TO BELIEVE GOD'S WORD IS TO OBEY GOD'S WORD

 Satan believes there is One God. He lived with God for millions of years as one of His top angels millions of years before humans were created.

Again there was a day when the sons of God (angels) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the Lord. 

(Job 2:1 NKJ)

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!

(James 2:19 NKJ)

The demons knew that Jesus was "the Christ"

(the Messiah).

And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. (Luke 4:41 NKJ)

BUT THEY DO NOT OBEY 

GOD'S WORD, WILL & WAYS!!!

Satan even tried to use Scriptures when attempting to tempt Jesus.

Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.' " 

(Matthew 4:10 NKJ)

The Bible is God’s book. The men who wrote the Bible were moved by God’s Holy Spirit to write exactly the revelation God intended for us to receive and understand. It was written so that we may know the God who made the heavens and the earth and all that is in it. God wants us to know about the great love.
 
“Love is inextricably tied to obedience. I simply can't claim to love Jesus if I disobey Him. Love is defined by what God says it is, and He says its obedience”. ‘if we believe the Lord, we obey what He says out of love…for all He gives is out of His love for us’

God wants us to have faith to believe in who he is and obey. Faith comes when we understand that God loves us and because He loves us no matter what we can trust him.
 
The 10 commandments are not about Rules but are to help us understand how much God loves us. When we trust God totally it is much easier to obey him whatever he asks us to do.

Luke 6:46 – “Why call you Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Mark 7:7 – “Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Mark 2:27-28 – “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.”

All of God’s Sabbaths are to be observed from evening to evening (sundown to sundown). (Lev. 23:32) (Nehemiah 13:19)

No customary work is to be done on the Sabbaths of the Lord, only the preparation of that which everyone must eat (one exception is Atonement since it is a day of fasting-- absolutely no work is to be done). (Ex 12:16)

'Six days shall work be done, but THE SEVENTH DAY IS a Sabbath of solemn rest, A HOLY CONVOCATION. You shall do no work on it; it is THE SABBATH OF THE LORD IN ALL YOUR DWELLINGS. (Lev. 23:3)

HALLOW MY SABBATHS, AND THEY WILL BE A SIGN BETWEEN ME AND YOU, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD.' (Ezekiel 20:20)

AND THAT YOU MAY REMEMBER AND DO ALL MY COMMANDMENTS, AND BE HOLY FOR YOUR GOD.

(Numbers 15:40 NKJ)

HER PRIESTS HAVE VIOLATED MY LAW AND PROFANED MY HOLY THINGS; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and THEY HAVE HIDDEN THEIR EYES FROM MY SABBATHS, so that I am profaned among them. (Ezekiel 22:26)

"IF YOU TURN AWAY YOUR FOOT FROM THE SABBATH, FROM DOING YOUR PLEASURE ON MY HOLY DAY, AND CALL THE SABBATH A DELIGHT, THE HOLY DAY OF THE LORD HONORABLE, AND SHALL HONOR HIM, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, (Isaiah 58:13)

"Also THE SONS OF THE FOREIGNER WHO JOIN THEMSELVES TO THE LORD, TO SERVE HIM, And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants-- EVERYONE WHO KEEPS FROM DEFILING THE SABBATH, And holds fast My covenant—( Isaiah 56:6)

Moreover I ALSO GAVE THEM MY SABBATHS, TO BE A SIGN BETWEEN THEM AND ME, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them. (Ezekiel 20:12)

You have despised MY HOLY THINGS and profaned MY SABBATHS. (Ezekiel 22:8)

IN CONTROVERSY they shall stand as judges, and judge it according to My judgments. THEY SHALL KEEP MY LAWS and My statutes IN ALL MY APPOINTED MEETINGS, AND they shall HALLOW MY SABBATHS. (Ezekiel 44:24)

"Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'SURELY MY SABBATHS YOU SHALL KEEP, FOR IT IS A SIGN BETWEEN ME AND YOU THROUGHOUT YOUR GENERATIONS, THAT YOU MAY KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD WHO SANCTIFIES YOU. (Exodus 31:13)

'Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and KEEP MY SABBATHS: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:3) 'You shall KEEP MY SABBATHS and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 19:30) You SHALL KEEP MY SABBATHS and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord. (Leviticus 26:2)

because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but PROFANED MY SABBATHS; for their heart went after their idols. (Ezekiel 20:16)

