When we obey the Lord, many people such as our children, family, spouses, friends, relatives, strangers, and even our enemies can be blessed. When we obey the voice of the Lord, people around us and those we may not even know may be blessed down through the generations.
However, if we do not obey, then the consequences are the opposite. What is the opposite of blessings? The opposite are curses. It is not a small thing to disobey. It is not a small thing to compromise. We will be tested many times.
There may be times in which we may have repented quickly but we may have to face the consequences of disobedience or compromise. There may be some discipline for a season.
Deuteronomy 5:9-10 (AMP) You shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,10And showing mercy and steadfast love to thousands and to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Many Christians are like King Saul and are in denial. Many Christians believe they are or have obeyed God but they have NOT FULLY OBEYED as required. Many Christians just as King Saul feared MEN and have disobeyed or compromised. We must learn to fear God more than men. Unlike our secular education, getting a C grade with God in obedience is a failure. Getting a B in obedience is failure. We must FULLY FOLLOW and FULLY OBEY even at the cost of our embarrassment or humiliation. We must fully obey even if it cost us our friends, family, or lives.
1 Samuel 15:17-24 (AMP) Samuel said, When you were small in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel?18And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites; and fight against them until they are consumed.19Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but swooped down upon the plunder and did evil in the Lord's sight?20Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.21But the people took from the spoil sheep and oxen, the chief of the things to be utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal.22Samuel said, Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim (household good luck images). Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.24And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
Saul was commanded to destroy all the Amalekites and when confronted by Samuel, he actually said in verse 20 that he did obey the voice of the Lord. However, he had kept the Amalek king alive and also plundered the best sheep and oxen. In verse 23, Saul's disobedience or in other words, not fully obeying God was actually a rejection to the word of the Lord. In verse 24, he admitted that he had feared people and obeyed their voices.
There are many voices in our lives. It is not a good thing to go hear out many voices to determine the Will of God for your life. God has set certain people over your lives to learn from. He also has the Holy Spirit in you to teach you. We need to go to prayer instead of the phone or text. However, people continue to seek numerous people out to get their own answer. They seek people to give them the comfort and assurance that their decision will be fine. Even though God's answer may have been given and difficult to accept, they put blinders on and seek the answer they desire.
Do not be deceived brethren. Do not continue to walk in a endless circle going no where because of your stubbornness. Perhaps, it is time to repent. Repent asking the Holy Spirit to search your heart. You may have to finish the difficult season because of your disobedience or choice but at least you can now face the proper direction which will be the Will of God and not your will.
We are to be growing in His Grace moving from Glory to Glory and not from problem to problem. If we have hit a road block, then it is time to get on our knees spending time with HIM to search our hearts. We must live a life in the spirit of repentance so that He may continue to cleanse us. I speak a spirit of repentance over you dear brethren.
1 John 3:24 (AMP) All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [[a]They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in us: by the [Holy] Spirit Whom He has given us.
What are you willing to pay to be restored to HIM? What are you willing to pay? All He requires is your heart and time yet many of His people will not even give HIM that. Is time too expensive for some of us?
Joel 2:12 (AMP) Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored].
Fire of God
Steve Yong Kim
March 19, 2012
No comments:
Post a Comment