True Blessing from God, Part 4

Let's pray together. Father, we thank you, Lord, for the reminder of how important it is to give thanks for all things and in all things as your word so aptly teaches. And I pray, Father, that we as a people of God would be marked by our praise to God for all that you have done. We are grateful, Lord, that you allow us to live today to glorify your name. And we ask, Father, that if you tarry, we would live tomorrow in the light of your glorious name, giving praise and thanks for all that you have done.

In Jesus' name, amen. We have been looking at Luke chapter 11, verses 27 and 28. We have spent some time here. We will spend today here and the next two weeks on these two verses. You ask me why? Well, simply because this is the basics of Christianity 101. What it means to live for the glory and honor of God. It's really what is crucial to your life and mine. To not only listen to what God says, but to live out all that he says.

Christ, in the context of Luke 11, says that there are two kinds of people in the world, the saints and the aints. Those who do my will and those who do not do my will. Those who are marked by a moral reformation and those who are marked by a true spiritual internal transformation. And those people are the ones who listen to my word and observe my word. And so as we look at this text, we realize the value of it in your life and in mine as we come to grips with what it is God would have for us.

Years ago, I was reading through the book of James in preparation of our study for James many, many years ago. And in the preparation for that, I was reading a book by A.W. Tozer, who happened to speak on James chapter 1, verse number 22. It says that we are to be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves. This is what he said. He says, there is scarcely anything so dull and meaningless as Bible doctrine taught for its own sake. Truth divorced from life is not truth in its biblical sense, but something else and something less.

No man is better for knowing that God in the beginning created the heaven and the earth. The devil knows that, and so did Ahab, and so did Judas Iscariot. No man is better for knowing that God so loved the world of men that he gave his only begotten son to die for their redemption. In hell, there are millions of people who know that. Theological truth is useless until it is obeyed. The purpose behind all doctrine is to secure moral action. Mr. Tozer said that it's imperative that you understand not just what the Bible says, but that you live out that what the Bible says.

As he so aptly put it, there are millions of people in hell who know that Jesus Christ died for their sins, but never obeyed the truth of God's holy word. Well, it's not that that meant so much to me as what he said later in his book. Because what he said later applied to me as a pastor. And this is what he says. Any man with fair pulpit gifts can get on with the average congregation if he just feeds them and lets them alone. Give them plenty of objective truth and never hint that they are wrong or should be set right, and they, the congregation, will be content.

On the other hand, the man who preaches truth and applies it to the lives of his hearers will feel the nails and the thorns. He will lead a hard life, but he will lead a glorious one. May God raise up many such prophets, for the church needs them oh so badly. As I read that, I was reminded of the importance of not only hearing what God's word says, but as a preacher living out that word to exhort, to reprove, to rebuke with all longsuffering and patience, the truth that God's holy word speaks to man and man is called into account for all that he hears.

And as a preacher, I would be remiss in my responsibility if I didn't call people to a point of repentance and call them to live out the truth of God's holy word in spite of the fact that multitudes would leave our church over the 16 years that we've been here, that people would be upset and get angry because of the things that were said. It's important to call people to action, that they would know how to live out the truth of God's holy word. Remember Ezra back in chapter 7 of the book of Ezra, the 10th verse, it says that he purposed in his heart to study the word of God, to practice the word of God and teach the word of God.

He knew that his ability to teach rests on his ability to practice the truth. He realized that the credibility of his message would rest on the testimony of his manners. He realized that when he would study the word of God, he would hear God's voice speak. He would then have to put that into action in order for him to be an effective teacher. He knew he had to listen to what God had to say. It's not enough just to listen, but you must obey. You must follow through with what God says in his word.

And so we've looked at what it means to listen to God's word, how we need to listen quickly and quietly, openly, expectantly, reverently and gratefully to all that God says.

But that takes discipline, doesn't it? That doesn't come naturally. That's not easy for us. It takes discipline. The discipline of the eyes, the ears, the heart, the mind. It does not come easy with all the distractions around us. And so that discipline is something that becomes really for us a battle that we have in our own souls to discipline our heart and mind and ears and eyes to focus in on what God actually does say. But that's only the beginning of the battle. Because the battle begins to rage on when we understand that it's imperative that we live out the things that God says.

That's where the rubber meets the road, isn't it? It's one thing to hear about what the Bible says concerning salvation.

It's another to be saved by God and to repent of my sin and to give my life to the service of the King. And so the battle begins to rage in full force when I say it's not enough just to listen.

