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TITLE: Believe and Obey,April 4, 2018
By Yolanda Payne
04/04/18
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Your reactions to the message are desired. I am not attempting to preach. I am merely suggesting.
BELIEVE AND OBEY

Those who proclaim to be God’s missionaries and ministers come and go. Some are successful in their mission of leading many to Christ, while some are mere snares. Some lead many individuals to Christ while others receive a nice income.

As a child I often pondered many things I observed. I asked God why do so many ministers fall along the way. He replied “they often fall because they fail to believe, trust and obey”. I didn’t understand. Some were pastors of churches. How could they not believe, trust and obey God? I continued to ponder why some appeared to fail while others appeared to be a success.

I began to examine individuals who God used. My study provided insight about the rewards of believing and obeying. Noah believed, trusted and obeyed God when God asked him to build an ark. He saved his family from the flood waters.

Abraham demonstrated his trust in God when he obeyed God’s request that go to a land he did not know. “It was by faith that Abraham believed, trusted and obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to a land that God would give him as an inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.” Hebrews11:8

Because of his faith in GOD Abraham did not disobey God when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac. He only knew that God asked him to do this. God counted Abraham’s obedience as evidence that Abraham loved and trusted God. Abraham was considered righteous. Abraham could have easily said, God can’t you find another sacrifice. Isaac is my only son.

When asked to deliver the children of Israel from Israel, Moses obeyed although he questioned his ability to convey God’s message. God reminded Moses that God would deliver the children. Moses was to be his instrument. Moses trusted and obeyed God and God delivered Israel from Egypt.

Some might ponder how did we get ourselves into this “mess”. When he enters the world a child is born a sinner. It all began with Adam who didn’t believe God. Adam committed the first sin when he failed to believe, trust and obey God. God seeks those who will believe and obey him. He seeks those who will do what he tells them to do when he tells them to do it and in the manner he tells them to do it.

Jesus, the second Adam committed no sin. He obeyed God. Adam the first man sinned. Jesus the second man never sinned. Throughout his ministry Jesus was tempted by Satan who wanted Jesus to disobey his Father, God. Satan never indicated that he doubted Jesus’ mission. He only sought to get Jesus to go in another direction. Jesus used God’s word as his guide and thus did not take a short cut. His “meat” was to do the father’s will. After Satan could not persuade Jesus to leave the track which God was directing him. He asked Jesus if he would fall down and worship him. He promised him the world if he would fall down and worship him. Jesus knew that his Father God owned the world. There was no need to fall down and worship Satan.

Satan’s continued goal was to persuade Jesus to disobey God. Jesus had been sent to earth to redeem man and to reveal the father to man. He told his disciples that they who had seen him had seen the father. Jesus knew his mission and he allowed God to lead him each step of the way. Jesus was the son of God but he humbled himself and allowed God to lead him each step of the way. Jesus believed and obeyed God. Jesus did what the father asked him to do, in the manner God wanted him to do it and how God wanted him to do it. Many tried to side track Jesus but Jesus allowed no one to sidetrack him from his mission. Some suggested that Jesus Go to Jerusalem when it was not time to go to Jerusalem.

Before he went to the cross Jesus sought God’s direction. He was aware of the pain he would be asked to endure. He asked God “if this is possible will you deliver this cup from me” Yet thy will be done.” He accepted the will of God. He never disobeyed God.

One Sunday morning as I satin my car before entering church the spirit spoke these words to me. “God seeks those who will obey him. He seeks those who will go where he tells them to go and when he tells them to go. He seeks those who will do things in the manner he tells them to do them. He seeks those who will follow to the last detail. He seeks those who will believe and obey him.” God does not need our assistance. He needs our obedience. He desires that we obey his commandments and his requests.

Many have gone where the Lord did not send them. Not all who proclaim to love and serve God will enter heaven. Jesus said “You see not everyone who respects me necessarily loves me. They may call me Lord but only those who believe, trust and Obey my father’s ‘will, will enter heaven. Jesus said “ Many will even do great things, like working miracles and casting out devils using my name, but when the Day of Judgment comes, I will tell them plainly, I don’t recognize you. Separate yourself from me for you have done evil and have not kept commandments.”

I thought this was rather harsh after all these individuals had worked in the building of his kingdom, but I then stopped and asked myself did God tell them to do the things they did. Did they do them in the manner God wanted them done? Did they go where God wanted them to go or did they merely go. Some have gone where God did not send them. Others have said things God did not tell them to say although they said they were speaking in the Name of the Lord. Did God know these individuals?

Jesus said “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as lord, but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obeyed my father in heaven. On judgment day many will tell me, “Lord, Lord we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. But I will reply, I never knew you. Get away, the things you did were unauthorized.” Matthew 7:21-23. I now understand.!!! These individuals were rejected because they did not trust and obey GOD.
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