OBEDIENCE
“Quality of Life Series”
10/12/06
LEADER: Roger Staubach who led the Dallas Cowboys to the World Championship in '71 admitted that his position as a quarterback who didn't call his own signals was a source of trial for him. Coach Landry sent in every play. He told Roger when to pass, when to run and only in emergency situations could he change the play (and he had better be right!). Even though Roger considered coach Landry to have a "genius mind" when it came to football strategy, pride said that he should be able to run his own team.
Roger later said, "I faced up to the issue of obedience. Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory."
FROM: http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
Would you like harmony, fulfillment and victory in your life?
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Who Do You Work For?”
John Kenneth Galbraith, A Life in Our Times, Houghton Mifflin, Reader's Digest, 12/81
http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's housekeeper:
It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House.
"Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson."
"He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him."
"Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him."
"No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you. When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Dirty Room”
Contributed by Jan King, Humor in Uniform, Readers Digest, May, 1996, p. 174.
http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
A friend often told me about the problems he had getting his son to clean his room. The son would always agree to tidy up, but then wouldn’t follow through. After high school the young man joined the Marine Corps. When he came home for leave after basic training, his father asked him what he had learned in the service.
“Dad,” he said. “I learned what ‘now’ means.”
HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #1
http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
“Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.”
Thomas a Kampis 14th Century Dutch Monk
HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #2
Quoted in Our Daily Bread, March 4, 1993
http://www.bible.org/illus.php?topic_id=982
“One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.”
Oswald Chambers 1974-1917 Author “My Utmost For His Highest”
LEADER: Have you ever felt like the Lord was telling you to do something, and you weren’t sure whether to do it or not? Do you question it?
Do you pray about it?
Do you act on it?
Here are some stories, though a little long, are compelling examples of being obedient to God speaking to us through the Holy Spirit:
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Journal” #1
By Todd Garrison, Helena, MT, October 6, 2001
http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon5/journal.htm
While running the trails in the mountains of
Montana today, I ran into someone… it was God.
The weather is starting to turn now. Fall is in the air, the leaves are hitting
the ground, and the snow will soon be here. I decided I’d better mow the yard
one more time. We have a rather large yard, both front and back, so by the time
it’s all done, I’m a little tired. I really didn’t want to go running, but for
some reason, I had to…. Didn’t want to, but had to. So, I got a bottle of water,
a fresh towel, my headphones, and my Mp3 player. I always run with music… it
takes my mind of my labored breathing. Today, I loaded some Christian rock into
the player. Fast, upbeat music to keep me going.
The trail I run starts right out with a hill. I get to the crest of that first
hill and stop… not because I’m tired, but because the crest overlooks my small
town of Helena. It’s a really pretty site. I’m thankful to have a place like
this to run in. No more smog, traffic, or the concrete valleys of the L.A. area
where I came from. I took in the sights for a moment, and continued my run.
The trail goes pretty far back into the mountains, testing me with switchbacks
in the first half of the run. I soon come out into the beautiful meadow that’s
filled with purple and yellow wild flowers during the spring. Not so today, as
it’s now the Fall season. But nevertheless, it is beautiful and serene. At the
top of the meadow I pause for a drink of water and a brief chat with the Creator
of all this beauty. It may only be 58 degrees, but I’m pretty heated up from
those switchbacks.
On the backside of the trail, the running gets a little easier. I almost never
see anyone on the trail, but for some reason, a question came into my head,
“What will you say to someone if you cross paths?” I don’t know why I asked
that, but I did. Then, came an answer. It wasn’t like I was answering myself,
though. In fact, it was as if the answer was “planted” in my mind. Oh well, here
comes another hill. I pushed the headphones into my ears a little deeper so I
could really get the great sound of one of my favorite Rich Mullins songs.
On the downside of that hill I saw two dogs. They were sniffing the trail as if
they were sent ahead by someone as scouts. Understand, I’m not afraid of dogs.
In fact, we’ve got two dogs ourselves, but when you’re running in the woods and
you encounter dogs, you never really know what to expect. As I got closer to
them, they both moved off the trail, giving me just enough room to pass by.
Running past them, I kept a close eye. They just stood there like statues, one
in the pointing position… like a hunting dog. Yikes!
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Journal” #2
By Todd Garrison, Helena, MT, October 6, 2001
http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon5/journal.htm
Whew! Made it. Around the next turn, I saw a
woman up ahead, hiking the trail. Apparently, the scouts belonged to her. Not
wanting to lose my rhythm, I ran past her as she stepped aside. “Hi,” I said,
and she said something back. I couldn’t hear her because Rich Mullins was
cranking in my ears. I’m certain she could hear me, though. You know how when
someone has headphones on listening to rock music, and they talk to you? It’s
like they almost scream because the music is so loud in their head… that was
probably me.
Anyway, I had a trail to run, so I kept on going. That’s when it hit me. Maybe
she was the person I was suppose to give that message to… you know, the message
that was planted in my mind just a few minutes before. I don’t know. Maybe she
wasn’t. Besides, I’m not that kind of guy… to just give a message to someone I
don’t even know. I’m not that kind of Christian. Those kinds of Christians
always make me nervous. They seem so…. I don’t know… holy-roller, ya know?
Anyway, she’s gone, and I’m still in my rhythm.
I finally got to the end of the trail where it comes out onto Davis Gulch, a
dirt road that leads back into town. This isn’t my favorite part of the run
because it’s a dirt road. I like running the trails through the pine trees and
grassy meadows. But still, it’s very peaceful here. At least about half way back
to town there’s another trail to run for a about mile.