I must obey because that's where the true blessing lies. Christ said it well. The blessed man is the one who not only hears the Word of God but observes the Word of God. He listens and then he lives out the things that he has just heard. That's where true blessing truly lies. In fact, if you read the book of Proverbs, Solomon, a man of great wisdom, tells us that the living out of God's Word really is what wisdom truly is. For wisdom is the application of truth to life. And all throughout the book of Proverbs, Solomon would remind us of the importance of living out the truth of God's Holy Word.

He would say these words. Proverbs 3 verse number 13. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. The man who finds wisdom is the man who begins to live out the truth of God's Holy Word. He says in Proverbs 8 verse 11. For wisdom is better than rubies and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. Now Solomon was a wise man but he was a rich man as well. He had all kinds of wealth. His wealth was as great as the sand on the seashore. And yet he realized that wisdom was far more important and far more valuable than rubies.

In fact, he would go on to say in Proverbs 16 verse 16. How much better to get wisdom than gold and to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver. In other words, if you apply truth to your life, that is more valuable to you than any amount of money you can accumulate on this earth. Why? Because wisdom, the application of truth to life, lasts forever. Your riches only last for a short time. And then he says these words. Proverbs 24 verse 14. So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul if you have found it.

There is a prospect and your hope will not be cut off. The one who finds wisdom has security in life. He has stability in life. In fact, in Proverbs 3 verse number 15, Solomon says, Wisdom is more precious than rubies. And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are the ways of pleasantness. And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. And blessed are all who retain her.

Again he speaks of wisdom. Again he speaks of the application of truth to life. Again he says this is more valuable than anything you can ever imagine this side of eternity. He would say in Proverbs 2, When wisdom enters your heart and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion will preserve you, understanding will keep you. He would go on to say in Proverbs 3, Get wisdom. Get wisdom. Acquire wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Solomon knew about the importance of the application of truth to life.

And he knew, he knew that it was imperative that you had to hear God speak. He would say these words. Proverbs 1 verse number 5, A wise man will hear and increase learning. And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. Remember wisdom is the application of truth to life. Wisdom is living out what you have heard. He says the wise man is the one who will hear. And once he hears, he will increase his learning. Proverbs 12 verse number 15, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who heeds counsel is wise.

In other words, instead of going after the foolish way, understanding things from your own perspective, the wise man heeds the counsel. He obeys the word that's given to him. That is the one who applies truth to his life. Proverbs 19 verse 20, Listen to counsel and receive instruction that you may be wise in your latter days. Proverbs 22 verse 17, Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise and apply your heart to my knowledge. Proverbs 23 verse 19, Hear my son and be wise and guide your heart in the way.

So important to hear. But Solomon will also go off to say, Look, wisdom is the man who hears and obeys because he applies the truth to his life. He says this word. Proverbs chapter 28 verse number 7, Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son, is a wise son. Way back in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses would talk to the nation of Israel and give them these instructions. Deuteronomy 4 verses 5 and 6, Surely I have taught you statutes and judgments, just as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should act according to them in the land which you go to possess.

Therefore, be careful to observe them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. In other words, if you apply the truth to your life, the nations of the world will see you as a wise and understanding people. He says, because you keep the word of God, you observe the word of God, the nations will notice.

We are not wise men because we have God's word. We are not wise men because we just hear God's word. And we are not wise men because we desire God's word, nor are we wise men because we read God's word. We are wise men because we hear God's word and we observe what God says in His word.

There's a big difference. In other words, God's word is not optional information. It is essential revelation. This is not an option for the believer. We don't come to the word of God and say, Well, that sounds good. I think I'll do that. I don't like that. I'm not so sure I'm going to obey that command. This is not optional information. This is essential revelation. That's where the blessing comes. True blessing comes in the listening and the observing of God's word, not just the listening to it, not just the reading of it, not just the desiring of it, but the desiring, the hearing, the reading, and then the application of that truth to life.

That's where the blessing is and that's what Jesus said in Luke 11, 27, and 28. The question comes, you must ask yourself, How blessed is your life? Right? How much of the blessing of God are you actually obtaining because you have heard the word of God and obeyed the word of God? I know some of you say, Well, you know, we've been over this for four weeks now and now you're going to cover it for another two weeks. Okay, okay, okay. Enough's enough. Can't you just move on? Yes, we could move on. But until you start listening and obeying, I'm not moving on.

