The Blessings of Obedience

The legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, is considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time. As he saw incredible success on the court, leading his teams to ten national championships in just twelve years.

But what many do not know, is that his success was rooted in his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to the fundamentals of the game. In fact, Wooden would begin each season by teaching his players the simplest aspects of basketball, Which even included how to properly put on their socks and lace their shoes.

To many, this seemed trivial… After all, these were trained and skilled college athletes… Surely they already understood the basic fundamental's of basketball! Surely they already knew how to properly tie their shoes for a game!

But Wooden knew better, For he brilliantly understood that these small, often overlooked details were incredibly important! For example, all it would take for your star player to be off his game was one little ole’ blister! which could be the difference between victory and defeat! and the same held true with the other basic fundamentals that Wooden insisted on teaching his players.

And so while other teams ignored these basic fundamentals, instead focusing on flashy moves, plays, and standout performances, Wooden continued to instill these basic disciplines into his players, Which led them to incredible and unparalleled success.

Wooden once famously said: “It’s the little things that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” And that’s so true! For Big Success only comes after numerous Smaller Successes, which is why the basic fundamentals are so important!

But we don’t think this way do we in American culture do we? Not at all… For we are a culture of QUICK FIXES that demands INSTANT AND BIG RESULTS!

For instance, When it comes to dieting, instead of the slow and steady path, we look for pills, surgeries, and and fad diets that promise dramatic weight loss in a short period of time!

When it comes to financial success, instead of balancing our budgets, cutting our non-essential costs, and working hard We look to “get rich quick schemes” From completely silly things like winning the lottery, Finding fame and success by going viral on social media, All sorts of other pipe dreams that never become our reality!

And this carries right over into our lives as Christians as well! Instead of focusing on the fundamentals of the Christian faith, Like Bible reading, prayer, and serving in our local church, We look to mountain top experiences that will instantly turn it all around! Even as kids, we look to the spiritual high we get from a week at Camp.

As adults, this doesn’t change much. We search for the perfect church that offers ideal preaching (that isn’t too long of course) and music that stirs our emotions. When our marriages are struggling, we might even attend a marriage conference, hoping that a weekend event will magically fix years of bad and selfish marital decisions!

The point is, in all these areas, we often overlook the importance of cultivating small, consistent practices that lead to lasting growth and fulfillment, both in our personal lives and in our walk with Christ. Or, we might say, we seek big successes while remaining complacent with small failures. And then we have the nerve to sit around and wonder why God isn’t blessing us more!

Yet, as Wooden rightly put it, “It’s the little things that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” And this is a truth that is clearly illustrated in the lives of Daniel and his three friends. Who grasped this principle, And because they did, their faithfulness in the Small Things led to BIG SUCCESS.

To receive the blessings of obedience, we must:

1. Obey in the small things
2. Trust in the bigger things
3. Depend for all things

1. Obey in the small things

Over the past several weeks, we saw how Israel’s neglect of things they thought small led to big consequences And that’s because with God, there is no such thing as small disobediences! Because every act of disobedience - no matter how small we think it is, is a big disobedience is God’s eyes. and that’s because sin is deadly serious before a Holy God!

And because Israel refused to recognize this, God held His end of the Mosaic covenant, which results in them being conquered by the Pagan nation of Babylon. Which was God’s judgment upon them.

And so in verse 8, we find Daniel and his three friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (or as they are more commonly called: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, Facing a situation where they would have to either obey or disobey God in, what some might say, was a small thing… Which was a food choice… it was over what they would order and from the King’s menu…

And yet, as read in verse 8: Daniel 1:8 (ESV) 8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.

As the text goes on to say, Instead, Daniel and his 3 friends ask for vegetables to eat instead, And why? Because as verse 8 says, they didn’t want to defile themselves.

Now wait a minutes… Why would eating the kings food defile them before God? Well that’s because of the KOSHER Laws that God had given the nation of Israel. Which included things like: Avoiding certain animals deemed unclean, such as pork and shellfish (Leviticus 11) proper preparation and slaughter of animals to ensure the blood was completely drained (Deuteronomy 12:23-25) Keeping meat and dairy separate, not cooking a young goat in its mother’s milk, etc. (Exodus 23:19)

Now, there are some other potential explanations and reasons that may go long with this that commentators have come up with. Like Daniel realizing that who you eat with is who you become like. And the food likely had been offered to idols before, But the main idea is really pretty clear, And it’s that Daniel would have disobeyed God by eating these food, And so he refused to. And instead asked for Vegetables - not because it was a new fad diet. But because they knew that they would be safe from defiling them.

