Just yesterday, I preached a sermon at BRC on ‘The 5 Qualities That Will Set You Up To Receive Divine Favor‘. You can watch, listen or share the sermon. One of the points in the sermon was Obedience. As I was pondering upon the same in my heart, I realized how much, as Christians, we need to grow in obedience.
There are various levels of obedience. The first of them all is your obedience to God, to His Word, to the voice of His Spirit. Following it, comes your obedience to your parents, both physical and spiritual, and leaders, both spiritual and secular, even the government and the law of the land.
Of course if any of them challenge your obedience to God, your first commitment should be to obey God over the law or system of the land, or even the parents or the leaders.
Here are few things, out of the countless many, that the bible promises in response to our obedience. Here, I am trying to give you a picture on how Obedience is not such a sad and reward-less thing.
1. Long Life
“If you obey all the decrees and commands I am giving you today, all will be well with you and your children. I am giving you these instructions so you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord your God is giving you for all time.” Deuteronomy 4:40 NLT
One thing that we all hate is the fact that most things in life including our jobs, wealth, health, even ministry have a temporal run. They don’t last for long, issues and worries and challenges and problems keep creeping in. And that’s normal, because that’s how life is. However, the perks of walking in obedience is that God would bless you with longevity not just for your life, but also the work of your hands!
2. Unexpected Favor
But Noah found favor with the Lord. Genesis 6:8 NLT
The stories of Noah, and even Ruth, are splendid examples of how God favors a man or woman who walks in obedience. What Ruth was told to do by her mother-in-law was outrageous, and Ruth knew nothing of the outcome, yet she blindly trusted and obeyed Naomi, leading to her marriage and a blessed future with Boaz. If you have been expecting a breakthrough in your life, look for ways to exercise obedience!
3. Promotes Worship
But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22 NLT
Every worship, offering, or even monetary giving that comes outside of obedience is rejected by God. That is the story of King Saul, and even the story of Cain. When we give to God, it has to be coupled with obedience. In other words, it is our obedience that makes our worship acceptable before God!
4. Power & Authority
King Jotham became powerful because he was careful to live in obedience to the Lord his God. 2 Chronicles 27:6 NLT
There is a wrong notion that when we walk in obedience, we lose the power and authority over own lives; that somebody else is in control of our lives. That is the joy of surrender to God; the more you yield and obey, the more powerful and authoritative you become. This includes your ministry, your secular work, your family, church or even relationships.
Your power does not come from the fact that you are in control of your life, your power comes from the fact that you are obedient to the one who is in control of your life!
5. Blessing & Multiplication
“This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. Genesis 22:16-17 NLT
I am sure you would be excited about the blessing and the multiplication. But Abraham had to come to a point of sacrificing the blessing and the only point of increase in his life for the sake of obedience. It is not always an easy thing to be able to obey, because it involves a lot of sacrifice and giving up. But when you do obey, you will surely come out of it with so much of blessing and overflow in your life that you will not be able to handle it.
The selfish creatures that we are, rewards are what motivate us to do things. Hence the title.
However, I want to encourage you to develop a lifestyle of obedience simply because you love God, completely forgetting about all the benefits and the rewards that come along with it.
The greatest joy or reward of obedience that could ever be is a smile from your Father in heaven!
How has obedience to God, or to your elders blessed you? Have you faced challenges obeying God because of the people around you? How have you overcome those challenges? Please share in the comments below.
This is very encouraging … Thank you Pastor 🙂
Thank you Smita, glad to know about that it has encouraged you!
sooo encouraging on how to be obedient to God’s word ….. blessed bro…
The five points are good but those final statements are awesome-Obey because you love God…..Mostly my obedience to God has released opposition and driven people mad,but who cares…as long as I love Jesus am gonna obey Him….Great Post Pastor!!!
Amen!
Yep, obedience makes the greatest sense when we do it out of love not for a reward. Thanks for sharing.
I love your message of reward of obedience, may God bless you the more and your ministry
Thanks for the encouragement on your last words. It’s quit exulting
Hello!! This message is very powerful.kk
Wow! This is so inspiring. I’m so blessed and encouraged. More of grace to do more
Iam greatly bless with this message. God give you more anointing. My prayer for all Christians are to obey the word of God and eat the fruit of the land.
Thank you so much Sir for this timeless message on Obedience. I now choose to make absolute obedience to God my ultimate pursuit in life and ministry. Pls pray for me, just for one minute. Love you Pastor.
Thanks sir is great
God bless you
Now everything is clear to me,thank you very much for this wonderful message,God bless you
Thanks for these messages God bless you in Jesus name. AMEN!!!!!
Thank you for this powerful message. Today many people want reward and blessings both from Man and God but too difficult to practice obedience.
May the Lord help us to obey rightly.
This iswonderful.May God increase your anointing.
It’s a power packed message. Thank God for the holy spirit. I pray for more revelations abd Gods grace to live in obedience to His word.
God bless you sir
Good and heart touching sermons
Amen thanks so much
Amen thanks so much I really appreciate you sir.
For so long the church has been shying away from the fact that the Lord is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him and has made our faith passive. God promise us reward here and hereafter if give all to him
Mark.10.29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, (KJV)
Mark.10.30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (KJV).
We should be expecting the blessings of the Lord as we continue in obedience to him
Amen Pastor I really appreciate
Because of your word I’m so thankful and Blessed full
And most of all thanks you Lord for Reminding us 🙏❤️🙏❤️
I love the messag
Thanks so much for the message….????.
It really helps
Wonderful message. So help us God to Trust and obey You. Amen
Amen
I’m so blessed but I need to know I was giving many offerings
While I was a single mother and give all my money for for my roofing in order to obey what God was saying on my spirit. But at point time I’m in a miserable marriage but I have done a lot to my Gpd because of want to obey Him please help