As I’m running, the thought of that message is still bothering me. All I could
think was if I was suppose to give that woman a message that I knew was straight
from… well, not from me, anyway. So I told God that if that was the person, and
if he still wants me to give her the message, then please put her across my path
again.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Journal” #3
By Todd Garrison, Helena, MT, October 6, 2001
http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon5/journal.htm
I knew I was pretty safe in asking that because
the trail she was hiking leads back to where I started my run, which is not even
close to Davis Gulch. Even so, I couldn’t help but glance up the hill to my left
once in awhile, just to see if I could spot her on the trail. Nah. Didn’t see
her. By now, a great song from Jars of Clay was cranking in my ears, and I was
totally into the tune. And then, out of the corner of my eye, there she was,
still hiking the trail above. I kept running.
As I traveled the dirt road, I kept watching her. Hmmm, I never knew part of the
trail came down toward Davis Gulch.
Look at that! She’s hiking her way right down to the road. I stopped running,
and drank some water. Okay, God, I can’t deny this thing any more. I’ll do it,
but please help me.
Swallowing a gulp, I continued to run. First,
the two dogs crossed the road, then she crossed… right onto the trail I always
take on the way back home. Boy, God doesn’t miss a trick, does he? I caught up
to her, turned off my music player, unplugged my headphones, and said, “Excuse
me. Can I tell you a story?” She stopped and turned around with a combined look
of nervousness and confusion. I think my question caused the confusion. I mean,
how often do you encounter someone while hiking, who asks if they can tell you a
story?
“This is probably going to sound weird to you,” I said, “It’s pretty weird to
me.” I walked up to her and told her, “As I was running through the woods, I got
this compelling message to tell someone on the trail that no matter what you’re
worried about today, don’t worry…. God’s going to handle it. I saw you on the
trail earlier and didn’t tell you. I just kept running.”
She didn’t run away screaming or turn her dogs on me, so I continued, “I never
do this kind of thing.” And I wasn’t kidding. This is so not like me.
Her eyes locked onto mine. I continued, “Once I got to the road it kept
bothering me. So, I said, ‘God, if she’s the person I’m suppose to give this
message to, then please make our paths cross again.’ And here you are.”
She looked deep into my eyes, paused thoughtfully, and said, “Thank you so much.
I needed to hear that.”
I plugged the headphones back into my ears, and said, “That’s it.” Then I turned
on my music player, and kept running.
As I ran down the trail, all I could think of was how blessed I was to be part
of God’s personal work. Truthfully, I’m not so sure that this message was
exclusively for that woman… certainly the blessing of it was for both of us.
Today was a good day…. Thank you, Lord.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Hairbrush Experience: #1
Beth Moore at the Airport”
Received via e-mail
April 20, 2005, at the Airport in
Knoxville, waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible on my lap and was very
intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous morning with the Lord. I say
this because I want to tell you it is a scary thing to have the Spirit of God
really working in you. You could end up doing some things you never would have
done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be dangerous for a thousand reasons not
the least of which is your ego. I tried to keep from staring, but he was
such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones,
dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds
heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like
the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of
veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy
gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His
fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.
I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I
tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd
just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So
this man in the airport...an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere?
There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned
about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me.
All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for
him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern,
and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.
I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've
learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my
natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be
embarrassing. I immediately began to resist because Icould feel God working on
my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please,
no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into
heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now.
Please. I'll do anything. Put me on
the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front
of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!"
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Hairbrush Experience: #2
Beth Moore at the Airport”
Received via e-mail
There I sat in the blue vinyl
chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to this man. Not
now. I'll do it on the plane." Then I heard it... "I don't want you to witness
to him. I want you to brush his hair." The words were so clear, my heart leapt
into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to the man or
brush his hair? No-brainer. I looked straight back up at the ceiling and said,
"God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to witness to this
man. I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a woman witness to a
man
faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he
is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man."
Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this
statement across the wall of my mind. "That is not what I said, Beth. I don't
want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair."
I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase
on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?" God
was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these
thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will thoroughly furnish you unto all
good works." (2 Timothy 3:17) I stumbled over to the
wheelchair thinking I could use one myself.
Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same
butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as
possible, "Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"
He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?" "May I have the pleasure of
brushing your hair?" To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you
expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that." At this
point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF
BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?" At which point every eye in the place darted right at me.
I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Longlocks.
Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me
with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to."
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Hairbrush Experience: #3
Beth Moore at the Airport”
Received via e-mail
Are you kidding? Of course I
didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my personal preference right
about then. He pressed on my heart until I could utter the words, "Yes, sir, I
would be pleased. But I have one little problem. I don't have a hairbrush."
"I have one in my bag," he responded. I went around to the back of that
wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and unzipped the stranger's old
carry-on,
hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old
man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do
many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted
hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in
such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands,
remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I
started brushing that old man's hair.
Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those
moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until
every tangle was out of that hair.
I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's. I slipped the brush back in the bag, went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees, and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?" He said, "Yes, I do." Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride."
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Hairbrush Experience: #4
Beth Moore at the Airport”
Received via e-mail
Only God knows how often He allows
us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely unaware of the
significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare encounters when I
knew God had intervened in details only He could have known.
It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we
were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and
would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft. I still had
a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess
returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That
old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do
that?"
I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!" And we got to
share.
I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted because
you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on, but
you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling
rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or
He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual.
Tell Him your need!
I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities
just like that one had I missed along the way...all because I didn't want people
to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old
man to me.
John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We
have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth." Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather,
to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly
shouting, "Wow! What a ride! Thank You, Lord!"
Be Blessed! Beth Moore
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “God’s Soft Promptings”
By Gail LaForce - Sanguine/Encourager, speaker, teacher, writer
http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon10/god_soft_promptings.htm
Tonight as I drove home from taking some cake to
a friend in the hospital, I felt a sudden leading to take a piece of caramel
cake and some home brewed raspberry tea to my pastor. As I drove into my
driveway, I could think of at least 5 good reasons why I shouldn't do that --
and suddenly the music on my tape player sang -- "and God's soft promptings can
be easily ignored." You can bet I had that cake delivered within 5 minutes!
It reminds me of a time when those soft promptings prepared me for a blessing I
might otherwise have missed.
