Sunday, August 12, 2018

Obedience Is Required



Obedience is required, in order to allow God’s word determine the seasons of our life. The only way to transition from one season of our life to another as we receive the word is to act in obedience. Obedience can be likened to a key that unlocks the door of a season. Amen!

1 Kings 17:9a (NKJV)
So he went and did according to the word of the Lord, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan.
Emphasis Mine

1 Kings 17:10a (NKJV)
So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, indeed a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.”
The principle of obedience is required as we rely on God to determine the seasons of our life.
Emphasis Mine

Elijah did not have a dispute with God. When the Word came, he did accordingly.
In order to experience the benefits, each season of our lives have to offer, we need to live in obedience. Meaning, we need to comply, carry out or behave in accordance with the instruction, direction or request given to us in scripture. What is the Father saying to you this season? Are you complying with the instruction, the direction or the request?
When it comes to obedience, the choice is yours. It is preferable to obey instantly – as soon as you receive the word from the Lord, you apply. Rather than debate with God on reasons why you cannot do what He has instructed. Amen!

When the word of the Lord comes to you and you implement the Word immediately, just as Elijah did, it is an expression of your faith in God and your trust in the character of God (as a Father who is faithful, responsible, and dependable).
As a child of God, your obedience will be tested. The Father Himself desires for you to handle more responsibilities and the obedience test will reveal to Him your capacity. Amen.
In 1 Kings 17, obedience to the word was the key that unlocked the next season of Elijah’s life. So it was with the Widow of Zarephath. It was her obedience to the Prophet Elijah that resulted in her and her son enjoying an inexhaustible supply of oil and flour.

1 Kings 17:16 (NKJV)
The bin of flour was not used up, nor did the jar of oil run dry, according to the word of the Lord which He spoke by Elijah.
Emphasis Mine

How could she have known that although she was down to her last use of oil and flour, her obedience to the Prophet, by making bread for him first will result to a continuous supply of oil and flour? Obedience!

Most often, the next phase of our lives, or the breakthroughs we so much long for, are all wrapped up in obedience. Obey God’s instruction to you today and expect a great outcome. Do not let fear, unbelieve, discomfort, discouragement and all the negative aspects of life rub you. Amen.



Accommodation Is Guaranteed



When God’s word determines the seasons of your life, the people, the things, and the activities in that environment adjust in order to accommodate your presence. Amen! This is so because, His word goes ahead of you and commands the situations, the people and the things to do exactly as he has instructed pending your arrival. That was the case with Elijah. God himself commanded the ravens to feed Elijah even before he got to the brook Cherith. God also commanded the widow of Zarephath before Elijah got to Zarephath.

1 Kings 17:4 (NKJV)
And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there.”
Emphasis Mine

1 Kings 17:8-9 (NKJV)
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. See, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
Emphasis Mine

When you step into a situation or person’s life accommodation is required. God in His faithfulness will make sure that your presence in that environment is not burdensome to the people nor the environment. This was evident in Elijah’s life – the Bible records that the ravens brought bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening.

1 Kings 17:6 (NKJV)
The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening;

The widow at Zarephath, although she complained to Elijah that she was down to her last use of oil and flour, she still obeyed Elijah’s instruction by making bread for him first before making some for her and the son. As a result of her obedience, she did not run out of oil and flour.

So, the Ravens accommodated Elijah by feeding him, morning and evening for as long as that season of his life lasted. The widow at Zarephath also accommodated Elijah by providing for him for as long as that season lasted. In both cases, we see that his presence in each environment was not burdensome. Amen!





Conclusion

There is an endless list of individuals in scriptures who served as instruments of change in the lives of others. The frequency of th...