Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

Opening: The Sobering Reality of God's Regret

Bro. Sampson E. Sarnoh highlighted a heart-piercing question that is important for us to contemplate on as children of God: "What is it that the Lord regrets about us?" Drawing from 1 Samuel 15:35, where "the Lord regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel," he confronted the congregation with the devastating reality that God can regret His decisions about us.

"It's more concerning when the Lord makes a decision and regrets it," he declared. "This is something that we should all know and learn from. Sometimes we should put ourselves in those shoes. What is it that the Lord regrets about us? What is it that the Lord has made a decision about us and regrets it?"

This sobering introduction established the gravity of what happens when we choose partial obedience over complete surrender to God's will.

Core Teaching: Obedience as Action, Not Words

Obedience: More Than a Word

"Obedience is an action word," Bro. Sampson E. Sarnoh emphasized. "Obedience is not just a word but an action that must be demonstrated. Whenever the Lord tells us something to do or gives His commands, it is meant that we apply action to it." This fundamental principle challenged the congregation to move beyond intellectual agreement with God's Word to actual implementation in their daily lives.

The Definition of True Obedience

Bro. Sampson E. Sarnoh defined obedience as "submitting to the instructions or commandments of God." Using Saul's failure as the primary example, he showed how God gave clear instruction to destroy the Amalekites and everything that belonged to them, yet Saul kept some of the best sheep and oxen.

"This was clear disobedience to God's command. This also applies to us—the Lord has given us clear instructions. 'Don't do this,' but we refuse most of the time."

Biblical Case Study: Saul's Fatal Selectivity

The Heart of the Problem: "They Were Unwilling"

Referencing 1 Samuel 15:9, Bro. Sar Noh identified what broke God's heart: "They were unwilling to destroy..." He explained that this phrase reveals the core issue—selective obedience based on personal preference. "All of us in our walk with God have received clear-cut instructions. That's how God regrets every time when we don't do what the Lord desires of us or the commands He gives us."

The Danger of Partial Obedience

"Our obedience should be obedience in totality and not partially," he declared. "As believers, it is easy for us to get rid of things that we don't want, but we tend to hold on to the things that we like. We should not be like Saul who kept the best sheep and oxen. We should not be partial in our obedience to God."

This principle exposed how believers often practice selective obedience, discarding what inconveniences them while maintaining what they enjoy, even when God has called for complete surrender.

The Deception of Self-Justification

Hiding from God

When Samuel confronted Saul, the king boasted about his obedience, claiming he had done exactly what God commanded. Bro. Sampson E. Sarnoh used this to highlight a crucial truth: "One thing we should remember is that we can hide from men, but we cannot hide from God. God sees everything and knows our hearts. Saul was trying to deceive Samuel, but God had already revealed the truth to him."

This warns against the dangerous tendency to justify our partial obedience while maintaining an outward appearance of faithfulness.

The Consequences of Disobedience

Spiritual Stagnation

"Every instruction that God gives us, if we refuse, we will remain in that same position and not move forward," Bro. Sampson E. Sarnoh warned. This reveals how disobedience creates spiritual stagnation, preventing us from advancing in God's purposes for our lives.

God's Clear Preference

Quoting 1 Samuel 15:22, he emphasized Samuel's words to Saul: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams."

He connected this to other scriptures, showing the consistent biblical pattern: "Just like in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God says if His people humble themselves and pray, He will hear from heaven and heal their land. This is a clear indication that obedience is key to receiving God's blessings."

The Serious Nature of Rebellion

Rebellion Equals Witchcraft

Drawing from 1 Samuel 15:23, Bro. Sampson E. Sarnoh delivered one of his most powerful points: "Rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Whenever we disobey, we are in rebellion against God. Rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, which is a serious offense in the eyes of God."

This comparison shocked the audience into understanding the gravity of their selective obedience—that what they might consider minor compromises, God views as equivalent to practicing witchcraft.

The Ultimate Consequence: Rejection

"It makes God reject us. That's exactly what happened to Saul. God rejected him as king because of his disobedience," he concluded, showing that persistent rebellion ultimately leads to God's rejection of our leadership, calling, and destiny.

Key Takeaways for Application

1. Examine Your Heart: Regularly ask yourself, "What might God regret about my choices and actions?"

2. Practice Total Obedience: Identify areas where you've been selectively obedient and surrender them completely to God.

3. Avoid Self-Deception: Remember that you cannot hide your true motivations from God, even if you can fool others.

4. Understand the Stakes: Recognize that partial obedience is rebellion, and rebellion is as serious as witchcraft in God's eyes.

5. Choose Forward Movement: Obey God's instructions completely to avoid spiritual stagnation and continue advancing in His purposes.

6. Value Obedience Over Sacrifice: Prioritize doing what God says over offering what you think He wants.

Prayer Focus

- Ask God to reveal areas where you've practiced selective obedience

- Pray for courage to surrender the things you want to keep but God wants you to release

- Repent of any rebellion disguised as compromise or partial obedience

- Ask for grace to value God's commands above your personal preferences

- Pray for wisdom to discern between true obedience and religious performance

- Surrender completely to God's will, holding nothing back

Fishers of Men

Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

Bro. Sampson E. Sarnoh

Comments (0)