How can we fully obey God, avoiding partial obedience like in 2 Kings 14:4? The Problem Seen in 2 Kings 14:4 “Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense on the high places.” Amaziah did many things right, yet he left the high places standing. His story exposes the danger of obeying God in most areas while keeping a corner of life untouched. Why Partial Obedience Is Still Disobedience • 1 Samuel 15:22—“To obey is better than sacrifice.” Anything less than full obedience is rebellion in God’s eyes. • James 2:10—“Whoever keeps the whole law yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” One area of compromise taints the whole. • John 14:15—“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Love expresses itself in complete, not selective, obedience. Keys to Walking in Complete Obedience 1. Saturate your mind with God’s Word • Joshua 1:8—Meditate on it day and night. • Psalm 119:105—Scripture exposes hidden “high places” and lights the next step. 2. Submit to the Spirit’s conviction immediately • Galatians 5:16—Walk by the Spirit and you will not gratify the flesh. • Delayed obedience invites rationalization and dulls spiritual sensitivity. 3. Identify and tear down personal “high places” • Anything that rivals Christ’s lordship—comfort, reputation, entertainment, relationships, finances. • 2 Corinthians 10:5—“We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 4. Practice wholehearted repentance • Proverbs 28:13—“He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.” • Repentance is more than apology; it’s turning away and removing the occasion to sin. 5. Cultivate daily surrender • Luke 9:23—“Take up your cross daily and follow Me.” • Each day presents fresh choices; yesterday’s obedience does not cover today’s compromise. 6. Embrace accountability • Hebrews 3:13—“Encourage one another daily… so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” • Trusted believers help spot blind spots and cheer us toward faithfulness. 7. Depend on God’s enabling power • Philippians 2:13—“For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good pleasure.” • Full obedience isn’t self-generated; it’s Spirit-empowered cooperation. Practical Steps to Remove Modern High Places • Audit media intake—does anything dull hunger for God? • Review financial habits—do spending patterns honor the Lord first? • Examine relationships—are any leading you to compromise? • Check time allocation—does your schedule reflect kingdom priorities? • Surrender hidden attitudes—pride, bitterness, self-reliance, worry. Encouragement to Continue God delights in a heart that says, “Everything is Yours.” As you yield each area, He fills it with freedom and joy (John 15:10-11). Keep tearing down the high places; the reward is unhindered fellowship with the Lord and a life that fully glorifies Him. |
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