How's that sound? No, the point is, this is so important. And let me give you an illustration. Let me explain this to you.

By using the scripture with two verses tucked away in the book of Proverbs to help you understand the true blessing that God wants to give your life. Because so many Christians are missing the blessing. So many of them are just bypassing the greatness of the blessing of God upon their lives. I truly want you to experience the true blessing from God. That's why we're spending time here. Because I want your life to be blessed. I don't want you to have a miserable life. I don't want you to live in misery as you go from day to day.

I want you to experience the blessing of God. And so let's look at two verses tucked away in the book of Proverbs that once opened up to us will help us begin to understand whether or not there is blessing overflowing in our lives.

And let's start, let's begin with your home life. Okay? Because that's really where the rubber meets the road at home, right? The life of the church is only as strong as the weakest family in the church. The life of a nation is determined by the life of the family. Because the nation is made up of families. The church is made up of families. And that's why the church uses the analogy of the family, I mean, the Bible uses the analogy of the family so often in the church because the church is the family of God.

And so the strength of the church is only as strong as its weakest family. And so we need to examine our lives to see where we're at. Because I really want your life to be blessed by the Lord God. So two very familiar verses that maybe you've read many times before, but let me take just a few moments to expound upon them for you and ask yourself this question.

Is my home truly blessed by God? Here it goes. Proverbs 24, 3 and 4. By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches. Now, let's take a moment to look at this.

Because your family, your home life, is built on a three-pronged tier. Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. It's like a triangle. And they all three depend upon one another. Let me explain it to you.

Wisdom is the application of truth to life. Understanding is the verification of truth in life. And knowledge is the clarification of truth about life. Now, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, according to Proverbs 2, verse number 6, all come from the Lord, right? Wisdom is from the Lord, knowledge is from the Lord, and understanding is from the Lord. So in order to obtain wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, it's based on the truth of God that He gives to His people. And Solomon says so clearly that by wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established, and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

So if wisdom is the application of truth to life, it is the living out of God's Word, then understanding is the verification of truth in life, and knowledge is the clarification of truth about life. Let me explain it to you, because I really want you to get this.

This is so crucial. The Bible says these words, that wisdom is what penetrates the soul. Wisdom is that which truly is applied to a person's life. The Bible says over in Matthew chapter 7, very familiar words.

Remember when Jesus was concluded, His Sermon on the Mount? He concluded with an invitation. And He would preach this message, this longest message recorded by our Lord in the Bible, this message that would define His ministry as He would begin to contrast the religious way of life and His way of life. And when He concluded His message, this was His invitation. He says, Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them may be compared to a wise man who built his house upon the rock.

So Jesus makes it very clear that whoever has heard this message and now applies it is a wise man who builds his house upon the rock. If you hear the Word of God and don't apply it, you are the foolish man who builds his house upon you tell me? The sand. You know the story, right? Wisdom is the application of truth to life. Jesus says you've heard the Sermon.

Now what are you going to do about the Sermon? It does you no good to hear it and do nothing about it. Once you've heard the Sermon, what are your marching orders? What are you going to do? So let me conclude this way, Jesus says.

If you are a wise man, you will have heard these words, you will act upon them, and you will be one who builds his house upon the rock. He says, And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house, and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. All kinds of disastrous storms came, all kinds of problems erupted, but the house stood firm because it took the Word of God and applied the Word of God to its life. Then he says, And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act upon them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand.

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house, and it fell. Jesus says the foolish man builds his house right next to the man who built his house on the rock.

He built his house on the sand because they both experienced the same storm in the same way on the same day. But the foolish man could not stand. The wise man did because he built his house on the rock. He listened and obeyed. But Jesus says this, Not only did he fall, he concludes with these words, And great was its fall.

Not only did the house fall, but its falling was so great they were devastated. Now this is the context of the gospel and the context of hearing what Christ said, obeying what he said, and building your house upon the rock who is Jesus Christ himself. He is the rock. And living forever, being able to withstand storms that come because you have a relationship with the living God versus the one who doesn't obey the word of God and does not give his life to Christ, he's unable to stand, and how great is that fall.

But if you take that analogy and put it over in Proverbs 24, let me ask you a question. How many homes do you know that are fallen? And great is that fall because they built their house upon the sand. In other words, they heard the word of God, but they refused to obey the word of God. See, that's wisdom. The application of truth to life. Homes are falling apart in the evangelical church because there are people who come to church, they listen, but they refuse to apply God's word to their everyday life.

