Pastor Wayne Cordeiro
December 12, 2004 - W0450

Today we are going to talk about when obeying God spells trouble. Nobody likes trouble, discomfort, or suffering, but if your goal in life is to avoid all of that, you’ll be disappointed because it is often through real struggle and sadness that we come to understand and appreciate deep love and joy. As Christians, we often think our faith spare us suffering but our faith isn’t really tested until we face great adversity, and maybe suffering. If our goal is to side-step that suffering, then we will miss out on life because life and struggle (and/or suffering) are intertwined.

Instead of avoiding it, we need to understand that struggle (suffering) is an ingredient of life.  Our goal should not be to avoid it but to figure out how to face it and deal with it in a way that is pleasing to God. As we continue in our studies of the life of Daniel, we see that Daniel is one who understood that obeying God is not always the easy choice. He understood his choice to continue praying to God, instead of to the King according to the law of the land, was at great risk to himself. However, he made the choice to obey God, at great risk of getting into trouble and potential suffering…even death.

The story of Daniel teaches us important lessons us about a doorway called obedience.  You see, we live in two worlds; we live this life here on earth but we also live in God’s kingdom.  We live in this world which subjects us to the laws and consequences of this world but at the same time, there’s a doorway to God’s kingdom where His laws and protection are available for us. This doorway is called obedience. Obedience gives you entry into His protection, His provisions and His ways.  The goals of this world are not always the same as God’s and neither are the treasures, so we are called to trust God and obey Him so we may reap the treasures of heaven. Daniel teaches us certain lessons about obedience. 

Daniel lived under King Darius and was well-liked and respected for his excellent spirit. Darius was planning to promote Daniel to oversee 120 satraps or governors, making him the second highest in the country.  His jealous peers planned to discredit Daniel but they were having a difficult time because he was a man of integrity with no obvious character flaws. They did, however, persuade King Darius to sign a proclamation declaring a 30-day period in which all people were to pledge allegiance to him, the King, in order to increase the patriotism of the country.  And, anyone who didn’t would be thrown in the lions’ den. Daniel 6:10 explains what happens next.  

“Now when Daniel knew that the document as signed, he entered his house…and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously” (Daniel 6:10).

As soon as this happened, the satraps reported to King Darius that Daniel was giving allegiance to another king. With a heavy heart, Darius ordered that Daniel be thrown into the lions’ den. Upset, Darius fasted all night long and early the next morning, he went to the lions’ den and opened the lid.   He called out, “Daniel, son of the living God, has your God delivered you from the mouths of the lions?” And, Daniel answered him, saying, “O king, live forever.  My God sent his angel to close the mouths of the lions.  They have not hurt me because He as found me innocent in his sight.  Nor have I done wrong before you, O king” (Daniel 6:19-22). The king was greatly pleased and ordered Daniel taken out of the lion’s den. Daniel had no injuries to him because he trusted and obeyed his God. Then, King Darius ordered those who accused Daniel to be thrown into the lion’s den, along with their children and their wives. They were lowered in and had not even reached the bottom before the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. 

You see, if you choose to live the world’s way, then you are subject to the world’s consequences; but, if you live by God’s rules and obey His commands, you will be under the protection of His rulership and provisions.  The doorway here is ‘obedience.’  Obedience may not always appear to be the best option according to the world’s ideals.  Sometimes obeying God will spell trouble (like for Daniel).  In our terms, it may mean forgoing a promotion or notoriety. It may even mean losing a friend but what you gain with Jesus is more important than all of it.  You don’t necessarily have to be Godly to be rich but the Bible says when you do it God’s way, “The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22). 

Daniel did it God’s way and demonstrated three principles of obedience.  The first principle is…

OBEYING IS:

1.    NOT ALWAYS GETTING MY WAY, BUT IT IS GETTING GOD’S WAY.

It is entering that door where you come under God’s ways.  When you live under the world’s ways, you come under its consequences but if you live under God’s way, you come under his provision and protection. Be careful. At first, you may not even realize that you’re going the way of the world. It might be a little thing here and a little thing there that you’re rationalizing, but if you’re compromising God’s laws as a means to your ends, it will destroy you, “…every plant which my heavenly father did not plant shall be uprooted” (Matthew 15:13).

We may want God’s blessings but sometimes it’s not so easy because we have a tendency to help ourselves to what we think God wants for us. It is true that God wants the best for us, but we must remember…   

·        SETTLE ONCE AND FOR ALL…GOD IS SMARTER THAN I AM!

