Submitting to God's commands out of love and reverence.
1. The Biblical Definition of Obedience
Biblical obedience is far more than outward compliance; it is a heart-response of love, faith, and submission to God’s revealed will.
Key Hebrew and Greek Terms
Hebrew: shāmaʿ (שָׁמַע)
Primary meaning: to hear, listen, pay attention, heed.
In Hebrew thought, to “hear” God is to obey Him. Hearing that does not result in obedience is considered incomplete.
Example: “Hear (shāmaʿ), O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one” (Deut 6:4). The call to “hear” implies a call to obey.
Greek: hypakoē (ὑπακοή)
Literally: to listen under, to submit to what is heard.
It combines the ideas of hearing and responding in submission.
Example: “Through whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience (hypakoē) to the faith among all nations” (Rom 1:5).
Greek: tēreō (τηρέω)
Meaning: to keep, guard, observe, attend to carefully.
Example: “If you love Me, keep (tēreō) My commandments” (John 14:15).
A Working Definition
Obedience is the loving, faith-filled submission of the whole person—heart, mind, and will—to God’s revealed Word and voice.
It is:
Rooted in love: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Expressed in faith: Obedience is the outward proof of inward faith (James 2:17–18).
Empowered by grace: “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:13).
Obedience is not legalistic rule-keeping to earn salvation; it is the fruit of salvation and the evidence of genuine relationship with God (1 John 2:3–4).
2. Old Testament Foundation of Obedience
From Genesis onward, obedience is central to covenant relationship with God.
a) The Pattern in the Garden
Adam and Eve (Gen 2–3):
God gave a clear command (Gen 2:16–17). Their disobedience brought sin, death, and the curse into the world (Rom 5:19).
The fall itself is a testimony that disobedience is not a small matter; it is rebellion against God’s authority.
b) Abraham – The Father of Obedient Faith
Abraham’s obedience is repeatedly highlighted:
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out…” (Heb 11:8).
God says: “Because you have obeyed My voice” (Gen 22:18).
His obedience was:
Prompt (he went out not knowing where he was going).
Costly (offering Isaac, Gen 22).
Faith-filled (he believed God could raise Isaac, Heb 11:19).
Abraham shows that covenant blessing is tied to obedient faith: “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice” (Gen 22:18).
c) The Law and Israel’s Covenant
In the Mosaic covenant, obedience is the condition for experiencing God’s covenant blessings:
Deuteronomy 28:
Blessings “if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deut 28:1–14).
Curses “if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deut 28:15–68).
Obedience here is:
Listening to God’s voice.
Keeping His commandments.
Walking in His ways (Deut 28:9).
d) The Prophets’ Cry: Obedience Above Sacrifice
God repeatedly rebuked Israel for religious activity without obedience:
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam 15:22).
Through Isaiah, God rejects empty ritual (Isa 1:11–17) and calls for obedience in justice, mercy, and holiness.
Jeremiah: “Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people” (Jer 7:23).
The prophets expose a key truth: God desires obedient hearts, not mere religious forms.
e) The Promise of a New Heart for Obedience
The Old Testament also anticipates a new kind of obedience:
“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezek 36:27).
“I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts” (Jer 31:33).
Here we see the promise of Spirit-empowered obedience—not external pressure, but internal transformation.
3. The Fulfillment of Obedience in Christ
Jesus is the perfect model and fulfillment of obedience.
a) Jesus’ Life of Total Obedience
His mission: “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work” (John 4:34).
His attitude: “I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me” (John 5:30).
His lifestyle: “I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29).
Jesus did not merely teach obedience; He embodied it perfectly.
b) Obedience unto Death
“And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:8).
Through His obedience, He undid Adam’s disobedience:
“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19).
The cross is the supreme act of obedience: submission to the Father’s will, even at the cost of suffering and death.
c) Jesus as the Pattern for Our Obedience
He calls disciples to the same path: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matt 16:24).
He links love and obedience:
“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me” (John 14:21).
“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” (John 15:10).
Jesus not only fulfilled obedience on our behalf; He invites us into His own obedience, sharing His life and power with us.
4. The Power for Today: Obedience in the Holy Spirit
This is crucial: New Testament obedience is Spirit-empowered, not flesh-driven. God does not call us to obey in our own strength; He gives us the Holy Spirit to enable obedience that pleases Him.
a) The New Covenant Dynamic
Under the New Covenant:
God writes His law on our hearts (Jer 31:33).
He puts His Spirit within us to “cause” us to walk in His statutes (Ezek 36:27).
This is fulfilled in:
The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2).
The indwelling Spirit in every believer (Rom 8:9–11).
Obedience is now the fruit of a Spirit-filled life, not mere human effort.
b) The Spirit as the Spirit of Holiness and Obedience
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of holiness (Rom 1:4).
“If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13).
Obedience involves supernatural power to say “no” to sin and “yes” to God.
“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal 5:16).
The battle for obedience is not won by willpower alone, but by yielding to the indwelling Spirit.
c) Obedience and Authority in the Spirit
In a continuationist, Spirit-filled life, obedience is directly connected to spiritual authority and power:
Authority flows through submission
The centurion understood this: “For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me…” (Matt 8:9).
Jesus marveled at his faith. His authority came because he was under authority.
Likewise, our authority in Christ is effective when we are truly under God’s authority in obedience.
Resisting the devil requires submission first
“Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Many try to resist the devil without first submitting to God. Obedience positions us for victory in spiritual warfare.