And therefore, they are unable to stand when the storm comes. When the storm hits your family, are you standing or are you falling, and how great is that fall? The analogy is very simple. Somebody is not listening well enough to obey what God says that they might be able to withstand the storm, stand strong, not fall, because Christ is their rock and they are a wise person because they took the truth of God, applied it to their lives, and they live strong in Jesus Christ our Lord.

Listen to this. James said it this way. James 3 verse number 13. Who among you is wise? Remember, wisdom is the application of truth to life. Right? The person who is willing to hear the word of God and act upon it. That's the wise man who builds his house upon the rock. James asked the question, Who among you here is wise and has understanding? Remember, understanding is the verification of truth in life. We'll talk about that in a moment. Who is the man who is wise and has understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

But, but, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, what's the next word? Demonic. Demonic. If you are selfishly ambitious, if you have bitter jealousy in your home, you are demonic. See that? That's not the wisdom that's from above. That's not the person who has applied the truth to their life and now is living it out. And then he says this, For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.

Wow! That's amazing! When there is selfish ambition and there is bitter jealousy, there's not order, there is chaos in the home. How many homes do you know that are absolute chaos because of selfish ambition and bitter jealousy? That's not wisdom from above. That's demonic. That's natural. That's earthly wisdom, not heavenly wisdom. And then James says this, But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy, and the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

There's a distinct difference between the wisdom that's from above and the wisdom that's from below because there's somebody willing to take the truth and apply it to their lives. That's the wise man. Solomon says, By wisdom, the house is built. It's built. Now, in Hebrew, that word means to rebuild or restore back to its original condition. So if your home is in need of a restoration, it only comes to wisdom. No other way. It only comes to the application of truth to life. When the house begins to crumble, when it needs to be rebuilt and restored, there is somebody there who's not taking the truth and applying it to life so as to rebuild, restore, refurbish, put it back together so it stands strong.

I pray that person would not be you. I pray that person would not be me. But that we would take the word of God and apply it to our lives. So ask yourself this question. Is my home in need of a restoration? Does it need to be rebuilt? Then to do that, I need to apply God's word to my life in every area. Not just some areas. In every area. Wisdom is the application of truth to life. Understanding is the verification of truth in life. In other words, understanding is the observable evidence of a demonstration of that truth lived out.

So understanding, like wisdom, is very similar. But wisdom is the application of truth. Understanding is the verification of that truth in and through my life. So therefore, my life breeds credibility in the home. My life demonstrates the truth of God's holy word. That's understanding. Understanding flows from wisdom. Knowledge flows from understanding and wisdom. So my ability to understand what God says is lived out in testimony through demonstration as I begin to communicate with people in my home, begin to lead people in my home, begin to build relationships with people in my home.

See that? That's how it works. Now listen to this. Listen to what Solomon says. By the application of truth, there is a restoration of the home. By the verification of truth in life, there is the fortification of the home. He says, by wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established. It's the word that means to fortify, to set in order. In other words, if it's leaning one way or leaning the other way, if it's unstable, it needs to be fortified. So what's causing it to waver is that there is not the understanding, the verification of truth in life.

That is, there's not the living out of that testimony that demonstrates the biblical truth as presented in scripture. And that's why my house goes this way and then goes this way. It needs to be strong. It needs to be fortified so that nothing can move it. That happens when there is understanding, the verification of truth in life. That's what Solomon says. So wisdom is the application of truth to life. That's where the restoration of the home begins. Then there is the verification of truth in life.

That is, that truth is verified by my life because I live out the biblical principles. And that keeps your home from wavering back and forth like this. It puts it, it fortifies it and makes it strong. That's understanding. But once you have restoration and once there is fortification, then and only then comes satisfaction. And that comes through knowledge, which is the clarification of truth about life. He says, and by knowledge the rooms are filled. In other words, they are fulfilled. There is a fulfillment.

There is a satisfaction of precious and pleasant riches. Knowledge is the clarification of truth. It's able to explain it as well as interpret it. You see, the reason you can explain it and interpret it is because you live it out. It is verified in your life. Because it's verified in your life, now you can begin to explain it. You can begin to interpret it to those who ask because you have lived the truth of God's holy word. That's what Ezra talked about by the ability to study it, to practice it, and then to teach it.

