Sep 13, 2026 | Ptr. Ricky Sarthou
Family is important to God. From the Garden of Eden, Satan has attacked God’s design by questioning His Word and tempting people to believe they can be their own authority. Our response is clear: hear God’s Word, obey it, and trust Him.
Many people are uncomfortable with the word obey because authority has sometimes been abused. Yet obedience, rightly understood, provides order, safety, and healthy boundaries. More importantly, obedience to God is rooted in His character. When we obey Him, we are saying, “Lord, I trust You more than my feelings, fears, and plans.”
Because God is trustworthy, we can trust that His commands are for our good and part of His best plan for our lives.
OBEY AND BE SECURE
In Matthew 7:24–25, Jesus said the person who hears His words and acts on them is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. Storms still come, but the house does not fall because its foundation is secure.
God’s Word contains everything essential for living a life pleasing to Him. But it is not a buffet where we can choose which commands to obey. James 1:22–25 warns us not to be merely hearers who deceive themselves, but doers who live out God’s Word.
Obedience does not mean a storm-free life. The obedient Christian life is storm-proof. Jesus promised tribulation, but He also promised His peace.
Pastor Ricky shared how he and Adele waited on God regarding their relationship. They prayed, sought counsel, and chose purity and boundaries because they wanted to please God. In God’s time, they married. Their story reminds us that obedience may require waiting, but God’s way is worth trusting.
DISOBEY AND FACE DISASTER
Jesus contrasted the wise man with the foolish man who heard His words but did not act on them. His house was built on sand; when the same storms came, it fell, and its fall was great (Matthew 7:26–27).
Why do some people seem to succeed while disregarding God’s Word? The key word is “seem”. In Luke 12, Jesus described a rich man whose plans revolved around himself. His problem was not wealth but his heart. He believed his life was his own, only to discover that it was entrusted to him. Jesus called him a fool because he stored up treasure for himself but was not rich toward God.
Solomon reached a similar conclusion in Ecclesiastes. He experienced wisdom, achievement, pleasure, and abundance, yet called it vanity—emptiness and striving after the wind. His final counsel was to remember our Creator, fear God, and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
LIFE APPLICATION
God has also placed authorities within the family and society. Ephesians 5 calls wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, while husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Children are told to obey and honor their parents, while fathers are warned not to provoke their children to anger. Biblical authority is never a license for selfishness; those who lead are also called to love.
BE IN AWE OF JESUS
Ultimately, obedience begins with our view of Jesus. Matthew 7 ends by describing the crowds as amazed at His teaching. We should likewise be in awe of Him.
Colossians 1:16–17 reminds us that all things were created through Him and for Him, and that in Him all things hold together. Yet what should amaze us most is what Jesus has done for us. The One who holds the universe together, carried the cross, died for our sins, rose again, and will come again in glory. He holds our lives, our future, and our eternity in His hands.
When we see who He is, obedience becomes a response of love and trust, not mere obligation.
God’s Word is clear: hear, obey, and be blessed. Obedience does not promise a life without storms, but it gives us a secure foundation in Christ. Disobedience may appear successful for a time, but ultimately it leads to disaster. Above all, we must cultivate a deep awe of Jesus.
If we are in awe of Him, we will desire to obey. And if we have never surrendered our lives to Him, today is the day to trust Jesus as Lord and Savior, resting in what He accomplished for us on Calvary.
May we become people who hear God’s Word, obey it through the power of the Holy Spirit, and trust Him completely—because Jesus is worthy of our love, our obedience, and our whole lives.