Life Capsule for Today Date: 20th April, 2024
Theme: Obedience (7)
Memory Verse: 1 Sam 15:22b
22 …. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams KJV
Topic: Jesus, our example of obedience
Text: Phil 2:8
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. KJV
Words of the Ministry:
As we conclude our lesson on obedience we intend to look at the best example of obedience, highlighting some of the points we discussed and citing some examples in the life of Jesus where he fulfilled them. The bible gave account of his baptism, John realizing he was sinless hesitated to baptize him but the Lord said John should baptize so that he could fulfil all righteousness (Mat 3.15), by that act, Jesus showed us an example of being subject the righteous demand on all mankind under the ministry of John who was also under the law.
In John 14:31 Jesus said: 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. These were events preceding the death of Christ, Jesus showed us an example of obedience as an expression of love to God just as we learnt, he chose the will of God against his will, he was willing to surrender his choice (Luk 22.42) even unto death paying the high price of death for mankind.During his earthly walk an incidence happened requiring him to pay taxes, although he wasn’t meant to pay being a Jew, he showed us an example as to being subject to delegated authority, he asked Peter to get a fish, from its mouth get a piece of coin to pay for himself and Peter. Again in Mark 12:15-17, Jesus was being tempted to see if he would be subject to Caesar the roman emperor, he answered them saying “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s”.
The Pharisees tried to stop him from doing the will of the father, though they were religious leaders and as we have seen Jesus was subject to religious leaders and whenever there was no conflict between obeying God and them, he obeyed their laws and regulation. For instance, he asked certain individuals he healed to show themselves to the priest and do the normal ceremonial cleansing as required under the law as they were still under the law. But there were occasions where he had to choose God over them, in such cases we see an example of absolute submission but partial obedience to delegated authorities, this were concerning healing on the Sabbath day, Jesus chose to heal as the father has sent him against their selfish desires to misinterpret the law which they could keep (mat 12.1-14). His action had some consequences as they wanted to kill Jesus but he was willing to die obeying the father than to be alive living to please men.
We see in Jesus, a man who chose God above all, a man willing to sacrifice his will denying himself. Heb 5:8 says “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered”, he suffered letting down his will for God’s will and this continued even till gethsemane where he chose the cup of death according to the will of the father. Like we learnt, obedience has great rewards, the bible records that he total obedience earned him a name Phil 2:8-11 “8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. Amen, obedience to God is highly rewarding, the more we obey, the more we walk in our sonship right, Rom 8:14 “14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” KJV. Join us next week Sunday the 28th of April at PENIEL.
Bible in one year: 2 Sam 23-24. For further fellowship send us an email on godmanvideos@gmail.comor visit our youtube channel: @godmanmedia. You can also interact with us by dropping your comments on our facebook page. Our physical meeting, Word feast comes up every Wednesday by 5pm and Prayer Gym every Saturday by 7am while PENIEL comes up once a month, every last Sunday of the month from 4pm to 6.30pm at Suite A10, Ahser Office Complex, beside Living Faith Church, Opposite Hassan Stores, Arab Road, Kubwa Abuja.