Obedience unlocks the manifestation of God’s power
The apostles obeyed Jesus’ command to wait for the Promise of the Father (Acts 1:4–5); as they obeyed, the Spirit came in power (Acts 2:1–4).
Peter obeyed the Spirit’s prompting to go to Cornelius’ house (Acts 10); as he preached, the Holy Spirit fell (Acts 10:44–46).
When we obey God’s voice—whether in Scripture or by the Spirit’s leading—we can expect God to confirm His Word with power (Mark 16:20).
d) The Spirit’s Voice and Daily Obedience
As continuationists, we affirm that the Spirit still speaks today, always in harmony with Scripture:
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Rom 8:14).
The Spirit may prompt you to:
Share the gospel with a specific person.
Pray for the sick and expect healing (Mark 16:17–18; James 5:14–15).
Give generously to someone in need.
Repent of a hidden sin or lay down a habit.
Each time you respond in obedience, you:
Strengthen your spiritual sensitivity.
Grow in faith.
Open the door for God’s power to move through you.
e) Obedience, Faith, and Miracles
Obedience and faith are inseparable:
Jesus often required a step of obedience before a miracle:
“Stretch out your hand” (Mark 3:5).
“Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (John 9:7).
“Fill the waterpots with water… Draw some out now” (John 2:7–8).
In each case, miracles followed obedience. The same principle applies today:
When you obey the Spirit’s prompting to pray for the sick, you position yourself to see healing.
When you obey God’s financial principles, you position yourself for His provision.
When you obey the call to forgive, you open your heart to His peace and deliverance.
Obedience is the bridge between God’s promise and your experience of His power.
5. Practical Application: Walking in Obedience Today
Here are five concrete steps to grow in biblical, Spirit-filled obedience.
1) Surrender Your Will Daily
Begin each day by consciously yielding your will to God:
Pray: “Not my will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Present your body “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Rom 12:1).
Verbally acknowledge Jesus as Lord over every area: time, money, relationships, ministry, habits.
This posture of surrender prepares your heart to obey when God speaks.
2) Anchor Yourself in the Written Word
You cannot obey what you do not know. The Holy Spirit primarily leads us through Scripture:
Read and meditate on the Word daily (Josh 1:8; Ps 1:2–3).
Ask the Spirit: “Show me where I am not aligned with Your Word.”
When Scripture confronts you—about unforgiveness, immorality, pride, or fear—respond quickly with repentance and obedience.
Make a habit of asking, whenever you read the Bible: “What must I obey from this passage today?”
3) Cultivate Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
Since the Spirit leads us into obedience, we must stay in close fellowship with Him:
Spend time in prayer, worship, and praying in the Spirit (Eph 6:18; Jude 20).
Pay attention to inner promptings, convictions, and checks.
Test all impressions by Scripture and godly counsel (1 Thess 5:19–21; 1 John 4:1).
When you sense a nudge to:
Encourage someone.
Confess a sin.
Give sacrificially.
Step out in faith to minister—
obey promptly. Delayed obedience often becomes disobedience.
4) Obey in the Small Things
God often trains us in “little” obediences before entrusting greater assignments:
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10).
Start with:
Keeping your word.
Honoring authorities (Rom 13:1–2).
Walking in integrity in finances and work.
Guarding your speech (Eph 4:29).
As you consistently obey in everyday matters, you become a vessel God can trust with greater authority and anointing.
5) Expect God’s Power as You Obey
Approach obedience with faith-filled expectation:
When you forgive, expect emotional and spiritual freedom.
When you tithe and give as led, expect God’s provision (Mal 3:10; 2 Cor 9:6–8).
When you lay hands on the sick in Jesus’ name, expect healing (Mark 16:18).
When you preach the gospel, expect conviction and salvation (Rom 1:16).
Pray: “Lord, as I obey You, confirm Your Word with signs following” (cf. Mark 16:20).
Obedience is not dead religion; it is a living partnership with the Holy Spirit.
6. Key Scriptures on Obedience (with Brief Commentary)
John 14:15 – “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
Love is the root; obedience is the fruit. True love for Jesus always expresses itself in obedience, not mere emotion or words.
1 Samuel 15:22 – “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams.”
God values a listening, obedient heart more than outward religious performance. Sacrifice without obedience is empty.
Deuteronomy 28:1–2 – “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God… all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you…”
Obedience positions us under the flow of God’s covenant blessings. While the New Covenant differs in form, the principle remains: obedience attracts blessing.
Romans 6:16 – “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey…?”
Obedience reveals your true master. You cannot serve sin and righteousness at the same time. Obedience to God leads to righteousness and life.
Philippians 2:8 – “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Jesus’ obedience is the pattern and power for ours. His humility and submission to the Father define what true obedience looks like.
Romans 8:13–14 – “If by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Obedience is a Spirit-led, Spirit-empowered process. Being led by the Spirit is not just about guidance; it is about holy living.
James 4:7 – “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Spiritual authority flows from submission. Obedience to God is the foundation for effective resistance against the enemy.
Final Encouragement
Obedience is not a heavy burden; it is the pathway into deeper intimacy with God, greater freedom from sin, and fuller manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s power in your life.
Ask the Lord now:
“Where are You calling me to obey today?”
“Holy Spirit, empower me to do Your will.”
As you respond with a willing, surrendered heart, you will discover that His commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3), and His grace is more than sufficient to enable joyful, Spirit-filled obedience.