Now, I want you to put yourself in Daniel’s shoes for a minute… What would you have done? Well, before you answer that, First you need to think what lies you would have been tempted to believe. How might have you been tempted to justify disobedience? Because THAT’S how sin works!

See, we almost never say, “I know this is sin and wrong, and I don’t care, I’m gonna do it just cuz I feel like it…” Instead, we rationalize it. We justify it… And after all, it’s such a small thing anyways…

I know how I would have been tempted to justify it. I would have been tempted to think: “OK, God put me here, and so He must realize that I won’t be able to obey Him without losing my head! And since God is so loving AND in control - then He must intend me for to obey King Nebuchadnezzar. after all - Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s…”

Do you see how that works in yourself? Because it’s absolutely there… The tendency to justify our disobedience and rationalize it as being OK - even though its not… And it is this rationalizing of sin that has us American Christians in the terrible situation we are in.

What do I mean? I mean this. A recent study by the Barna Group and Pure Desire Ministries revealed that 62% of Christians believe it’s acceptable to watch pornography. More than half (54%) of practicing Christians admit to occasionally using pornography, which is a dramatic increase from just 13% reported in 2016.

And why? Because, for many, it’s seen as a small thing… AND many rationalize it, thinking things like… “Oh come on, it’s not that bad… everyone looks…” Or, “If my wife wasn’t so closed off all the time, then I wouldn’t have this struggle!” Or, “If I was only married, then I would be able to get a grip on this!”

This is the nonsensical lies we believe as a Christian culture! But NOT only are they lies, But they are BIG DISOBEDIENCES!

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Matthew 5:27-28 ESV

When it comes to viewing pornography, 90% of the audience base is male. But that doesn’t mean women are in the clear on this. Because when it comes to Romantic Novels - also known as SMUT, the ratio of men to women completely flips on this! A 2015 survey showed that approximately 55% of women read romantic novels, with a significant portion of this audience identifying as Christian. And I’m not just talking wholesome love stories, I’m talking about the stuff that would make a snowman blush in shame… And it’s because we do family worship as a church that I’m keeping this pretty vague and general. But believe m when I say, the situation is really BAD!

Look, The reason I’m bringing this up isn’t to be all judgy and harsh with people, I’m bring it up because sunlight is the best disinfectant! AND the truth is, One of the big reasons the American church is so weak and ineffective is because we have stopped taking BIG things seriously, out of the justification that they are SMALL THINGS. But they aren’t….

From the things we watch and read, To the clothes we wear, or lack thereof…. To the music we listen to, To the influences we allow in our lives, To the neglecting of the basic Christian disciplines like Bible reading, prayer, and serving in our local church, The American church has bought the lie hook, line, and sinker, that God doesn’t sweat the small stuff. OH BUT HE DOES!

But there’s another lie we believed first which is what led to all of that, Which is the lie that we can’t trust Him.

To receive the blessings of obedience, we must:

2. Trust in the bigger things

Once again, I want you to put yourself in Daniel’s shoes here. imagine how difficult it would have been to trust God in this situation… AND the great risk you were taking by obeying God. Think about it. There was Daniel, standing in the courts of the greatest empire in the entire world, An empire who had not only just conquered his nation, and took the vessels out of his God’s temple, But also hauled him and a bunch of his friends off into captivity to become brain washed Babylonians, How easy do you think that really would have been to stand up and say that you were refusing to obey King Nebuchadnezzar because you were dead-set on obeying King Yawheh God?

And yet, that’s precisely what Daniel and his three friends did! and these guys were all just teenagers!

But do you know what’s absolutely fascinating throughout this entire chapter? The clear pattern we see, of Daniel obeyed God first, and then God blessing him.

First, in verse 8: Daniel decides that he will not defile himself and disobey God, and then in verse 9, God blesses Daniel for trusting him and gives Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs.

Then in verse 17, God gives them learning, skill and understanding.

Then again, in verse 19, as Daniel continues to trust God, God blesses him and his friends as they stand before the king and pass their test with flying colors.

And finally, there is verse 21.