Notwithstanding, THE CHILDREN REBELLED AGAINST ME; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, 'which, if a man does, he shall live by them'; but THEY PROFANED MY SABBATHS. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. (Ezekiel 20:21)

Moreover THEY HAVE DONE THIS TO ME: THEY HAVE DEFILED MY SANCTUARY ON THE SAME DAY AND PROFANED MY SABBATHS. (Ezekiel 23:38)

For thus says the Lord: "To the eunuchs WHO KEEP MY SABBATHS, And choose WHAT PLEASES ME, And hold fast My covenant, (Isaiah 56:4)

For He has spoken in a certain place of THE SEVENTH DAY in this way: "And GOD RESTED on the seventh day from all His works"; (Hebrews 4:4)

And on THE SEVENTH DAY God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on THE SEVENTH DAY from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed THE SEVENTH DAY and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. (Genesis 2:2-3)

So the people rested on THE SEVENTH DAY . (Exodus 16:30 )

Work shall be done for six days, but THE SEVENTH is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. 

(Exodus 31:15)

So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, AS IT BEGAN TO BE DARK BEFORE THE SABBATH, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. 

(Nehemiah 13:19)

2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…”

- Isaiah 30:8, “Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.”

Isaiah 40:8,” The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Deuteronomy 8:3, “…man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

- Luke 11:28, “He (Jesus) replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

- Ephesians 6:17, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

- 2 Peter 1:21, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. 2 peter 3:16

Romans 15:4, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”

 

TO BELIEVE GOD'S WORD IS TO OBEY GOD'S WORD

 

John 7:24 – “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

Some will quote Matthew 7:1—“Judge not, lest you be judged”—to claim that it is “unchristian” to identify people’s sins or those that plague a society. How many times have you heard someone say, “Don’t judge me” or “Christians are not to judge others”?

Ask yourself, how can a Christian be expected to stay away from people of bad character, as the Bible commands (I Cor. 5:1-5; I Tim. 6:3-6), if he is not allowed to judge their actions—in other words, identify their inappropriate behavior? Also, how could Paul instruct Christians to “mark” and “avoid” divisive people (Rom. 16:7) unless the conduct of such people be examined—unless judgments were made?

The word “judge” in Matthew 7:1 comes from the Greek word krino, which can mean “to try, condemn, punish” or “to distinguish, decide.” The context depends upon how the word is used.

The apostle John wrote, “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn [krino] the world; but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:17). Yet, Paul used this same Greek word to teach that true Christians are in training to judge the whole world—including angels: “Do you not know that the saints shall judge [krinos] the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know you not that we shall judge [krinos] angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?” (I Cor. 6:2-3). Four chapters later, he added, “I speak as to wise men; judge [krinos] you what I say” (I Cor. 10:15). Obviously, Paul did not intend for the Corinthians to condemn his words, but rather to judge—“decide”—whether he was teaching sound doctrine.

When Jesus said, “Judge not, lest you be judged,” He meant that you can sometimes avoid judgment coming upon yourself by avoiding judging others. This does not mean that Christians are never to judge. Rather, in certain situations, it is better to avoid rendering a judgment—a decision about, an evaluation of, conduct or behavior—lest you bring judgment upon yourself. If you decide to judge, be careful, as whatever standard you use to render a decision will be used on yourself: “For with what judgment you judge, you shall be judged: and with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you again” (Matt. 7:2).

Consider. If Jesus had meant Christians should never judge, period, then He would have contradicted Himself when He said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge [krinos] righteous judgment” (John 7:24). Christ clearly stated that Christians are to judge others. However, we are to use righteous judgment. If a person judges righteously, he will avoid judgment coming upon himself.

Most overlook John 7:24 and focus only on Matthew 7:1. They fail to put all of the pieces of the puzzle together, thus they stumble and are snared (Isa. 28:13).

The key to understanding John 7:24 is found beginning three verses earlier. Referring to His healing a man on the Sabbath day, to which the Pharisees vehemently objected, “Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and you all marvel.” According to the Pharisees, healing on the Sabbath was considered work, so they accused Him of breaking the Sabbath.

In verses 22-23, Jesus continues His discourse: “Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision…and you on the Sabbath day circumcise a man. [According to the Law of Moses, a male child was to be circumcised eight days after being born, which would sometimes fall on the Sabbath.] If a man on the Sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are you angry at Me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the Sabbath day?”

