Willing and Obedient
Part 1 of 2
Isaiah 1:19
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the
good of the land.
My
Experience, Strength & Hope
In this
message, the Lord is leading me to talk about willingness. I have some experience
in the area of unwillingness, how about you? It is a fact of human life since
the fall of man that people have been unwilling to obey the Lord or follow
after His precepts – teachings, directions, etc. Why is this? For people who
are Christians especially, why is it so hard to be willing? Why do we go to
church and sing all these songs about surrendering our lives to the Lord and
trusting Him, only to go right home and keep doing things the same old,
ungodly, fleshy and unproductive way?
This is
something I have dealt with myself, so I understand just a little something
(OK, maybe more than a little – LOL!) about it. The answer is twofold really.
First, it has to do with fear. If we do things God’s way, we fear that letting
go completely of what we have been treasuring as our pacifier for so long. We
fear the fact that it may cause us great discomfort. Most of us are not willing
to be one bit uncomfortable. And even though walking in addiction is quite
uncomfortable at best, in the end, we seem to think it will help us more than
the one true God that we say we trust in so much.
The
other issue is the desires of the flesh. We like certain things and we are not
willing to give them up. While we are in public or at church we can pretend all
day long to be a good Christian and say we love the Lord. But when we leave the public eye, there are more than one
set of eyes watching what we do privately – the Lord’s eyes are on us every
moment. Not only does He see what we are doing, He sees down into the depth of
our hearts. He asks so little of us, yet many are simply not willing to
sacrifice anything. They do not want to give up their ‘floaty’ or ‘pacifier’.
They do not want to stop eating this or drinking that. They choose the quick
high rather than the everlasting peace that can take us higher than anything on
this earth ever could. There is no ‘high’ like the Most High!
To be
willing is the single most important first step to take in the verse from
Isaiah chapter one. I believe that is why the Lord put the word ‘willing’ first. Because if we are not
willing, then we will certainly never become obedient. Also, a willing heart
makes for a hearing ear. Ok, so how has this played out in my life? Well,
several years ago the Lord gave me a food
plan to follow to keep my weight at a healthy level. He wanted me to be
strong and healthy so I could do the hard work He is calling me to do in
ministry. He also wants others to see His power perfected in my weakness.
But did
I struggle with unwillingness? I sure did. Yet, as I continued to follow after
the Master, He continued to correct, discipline, comfort and love me
unconditionally. He continued to encourage me through His word and His Spirit to
do the right thing. There were days after I was corrected when I would
straighten up and do the right thing – much like a little child who just
received a spanking. But then as time went on, I would gradually start to slide
backwards again, and again, and again.
So how
does a heart become willing? What can take away our stony heart (hard heart
toward God) and make it a heart of flesh (soft and pliable)? Only His Holy
Spirit can as we wash our minds, or renew them in His presence and in His word
constantly. I can tell you for certain that if I was not spending time with the
Lord in personal prayer, sitting under really high quality godly teaching,
reading His word and speaking it out loud over myself every day, I would not be
where I am today.
I have
really struggled with this whole idea of willingness. But the Lord looks at
that as rebellion and pride. After all, those are the characteristics of the
devil. It was those types of attitudes that got Lucifer and 1/3 of the angels
thrown out of heaven - pride and rebellion. God hates pride. It should not even
be a word we use in our conversation. Any pride is bad. For example, the Father
never used the word ‘proud’ when He talked about His Son. No, instead He said
He was well pleased with His Son. We would do well to follow the Lord’s
example. Amen.
The
bottom line is this. Are you and I really in for working out our salvation by
being willing to do things God’s way? Are we willing to give up a few COMFORTS IN THIS LIFE TO FOLLOW AFTER THE
MASTER so we could hear Him one day
say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (BTW: I didn’t intend to
type that in all caps, but I just heard the Lord tell me to leave it like
that.) Ok Lord – You got it!
