When his armor bearer refused to kill him, he took his own life.

The apostles knew their priorities.

While we should try and keep peace with everyone, conflict with the world and its authorities is sometimes inevitable for a Christian. There will be situations where you cannot obey both God and man.

Then you must obey God and trust his Word.

Let Jesus’ words encourage you: “What happiness it is when others hate you and exclude you and insult you and smear your name because you are mine. When that happens, rejoice! Yes, leap for joy! For you will have a great reward awaiting you in heaven.” (Luke 6:22-23)

“Being religious” is not enough if we do not act out of devotion and obedience to God.

Some people glibly recite God’s laws, but are filled with deceit and evil.

They claim his promises, refuse to obey his laws.

This is sin, and God will judge people for it.

We too are hypocrites when we do not live what we believe. To let this inconsistency remain, shows we are not true followers of God.

When sacrificing an animal according to God’s law, a priest killed the animal, cut it in pieces, and placed it on the altar.

Sacrifice was important, but even the Old Testament God made it clear that obedience from the heart was much more important.

God wants us to offer ourselves, not animals as living sacrifices – daily laying aside our own desires to follow him.

We do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven.

We must not let daily service crowd spiritual growth out of our lives.

They all replied, “Yes, go right ahead! God will give the king victory.”

6 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there not also a prophet of the Lord here? We should ask him the same question.”

7 The king of Israel replied to Jehoshaphat, “There is one more man who could consult the Lord for us, but I hate him. He never prophesies anything but trouble for me! His name is Micaiah son of Imlah.”

Jehoshaphat replied, “That’s not the way a king should talk! Let’s hear what he has to say.”

8 So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Quick! Bring Micaiah son of Imlah.”

Micaiah Prophesies against Ahab
9 King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah, dressed in their royal robes, were sitting on thrones at the threshing floor near the gate of Samaria. All of Ahab’s prophets were prophesying there in front of them. 10 One of them, Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, made some iron horns and proclaimed, “This is what the Lord says: With these horns you will gore the Arameans to death!”
11 All the other prophets agreed. “Yes,” they said, “go up to Ramoth-gilead and be victorious, for the Lord will give the king victory!”

12 Meanwhile, the messenger who went to get Micaiah said to him, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success.”

13 But Micaiah replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, I will say only what my God says.”

14 When Micaiah arrived before the king, Ahab asked him, “Micaiah, should we go to war against Ramoth-gilead, or should I hold back?”

Micaiah replied sarcastically, “Yes, go up and be victorious, for you will have victory over them!”

15 But the king replied sharply, “How many times must I demand that you speak only the truth to me when you speak for the Lord?” (New Living Translation)

When you want to please or impress someone, it is tempeing to lie to make yourself look good.Ahab’s 400 prophets did just that, telling Ahab only what he wanted to hear.

They were then rewarded for making Ahab happy.

Micaiah, however, told the truth and got arrested.

Obeying God doesn’t always protect us from evil consequences. Obedience may, in fact, provoke them. But it is better to suffer from man’s displeasure than from God’s wrath.

If you are ridiculed for being honest, remember that this can be a sign that you are indeed doing what is right in God’s eyes.

Thirty-nine years earlier (after spending a a year at Mount Sinai receiving God’s law), the Israelites had an opportunity to enter the Promised Land, but they failed to trust God. As a result, God did not allow them to enter the land, but made them wander in the wilderness until the disobedient generation had all died.

During their wilderness wanderings, the Israelites obeyed God’s laws. They also taught the new generation to obey God’s laws so that they might enter the Promised Land. As the children grew, they were often reminded that faith and obedience to God brought victory, while unbelief and disobedience brought tragedy. When the last of the older generation had died and the new generation had become adults, the Israelites prepared to cross the river and claim the long-awaited Promised Land.

The Israelites were eager to enter the Promised Land, conquer nations, and live peacefully. But first they had to cross the flood-level waters of the Jordan River. God gave them specific instructions: in order to cross, they had to step in the water.

What if they had been afraid to take the first step?

Often God provides no solution to our problems until we trust him and move ahead with what we know we should do. What are the rivers, or obstacles, in your life?

In obedience to God, take that first step in the water.

Moses must have had a difficult time managing such a group.

In the early stages of the journey and at Mount Sinai, the people were both obedient to God and Moses. Everything went smoothly. But when the people left Mount Sinai, they suddenly began to complain, grumble, and disobey.

Soon problems erupted, and Moses could no longer effectively manage the Isaraelites.

The books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers present a striking contrast between how much we can accomplish when we obey God and how little we can accomplish when we don’t.

This may not be the easiest or most glamourous way to earn a reputation, but it is the most authentic.

Do you fall into the trap of trying to makes others think you are intelligent because of what you know or pretend you know? Obeying God’s Word will give a far greater reputation, because it’s not just what you know, but what you do that counts.

44 But the people defiantly pushed ahead toward the hill country, even though neither Moses nor the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant left the camp. (New Living Translation)

As leaders, they had special responsibility to obey God because they were they were in a position where they could easily lead many people astray.

Aaron’s sons were careless about following the laws for sacrifices. In response, God destroyed them with a blast of fire.

Performing that sacrifices were an act of obedience. Doing them correctly showed respect for God.

It is easy for us to grow careless about obeying God. Some of Gods commands are simple to obey.

Others, require more careful attention.

Disobedience to God always brings correction.

Moses did obey God, however, and what a difference it made!

When the chances for success appear slim, remember that anyone can obey God when the task is easy and everyone is behind it. Only those with persistent faith can obey when the task seems impossible.

Over the years he had learned many tough lessons about the importance of obeying God. The time, his obedience was prompt and complete.

Obeying God is often a struggle, it may mean giving up something we truly want.

We should not always expect our obedience to God be easy, or come naturally.

Lot hesitated and the angel seized his hand and rushed him to safety.

He did not want to abandon the wealth and comfort he enjoyed in Sodom.

It is easy to criticize Lot for being hypnotized by his attraction to Sodom when the choice seems so clear to us.

To be wiser than Lot, we must see that our hesitation to obey stems from the false attractions of the pleasures of our culture.

Abraham had a choice to make. His decision was between setting out with his family and belongings for parts unknown or staying right where he was.

He had to decide between the security he already had and the uncertainity of traveling under God’s direction.

All he had to go on was God’s promise to guide and bless him. Abraham could hardly have been expected to visualize how much of the future was depending on his decision to stay or go.

But his obedience affected the history of the world.

His decision to follow God set into motion the development of the nation that God would eventually use as his own when he visited Earth himself.

When Jesus Christ came to Earth, God’s promise was fulfilled: through Abraham, the entire world was blessed.

You probably don’t know the long-term effects of most decisions you make.

But shouldn’t the fact that there are long-term ramifications cause you to think carefully and seek God’s guidance as you make choices and take action today?

Disobedience is sin and breaks our fellowship with God.

Fortunately, when we disobey, God can forgive us, restoring our fellowship with him.

satan is our enemy–he’ll do anything he can to get us to follow his evil, deadly path. The phrase “You will strike at his heel” refers to satan’s repeated attempts to defeat Christ during his life on earth.

“He shall strike you on your head” forshadows satan’s defeat when Christ rose from the dead.

A bruise on the heel is not deadly, but a strike on the head is.

Already God was revealing his plan to defeat satan and offer salvation to the world through His son Jesus Christ.

Adam and Eve affected all of creation, including the environment.

Years ago people thought nothing of polluting streams with chemical waste and garbage. This seemed so insignificant, so small.

Now we know that just two or three parts per million of certain chemicals can damage human health.