The Pharisees constantly accused Christ of deviating from the Law of Moses. They claimed to uphold this law down to the last jot and tittle. Jesus used this to His advantage and asked them why they considered it lawful to circumcise a child on the Sabbath, but unlawful to make “a man every whit whole”? Christ pointed out the hypocrisy of such “logic.”

This brings us to verse 24: “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Jesus said this to the Pharisees in this context because they were judging his actions according to sight, and not by God’s Law. In other words, they used human reasoning rather than God’s standard of righteousness, defined by His Law! Thus, they brought judgment upon themselves!

While Jesus was in the flesh, He too had to rely on God to judge righteously: “I can of My own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not My own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me” (John 5:30). Since the Pharisees were not seeking the will of God and were not obeying His commandments, they could not judge correctly.

Finally, consider Christ’s statement in John 8: “You judge after the flesh; I judge no man. And yet if I judge, My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me” (vs. 15-16). These verses reveal that Jesus did not judge after the flesh or according to sight. Instead, He judged righteously, because He relied on the Father, just as Christians are to do. The Father did the judging through Jesus. But this occurred only because Jesus sought the Father’s will and obeyed Him, as Christians are to do.

Like so many of the Bible’s teachings, the subject of judging is widely misunderstood. This is because the majority focuses only on Matthew 7:1 and does not take into account the numerous other verses on the subject. Again, most fail to put all of the pieces of the large biblical puzzle together (Isa. 28:10). 

 

Lawlessness does not mean there are fewer laws, but that there is less obedience to existing laws.  

 

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!”
~ Acts 5 : 29 NIV

This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
~ Revelation 14 : 12 NIV

Believe God

The Holy Bible is a divinely inspired instruction manual from the Creator to His creation. It explains who and what man is—why he exists, what is life’s purpose—and how man can attain the awesome future God has in store for him.

The Bible is also God’s Word of truth (John 17:17). As its Author, God declares “the scripture cannot be broken” (John 10:35). It is a book of promises guaranteed to be fulfilled because it is “impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18).

Study the Bible and you will find God promises protection, to provide our necessities (food, drink, clothing and shelter), strength in time of need, and more. Jesus said, “And all things, whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive” (Matt. 21:22).

This requires faith. The apostle Paul wrote, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6). It takes faith to believe that God exists and that He always keeps His promises.

The Bible defines faith as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (vs. 1). Faith is your proof that God will deliver His promises—it is your guarantee He will come through for you.

Obey God

But belief in God is only the first step. Billions believe God exists. They cry out to Him, but He seems so far away.

Yet God says of Himself, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear” (Isa. 59:1). Still something prevents the prayers of most from going any higher than the ceiling. Verse 2 reveals the answer: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

“Sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). Sin separates—cuts us off—from God. Ironically, religionists, preachers and others teach their followers that God’s Law is “done away,” “abolished” or “kept for us by Christ,” convincing them there is no need to obey God.

The continual breaking of God’s Law is a major factor in unanswered prayer. Consider: “He who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Prov. 28:9).

God will not hear the prayers of those who do not obey Him: “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (I John 3:21-22).

Note what Jesus said in John 8:29: “And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father has not left Me alone; for I do always those things that please Him.” Christ obeyed God, and for this His Father always heard His Son’s prayers. The same could be said of you—IF you, like Christ, obey God and diligently put His will first.

When thousands of believers gathered at Jerusalem asked the apostle Peter what they must do to stop living contrary to God’s way of life, he said, “Repent”! (Acts 2:38). The word “repent” simply means “change.” But what does one change? His attitude, thoughts and behavior—the total person, a complete change of life and direction from the way of get (selfishness, vanity, lust, greed, pride, competition) to God’s way of give (selflessness, meekness, humility, concern for others, cooperation). Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Through genuine, heartfelt repentance, God grants the forgiveness of sins, removing through Jesus Christ’s perfect sacrifice the very thing that separates us from God. Then and only then can our prayers be heard.

Traditional Christianity has lost these vital keys in obeying and serving God. Modern Christendom, though outwardly appearing to be righteous and sacred, is mired in traditions and customs of men. Christ says to those who profess to be Christian that God does not hear them because they break His laws (Matt. 7:21-23).

Determine to adhere to what God teaches, and not men. Avoid becoming like those Jesus spoke of in Matthew 15: “This people draws near unto Me with their mouth, and honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. But in vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men” (vs. 8-9).