Listen and Obey

We are in this world, but according to the Word of God, we are not OF this world. We are part of a higher economy and need to start acting like it. The world's economy makes no difference to us!

And, by the way, God is not mad at you. It doesn't matter what you did last week, or even this morning. His mercies are new EVERY morning! If you messed up, just humble yourself before God and He is quick to forgive. He also forgets immediately. So, if you get reminded of your past faults, know that that is the devil - not God. God can't bring it up to you later because He won't remember! As soon as you confess your sin to Him and ask for forgiveness, He throws your sin into a SEA of forgiveness - the ocean floor!

God doesn't make suggestions. The Bible is not a book to just read leisurely. God makes commandments! It is our job to read the manual for life and be careful to observe everything that is written in it (Josh 1:8) in order to live life to its fullest as God intended. IF we follow His commands, we WILL walk in victory.

The thief is already defeated. It's up to us to make sure he stays defeated in our house. If you give a thief keys to your house, don't be surprised when he steals everything you own. The devil comes - often and with intent - to steal, kill, and destroy; but Jesus came to give us life more abundantly (John 10:10). We are instructed in James to rejoice in the midst of all temptations, tests, and trials.

Do you remember in high school at the end of a school year you'd take a final exam? You were in 9th grade for a while, acquiring knowledge, then you had a test. If you passed, you were promoted into the next grade. If you failed, you had to repeat the 9th grade and try again to acquire that knowledge before you can move on in school. Life is the same way. You go through things, learn from them then a test comes. If you pass the test, you'll move on and be smarter, wiser and more mature - a promotion of sorts. If you fail to pass the tests, you could be the only guy in the 3rd grade that shaves! How embarrassing!

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and NOT to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then, you will call upon me and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with ALL your heart." Are you seeking Him with everything you have, everything you are, and everything you hope for?

Believe God no matter what it looks like in the world. Wait on the Lord. He is merciful! He just wants our very BEST, then He will take care of the rest! (Psalm 27:13)

Read Deuteronomy (the covenant book) chapter 28; verses 1-10 especially. God has given us free will and He will NEVER violate our will. If we want to go to hell, we can - and probably will. It is NOT the will of God that we go to hell, nor that we have sickness, lack, poverty, fear, depression, anxiety, stress, frustration etc. But if it that is our will, if we try to "handle" life on our own, that's what we'll get. God will allow it because He is a gentleman and will never slap us in the face and say "here, have some peace." If you're a parent, you can understand this clear as water (and not mud). As a mom, I have a desire to see my son succeed - in school, in church, in relationships, in his daily house chores, in everything he sets out to do. But if you know my son at all, you'll know he has a STRONG will of his own. He is very independent. He wants to figure everything out for himself and has a hard time just listening to my instructions and obeying. I can't force him to obey. I can discipline and correct him - and I do that daily - but it still doesn't make him do what I want him to do. My desire for him is always good. I love him and want him to be happy and confident and successful and full of peace and self control. I do my very best to be a good example for him. But still, he often chooses the harder way of doing things.

In Deuteronomy 28:11-13, God tells us He wants to open the treasury of Heaven for us! He will grant us ABUNDANT prosperity! We will lend to many nations, but never borrow! It is God's will for us to have overflow in our finances so we can be a blessing to others! In verse 13, He says, "IF we pay attention to the commands of the Lord" will we receive these blessings.
Deuteronomy 30:19 - after explaining the curse of not following God's commands - says, "I have set before you death and life, blessings and curses. NOW, CHOOSE LIFE!" The ball is in our court! We have to choose life! I like how brother Mylon LeFevre said God is all knowing (which He is) and since He knows us, he knows what we would choose. So, he gave us a hint! NOW, CHOOSE LIFE! He gave us the answer! Praise God, He loves us and wants only good things for us. He is a good God! If there's something bad in your life, it is NOT from God! All good things come from above!

Psalm 34:8, "Now taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him." How do we see that He's good? We trust Him!! Trust Him completely.

I love Psalm 23. It starts out, "The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want." God doesn't want us to want for anything. He is all that we need and we just need to depend on that and trust Him to fufill His word because he always does! But, why did he refer to us as sheep? Sheep are DUMB! One thing sheep have better than we do is their willingness to obey their shepard. They'll follow their shepard to the ends of the earth and trust him unwaveringly. But, the voice of a stranger they will not follow! I do not listen to the stranger's voice. I will fear no evil. I am comfortable in the shadows, among my enemies. I enjoy a meal at the table with my God and my cup that overflows. The anointing is getting stronger in my life every day. Goodness and mercy follow me everywhere I go.

Faith is expectation! I expect to see the goodness of God!

(This is my take on the wonderfully anointed sermon given by Brother Mylon LeFevre this morning at Light of the World Christian Center in Topeka, KS.)