Obedience Leads to Life

"They refused to keep my decrees and follow my regulations, even though obedience would have given them life." -Ezekiel 20:11 NLT
 
A lot of the time we wonder how following God will turn out. We wonder why we should live by Christian principles, or why God told Adam and Eve not to eat the apple. "Why not?" we wonder. "What's so bad about 'A' or 'B'? we might ask. 

Additionally, sometimes God asks us to step out and do some scary things. We might fear the outcome of following God's leading. What will people think? What will happen? He does not call us to be foolish - but sometimes He calls us to step outside our comfort zone so that more of His kingdom might be present on earth. He calls us to walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7.) 

Once I was in prayer with a group of intercessors when I was 19 years old. One of them said, "You're going to go to a school to learn about God." I thought I was already learning so much about God, but I decided to try and follow God's leading. So I began to look for schools to learn more about God. 

As I searched online, I found a school that taught worship leading, and I was really interested in that! After attending the part-time program, I went full-time for two more years. As a result, I experienced much growth, joy, fulfillment, new relationships and most of all new life as a part of following God's leading. 

We don't need to be afraid of what God calls us to do. His way always leads to more life, and we will grow as a result of following Him. 

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." -John 10:10

100% Faith

"When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice."  -Genesis 22: 9 & 10

I can't imagine how Abraham must have felt after God told him to sacrifice his son.  I mean, what kind of God is this?  God’s people didn’t traditionally offer up their children as sacrifices - the pagan people did that.  Nevertheless, this is what Abraham was instructed to do, and he heeded the instruction.

We never see Abraham flinch as he is going up the mountain with Isaac.  There is no account of him stopping along the way, crying out to God, or questioning his faith.  There is no record of an emotional breakdown, a furrowed face; even a tear.  But, we do know that Abraham was counted righteous because of his faith. (Romans 4:3) It only appears that he had unwavering faith that day, faith that God was good and that He would indeed provide.

Abraham, in spite of getting to the 11:59th hour, stood firm.  The lamb was not provided at the base of the mountain.  Nor was it provided halfway up the mountain.  It was not even provided as Abraham was building the altar.  No, the lamb was provided as Abraham picked up the knife.  This speaks a great deal about TOTAL - not partial or limited - faith.  Abraham didn’t hold anything back.

Then the angel spoke. "Don’t lay a hand on the boy!" the angel said. "Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son." v.12

What could God do with faith like that?  Do you have 100% faith? 

Wholehearted Faith

"I was forty years old when Moses, the servant of the Lord, sent me from Kadesh-barnea to explore the land of Canaan. I returned and gave an honest report, but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God." -Joshua 14:7-8
 
Caleb was a scout for the tribe of Israel.  He went into the land God had promised Israel with 11 other scouts to see what was there.  Caleb was the only one who came back with a positive report, in spite of the obstacles they saw.  He trusted in God, and if God said He was going to deliver the land to the Israelites, well, he believed Him! 

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. "Let's go at once to take the land," he said. "We can certainly conquer it!" -Numbers 13:30 

The trouble was, he had a hard time convincing the people, and the other 10 scouts who saw things differently.  "But the other men who had explored the land with him disagreed. 'We can't go up against them! They are stronger than we are!'"  (Numbers 13:31) The people talked about stoning Caleb and also Joshua, who agreed with Caleb.  Because the Israelites did not trust God, they could not go into the promised land for another 40 years, so the generation that did not believe could die out. But, after those 40 years, Joshua and Caleb were allowed to go with the younger generation, and God blessed Caleb for his wholehearted faith in God by giving him land. (Numbers 14:13& 14) 

Would you say you are wholeheartedly seeking and serving God?  If you haven't been, pray to Him and ask for forgiveness, and tell Him that you are willing to serve him with your whole heart.  We don't have to be afraid to serve God wholeheartedly - He has the best in store for us, and he will reward us for our obedience. 

Are you serving God wholeheartedly today?

God Is Picky

 

"At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him."  -Exodus 4:24

There is a random verse in Exodus as Moses is on his way to Egypt to free the Israelites from slavery that is quite surprising.  Moses and his wife Zipporah are staying at at lodging place.  It says in Exodus 4:24 that God met Moses, and was about to kill him for not circumcising his son. 

