WEEK 6: The Loyalty Requirement

TODAY’S BIG IDEA: God’s Word consistently presents tangible loyal obedience as a requirement for answered prayer…

…BEFORE the time of Jesus’ physical earthly ministry

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. (See Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 8:2; Galatians 6:2; James 1:25)—Proverbs 28:9

…DURING the time of Jesus’ physical earthly ministry

If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. (See Luke 6:46; John 14:15)—John 15:7–10

…AFTER the time of Jesus’ physical earthly ministry

For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; 11 let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” (See James 5:16)—1 Peter 3:10–12

Will God simply overlook sin if I’m praying in alignment with the mission for which He’s called me?

So about three thousand from the people went up there, and they fled before the men of Ai. 5 The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, and they chased them from the gate up to Shebarim and killed them on the slope. And the hearts of the people melted and became like water. 6 And Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the ground on his face before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Ah, my Lord! Why did you bring this people across the Jordan to give us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content and stayed beyond the Jordan. 8 Please, my Lord! What can I say after Israel has fled from its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of this, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the land. What will you do, for your great name?” 10 And Yahweh said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face? 11 Israel has sinned and transgressed my covenant that I commanded them. They have taken from the devoted things; they have stolen and acted deceitfully, and they have put them among their belongings. 12 The Israelites were unable to stand before their enemies; they fled from their enemies because they have become a thing devoted for destruction. I will be with you no more unless you destroy the devoted things from among you. —Joshua 7:4–12

Backstory: God loves you too much to let you get wrecked by sin

You shall burn the images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, and so you take it for yourself, so that you are not ensnared by it, for it is a detestable thing to Yahweh your God. 26 And you must not bring a detestable thing into your house, or you will become a thing devoted to destruction like it; you must utterly detest it, and you must utterly abhor it, for it is an object devoted to destruction. —Deuteronomy 7:25–26

When people pursue trusting loyal obedience by their own willpower, the result is almost always failure followed by guilt, shame, and burden. God hasn’t designed you to do this by your own willpower; He gives us His Spirit as a Helper

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. —John 16:7–11

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. (See Ezekiel 36:26-27) —Romans 8:13–14

In addition to providing forgiveness, Jesus’ death made a way for us to kill the sin that is killing us and those around us. This also is an act of love.

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. —1 Peter 2:24–25