One day, I was on my knees praying at night when I felt the presence of God. As I prayed, two questions came to my mind, and I asked them to the Lord.
The first question was:
“Lord, in this world we need mentors — mighty men of God that we can take as examples in ministry.”
I did not expect to hear an answer immediately, but God spoke to me right there, in a voice in my spirit as clear as if a man were speaking inside me.
The Lord said to me:
“IMITATE CHRIST.”
Then He added:
“All the servants of Mine that you admire have their own mistakes — some of them big ones. Your problem is that you only see them when they are on the pulpit.”
After that, I asked my second question, which is what I want to share with you today:
“Lord, what do You want from us, Your children? What is the one big thing that You expect from us?”
I thought the Lord would say: “You need to pray more, preach My Word, give to the Kingdom, or have more faith.”
But the Lord said to me:
“The one thing I want from My children is OBEDIENCE.”
This answer shocked me because I was not expecting it. But through the light of the Word and the voice of the Holy Spirit, I understood the power of obedience. God knows that when someone is obedient, they will do everything else He asks.
Isaiah 1:19 (NIV)
“If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land.”
In the above verse, God promises His children that if we are willing and obedient, we will enjoy the blessings of the land.
The Bible also warns that disobedience is dangerous. One verse even compares disobedience to witchcraft:
1 Samuel 15:23 (ASV)
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
Rebellion means refusing to obey, and the Bible compares it to witchcraft. Obeying the voice and Word of God will save you from many troubles. Many people are suffering today because they did not obey God’s voice. Remember, obedience is better than sacrifice.
I am not saying that obedience will keep you from all trouble. Obeying God may cost you friends, or even bring rejection, but no matter what happens, if you obey God, you will come out victorious.
Do not obey men more than you obey God.
Acts 5:28-29 (NIV)
28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!”
Even the Lord Jesus Himself gave us the ultimate example of obedience — and there is always a reward for obedience:
Philippians 2:8-11 (NKJV)
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.
9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
God responded to the obedience of our Lord Jesus by giving Him the name above all names. If our heavenly Father responded positively to the obedience of Jesus, He will also respond to the obedience of any of His children.
God bless you.
Pastor Jules
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