Several years ago, my church in Augusta, Georgia, was invited to present the
world premiere of a new Christmas Musical. There was a part for the mother of
Mary - both speaking and singing. I felt led to tryout, but never heard any
response.
I continued to attend choir practice, but the music minister never announced the
solo parts. Weekly I watched to see which alto had been chosen -- but there was
nary a peep out of anyone.
About 5 weeks before the performance, God prompted me to learn the solo and
speaking part. I couldn't believe He was asking me to do that, but assumed that
perhaps the soloist would get sick at the last minute and I would have to take
their place. I got busy and learned everything.
A week later, I sensed another of those soft promptings. This time I felt led to
make a costume. I could believe that was necessary, if I were going to jump in
at the last minute. However, the situation was becoming increasingly more
challenging. Only the cast wore costumes. I figured I'd look mighty silly
getting on the bus with my costume, when I was just a member of the chorus! Not
long after I finished the costume, I got a call from the choir director. He
related that prior to going on vacation, he had forgotten to call me.
However, he did want me to take the part of Mary's Mother - and did I think I
could have that ready in such a short time? The truth is -- no, I couldn't have
it ready in a short time. But a loving God had begun my preparation weeks
before, with His soft promptings.
In my life, obedience to God has always opened the front door to some sort of
blessing!
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “The Bible Reference”
From: Deepening Your Conversation With God by Ben Patterson
http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon6/bible_reference.htm
Another discipline is to take some minor risks in prayer-to respond to nudges of the Holy Spirit. Most of us have felt moved from time to time in prayer to make a telephone call or write a note to someone. For years I regarded those thoughts as distractions. Now I see them as possible nudges from the Lord to do something he wants done. I have often been amazed and delighted at what happens when I follow those promptings. I have often been the beneficiary of those who did.
One spring day in 1993, I was so discouraged I didn't know how I could go on with my work. I prayed with my wife over my anguish and went outside for a long walk, hoping that the physical activity would renew my spirits. It didn't. I walked back into the house and heard the telephone ringing; the last thing I wanted to do was pick up the telephone. I usually screen my calls by listening to the voice on the other end of the line coming through the answering machine. The voice was that of a woman who was new to the church. She was apologizing for calling at home, but felt there was something I needed to know. Against my normal impulses, I picked up the telephone. She apologized again and said, "I hope you don't think I'm crazy, but as I was praying this morning you came to mind, along with a Bible reference I did not know. I looked it up and have no idea if it would mean anything to you, but I felt that somehow I would be disobedient to God if I didn't give it to you."
She apologized again and then gave me the passage. It was Hebrews 10:35-39. She apologized once more, said good-bye, and hung up. The passage read:
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Need I say that those words were meaningful to me? I have since had them written in calligraphy and framed as a memorial to God's faithfulness to speak when I needed a word from him and to a woman's faithfulness to risk in obedience to God, to act on a nudge. Sometimes I wonder in frustration why God doesn't speak to me. Does God wonder in frustration why it is that he has spoken, and I haven't listened-because I have been too busy or rationalistic or timid to obey?
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Arguments or Obedience”
By Oswald Chambers – My Utmost For His Highest 9/14/06
http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php?day=14&month=09
. . . the simplicity that is in Christ —2 Corinthians 11:3
Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly. A saint does not think clearly until a long time passes, but a saint ought to see clearly without any difficulty. You cannot think through spiritual confusion to make things clear; to make things clear, you must obey. In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will only think yourself into further wandering thoughts and more confusion. If there is something in your life upon which God has put His pressure, then obey Him in that matter. Bring all your "arguments and . . . every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" regarding the matter, and everything will become as clear as daylight to you ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 ). Your reasoning capacity will come later, but reasoning is not how we see. We see like children, and when we try to be wise we see nothing (see Matthew 11:25 ).
Even the very smallest thing that we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is completely sufficient to account for spiritual confusion, and spending all of our time thinking about it will still never make it clear. Spiritual confusion can only be conquered through obedience. As soon as we obey, we have discernment. This is humiliating, because when we are confused we know that the reason lies in the state of our mind. But when our natural power of sight is devoted and submitted in obedience to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the very power by which we perceive God’s will, and our entire life is kept in simplicity.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “First Duty”
http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but it’s Master”.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #3
Today In The Word, November, 1989, p.11.
http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
Dr. B.J. Miller, minister, once said, "It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it."
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “F-16” By Pastor Mike Wagner
http://www.bible.org/illus.php?topic_id=982
An F16 fighter jet is an amazing aircraft with incredible capabilities. But there is one thing that a jet pilot requires above all else. That the aircraft reacts completely to his control. If it were to have "a mind of its own" regardless of how remarkable that might sound, it would end up doing as much flying as a door stop. In the same vein, even if we had all the gifting under the sun, God as the ultimate "pilot" of our lives, will only do amazing and remarkable things with our lives if we are fully under his control. If we insist upon taking our lives into our own hands at every opportunity we will find ourselves as effective as a preverbal door stop, and a less gifted by more humble man or woman will be used in our stead. Obedience is the golden key to a life of joy and excellence.
LEADER: “Obedience and Blessing” #1 By Jim Twamley
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=56545
Do you want things to go well in your life?
Do you want a life that is happy, satisfied and full of joy?
Would you like to never ever again get a traffic ticket?
Do you want your needs to be met?
Do you want your prayers to be heard and answered?
Do you want your lost family members to find salvation?
Do you want your rest from the burdens of life?
Do you want freedom from the demons that haunt you?
Do you want peace and tranquility?
Do you want to have the life God intended for you to have?
The answer:
It’s 3 words – FOLLOW THE RULES
FOLLOW THE RULES it’s as simple as that.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Obedience and Blessing” #2 By Jim Twamley
http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp?SermonID=56545
Listen, God is a God of order. He created order out of chaos. He spoke the
universe into existence and when he created it he built in order.
There is order in everything in creation. There is order in how the planets
rotate around the sun. There is order in how each planet rotates on it’s axis.
