This Roller Coaster Ride called Obedience…

Throughout the Bible we hear about and are challenged with obedience. We grow-up hearing how we need to obey our parents and I have spent years telling my children, “If you aren’t able to listen, hear with your heart and obey me standing here in front of you, how will be able to listen, hear and obey, follow God?” 

I wish I understood that statement better then because this is hard for me as an adult …

Our pastor has been doing a sermon series out of Luke on Playing Games with God. When we don’t like what we hear from God, we do the same thing with Him that we do with everyone else in the world. We turn it around, barter or change the subject. You know you’ve done it! What if you were hearing God call you to be like be like Noah and do something that everyone around you literally looked at you like you were crazy or said, “Are you serious?” What if you took that situation and began to tell God, “So God, I will do this because I just know that this is just going to be another Abraham and Isaac thing, right? Because you just want to see if I will put you first…right?” What would happen if you then found out that wasn’t the case at all, but He was truly calling you to do this thing? To truly make a sacrifice, lay a life of a loved one on the altar, at His feet, and trust Him with them? What would you do if He was truly calling you to follow Him in an eccentric way?

In Matthew 4:19, Jesus says, “Follow me and I will make you Fisher’s of Men.” He was talking to Peter and Andrew. How did God use Andrew… How did he use Peter? (2 Peter 1)

Charles Spurgeon wrote on this in a paper. He said, “When Christ calls us by His grace we ought not only to remember what we are, but we ought also to think of what he can make us."

Do you not follow because you feel like Moses who stuttered and told God as much? What about David who was too small for his armor? Or John Mark who was rejected by Paul or Hosea who’s wife was a prostitute, or Amos’ only training was in the school of fig tree pruning, Solomon was too rich, Abraham who was too old, David who was too young, Peter who was afraid of death, Lazarus WAS dead, John was self-righteous, Naomi the widow, Paul who was a murderer as was Moses, Jonah ran from God, Miriam was a gossip, Gideon and Thomas both doubted, Jeremiah was depressed and suicidal, Elijah was burned out, Martha was a worrywart, Mary was lazy, Samson had short hair, Noah got drunk, Oh and MOSES…he had a short fuse, but then so did Peter and Paul! Have you used any of the excuses? Have you said, “Oh God you can’t possibly use me! Look at what I have done, who I was. Yes, I have always known you were calling me to a higher standard, but I didn’t want to listen and I made so many mistakes. You can’t possibly use me now.”
He made apostles, disciples, out of fisherman! You know those men who throw out their nets from the side of the boat? They were the ones that ‘were the founders of the churches out of peasants of Galilee’ Charles Spurgeon… these are the men & women who began the work in you! If He could do that with them, what can he do with you? How can He change the world with you? When we call on God’s grace, He can make music from someone who is tone deaf…if you will just trust and obey.  When He calls…will you hear Him? Will you respond? Will you Obey or will you barter or change the subject?

In John 21:1-17- Jesus was speaking with Simon, Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, sons of Zebedee, & 2 other disciples. Jesus gave them instructions…do something different. When they obeyed his directions they were overwhelmed by the blessings. Jesus asked Peter, “do you love me more than these?...Then Feed my lambs, take care of my sheep, feed my sheep.”  He asked 3x’s, “Peter, do you love me?” Peter was so sad that He asked that many times. Jesus called him to follow him. Jesus called him to not worry about what others are to do in vs 22. So what is stopping you from following Him when He calls?

In Numbers 11- This chapter is talking about the Manna. When J was 2, he and I were in BSF (Bible Study Fellowship International) together. We were studying Moses. One day we were in the car driving and he piped up with his precious little 2 yr old voice and said, “Momma? The people didn’t get it… the manna was God’s promise to them. He promised to give them what they needed. Why couldn’t they see that?” Blew me away. So in this chapter the Israelites are blinded to what He is providing and grumbling. Due to their dissatisfaction of what God had provided, they began to kill quail and serve that. In verse 33-34, God shows his anger with their disobedience and He struck them with a severe plague.

