Obey God Rather Than Men
September 18, 2024 · 1:21:05 · Watch on YouTube ↗
Summary
The evening opens at Psalm 51, where David asks the Lord to open his lips so he can offer praise. God does not delight in outward sacrifice but in a broken and contrite heart, the kind of prayer the tax collector brought in Luke 18 when he beat his chest and asked for mercy. We gather not to impress one another but to sharpen one another, like iron sharpening iron, and to come before God humbly.
The main message walks through Acts chapter 5. The apostles are jailed for preaching, freed by an angel, and told to go right back and keep proclaiming the word. Against all human logic they return to the same place that got them arrested, declaring before the council that we must obey God rather than men. Gamaliel warns that schemes built on men collapse, but a work of God cannot be stopped. Like Joseph, who honored God through slavery and prison and was lifted to second in the kingdom, those who put God first bear fruit that lasts. The preacher asks whose voice we really follow: God's, or the noise of news, fear, leaders, and friends.
A second word turns to love. Jesus told the rich young ruler to love his neighbor as himself, and then gave a new commandment to love one another as He has loved us, so that everyone would know we are His disciples. Salvation is grace, a gift we cannot earn by works, shown in how Christ looked on Peter and restored him after his denial. We are called to love one another without conditions, no matter how others have treated us.
Key Points
- True worship begins with a broken and humble heart, not with outward show
- Like the apostles in Acts 5, we are to obey God rather than men, whatever it costs
- What is built on men falls apart, but a work of God cannot be stopped
- Many voices compete for us, yet Christ's sheep know and follow His voice
- The apostles left their flogging rejoicing to be counted worthy of suffering for Jesus
- The new commandment is to love one another as Christ first loved us
- Salvation is grace, an undeserved gift, just as Peter was restored after denying the Lord
Devotional
Stop tonight and ask yourself whose voice you are actually following. The world is loud with fear, opinion, and pressure, but the Shepherd still speaks, and His sheep know His voice. Bring Him a heart that is honest and humble rather than a polished performance, and let His word send you out with new strength. And remember that obedience is meant to overflow in love, the unconditional love Christ showed when He looked on Peter and called him back.
“We must obey God rather than men.”
“If a work is of men it will fail, but if it is from God no one can stop it.”
“By this everyone will know you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
“God does not want sacrifice; He wants a broken and contrite heart.”