There is order in the physical rules that God set up in our solar system and on
our planet. God created gravity so that we could have an atmosphere, air to
breath, weather and most important – dry land to live on. If it weren’t for
gravity holding the seas at bay, we would be under water. Even the Moon’s
gravity controls the ocean tides.
Gravity is a force, a law of order that God has put in place to benefit us all,
but, if we stupidly choose to ignore the law of gravity and step off a cliff
what happens?
The law of gravity takes over and we fall. Then the law of smack takes over when
we smack – hit the ground.
We use the laws of thermal dynamics to our benefit but they also act against us
as well. Take the 2nd law of thermal dynamics for instance. I call it the “law
of old,” basically it states that energy degrades over time and the former state
of a thing is never the same current state – that’s why we can’t make a perfect
refrigerator. It’s also why our bodies grow old and die. Speaking of the laws of
thermal dynamics, what happens when you drive a wedge of uranium 238 into a ball
of uranium 238 at a high velocity????
Don’t try this at home, unless you are at least 30 miles away from me – thank
you very much. Because when you drive a wedge of uranium 238 into a ball of
uranium 238 at high velocity you get a nuclear explosion. It’s a physical law
that God set in place when he created our universe.
Listen, God created order in the universe and if we don’t respect His laws we
pay the price.
Let me give you some more scientific laws from my own boyhood experiments:
· How about the law of shock? If you touch two electric wires that have current running through them you ge-e-et sho-o-o-o-cked.
· How about the law of stick? If you touch your tongue to a freezing metal flag pole you can leave a piece of it there when you rip it off.
· How about the law of PeeYuuu? If you leave an egg out for six months and then drop it in the garage you get the foulest smell.
· How about the law of Yeaooooh! This law goes into effect when you hit your thumb with a hammer or when your dad finds out you intentionally broke a rotten egg in the garage.
Do we understand that there is a price to pay when we violate God’s laws of
nature?
Do we understand that there is a price to pay when we violate God’s spiritual
laws?
3 If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them;
4 then I will give your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit.
5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time; and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely.
6 And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
8 And five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand; and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.
9 And I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and will establish my covenant with you.
10 And ye shall eat old store long kept, and ye shall bring forth the old because of the new.
11 And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you.
12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.
13 I am Jehovah your God, who brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bars of your yoke, and made you go upright.
14 But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments;
15 and if ye shall reject my statutes, and if your soul abhor mine ordinances, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant;
16 I also will do this unto you: I will appoint terror over you, even consumption and fever, that shall consume the eyes, and make the soul to pine away; and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be smitten before your enemies: they that hate you shall rule over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.
18 And if ye will not yet for these things hearken unto me, then I will chastise you seven times more for your sins.
19 And I will break the pride of your power: and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass;
20 and your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruit.
21 And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me, I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
22 And I will send the beast of the field among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your ways shall become desolate.
23 And if by these things ye will not be reformed unto me, but will walk contrary unto me;
24 then will I also walk contrary unto you; and I will smite you, even I, seven times for your sins.
25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute the vengeance of the covenant; and ye shall be gathered together within your cities: and I will send the pestilence among you; and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: QUOTE #4
http://www.worldofquotes.com/topic/Obedience/1/index.html
“Wicked men obey from fear; good men, from love.”
Aristotle
384-322 BC – “The Philosopher”
HAVE SOMEONE READ: I Peter 1:21-23
21who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
22Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart,
23for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “King Edward VI”
Chambers, Our Daily Bread, March 4, 1993
http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
I've read that when Edward VI, the king of England in the 16th century, attended a worship service, he stood while the Word of God was read. He took notes during this time and later studied them with great care. Through the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. That's the kind of serious-minded response to truth the apostle James calls for in today's Scripture reading. A single revealed fact cherished in the heart and acted upon is more vital to our growth than a head filled with lofty ideas about God.
One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: 2 Corinthians 10:5
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Prescription For Safety” EXCERPT
http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon12/prescription_for_safety.htm
God calls us to obedience; He gives us standards to live by. Yet He does not force us to conform. He gives us a choice as to whether we will do the right thing and follow His will, or go off on a tangent of our own.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: Luke 11:28
Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Long Obey” By Richard Baxter
http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give.
If life be long I will be glad,
That I may long obey;
If short--yet why should I be sad
To soar to endless day?
Christ leads me through no darker rooms
Than he went through before;
He that to God's Kingdom comes,
Must enter by this door.
HAVE SOMEONE READ: “Yielded Wills” By Fenelon
http://www.bible.org/illus.php?topic_id=982
It is not the multitude of hard duties, it is not constraint and contention that advance us in our Christian course. On the contrary, it is the yielding of our wills without restriction and without choice, to tread cheerfully every day in the path in which Providence leads us, to seek nothing, to be discouraged by nothing, to seek out duty in the present moment, to trust all else without reserve to the will and power of God.
LEADER: "It is not the importance of the thing, but the majesty of the Lawgiver, that is to be the standard of obedience...Some, indeed, might reckon such minute and arbitrary rules as these as trifling. But the principle involved in obedience or disobedience was none other than the same principle which was tried in Eden at the foot of the forbidden tree. It is really this: Is the Lord to be obeyed in all things whatsoever He commands? Is He a holy Lawgiver? Are His creatures bound to give implicit assent to His will?"
Andrew Bonar, referring to the laws found in Leviticus, quoted in J. Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness, p. 23.
FROM: http://www.higherpraise.org/illustrations/obedience.htm
Like Roger Staubach said, "Once I learned to obey there was harmony, fulfillment, and victory."
COMMENTS IF TIME:
STOP AT 10 TILL FOR
PRAYER REQUESTS AND PRAISES:
CUT AND DISTRIBUTE FOR READING:
“Who Do You Work For?”
