannot give a good solid
reason because disobedience is still sin against
God. And remember, partial obedience is still
disobedience. When we defend ourselves and we
try to rationalize our disobedience, that's when
our pride comes in. That's when our fleshly side
takes over and we are not humbling ourselves.
Being humble means that we take the lower seat.
That means we are submitting ourselves. Our second
scripture is 1 John 1 verse 8 through 10. And
this is taken from the NLT version. It says,
If we confess our sins to him, he is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not
sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing
that his word has no place in our hearts. We
must ask ourselves this one question. Is God's
Word truly in my heart? Because when God's Word
is really in our heart, if we gave our hearts
to the Lord, we are actually going to get convicted.
We are going to be heartbroken. We are going
to be grieved. But if we confess our sins, Christ
will forgive us and cleanse us. And not only
that, when we confess our sins, we lay down our
right. That means we look to Jesus, and we don't
deceive ourselves. Because when we come to Christ
and confess our sins, Christ no longer holds
that against us, but he forgives us and makes
us whole. Our last scripture is 2 Corinthians
7 verse 9 through 10. And this is taken from
the NASB version. It says, I now rejoice not
that you were made sorrowful, but that you were
made sorrowful to the point of repentance. For
you were made sorrowful according to the will
of God, so that you might not suffer loss in
anything through us. For the sorrow that is according
to the will of God produces a repentance without
regret, leading to salvation. but the sorrow
of the world produces death. So, God will open
our eyes not to condemn us but to redeem us because
sorrow in Christ leads us to repentance. to His
will. It leads us not to rationalize our decisions
of our sinful pleasures, but it helps us and
leads us to withdraw from our sin, turn away
from our sin, and accept Jesus Christ as our
Lord and Savior because we are remorseful of
our actions and its genuine repentance. So, our
points today are, one, humble. So are we going
to keep justifying our disobedient actions or
are we going to humble ourselves? Admit that
we have done wrong before God. Two, lay down
our right. It means something when we lay down
our reasons, our excuses, and our rights to hear
the voice of God clearly and confess all of our
wrongdoings. Knowing full well that God has already
forgiven us and that he is ready to make us whole
in him three remorseful It is God's will to open
our eye our eyes to lead us to genuine repentance
So, we can stop rationalizing our decisions that
are displeasing to the Lord So if you have a
personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then
this message will help you but If you don't have
a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, then
I invite you to give your heart to the Lord today.
To receive him into your heart, go to Romans
10, 9 through 10. It says that if you confess
with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in
your heart that God has raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes
onto righteousness and with the mouth, confession
is made onto salvation. If you said this prayer
with sincerity, you are saved and now have eternal
life with Jesus. You are saved from all your
sin, past, present, and future sins you may commit.
Now, this truth is not a free past to sin anytime.
Instead, Jesus gives you power over all wrong
choices and empowers you to spread the gospel
to others. You are saved forever and your name
is written in the Book of Life!