What we’re looking at here is the responsibility that we all have; he said here in 1 Timothy, that there be allowed no other doctrine.  But if people would stand firm on some of these questions and applications, then we were to put them back under the law because the law was for the lawless and then he says, look, he continues on, and what?  “The law is for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy, profane, murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, manslayers, whoremongers, those that defile themselves with mankind, men stealers, liars, perjurers,” look at these lists as it goes on, “and anything that be contrary to sound doctrine.”  Oh, how important sound doctrine is, that we might obey it; amen?  Sound doctrine is not for a Bible-study class; sound doctrine is for holy living.  We’re not talking about knowledge, we’re talking about purity and holiness, deliverance.  “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord… and I will receive you.”  Obedience is what separates us from the world.  There’s the disobedient, who are going to know the wrath of God and the judgement of God.  Who He takes those who know the Word and disobey it and places them right in this same list of unholy, profane, murderers.

So, we can’t do a little part of the law.  We can’t be a little obedient.  It’s like you’re either pregnant or not pregnant, you can’t be almost pregnant.  You can’t be obedient and only have a few things you’re not obeying.  And the mandate goes on and says if we’re guilty of one as it pertains to the law, then we’re guilty of all of it.  Obedience, we all know the story, obedience is better than sacrifice.  “I’ve obeyed.”  “Then what’s that bleating of sheep in my ears?”  Now, he may have been so deluded at that time that he was speaking that thinking he had obeyed rather than an overt lie.  But deception, deception is just as damning as rebellion.  One knows what they’re doing, the other one doesn’t. They’re both just as damnable in God’s eyes, when we see overt disobedience.

So, as we’re dealing with our children, we can’t allow them to be just a little disobedient. They have to be called on it every time; amen?  Do you think the Holy Ghost goes, “No, let this one slide.  I mean they’ve already been disciplined ten times today; we’ll just let this one slide.”  God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  Because whenever we find our children in disobedience, out of line, wherever it might be, let’s remember what’s taking place at this moment.  We are either making provision for them as they continue to become more rebellious, more self-willed, or we drive foolishness far from them; amen?  Now if that’s the way God admonishes us to deal with our children, how do you think He deals with us?  Same way.  The rod and reproof.  It may come many different ways.  It may come through the Word of God in bringing revelation and conviction to our hearts.  It could be another way.

You know, the Lord can lay you up in the hospital for a week if He wants to talk to you and you’re too busy.  But one thing is, the Lord will chasten those that He loves; amen?  So, see many times, and we’re talking about obedience is the subject, in areas that we’re not directly, swiftly obedient, God will bring this to our awareness and can use many different methods.  Some of us are unable to hear clearly because we’ve taken things, we’ve categorized sin, “This is no big deal, I’ve done this for years, it’s not really that harmful.”  If it’s contrary to the commandments of God, it is harmful because sin when it is finished, brings forth death; amen?