John Kenneth Galbraith, in his autobiography, A Life in Our Times, illustrates the devotion of Emily Gloria Wilson, his family's housekeeper:
It had been a wearying day, and I asked Emily to hold all telephone calls while I had a nap. Shortly thereafter the phone rang. Lyndon Johnson was calling from the White House.
"Get me Ken Galbraith. This is Lyndon Johnson."
"He is sleeping, Mr. President. He said not to disturb him."
"Well, wake him up. I want to talk to him."
"No, Mr. President. I work for him, not you. When I called the President back, he could scarcely control his pleasure. "Tell that woman I want her here in the White House."
“Dirty Room”
A friend often told me about the problems he had getting his son to clean his room. The son would always agree to tidy up, but then wouldn’t follow through. After high school the young man joined the Marine Corps. When he came home for leave after basic training, his father asked him what he had learned in the service.
“Dad,” he said. “I learned what ‘now’ means.”
QUOTE #1
“Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience. Whoever strives to withdraw from obedience, withdraws from Grace.”
Thomas a Kampis 14th Century Dutch Monk
QUOTE #2
“One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.”
Oswald Chambers 1974-1917 Author “My Utmost For His Highest”
“F-16”
An F16 fighter jet is an amazing aircraft with incredible capabilities. But there is one thing that a jet pilot requires above all else. That the aircraft reacts completely to his control. If it were to have "a mind of its own" regardless of how remarkable that might sound, it would end up doing as much flying as a door stop. In the same vein, even if we had all the gifting under the sun, God as the ultimate "pilot" of our lives, will only do amazing and remarkable things with our lives if we are fully under his control. If we insist upon taking our lives into our own hands at every opportunity we will find ourselves as effective as a preverbal door stop, and a less gifted by more humble man or woman will be used in our stead. Obedience is the golden key to a life of joy and excellence.
“Journal” #1
While running the trails in the mountains of
Montana today, I ran into someone… it was God.
The weather is starting to turn now. Fall is in the air, the leaves are hitting
the ground, and the snow will soon be here. I decided I’d better mow the yard
one more time. We have a rather large yard, both front and back, so by the time
it’s all done, I’m a little tired. I really didn’t want to go running, but for
some reason, I had to…. Didn’t want to, but had to. So, I got a bottle of water,
a fresh towel, my headphones, and my Mp3 player. I always run with music… it
takes my mind of my labored breathing. Today, I loaded some Christian rock into
the player. Fast, upbeat music to keep me going.
The trail I run starts right out with a hill. I get to the crest of that first
hill and stop… not because I’m tired, but because the crest overlooks my small
town of Helena. It’s a really pretty site. I’m thankful to have a place like
this to run in. No more smog, traffic, or the concrete valleys of the L.A. area
where I came from. I took in the sights for a moment, and continued my run.
The trail goes pretty far back into the mountains, testing me with switchbacks
in the first half of the run. I soon come out into the beautiful meadow that’s
filled with purple and yellow wild flowers during the spring. Not so today, as
it’s now the Fall season. But nevertheless, it is beautiful and serene. At the
top of the meadow I pause for a drink of water and a brief chat with the Creator
of all this beauty. It may only be 58 degrees, but I’m pretty heated up from
those switchbacks.
On the backside of the trail, the running gets a little easier. I almost never
see anyone on the trail, but for some reason, a question came into my head,
“What will you say to someone if you cross paths?” I don’t know why I asked
that, but I did. Then, came an answer. It wasn’t like I was answering myself,
though. In fact, it was as if the answer was “planted” in my mind. Oh well, here
comes another hill. I pushed the headphones into my ears a little deeper so I
could really get the great sound of one of my favorite Rich Mullins songs.
On the downside of that hill I saw two dogs. They were sniffing the trail as if
they were sent ahead by someone as scouts. Understand, I’m not afraid of dogs.
In fact, we’ve got two dogs ourselves, but when you’re running in the woods and
you encounter dogs, you never really know what to expect. As I got closer to
them, they both moved off the trail, giving me just enough room to pass by.
Running past them, I kept a close eye. They just stood there like statues, one
in the pointing position… like a hunting dog. Yikes!
“First Duty”
Peter T. Forsythe was right when he said, “The first duty of every soul is to find not its freedom but it’s Master”.
QUOTE #3
Dr. B.J. Miller, minister, once said, "It is a great deal easier to do that which God gives us to do, no matter how hard it is, than to face the responsibilities of not doing it."
“Journal” #2
Whew! Made it. Around the next turn, I saw a
woman up ahead, hiking the trail. Apparently, the scouts belonged to her. Not
wanting to lose my rhythm, I ran past her as she stepped aside. “Hi,” I said,
and she said something back. I couldn’t hear her because Rich Mullins was
cranking in my ears. I’m certain she could hear me, though. You know how when
someone has headphones on listening to rock music, and they talk to you? It’s
like they almost scream because the music is so loud in their head… that was
probably me.
Anyway, I had a trail to run, so I kept on going. That’s when it hit me. Maybe
she was the person I was suppose to give that message to… you know, the message
that was planted in my mind just a few minutes before. I don’t know. Maybe she
wasn’t. Besides, I’m not that kind of guy… to just give a message to someone I
don’t even know. I’m not that kind of Christian. Those kinds of Christians
always make me nervous. They seem so…. I don’t know… holy-roller, ya know?
Anyway, she’s gone, and I’m still in my rhythm.
I finally got to the end of the trail where it comes out onto Davis Gulch, a
dirt road that leads back into town. This isn’t my favorite part of the run
because it’s a dirt road. I like running the trails through the pine trees and
grassy meadows. But still, it’s very peaceful here. At least about half way back
to town there’s another trail to run for a about mile.
As I’m running, the thought of that message is still bothering me. All I could
think was if I was suppose to give that woman a message that I knew was straight
from… well, not from me, anyway. So I told God that if that was the person, and
if he still wants me to give her the message, then please put her across my path
again.
QUOTE #4
“Wicked men obey from
fear; good men, from love.”
