Hello friend and welcome to Hope for Today. My name is J. Mark Horst; I’m your friend
and Bible teacher. The program you’re listening to is produced by Heralds of Hope, an
international Gospel radio and literature ministry. Each week the Bible teaching broadcasts of
Heralds of Hope circle the globe in English and 21 other major languages.
The Bible is the only source of lasting hope. It is God’s Holy Word. You know as well as
I do that we can’t rely on the words of men because men change. Think of all the unkept promises
people have made, maybe even specific promises to you personally. But God is unchanging, He
keeps His promises. His Word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The Psalmist, David, said
in Psalm 119:89, “Forever, O Lord, Your Word is settled in Heaven.” You and I can depend on
God’s Word.
Because God’s Word is unchanging and reliable, we share this teaching with many people
around the world in different languages. And we receive many testimonies of lives that have been
transformed by the power of the Gospel.
are available, but they are expensive. The average person can’t afford to buy one. We look
forward to expanding our Bible distribution ministry there.
Now in just a few moments, we’ll present today’s teaching, “Obedience Opens
Understanding.” But before we do, let’s pray. Gracious God our Heavenly Father, we bow in your
holy presence. We acknowledge You as the giver of every good gift. We worship you and praise
your name.
And now, Father, as Dr. Yoder comes to teach us from your Word, open my heart and the
heart of each person listening to receive what you have for us today. Help us to see how obedience
opens our understanding. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Now, here’s Dr. Yoder.
Obedience opens understanding. Many people have hesitated to believe because they were
not able to understand. They have the mistaken notion that they must understand everything before
they believe, when really it is the other way around. We believe and then we understand. All of us
have asked questions from our childhood. To us they were important questions. We probably have
some questions that are still unanswered.
One of the secrets to understanding spiritual truth is obedience. This is an important
principle. Obedience is closely related to belief. Some people think they must understand
everything before they can believe. Others think they must understand everything before they will
obey. But I want to point out to you that OBEDIENCE OPENS UNDERSTANDING.
This comes to the surface so well in the discourse of Jesus in John 7:14-24.:
14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught.
15 And the Jews marveled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?
16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or
whether I speak of myself.
18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that
sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye
about to kill me?
20 The people answered and said, Thou hast a devil: who goeth about to kill thee?
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel.
22 Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the
fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man.
23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not
be broken, are ye a...
