Week 4 - The Blessing of Obedience | Month 2 - Obedience

Scriptural anchors for us through M2 - Week 4:

“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”- John 13:17 (ESV)

The Blessing of Obedience

There is a blessing reserved not for the hearer of the Word, but for the doer of it.James writes;

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”- James 1:22 ESV.

The blessing is promised not to those who listen, but to those who act:

“The one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing”- James 1:25 ESV.

Jesus’ words in John 13, within our anchor scripture, come not from a lofty position or high pulpit but from the floor, towel in hand, washing the dust from His disciples’ feet. It is there, on His knees, that He reveals the paradox of obedience: that the highest blessing flows from the lowest posture.

We live in an age that prizes information and online presentation over transformation. Many know the teachings of Christ, but few live them. But Jesus makes it plain that knowledge without obedience is incomplete.

It is not what we know that brings life; it is what we do with what we know.

But don’t be mistaken, obedience is not a transaction for blessing; it is the path that leads into the blessing itself. When we walk in His ways, we do not earn His favor; we enter into it.

Our position is already established; this is simply walking fully in it.

As Deuteronomy 28 declares, “All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God.” The blessing is not found in striving, but in abiding. From the very beginning, God has tied blessing to alignment with His will. Joshua was told;

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” - Joshua 1:8 ESV.

Obedience has always been the hinge between revelation and reward - between hearing God’s Word and experiencing His promise.

The act of obedience itself carries its own reward: peace that settles the soul, clarity that quiets confusion, and intimacy with the Father that cannot be manufactured any other way. To obey God is to move in rhythm with His heart, and that alignment brings a joy the world cannot provide.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes.”

The two are inseparable. Belief that stops short of obedience is mere admiration. But when faith takes form in our actions - forgiving, serving, surrendering, giving - grace flows freely, and our lives become channels of His blessing to others.

This is the secret of divine reciprocity:

What begins as obedience often ends as joy.

We pour out, and somehow find ourselves filled.

We surrender, and discover freedom.

We lay down our will, and find His far greater.

The blessings of obedience are not always immediate, but they are inevitable. For the One who calls us is faithful, and His reward is Himself.

Reflect

Where might God be inviting you to turn knowing into doing?

What small act of obedience could unlock greater peace or purpose in your walk with Him this week?

Watch / Listen / Read

Watch

Grace to You – “The Triumph of Obedience” by John MacArthur - LINK

This sermon tackles the doctrine of obedience head-on, addressing how many churches handle justification but shy away from sanctification and real obedience. It’s theological, serious in tone, and practical in application. MacArthur delivers this message as part of his expositional series on sanctification and holiness, calling believers to a costly, uncompromising obedience.

“You never know what’s connected to a singular act of obedience.” - Philip Anthony Mitchell

This short but piercing word from Philip Anthony Mitchell reminds us that obedience is never isolated - it’s generational, eternal, and catalytic. Every ‘yes’ to God ripples beyond the moment, unlocking doors we can’t yet see. In a world obsessed with outcomes, this message calls us back to the quiet power of simple obedience - the kind that shapes destinies and ushers in God’s Kingdom.

@philipanthonymitchellYou never know what’s connected to a singular act of obedience… ENTRY & END TIMES | The Beginning of The End #2819church #weare2819church #UntilAllHaveHeard

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Listen

Psalm 50 by Father Seraphim Bit-Kharibi Duet with Soulpacifica

Psalm 50 (known in Western numbering as Psalm 51) is David’s prayer of repentance: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” The simplicity of the unaccompanied voice strips away distraction, leaving nothing but raw devotion and humility before the mercy of God.

As the melody ascends and fades, you can almost feel the echo of every heart that has ever bowed in surrender. It is a reminder that obedience is born not in strength but in repentance - that blessing begins where pride ends.

Take a few moments to sit in it.

What If David Played Guitar Instead of Harp? by Psalm in Blues

This piece reimagines the psalms through the soul of blues - raw, honest, and deeply human. It’s the sound of worship that wrestles, praises, and laments all at once. If David had a guitar instead of a harp, this might be what his psalms felt like - a cry of repentance, a song of deliverance, and a rhythm of redemption.

Let it remind you that obedience isn’t sterile - it’s heartfelt, imperfect, and often sung through struggle.

“Come On” – Brooke Poindexter & Believers

“Come On” is a bold invitation, a call to rise, worship, and walk in the fullness of what God has already spoken. Brooke’s voice carries the urgency of revival and the warmth of surrender, bridging the distance between the altar and the everyday.

Didn’t You Pray For This?

One for those in the group looking for some fire in your belly. Excuse the overtly masculine attempt at visuals they added here, but on audio, the message is clear and relevant.

Christ Be In My Heart – Sam McCabe

Each line is a confession of alignment - a willingness for every thought, word, and work to flow from the life of Jesus within. A reminder that obedience is not about outward conformity but inward communion. Take a moment to be still. Let these words wash over you. May Christ fill your heart so that obedience becomes the most natural response to His love.

Read

Eugene H. Peterson - A Long Obedience in the Same Direction - LINK

Peterson calls believers back to the steady, unglamorous work of discipleship in a world obsessed with instant results. Drawing from the Psalms of Ascents (Psalms 120–134), he paints obedience as a pilgrimage - a slow, faithful walk toward God rather than a sprint toward success.

Alicia Britt Chole - Anonymous: Jesus’ Hidden Years…and Yours - LINK

Chapters 5/6 (the temptation and preparation years) are particularly impactful. These parts tie directly to how obedience (even when unseen) positions us for blessing.

📅 This Week’s 30-Min Rally Point

We’ll meet for our first 30-minute rally point this Thursday at 7:00 PM EST via Zoom.This is a space for reflection, encouragement, and activation, a rhythm of checking in, praying together, and pressing forward.

🕖 Zoom Time: Thursday @ 7:00 PM EST🔗 Click to join the Zoom call - Zoom URL

Format:

Welcome & Opening Prayer (2 min)

Scripture Reading (3 min)

Teaching Recap (5 min)

Discussion Questions (12 min)

Heart-Level Questions:

Head-Level Questions:

Hands-Level Questions:

Practice Together (5 min)

Closing Encouragement & Prayer (3 min)

Bring a Bible, a journal, and any wins or wrestles you want to share. This is a safe space to grow.

Next Week's Topic: M3 - Servanthood | W1 - The Servant King

Read ahead with our M3 W1 Anchor Scripture:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” - Mark 10:45 ESV.

As we step into Month 3, we move from Obedience to Servanthood - from doing what Christ commands to becoming like the One who serves. In the upper room, Jesus knelt with a towel, redefining greatness forever. The King of Kings chose the lowest place, showing that true authority in the Kingdom flows from humility, not hierarchy.

Next week, we’ll look at how servanthood isn’t weakness but power under control — how the life that bends to serve becomes the life God lifts to shine. The Servant King calls us to lead by love, to stoop in strength, and to find joy not in being honored but in honoring others.

Remember: Obedience does not earn the blessing; it reveals it. The moment we choose to do what Christ says, heaven opens its hand. The hands that serve are the ones most like His.

God is with us!

Lord, teach us not only to hear Your Word, but to walk in it. Help us to trust that Your commands are not burdens but blessings, pathways to peace, and anchors for our wandering hearts. May we find joy in surrender, strength in submission, and life abundant in every step of obedience.

I’m glad you’re here.

Let’s run the race - Eyes Up, Chin Up!

Grace and peace,

Sam Johnston

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