Aristotle
384-322 BC – “The Philosopher”
I Peter 1:21-23
“King Edward VI”
I've read that when Edward VI, the king of England in the 16th century, attended a worship service, he stood while the Word of God was read. He took notes during this time and later studied them with great care. Through the week he earnestly tried to apply them to his life. That's the kind of serious-minded response to truth the apostle James calls for in today's Scripture reading. A single revealed fact cherished in the heart and acted upon is more vital to our growth than a head filled with lofty ideas about God.
One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.
2 Corinthians 10:5
“Journal” #3
I knew I was pretty safe in asking that because
the trail she was hiking leads back to where I started my run, which is not even
close to Davis Gulch. Even so, I couldn’t help but glance up the hill to my left
once in awhile, just to see if I could spot her on the trail. Nah. Didn’t see
her. By now, a great song from Jars of Clay was cranking in my ears, and I was
totally into the tune. And then, out of the corner of my eye, there she was,
still hiking the trail above. I kept running.
As I traveled the dirt road, I kept watching her. Hmmm, I never knew part of the
trail came down toward Davis Gulch.
Look at that! She’s hiking her way right down to the road. I stopped running,
and drank some water. Okay, God, I can’t deny this thing any more. I’ll do it,
but please help me.
Swallowing a gulp, I continued to run. First,
the two dogs crossed the road, then she crossed… right onto the trail I always
take on the way back home. Boy, God doesn’t miss a trick, does he? I caught up
to her, turned off my music player, unplugged my headphones, and said, “Excuse
me. Can I tell you a story?” She stopped and turned around with a combined look
of nervousness and confusion. I think my question caused the confusion. I mean,
how often do you encounter someone while hiking, who asks if they can tell you a
story?
“This is probably going to sound weird to you,” I said, “It’s pretty weird to
me.” I walked up to her and told her, “As I was running through the woods, I got
this compelling message to tell someone on the trail that no matter what you’re
worried about today, don’t worry…. God’s going to handle it. I saw you on the
trail earlier and didn’t tell you. I just kept running.”
She didn’t run away screaming or turn her dogs on me, so I continued, “I never
do this kind of thing.” And I wasn’t kidding. This is so not like me.
Her eyes locked onto mine. I continued, “Once I got to the road it kept
bothering me. So, I said, ‘God, if she’s the person I’m suppose to give this
message to, then please make our paths cross again.’ And here you are.”
She looked deep into my eyes, paused thoughtfully, and said, “Thank you so much.
I needed to hear that.”
I plugged the headphones back into my ears, and said, “That’s it.” Then I turned
on my music player, and kept running.
As I ran down the trail, all I could think of was how blessed I was to be part
of God’s personal work. Truthfully, I’m not so sure that this message was
exclusively for that woman… certainly the blessing of it was for both of us.
Today was a good day…. Thank you, Lord.
“Prescription For Safety”
God calls us to obedience; He gives us standards to live by. Yet He does not force us to conform. He gives us a choice as to whether we will do the right thing and follow His will, or go off on a tangent of our own.
Luke 11:28
“Hairbrush Experience: #1 Beth Moore at the Airport”
April 20,
2005, at the Airport in Knoxville, waiting to board the plane, I had the Bible
on my lap and was very intent upon what I was doing. I'd had a marvelous
morning with the Lord. I say this because I want to tell you it is a scary
thing to have the Spirit of God really working in you. You could end up doing
some things you never would have done otherwise. Life in the Spirit can be
dangerous for a thousand reasons not the least of which is your ego. I tried to
keep from staring, but he was
such a strange sight. Humped over in a wheelchair, he was skin and bones,
dressed in clothes that obviously fit when he was at least twenty pounds
heavier. His knees protruded from his trousers, and his shoulders looked like
the coat hanger was still in his shirt. His hands looked like tangled masses of
veins and bones. The strangest part of him was his hair and nails. Stringy
gray hair hung well over his shoulders and down part of his back. His
fingernails were long, clean but strangely out of place on an old man.
I looked down at my Bible as fast as I could, discomfort burning my face. As I
tried to imagine what his story might have been, I found myself wondering if I'd
just had a Howard Hughes sighting. Then, I remembered that he was dead. So
this man in the airport...an impersonator maybe? Was a camera on us somewhere?
There I sat; trying to concentrate on the Word to keep from being concerned
about a thin slice of humanity served on a wheelchair only a few seats from me.
All the while, my heart was growing more and more overwhelmed with a feeling for
him. Let's admit it. Curiosity is a heap more comfortable than true concern,
and suddenly I was awash with aching emotion for this bizarre-looking old man.
I had walked with God long enough to see the handwriting on the wall. I've
learned that when I begin to feel what God feels, something so contrary to my
natural feelings, something dramatic is bound to happen. And it may be
embarrassing. I immediately began to resist because Icould feel God working on
my spirit and I started arguing with God in my mind. "Oh, no, God, please,
no." I looked up at the ceiling as if I could stare straight through it into
heaven and said, "Don't make me witness to this man. Not right here and now.
Please. I'll do anything. Put me on
the same plane, but don't make me get up here and witness to this man in front
of this gawking audience. Please, Lord!"
“Long Obey” By Richard Baxter
Lord, it belongs not to my care
Whether I die or live;
To love and serve Thee is my share,
And this Thy grace must give.
If life be long I will be glad,
That I may long obey;
If short--yet why should I be sad
To soar to endless day?
Christ leads me through no darker rooms
Than he went through before;
He that to God's Kingdom comes,
Must enter by this door.
“Hairbrush Experience: #2 Beth Moore at the Airport”
There I sat
in the blue vinyl chair begging His Highness, "Please don't make me witness to
this man. Not now. I'll do it on the plane." Then I heard it... "I don't want
you to witness to him. I want you to brush his hair." The words were so clear,
my heart leapt into my throat, and my thoughts spun like a top. Do I witness to
the man or brush his hair? No-brainer. I looked straight back up at the
ceiling and said, "God, as I live and breathe, I want you to know I am ready to
witness to this man. I'm on this Lord. I'm your girl! You've never seen a
woman witness to a man
faster in your life. What difference does it make if his hair is a mess if he
is not redeemed? I am going to witness to this man."