²¹ And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Daniel 1:21 ESV

Now who’s king Cyrus? That’s the Persian king, Which is the empire that destroys the Babylonian empire when Daniel is a lot older.

Which shows us, once again, that God is a God Whom we can trust! And Daniel is one of His many shining star examples of this! For Daniel trusted God, And in response, God not only made him a great ruler in Babylon, But in Persia also!

And so we must and should TRUST HIM! Don’t believe the lies that God’s commands are not for our good! For they are! God isn’t a killjoy who is hellbent on seeing us miserable and joyless! No, for He’s a good who is for us! Just as Daniel, Hanniah, Mischael, and Azariah’s very names communicated:

My friends, Sin is a liar. It will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay.

And so we must trust and depend on Yahweh God and Him alone!

To receive the blessings of obedience, we must:

3. Depend for all things

After Daniel and his 3 friends: obey God in the small things, trust him in the bigger things - like their very lives. they then have every reason and more to depend on Him for everything! And it’s because, as James tell us,

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

James 1:17 ESV

With Daniel and his 3 friends, we see the Father of lights bestowing upon then both wisdom and knowledge. To the point that they were 10 times better than the other wise men.

And why? Because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of what? Wrong. KNOWLEDGE!

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

Now, you weren’t wrong. Because Probers 9:10 does say that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, But even that verse also says:

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

And we see this with Daniel and his friends. and it’s because without God, we become without wisdom and understanding!

Let me show an example of this. In 1962, the average SAT score was 910 But then, in the following year, it was 502… Well what on earth happened? Did they, as one preacher put it, start putting poison in the water or something?

No… What happened was that in June 25, 1962, right after the school year ended, The US Supreme court decided it was unlawful to have prayer in public schools, And so the following school year public prayer was removed from the public school system… And the SAT scores plummeted…

And sure, some might try to argue that correlation doesn’t equal causation, But the Bible does make it clear that this is a correct correlation that does equal the causation!

Romans 1:18-23 (ESV) 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

In the garden, Satan said leave God and you’ll get knowledge But God says come to me and I’ll give you knowledge and wisdom! Which is exactly what He did for Daniel and his 3 friends. For our God is a God of wisdom and knowledge Who graciously bestows it upon all who will, OBEY, TRUST, AND DEPEND UPON HIMI! And today, as a country, we are feeling the heavy weight of that truth, In our having been handed over to a DEBASED MIND! To FOOLISH THINKING!

And Paul tells us exactly what that looks if we keep reading in Romans chapter 1.

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷ and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

Romans 1:26-27 ESV

²⁸ And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹ They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹ foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. ³² Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

Romans 1:28-32 ESV

Does any of that sound like a description of our country today? Of course it does! Which is exactly why every 4 years we have are given an election between one bad choice and another!

Now, don’t misunderstand me here and think I’m getting political - cuz I’m absolutely not. My point is simply this. CHRIST IS OUR WISDOM! And without Him, We are the blind leading the blind!

And so what must we do? TURN TO CHRIST and REGULARLY ASK GOD for WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING! and do so from a position of HUMILITY that longs to serve HIS NAME, NOT YOUR OWN!

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:5 ESV

Make no mistake - our situation is not unique… Because Daniel and his 3 friends lived in this exact kind of situation! and yet… Through Daniel and his friend’s obedience, God brought ENORMOUS blessings… Not just to them... But the entire nation of Babylon through them! Which was exactly what God promised to do in back in the Abrahamic Covenant when He promised Abraham saying:

Genesis 12:3 (ESV) 3 … and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

There’s no question about it: Daniel and his 3 friends trusted God in a difficult situation, With eyes of faith that only see a small fraction of what you and I see today. because you and I see the cross of Christ - WHICH IS OUR WISDOM! Which is all the reason and more to OBEY, TRUST, and DEPEND upon Him completely, From the small things to the large ones.

So how about you? Is Christ your wisdom? Is He your gladness? You have come to trust Him in completely fully by grace through the eyes of faith, That consider Him worthy above all other things?! and has that led you to obey Him in all other things, Including the small things? which aren’t so small after all.

By God’s grace, may we obey Him, trust Him, and fully depend upon Him, For everything, no matter how big or small it might seem.

Let us pray

This is the manuscript the sermon was preached from, so the recording may differ in places.