As so often seems to happen, the recurrent theme in the fellowship over the past few days has been obedience and listening (responding in obedience) to the voice of the Lord when He speaks to us. And we’re certainly seeing how that plays out in our lives through the testimonies of our members lately; particularly as we witness the extreme and devastating cost and consequences of adultery in the lives of so many of our prodigal spouses, and even in the lives of some of our members. That’s what makes today’s SOF post so powerful; because it comes from one of our “prodigals turned stander”, who has experienced first hand the devastation caused by adultery and disobedience and who is now learning all about God’s never ending mercy and grace, and how faithful He is to ALWAYS turn things around for us when we turn from our sin and turn to HIS ways instead. And since there are so many standing for marriage restoration today who were the first to stray from their marriages, I know this will be a very encouraging post, especially when read along with Isaiah 55, which is my favorite passage of scripture about all that the Lord will do for us when we turn from our sinful ways and make a genuine commitment to DOING things HIS way! Thank you, Jenn, for sharing this powerful message with us and for the awesome word of your testimony, which we know the Lord has already used, and will continue to use, to defeat the wicked plans and schemes of the devil as he continues to do his wicked best to destroy more marriages and families in the future. I have no doubt that many will be blessed and encouraged through the message God has given you to share with us, and I know YOU and your family will be blessed beyond belief for your obedience and faithfulness!

As we seek to walk more obediently with the Lord, here are a few questions we should ask ourselves. Has God laid anyone on our hearts this week that needs prayer? Is the Holy Spirit asking us to reach out to that certain person this week? Is there a call from God that we keep questioning? Do we do what God has asked us to do, or do we tend to hesitate?

Galatians 5:16-17 states So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. So we need to learn to listen to and obey only the Holy Spirit’s instructions. He will tell us where to go and what to do, and then we won’t always be doing the wrong things our evil nature wants us to. For we naturally love to do evil things which are the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we desire to do when the Spirit has his way with us are the exact opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes and desires are never free from their pressures.

Obedience means following instructions or recognizing someone’s authority, and without obedience we will not learn or walk in the knowledge and wisdom of God. So we need to make sure we’re following the instruction manual God gave us, because Jeremiah 7:23 (KJV) says but this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you that it may be well unto me. God instructs us that we are to honor and obey our parents, but do we not remember that God is our Heavenly Father? Are we obeying him? If we don’t listen and do what he tells us, we have severe consequences, and Leviticus 26:14-43 explains in very clear terms the consequences when we don’t listen to God and obey Him.

I personally know about the repercussions of not obeying. I did not listen to God as a teenager, as a young adult, as a young mother, nor as a wife. And I’ve paid the price. Unfortunately, our family has paid the price too. But I have now learned the blessings that come with obeying. It’s not always easy, but I am submitting to God’s authority and his word does not lie. He WILL bless and protect us when we submit ourselves to Him in obedience to His Word. Deuteronomy 4:1 assures us of that, because it says Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. And Exodus 23:22 says If you listen carefully to what he says and do all that I say, I will be an enemy to your enemies and will oppose those who oppose you. Just look at Caleb… God blessed his family because Caleb obeyed and followed God. Numbers 14:24 says But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. And Joshua 14:13-14 says Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

God wants the same thing for each and every one of us, and 1 Samuel 15:22 even says that to obey is better than sacrifice.” And Isaiah 1:19 (KJV) says If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. And since we all want God’s blessings, we need to ask ourselves whether or not we’re willing to wholeheartedly obey Him.

Father, I want to thank you for being our almighty Heavenly Father. Thank you for correcting us when we need correcting and raising us up to be the children of God you have so carefully and thoughtfully planned for us to be. Father, I ask that you give us the willpower to be obedient to your word. Help us to walk in the fullness of your truth, allowing us to hear your words spoken to us loud and clear as we deny ourselves and say “not our will, but YOUR will be done.” Free us from stubborn habits and give us repentant hearts when we have disobeyed your commandments. Father, help lead us to your path of righteousness as you teach us your ways and your truth. Jesus, I ask these things in your precious name. AMEN and AMEN

Posted Thursday, April 12th, 2007 at 6:33 am in Seeds Of Faith.