Again as clearly as I've ever heard an audible word, God seemed to write this
statement across the wall of my mind. "That is not what I said, Beth. I don't
want you to witness to him. I want you to go brush his hair."
I looked up at God and quipped, "I don't have a hairbrush. It's in my suitcase
on the plane. How am I supposed to brush his hair without a hairbrush?" God
was so insistent that I almost involuntarily began to walk toward him as these
thoughts came to me from God's word: "I will thoroughly furnish you unto all
good works." (2 Timothy 3:17) I stumbled over to the
wheelchair thinking I could use one myself.
Even as I retell this story, my pulse quickens and I feel those same
butterflies. I knelt down in front of the man and asked as demurely as
possible, "Sir, may I have the pleasure of brushing your hair?"
He looked back at me and said, "What did you say?" "May I have the pleasure of
brushing your hair?" To which he responded in volume ten, "Little lady, if you
expect me to hear you, you're going to have to talk louder than that." At this
point, I took a deep breath and blurted out, "SIR, MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF
BRUSHING YOUR HAIR?" At which point every eye in the place darted right at me.
I was the only thing in the room looking more peculiar than old Mr. Longlocks.
Face crimson and forehead breaking out in a sweat, I watched him look up at me
with absolute shock on his face, and say, "If you really want to."
“Yielded Wills”
It is not the multitude of hard duties, it is not constraint and contention that advance us in our Christian course. On the contrary, it is the yielding of our wills without restriction and without choice, to tread cheerfully every day in the path in which Providence leads us, to seek nothing, to be discouraged by nothing, to seek out duty in the present moment, to trust all else without reserve to the will and power of God.
“Hairbrush Experience: #3 Beth Moore at the Airport”
Are you
kidding? Of course I didn't want to. But God didn't seem interested in my
personal preference right about then. He pressed on my heart until I could
utter the words, "Yes, sir, I would be pleased. But I have one little problem.
I don't have a hairbrush." "I have one in my bag," he responded. I went
around to the back of that wheelchair, and I got on my hands and knees and
unzipped the stranger's old carry-on,
hardly believing what I was doing. I stood up and started brushing the old
man's hair. It was perfectly clean, but it was tangled and matted. I don't do
many things well, but must admit I've had notable experience untangling knotted
hair mothering two little girls. Like I'd done with either Amanda or Melissa in
such a condition, I began brushing at the very bottom of the strands,
remembering to take my time not to pull. A miraculous thing happened to me as I
started brushing that old man's hair.
Everybody else in the room disappeared. There was no one alive for those
moments except that old man and me. I brushed and I brushed and I brushed until
every tangle was out of that hair.
I know this sounds so strange, but I've never felt that kind of love for another soul in my entire life. I believe with all my heart, I - for that few minutes - felt a portion of the very love of God. That He had overtaken my heart for a little while like someone renting a room and making Himself at home for a short while. The emotions were so strong and so pure that I knew they had to be God's. His hair was finally as soft and smooth as an infant's. I slipped the brush back in the bag, went around the chair to face him. I got back down on my knees, put my hands on his knees, and said, "Sir, do you know my Jesus?" He said, "Yes, I do." Well, that figures, I thought. He explained, "I've known Him since I married my bride. She wouldn't marry me until I got to know the Savior." He said, "You see, the problem is, I haven't seen my bride in months. I've had open-heart surgery, and she's been too ill to come see me. I was sitting here thinking to myself, what a mess I must be for my bride."
“Hairbrush Experience: #4 Beth Moore at the Airport”
Only God
knows how often He allows us to be part of a divine moment when we're completely
unaware of the significance. This, on the other hand, was one of those rare
encounters when I knew God had intervened in details only He could have known.
It was a God moment, and I'll never forget it. Our time came to board, and we
were not on the same plane. I was deeply ashamed of how I'd acted earlier and
would have been so proud to have accompanied him on that aircraft. I still had
a few minutes, and as I gathered my things to board, the airline hostess
returned from the corridor, tears streaming down her cheeks. She said, "That
old man's sitting on the plane, sobbing. Why did you do that? What made you do
that?"
I said, "Do you know Jesus? He can be the bossiest thing!" And we got to
share.
I learned something about God that day. He knows if you're exhausted because
you're hungry, you're serving in the wrong place or it is time to move on, but
you feel too responsible to budge. He knows if you're hurting or feeling
rejected. He knows if you're sick or drowning under a wave of temptation. Or
He knows if you just need your hair brushed. He sees you as an individual.
Tell Him your need!
I got on my own flight, sobs choking my throat, wondering how many opportunities
just like that one had I missed along the way...all because I didn't want people
to think I was strange. God didn't send me to that old man. He sent that old
man to me.
John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We
have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father,
full of grace and truth." Life shouldn't be a journey to the grave with the
intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather,
to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly
shouting, "Wow! What a ride! Thank You, Lord!"
Be Blessed! Beth Moore
“Arguments or Obedience”
. . . the simplicity that is in Christ —2 Corinthians 11:3
Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly. A saint does not think clearly until a long time passes, but a saint ought to see clearly without any difficulty. You cannot think through spiritual confusion to make things clear; to make things clear, you must obey. In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will only think yourself into further wandering thoughts and more confusion. If there is something in your life upon which God has put His pressure, then obey Him in that matter. Bring all your "arguments and . . . every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ" regarding the matter, and everything will become as clear as daylight to you ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 ). Your reasoning capacity will come later, but reasoning is not how we see. We see like children, and when we try to be wise we see nothing (see Matthew 11:25 ). Even the very smallest thing that we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is completely sufficient to account for spiritual confusion, and spending all of our time thinking about it will still never make it clear. Spiritual confusion can only be conquered through obedience. As soon as we obey, we have discernment. This is humiliating, because when we are confused we know that the reason lies in the state of our mind. But when our natural power of sight is devoted and submitted in obedience to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the very power by which we perceive God’s will, and our entire life is kept in simplicity
“God’s Soft Promptings”
Tonight as I drove home from taking some cake to
a friend in the hospital, I felt a sudden leading to take a piece of caramel
cake and some home brewed raspberry tea to my pastor. As I drove into my
driveway, I could think of at least 5 good reasons why I shouldn't do that --
and suddenly the music on my tape player sang -- "and God's soft promptings can
be easily ignored." You can bet I had that cake delivered within 5 minutes! It
reminds me of a time when those soft promptings prepared me for a blessing I
might otherwise have missed.