The
choice is always up to us. Every single moment of every day, the Lord is
looking for people who are willing to make the sacrifice and give up some of
the pleasures of this life to live the kingdom life and bear fruit that will
last forever. Ho-Ho’s and ice cream do nothing but steal, kill and destroy. So
do pills and alcohol, cocaine, heroin, busyness, and all other types of ungodly
behaviors. I know because I have engaged in most of them. I never felt good
afterwards either. I felt like a piece of trash.
Conversely,
when I spend time with the Lord and do things His way, I always come away
feeling good. I feel stronger, encouraged and deeply loved. What a deal! Do you
want that too? You can have it. It is yours for the taking. You can choose to
take it right now. Exchange the devil’s attitude of unwillingness for the
Lord’s attitude of humility and willingness to do things His way. Then be
prepared to sit back and watch how God will show up in your every weakness in
every area of your life to give you the abundant life your heart truly longs
for.
You
will not be disappointed – I assure you. God is faithful!
Scriptures from This Message…
John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will
do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because
there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for
he is a liar, and the father of it.
1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as
iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he
hath also rejected thee from being king.
Psalm 95:8
Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of
temptation in the wilderness.
Proverbs 8:13
The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and
the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Look at Romans 6 – The desires
of the flesh
Romans 7:13-25 (Paul’s discussion about the battles between the flesh
and the spirit man)
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But
sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that
sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.For we know that the law
is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not;
but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto
the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that
dwelleth in me.
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good
thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I
find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not,
that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin
that dwelleth in me.
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present
with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see
another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me
into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I
am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus
Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with
the flesh the law of sin.
Matthew
26:41
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Exodus 35:4-10, 20-22
And Moses spake unto all the congregation of the children of
Israel, saying, This is the thing which the Lord commanded, saying, Take ye from among you an
offering unto the Lord:
whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the Lord; gold, and silver, and brass, and
blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats' hair, and rams' skins
dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim wood, and oil for the light, and
spices for anointing oil,
and for the sweet incense, and onyx stones, and stones to be set
for the ephod, and for the breastplate.
And every wise hearted among you shall come, and make all that
the Lord hath commanded.
And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence
of Moses.
And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one
whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the Lord's offering to the work of the tabernacle of the
congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. And they
came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought
bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every
man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the Lord.
Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them
that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together,
as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Matthew 22:1-14
And
Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which
made a marriage for his son, and sent forth his servants to call them that were
bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are
bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed,
and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it,
and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: and the
remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth
his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then saith
he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not
worthy.
Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find,
bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered
together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was
furnished with guests.
And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man
which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest
thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said
the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast
him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.For many
are called, but few are chosen.
John 5:39-40
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal
life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that
ye might have life.
Ezekiel 36:26
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within
you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give
you an heart of flesh.
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my
portion for ever.
John 6:38
For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of
him that sent me.
Matthew
16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his
cross, and follow me.
James 3:17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality,
and without hypocrisy.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not
grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Thoughts for the Coming Week:
·
Take
some time this week to search your heart. Are there areas of unwillingness that
you can clearly identify?
·
As you
search the deep matters within you, be honest about things you have been afraid
of. Bring them out into the light and allow the Lord to shine His light on
those fears and watch them melt away.
·
Identify
the areas where you have been in the habit of gratifying the flesh and how it
has caused you damage in your spirit, soul and body.
·
Make a
list of things you are going to be willing to do to change any wrong behaviors.
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
·
Think
about the Lord’s correction as a form of His love. It is never to condemn, but
it is always to bring you up higher for your good. Are you willing to allow Him
to correct you?
·
Will
you trust in His Spirit within you to change the desires of your heart from
hardness to willingness. Write it down. Pray about it.
·
What
are you willing to give up to follow Jesus and step into the destiny that He
has planned for you?
·
At the
end of this week and before the next message, take some time to look at how you
have grown since starting this program. Thank the Lord for working in you to
bring out your best for His glory, your good and the blessing of others that He
wants to touch through you.
**If you would like to join our weekly call, please send an email to the following:
The3rdJohn2Program@yahoo.com
Be blessed!
Hanny Stearns
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