"At a lodging place on the way, the LORD met Moses and was about to kill him. But Zipporah took a flint knife, cut off her son’s foreskin and touched Moses’ feet with it. “Surely you are a bridegroom of blood to me,” she said. So the LORD let him alone. (At that time she said “bridegroom of blood,” referring to circumcision.)" -Exodus 4:24-26

Now, this is after Moses was rescued as a child from the Nile River and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, being spared from death then.  This is after he killed a man who was torturing another Hebrew and was banished from Egypt, but saved from death himself.  And, this is after he spent 40 years in the wilderness being a shepherd, and after God called him from the burning bush and told him to free the Israelites.  This is even after Moses turned down the offer and God told him his brother Aaron would help him.  God still wanted him to do it.  But here, now, God is ready to kill him.  Say what??

Circumcision was a basic for a Hebrew.  It was a sign of the covenant between the Israelites and God.  What does this mean for us?  Often if we don't get down the basics, God can't use us for His purposes.  If we fail to love others, if we fail to respect authority, if we fail to see the value in promises, if we fail to see the value in worship and sacrifice - all of these things can discredit us from being used by God.  This doesn't mean He can't, through His Son redeem our lives as we seek forgiveness.  It does mean, however, that God won't settle.  He desires that we submit to His will for our lives.  But often it takes the closest ones around us who  know us well to help us in this journey, like Moses' wife Zipporah helped him.

Is there anything you feel could disqualify you from what God has called you to?  Often it takes someone else to help us see perspective in the areas where we lack.  Ask God to bring those trustworthy people around you to help you in your journey.  God desires that we have success in Him!

Provision Follows Obedience

"The man became rich, and his wealth continued to grow until he became very wealthy." -Genesis 26:13

 

During the time that Isaac (the son of Abraham) lived in the Old Testament, there was a famine. Isaac decided to go to the king of the Philistines for help. 

God spoke to Isaac and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while, and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham." -Genesis 26:2 & 3

So Isaac did what God said. And he was blessed. So blessed, in fact, that the king of the Philistines told them to move away! "Then Abimelek said to Isaac, 'Move away from us; you have become too powerful for us.'" v.16 

There was a man close to our ministry who felt God calling him to create movies in Hollywood. He had the gift, the talent, and a passion for the craft and a passion for God. However, many months went by as he lived in Hollywood making many connections, but not receiving any work. He struggled to provide for himself and his family, and many times he considered moving back home. 

However, one day an investor called him wanting to speak with him about funding all of his projects. What an answer to prayer! Although it had been confirmed to him through other believers that he was supposed to be there, he needed the financial provision in order to make his dream a reality. 

Are you awaiting provision from God? Sometimes, we need to make the first move toward God's leading. Provision follows obedience.

Crazy for God

"Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful." -1 Corinthians 1:27

Have you ever felt God tell you to do something unusual? Have you ever heard God speak on something that would happen, but what was spoken has not yet materialized? This somewhat uncomfortable situation happened to many leaders in the Bible; such as Joseph, Abraham, Noah, Joshua, Gideon, and Jesus.

Abraham and Sarah were promised a son- but were very old. Sarah was so old, she even laughed at the idea! (Genesis 18:12) Joseph was thrown into a pit after his dream, long before his dream would ever come to fruition. Joshua walked around Jerico 7 times...I'm sure the sixth time his men wondered what in the world was wrong with him, and Jesus couldn't do miracles in His hometown because there wasn't any faith. (Mark 6:1-6) Gideon had an identity crisis. "How can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest, and I am the least!" (Judges 6:15) And when Noah was instructed to build an ark because "a storm was coming that would wipe out the entire earth" (Gen 6:13) we can only imagine what his neighbors must've thought.

Often times there is a big chasm between our reality and the things we are believing God for, but it doesn't mean we should waiver in our belief that it can and will happen. The reality is, if we cling to God, the dreams and the purpose He's given us will materialize, just as they did for Abraham, Joseph, Joshua, Noah, Gideon and Jesus.

Is there a big chasm between your reality and what you're believing God for? Keep believing for His promises to come true. God can work when we work out of obedience and believe.