Several years ago, my church in Augusta, Georgia, was invited to present the
world premiere of a new Christmas Musical. There was a part for the mother of
Mary - both speaking and singing. I felt led to tryout, but never heard any
response.
I continued to attend choir practice, but the music minister never announced the
solo parts. Weekly I watched to see which alto had been chosen -- but there was
nary a peep out of anyone. About 5 weeks before the performance, God prompted
me to learn the solo and speaking part. I couldn't believe He was asking me to
do that, but assumed that perhaps the soloist would get sick at the last minute
and I would have to take their place. I got busy and learned everything. A week
later, I sensed another of those soft promptings. This time I felt led to make a
costume. I could believe that was necessary, if I were going to jump in at the
last minute. However, the situation was becoming increasingly more challenging.
Only the cast wore costumes. I figured I'd look mighty silly getting on the bus
with my costume, when I was just a member of the chorus! Not long after I
finished the costume, I got a call from the choir director. He related that
prior to going on vacation, he had forgotten to call me. However, he did want
me to take the part of Mary's Mother - and did I think I could have that ready
in such a short time? The truth is -- no, I couldn't have it ready in a short
time. But a loving God had begun my preparation weeks before, with His soft
promptings.
In my life, obedience to God has always opened the front door to some sort of
blessing!
“The Bible Reference”
Another discipline is to take some minor risks in prayer-to respond to nudges of the Holy Spirit. Most of us have felt moved from time to time in prayer to make a telephone call or write a note to someone. For years I regarded those thoughts as distractions. Now I see them as possible nudges from the Lord to do something he wants done. I have often been amazed and delighted at what happens when I follow those promptings. I have often been the beneficiary of those who did.
One spring day in 1993, I was so discouraged I didn't know how I could go on with my work. I prayed with my wife over my anguish and went outside for a long walk, hoping that the physical activity would renew my spirits. It didn't. I walked back into the house and heard the telephone ringing; the last thing I wanted to do was pick up the telephone. I usually screen my calls by listening to the voice on the other end of the line coming through the answering machine. The voice was that of a woman who was new to the church. She was apologizing for calling at home, but felt there was something I needed to know. Against my normal impulses, I picked up the telephone. She apologized again and said, "I hope you don't think I'm crazy, but as I was praying this morning you came to mind, along with a Bible reference I did not know. I looked it up and have no idea if it would mean anything to you, but I felt that somehow I would be disobedient to God if I didn't give it to you."
She apologized again and then gave me the passage. It was Hebrews 10:35-39. She apologized once more, said good-bye, and hung up. The passage read:
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For in just a very little while, "He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved.
Need I say that those words were meaningful to me? I have since had them written in calligraphy and framed as a memorial to God's faithfulness to speak when I needed a word from him and to a woman's faithfulness to risk in obedience to God, to act on a nudge. Sometimes I wonder in frustration why God doesn't speak to me. Does God wonder in frustration why it is that he has spoken, and I haven't listened-because I have been too busy or rationalistic or timid to obey?
“Obedience and Blessing” #2
Listen, God is a God of
order. He created order out of chaos. He spoke the universe into existence and
when he created it he built in order.
There is order in everything in creation. There is order in how the planets
rotate around the sun. There is order in how each planet rotates on it’s axis.
There is order in the physical rules that God set up in our solar system and on
our planet. God created gravity so that we could have an atmosphere, air to
breath, weather and most important – dry land to live on. If it weren’t for
gravity holding the seas at bay, we would be under water. Even the Moon’s
gravity controls the ocean tides.
Gravity is a force, a law of order that God has put in place to benefit us all,
but, if we stupidly choose to ignore the law of gravity and step off a cliff
what happens?
The law of gravity takes over and we fall. Then the law of smack takes over when
we smack – hit the ground.
We use the laws of thermal dynamics to our benefit but they also act against us
as well. Take the 2nd law of thermal dynamics for instance. I call it the “law
of old,” basically it states that energy degrades over time and the former state
of a thing is never the same current state – that’s why we can’t make a perfect
refrigerator. It’s also why our bodies grow old and die. Speaking of the laws of
thermal dynamics, what happens when you drive a wedge of uranium 238 into a ball
of uranium 238 at a high velocity????
Don’t try this at home, unless you are at least 30 miles away from me – thank
you very much. Because when you drive a wedge of uranium 238 into a ball of
uranium 238 at high velocity you get a nuclear explosion. It’s a physical law
that God set in place when he created our universe.
Listen, God created order in the universe and if we don’t respect His laws we
pay the price.
Let me give you some more scientific laws from my own boyhood experiments:
· How about the law of shock? If you touch two electric wires that have current running through them you ge-e-et sho-o-o-o-cked.
· How about the law of stick? If you touch your tongue to a freezing metal flag pole you can leave a piece of it there when you rip it off.
· How about the law of PeeYuuu? If you leave an egg out for six months and then drop it in the garage you get the foulest smell.
· How about the law of Yeaooooh! This law goes into effect when you hit your thumb with a hammer or when your dad finds out you intentionally broke a rotten egg in the garage.
Do we understand that there is a price to pay when we violate God’s laws of nature?
Do we understand that there is a price to pay when we violate God’s spiritual laws?