"WHATSOEVER HE SAITH UNTO YOU, DO IT".

Jno. 2:1-12.

INTRO:

1. Do you recall the first recorded miracle that Jesus did?

A. It was at the marriage feast in Cana of Galilee.

B. When the supply of wine was exhausted, the mother of Jesus came to inform Him. (Read about it).

1) It was on this occasion that she said unto the servants:

a. "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it." Jno. 2:;5.

2. Here was an open manifestation of the miraculous power of Jesus Christ.

A. But it was also an open declaration of authority invested in Him.

1) There was to be no back talk or quibbling! "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!"

3. This same course of action can assure the salvation of souls today!

4. When Jesus speaks, don't argue!

A. Remember, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!"

I. GOD HAS ALWAYS DEMANDED OBEDIENCE.

A. Man seems to always desire to see the miraculous. Mt. 12:38; 1 Cor. 1:22.

1. But, at the same time, he tends to ignore the word of God which is given for his salvation. Rom. 1:16.

B. Of course, there was a purpose for miracles and a stated purpose was recorded.

1. "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Jno. 20:30,31.

2. Miracles, signs and wonders were performed, and recorded, to the end that we might have sufficient faith to be saved! Heb. 2:1-4.

a. But, we must learn this one great truth: our faith must be sufficient enough to motivate obedience, or else it is powerless to save. Rom. 1:5.

b. Yes, we must have trusting faith that will accept and obey: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!"

1) Let us "Trust and Obey, For there is no other way, To be happy in Jesus, But to Trust and Obey."

C. Jesus sounded this warning: "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Mt. 7:21.

1. With this statement, He placed emphasis on obeying.

2. Again, Jesus said, "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Lk. 6:46.

3. Surely none of us can say that this is too demanding whenever we consider His own life.

a. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect he bacame the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Heb. 5:8,9.

b. Yes, Christ can also be the author of your eternal salvation if you have enough faith to obey Him.

1) Remember: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!"

II. LET US NOTICE THE REACTION OF NOAH'S FAITH.

A. Whenever the wickedness of men before the flood provoked God, He purposed to destroy that evil world. Gen. 6.

1. But He found a righteous man, Noah, and devised a plan to save him and all that would listen to him.

a. He told Noah to build an ark for his salvation from the flood.

1) No doubt, Noah, knowing the power of God, could have argued:

a) "God can save me without an ark, or even a life-jacket!"

b) "I won't limit God's power to save by contending that the ark is essential!"

c) "I have complete and full trust in Him, I'll just sit here and trust in His saving grace!"

2) Yes, God could have saved him without the ark or even a life-jacket.

a) But God told him to build an ark for the saving of his house.

b) If Noah had thrown a balk as most religious people want to do today, God would have drowned him right where he sat!

3) After God had spoken, it was not for Noah to ponder ways "it could have been."

4) Yes, God had the power to save by any way, shape, form or fashion, that He desired.

a) But once God had spoken, that was the way it would be.

b) Remember, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!"

B. Let us study this lesson of grace, faith and obedience:

1. "By faith, Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world and became heir of righteousness which is by faith." Heb. 11:7.

2. Now, let us analyze this lesson.

a. Grace warned of the flood; faith accepted the message; and obedience obtained God's blessing!

1) This is the very same procedure that is seen throughout the word of God.

a) The grace of God instructs, faith accepts in obedience, and obedience obtains the promised reward.

III. NOW, LET US LOOK AT ISRAEL'S FAITH AND THE BRAZEN SERPENT.

A. As Israel was wandering around in the wilderness for forty years because of rejecting God's plan, they murmured against God.

1. For this, God sent fiery serpents among them, and they were bitten and dying.

a. But god heard their cry for relief, and set forth a plan to save those bitten.

1) He informed Moses to make a serpent of brass, and set it up on a pole, and that those bitten could look on it and live, Num. 21:5-9.

2. Moses could have argued, "God can cure a snake bite with a mud poltice as well as a brass serpent!" Acts 28:3-5.

a. "In fact, I don't even see any need for a mud poltice, let alone a brass snake."

b. If Moses had thought and acted this way, what would have been the results?

c. We all know that they would have all died in the wilderness!

1) Yes, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!"

B. If those people had said, "God can save us without our looking on that snake."

1. They would hafe been dead right, but also right dead!

2. After God sets forth His plan of salvation, man cannot devise another plan that will work!

3. The plan given to Moses in the long ago to save those people physically from the fiery serpents, also is complared to our plan of eternal salvation today.

a. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." Jno. 3:14,15.

4. Once again, look at the pattern:

a. God's grace gave the message; trusting faith had to obey; and obedience to God's terms obtained the blessing!

b. As with Moses, so with Christ: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!"

IV. NOW NOTICE WHAT FAITH ACCOMPLISHED AT JERICHO.

A. When Israel came into the land of promise, they seemed to be stymied at the walled city of Jericho. Jos. 6: 2.

1. How could they take this walled city?

2. God gave them the plan.

a. He told them to march around the walls of the city each day one time a day for six days, and then on the seventh day march around it seven times.

1) The priests were to blow on their horns, and the people were to shout.

a) Surely you know the results of what happened.

b) The walls came tumbling down! But why?

3. They could have argued, "God can break down walls with an earthquake; or He can blow them down with a wind."

a. But , would God have done it?

4. It is true, that God could have delivered the city to them in many different ways.

a. But, once God had spoken, they would take the city by that means only!

b. So, we read: "By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days." Heb. 11:30.

1) Yes, it took faith: but it also took a lot of marching!

5. Once again, God's grace instructed, and trusting faith obeyed, and obedience obtained the reward!

a. They had to take God at His word: "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it!"

V. LOOK AT THE REACTION OF NAAMAN'S FAITH.

A. Naaman was a Syrian army captain, and an honorable man: but he was a leper.

1. He sought for a cure, and a maid in his house revealed that a prophet in Israel could heal him.

2. He first went to the king of Israel, but finally Elisha sent word to him to dip seven times in the Jordan, and he would be whole.

a. When told this, Naaman argued: "Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?"

b. But Naaman's servant showed him his lack of faith, and then he dipped seven times in Jordan and was healed.

c. Then, he reacted by saying: "Now I know there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel." 2 Kgs. 5:1-15.

3. After God's plan was once revealed by Elisha, there was no other means of cleansing!

a. Naaman had no other choice if he wanted to be healed of his leprosy.

b. He had to learn: "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it!"

4. Yes, man can argue that God could have cleansed Naaman with mud packs, the liver of a black cat killed in the dark of the moon, or some other concoction: but what had God said about the matter?

CONCLUSION:

1. Yes, Jesus requires obedient faith.

2. Notice His parting words: Mt. 28:19,20; Mk. 16:15,16.

By Jim Sasser

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