The error of Partial Obedience

Any so called pastor who would shrink back from declaring the whole counsel of God is a hireling and no true shepherd;

18And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,

19Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

20And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

21Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

23Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.

24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

25And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

26Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.

27For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

 

Is there really such a thing as "partial obedience"? Saul was totally disobedient to God. It's kind of like saying "he sort of lied". A partial truth is a total lie.

Obedience is obedience. It cannot be done partially.

 

Prov. 27:5 Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Its our duty to proclaim the whole counsel of God. If the members scoff at it, its best for the rest that they "up and leave". We have to proclaim the whole Word, and not just the verses that "tickle their ears".

Partial obedience is total disobedience as my dear Sissy Amy has already stated. Love you Sissy!!!

 

I know this the hard way through my partial obedience which has resulted in chastisement from the Lord. Please pray for me that I would get out of this. It's not a good feeling to disobey, whereas it's an amazingly joyous feeling when we do obey.

 

I recall that the first step to obedience is to obey and the first step to obey is to not have doubt in two immovable areas that the believer must understand.

1) God is to be honored in everything a person thinks, in the emotions of the gut, and the conduct of the life. He will have no less than supreme authority over all areas. ​

Do not mistake in thinking that this is automatic. It isn't, or Paul would not have spent so much letter writing to point the believers of the local assemblies to mature, to grow in wisdom and in experience, that the believers be totally equipped in serving and service for Christ.

Too often, the stunted growth is the result of poor preaching and teaching from immature people rather than from the daily exercise of the meditation of Scripture and growth plan of the Holy Spirit.

2) The first steps away from obedience are always brought from doubt. ​

This was the very evil that is found in Saul, and occurs first in Eve.

The father of all lies does not flat out tell lies, but distorts truth, and creates a sense that what sounds or seems right is right. It was that way in the garden and in the wilderness with Christ, and that which every believer must deal.

I am reminded of the saying, "If it is doubtful, don't do it." All the evil desires is summed up in the word doubt.

It is what compelled Saul and Eve and every example of disobedience in the Scriptures.

For example:
Remember the prophet who was told to go, tell, and return without staying?

What was it that caused him to be disobedient?

Doubt.

 

Talk about raising a thread from the dead