How can he explain something he does not live? Right? Fathers, are you listening? I hope you're listening. And that you're listening enough to apply it to your life so that you are a man of wisdom. If your house is in need of a restoration, only look in the mirror and look no further that you might begin to apply that truth to your life. And then, once it's restored, back to its original condition, it needs to be stabilized. It needs to be fortified. There needs to be a fortification. And that comes through understanding.

That is, I am verifying through my life and testimony that God's truth is truly all that it says because it's working in me as Paul would say to those in Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 2, verse number 13, that God's work effectually works in those who believe. And then comes knowledge. The ability to explain the truth and interpret the truth. In other words, knowledge is the clarification of that truth about all that life is. And then, comes the satisfaction. The rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches.

In other words, they're filled with pleasant memories, wholesome attitudes, respect, acceptance, security, good relationships, depth of character. That's satisfaction. There's something about your home that in every room, there is joy. In every room, there's an attitude of acceptance and respect. In every room, there is the glory of the Lord that permeates the home. But it only comes through the truth of God applied, verified, and clarified. That's it. That's the only message you need to hear in your entire life about the home.

That's it. You don't need to go out and buy a book, read a book about the home. Just two verses of scripture is all you need. That's it. There's nothing else. That's all there is. And so, if wisdom is the application of truth to life, I must learn to aspire it and acquire it. If understanding is the verification of truth in life, I must learn to value it and venerate it, that is to adore it. And if knowledge is the clarification of truth about life, I must learn to crave it that I might communicate it.

That's it. That's the life that God wants you and I to live. That's where it is. That's where it rests. That's why we spend time in Luke 11, 27, 28, because Jesus says, the blessed man is the one who hears the word of God and observes it.

In other words, he says, very simply, if you want there to be a restoration of your home, a fortification of your home, and satisfaction in your home, it comes through wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. That's it. That's all there is. Now, that's all the introduction to what I want to talk to you about today in Luke 11. Because, we told you last week, listening, the duty of listening, I mean, the discipline of listening leads to the duty of, what? Living. And how do we live out God's word? Number one, freely.

Freely, volitionally. Psalm 27, verse number 8, the Lord God said, seek my face, and I said, Lord, thy face I will seek. I want to seek your face, Lord. I want to obey your commandments, Lord. I know your commandments are not burdensome, and I want to do those things, so I obey freely. Number two, I obey internally.

In other words, it's from the heart. Romans 6 says that we obey the Lord from inside the heart. It's an internal observance. It's not some kind of legalistic, ritualistic on the outside. It's something that's from the inside that I want to do, because it's from the heart. We do the will of God, Ephesians 6 says, from the heart. So I do it freely, I do it internally, and then I do it totally. Fully. Listen, not perfectly. I'm not going to say that, because none of us can do it perfectly. But you do it totally.

You do it fully. You want to do it with all that you have. And we looked at Caleb last week. Remember that, Joshua chapter 14, about how he followed the Lord fully, with all of his heart? Okay, there was no partial obedience. It was a full obedience. It was with all his heart, freely and totally. And that's set in contrast to those who obey partially. Because that is the problem in the evangelical church. And let me tell you why people obey the word partially and not fully.

And I'll conclude with this this morning. So we didn't get to my outline today, so we'll do that next week. Okay? So I told you it would take us two more weeks. So, why is it that people only obey partially? Turn with me to your Bible to 1 Samuel 15.

Samuel was sent by the Lord to Saul to tell him these words. Go, verse 3, and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has and do not spare him, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. Now let me ask you a question.

Can the Lord be any more clear than that? Kill everything and everyone. Okay, no problem. So, Saul goes to war. He goes to war, verse 9. He captured, verse 8, and he captured Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good and were not willing to destroy them utterly, but everything despised and worthless that they utterly destroyed.

In other words, God says, this is what you do. Saul went and only did partially what the Lord said to do. Now why would the king of Israel do that? Why would the king of Israel think that he should take it upon his own to only partially fulfill what God said in his word? Why would he possess someone to do that? I mean, after all, they had prophets in those days, and Samuel says, the Lord spoke to me. This is what God said. This is what you've got to do. And he gave them marching orders. He spelled them out.

Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. This is what you do. No big deal. It's not some kind of rocket science that you've got to try to figure out. It's very simply stated. But Agag was spared. Some of the sheep were spared. So, verse 10. Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, saying, I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not carried out my commands. Could you imagine God saying, I regret that so-and-so married so-and-so because he does not fulfill all my commands.