In Matthew 5:1-12 Jesus is giving the Sermon on the Mount. His apostles were gathered around. He is talking about who God blesses… the poor that find their needs met in God, those who mourn, the humble, those who hunger and thirst for justice, the merciful, those who hearts are pure, those who work for peace, those persecuted for doing right, those mocked, persecuted and lied about. Your reward is in Heaven. In verses 13-16, He is asking his apostles (you & me) to be salt of the earth… He is calling us to go out and leave people thirsting for more of Him so they will seek Him.

In Matthew 6:10- Jesus is begging His Father for His Will to be done on earth. He is asking God to HELP His people. He is talking to us… will we obey?

We are called to OBEY! When we listen and obey, His plan is fulfilled…  It’s easy to obey when we are called to pray for someone we care about, do something that will bless someone we like…what about when we are called to pray for someone we really have a hard time with or to do something for someone that tries our patience or calls us to step out of our comfort zone?

Do you say, “God use me” but, only when it’s comfortable for me? In Luke 21, Jesus talks about the widow’s mite… Give sacrificially…usually that’s tithing in our minds. What if the sacrifice is a stepping out of our comfort zone for the Glory of God?

Ok so all of this came because as I stated before… sometimes, Obedience is like a large pill that’s hard to swallow. I am standing on God’s promises that He will shower us and our children for generation with blessings for our obedience. (Deut 28:1-14)

We ARE in the business of breaking familial curses! (Deut 28:15-68) Watch-out here we come! J

Remember when I asked you earlier about a little talk you have had with God over the whole past mistakes? Think back to that time…you know when you were in the middle of making bad choices, choosing to not choose His way, but your own… Can you see it? Look back at the people that were in your life then. Ok, here is an example…

TRANSPARENCY ALERT… STOP READING NOW IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS!!!  

About a year and half ago, I remember thinking, “I am worthless. God you can’t even use me. It was right after(literally) I met my best girl friend (precious woman). She and I were in the process of growing really close.  When our paths met, I was kinda hanging out with a guy friend that was good friends with them. I had broken up with my on and off again boyfriend about 5 months earlier, but still talking to him here and there. The night she and I met, I knew that I was meeting up with him to convince him that I was done…I KNOW, I know! HUGE, I mean HUGE mistake on my part. Yes, as you are probably rolling your eyes because you even see it coming… he asked me for one more chance and by the end of the evening I said ok.  As soon as I said it, I felt sick to my stomach. I was so frustrated with myself. I didn’t talk to anyone for a while, but I knew I needed to talk to this new friend. CRAZY, but she still wanted to be my friend. She stood beside me as she watched my heart break over and over again. She was there to walk me down the aisle of church for prayer from Pastor Arnita on Mother’s Day. She was there the many “fights” that came through the next year and half. The funny part is, I kept telling God you can’t use me…look at how much of a mess I am. Do you know that I prayed with her, over her, for her and her sweet husband and children. I was there for their children’s big events to love on them so they knew how special I was. I was on the other end of the phone telling her the enemy was at work and to get on her knees when there was a tension in the home, someone was encouraging lack of self worth thoughts, etc. I backed them as parents by correcting their children and encouraging their children to show love to each other first as a blending family. Today, their family is miles ahead of where they were. Ok, FIRST, did I do this? PLEASE, hear me CLEARLY… IN NO WAY DID I DO ANYTHING. This was not me. Remember that I already told you that I was very clear that God was not able to use me. I had already informed Him of this. I was simply telling you, that God used EVEN me. I didn’t realize this until earlier this year. This past November, God brought me to my knees and said, “Wendi, if you will follow me. Do not turn back…keep walking toward me. I have so much, beyond your dreams, for you THIS YEAR. Follow me.” Then, almost as though He was showing off... He showed me all he has used me for. If God could use me divorced, single mother of 3 children, who wasn’t lovable enough to make her marriage work nor any other relationship… He CAN USE YOU…