Yes, it’s a shocker but you have to settle this once and for all! The sooner you accept this (not just say it but behave it), the better off you’ll be. We need to tithe. “Tithe” literally means ”the first 10^th,” which means we need to put God first in everything.  In dating relationships, put God first.  In our finances, put God first.  If you want God to bless your marriage, then put God first in your marriage. To be people of the tithe, it must permeate everything we do. In fact, even observing Sabbath on Sunday is a form of tithing. Sunday is the first day of the week so by celebrating the Sabbath on Sunday, we are dedicating the first day (not the last) of the week to Him and asking Him to bless the rest of the week.

“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9). The sooner we accept the fact that God is smarter than we are, the better off we’ll be. People who understand obedience, put God first and do things His way regardless of how they think it may turn out and this brings them under God’s provision, protection, wisdom, and guidance.

We may say, “I try to do it God’s way but it doesn’t work out.  I prayed for a raise and God raised my rent instead.”  Yes, sometimes that happens, but we need to be a people who observe the second principle of obedience:

2.    TRUSTING GOD TO BLESS YOU THE WAY HE SEES BEST.

We need to trust God to bless us the way He sees is best. Many times we want God to bless us the way we want but it isn’t always the best way. We have to give God veto rights over our lives, and when we get into a situation that we may feel is not the best (because of our earthly tendencies), there will be an unusual presence of the Lord. At those times, God may be telling you that He has heard your prayer but you have propensities that will destroy what He gives you now…but be assured He will answer your prayers but not necessarily in the way you want or when you want.  When this happens, you can excuse yourself or blame others, you may get mad and reject God, or you can fall on your knees and cry out to God. God wants to work on our weaknesses, our propensities to anger or give up, but when that is overcome, He can then bless us beyond what we imagined.

So, sometimes trusting God may initially bring trouble but that kind of suffering brings depth of character, “…God raised up His servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways” (Acts 3:26). When you are obedient to God, it is:

·        A SAFEGUARD FOR YOU!

When we obey God, He is able to move in and take over, as He did for Daniel.  Otherwise, we are subject to the world ways and we are not punished for our sins, but rather, by our sins, “All Israel has disobeyed Your law and turned away, refusing to listen to Your voice. So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out against us because of our sin” (Daniel 9:11).

Do you know why God tells us not to sin? Because of the devastating effects sin has on our minds, bodies, and lives. God knows how He created us and following His plan will yield the best for us, but we must obey. Then, God will work all things together for good for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  Even when we make mistakes, we will be blessed if we are doing things out of the goodness of our hearts for God’s purposes, in God’s way.

The third and last principle that we need to understand from the story of Daniel is…Obedience is:

3.    A CHARACTER QUALITY YOU DEVELOP.

We will never please God by our works.  God cares about our hearts and if our hearts are not in the right place, we will be religious but our faith may still be compromised. So, to develop a heart of obedience…

·        FEED YOUR SPIRIT AND NOT YOUR FLESH. (See 1 Timothy 4:7)

Feeding our spirit will develop a stronger heart of obedience because whatever you feed and water gets stronger and whatever you starve will weaken. Ways to feed your spirit include:  doing daily devotions, fellowshipping with other Christians, worshiping our God, and serving in ministry. All of these things feed your spirit. And when you feed your spirit and walk in the name of Jesus, you will strengthen God’s image within you. 

Another recommendation is to…

·        KEEP YOUR CONSCIENCE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER!  (See 1 Timothy 1:5)

Your conscience helps you discern what is right and if your conscience is in good working order, the things of God will speak to you. However, if your conscience is not in good working order, it may not detect wrongdoings and therefore will not serve as your guide.  So keep your conscience in good working order and also… 

·        MAKE GOALS AS POINTS OF OBEDIENCE FOR THIS SEASON.

Survey the priorities in your life and ask God to point out things that you need to work on this season. Write those things down and make them goals as points of obedience this season.

Daniel really loved God and, at the risk of harm and suffering, chose to obey Him in spite of the laws of this world.  Yet, the world admired Daniel (maybe even because of his obedience to God) as a man with a spirit of excellence. Through Daniel’s life, we know that obeying is not about getting our way but getting God’s way, trusting God to bless us in the way that He sees is best, and is a character quality that we need to develop.  When we love God, obeying is easy and maybe that’s why Jesus said the greatest commandment of all is, “…to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength” and “…to love your neighbor as yourself.” When we are able to love and obey as God commands, we can be assured of His covering and protection, in spite of what may seem to be trouble…His blessings will be immeasurable.

Discussion Questions

1.      Is there something in your life that you want, but have failed to achieve?  Can you link that failure to a failed call to obedience?  Please share.

2.      In what areas of your life can you obey God better?  What do you feel He is asking you to do?

3.      How can you feed your spirit through a ministry that uses your God-given talents and skills?

4.      Are there areas of devotion, prayer and ministries that you can improve on in order to grow in your love for God?

Thank you Deborah Chang, a woman who is obeying God’s call on her life to spread the good news of the season and God’s love and blessings on those called (and living) according to His purposes.