I'm not saying God says that. I'm just saying that would be horrific. But he says, I regret that I made Saul king of Israel because he has partially obeyed me. I need somebody who's going to lead my people with total obedience. God says, I need men who are going to lead their homes fully, not partially.

And we have men today who just partially follow God's word in the evangelical church today and are weak in their ability to lead. And they wonder why. Well, verse 20. Samuel comes. He hears the bleeding of the sheep. He confronts Saul. And in verse 20, Saul said, I did obey the voice of the Lord and went on the mission on which the Lord sent me and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choices of the things devoted to destruction, the sacrifice of the Lord, your God, at Gilgal.

Now, here was Saul who had deceived himself into thinking, I did obey the Lord. We got people in the evangelical church today saying, I am obeying the Lord. Really? Really? You call partial obedience, obedience? That's what Saul did. I am obeying the Lord. I did do. I spared the king. And the people took some of the choice, spoil, sheep and oxen. And Samuel said, And God says to us as fathers who want to partially obey his word, these words, Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?

Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed than the fat of rams. In other words, you need to do what God says totally.

For rebellion is as the sin of divination and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you for being king. Samuel says, Your partial obedience demonstrates that you reject the word of the Lord. Wait a minute. He did do some of what God said. Doesn't that count for something? Not in God's kingdom it doesn't. Maybe in your kingdom it does, but not in God's kingdom it doesn't. In fact, he says that your disobedience as full as you think it was is as insubordination.

It is as iniquity. It is truly idolatry. And it is as the sin of witchcraft. It's demonic. Partial obedience is an abomination to God. It is demonic. It's insubordination. It is rebellion against God. So now listen to what Saul says as to the reason you and I, as well as Saul, partially obey the word of God. Here it goes. Ready? Verse 24. Then Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned. I have indeed transgressed the commands of the Lord and your words because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

That is the essence of weakness, not strength. I feared the people. More than what? He feared the Lord God. I listened to the voice of people. I listened to the voice of the people I'm supposed to lead. I succumbed to peer pressure. I can't handle the peer pressure. It's too much for me. I can't handle the negativity in the home. I can't handle the criticism in the home. I can't handle the hardship in the home. It's too much for me. I listened to my wife and therefore I disobeyed the Lord. Really?

The essence of weakness, not strength. I listened to the people at work. I did what they said. I had all good intentions. Hell is filled with people with good intentions, my friend. I had all the good intentions in the world. To stand strong, to speak for God, to live for God. But the peer pressure, the adversity that I faced, I just couldn't do it. I had to please the people. Really? Can you actually articulate that? Saul actually said it. He's the king. I obeyed the voice of the people. Wow. Really?

Does it come to that? That's why. When God says, the wise man who built his house upon the rock heard what I said and obeyed what I said.

And he obeys no matter what the consequences from his family, from his friends, the consequences of his financial condition. He obeys because he values my word more than rubies, more than riches, more than gold, more than silver. He values my word more than any listen carefully, earthly relationship. He values my word more than any earthly relationship. I know people who have compromised truth to maintain a relationship only to find at the end of their lives not only do they compromise truth, they lost the relationship anyway because it wasn't built on truth.

How sad. How sad. If just wisdom and understanding and knowledge permeated your life, your home would be restored. Your home would be stable. And in each of those rooms there would be satisfaction that would fill them because that's what the Lord God says.

Now remember Proverbs 24 verse number 5. Remember Saul's essence of weakness. I obeyed what the people said. Verse 5, A wise man is strong and a man of knowledge increases power. Isn't that good? The wise man is a strong man and the man of knowledge not only is strong but he increases in power as time goes on because he built his house upon the rock who was God himself. Boy, this is so important. This is so crucial for us as a church to learn to listen and then to live what God has said freely, internally and fully.

May God give us the grace to accomplish his word. Let's pray. Father God, we thank you for today. Truly, Lord, your word speaks to all of us, me included, as to how we are to live our lives. Forgive us, Lord, for forfeiting the blessing, the blessing that you want to give us because there's somebody else we want to please other than you. Forgive us, Lord, for valuing that relationship more than we value our relationship with you. Forgive us, Father, for just taking your word and setting it aside as if it does not matter when in reality everything about my life is built on what your word says.

Lord, help us to be a strong people because of wisdom. Help us to increase in power because of knowledge. Help us, Lord, to simply be obedient to all that your word says. In Jesus' name, amen.