Clarification -- Distraction to Obedience? (Lu. 1:18, 34)

Read Luke 1:18, 34.

Both Zachariah and Mary received a word from an angel.  Both responded with a question.  Mary's question wasn't more spiritual than Zachariah's, yet he suffered a consequence and she did not.  He was indicted for unbelief, she wasn't.  What does this tell us about the nature of faith and unbelief?

Perhaps the answer is found in verse 38.  Mary lacked understanding of details.  Nonetheless, the spoken word was enough.  She questioned, yet submitted.  Zachariah wanted more detail, more understanding before he would believe.  He questioned, yet did not submit.

When God brings you a word (direction, insight, counsel, rebuke, etc.) through the method He chooses, it is not wrong to want to verify it.  He doesn't want you following a word that isn't from Him.  What He minds is our seeking continued clarification as nothing more than excuse for inactivity, disobedience and unbelief.

Anathema Maranatha (12 Cor. 16:22) (Part 5)

Conclusion (Part 2):

• As we close, it is fitting to ask, “What does it mean to “love the Lord”?
• To love the Lord means more than believing certain things.
• If polled, every church-goer in Corinth would've responded, “Yes, of course I believe in Jesus!”
• However, Paul wasn't addressing a lack of belief but a lack of love.
• To love the Lord means . . . are you ready to hear this? . . . to love the Lord means to obey Him.
• Jn. 14:15 > “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
• Jn. 14:21a > “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me . . .”
• 1 Jn. 2:4-6 > “The one who says, “ I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” 
• What, then, is Paul's conclusion?
• “Show me a man who says that he believes in Jesus yet will not conform to His teaching through lifestyle obedience, and I will show you a man who doesn't love Jesus.”
• It's more about what you do than about what you say.
• The proof of belief is love and the outcome of love is obedience.
• Serving Jesus requires careful and serious living.
• It is healthy for each one to evaluate honestly:
• Do I love the Lord Jesus?
• Is my love for Him deeper than emotion, that is, evident by my obedience?
• Is there an area of disobedience I need to surrender to Jesus right now?
• Is the consequence of disobedience something I'm willing to stake my eternal existence upon?
• Since the consequence for a lifestyle of not loving Jesus means separation from Him and His Church, we must deal immediately with all disobedience.

Four Contributors to Disobedience (Neh. 9:16-18)

Read Nehemiah 9:16-17.

1. To what two things does verse 16 attribute disobedience?
2. Verse 17 provides two more contributors to disobedience.  What are they?
3. Wait, it's not all bad news.  What do verses 17 and 18 tell us about God? God is...
4. If you needed a reason to praise God, you have one now!