Short Sermon #116: WALKING IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD - One of our most powerful sermons of all time

Do whatever He tells you to do.

His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he [Jesus] tells you.” John 2 Verse 5 [NIV]

Do you struggle with obeying God? Or do you question why you need to obey God at all? "What's the point?" some wonder.

This message discusses one good example of obedience to God from the Bible, to inspire the believer.

Christians should strive to obey God always and to keep their will aligned to God's will and purpose for their lives. The Holy Spirit is our ever-present helper in this regard.

This message demonstrates the power of walking in obedience to God and of living a life that is fully surrendered to Him. Your plans and your decisions should always align to God's will.

Oh, how important obedience to God is! How blessed they are those who live in the perfect will of God!

But what does it mean to obey God, in our context? What does it take to obey Him?

In my view, obeying God means hearing His voice (through reading the written Word, or hearing a preacher preach, etc.), and taking action and living a life consistent with the voice.

If you become just a hearer of the message, without obeying it, without living it, you deceive yourself. It is also important to ensure that everything that you are taught is in line with the Bible, for many have been led astray by heresies.

When you obey God, you place yourself under His power, authority, and control - under His wings, effectively. You no longer proceed according to your own desires, but according to God's will and purpose for you at every turn.

Consider this, earthly parents delight in obedient children; similarly, God seeks to delight in you! Just as we enjoy pleasing our earthly parents, we should also enjoy pleasing God.

“Do whatever He tells you.” That was the instruction Mary gave the servants at the wedding at Cana. The instruction applies to you and me in this age, in its full measure. The reverse is also true - never do what He expects you never to do.

Are you looking for a solution to a problem that you might be facing, as the attendees of the wedding at Cana did? Do you have a need that you want satisfied? Are you looking for the 'wine' of your life?

Do you yearn for a victorious and fulfilling Christian life? Do you long for improved fellowship with God? Do you seek the next level in your walk with Him? If so, here is the key: “Do whatever He tells you.”

There was a problem or a need at the wedding at Cana; the ceremony had run out of wine! More wine was required to sustain the ceremony to the end. Yet the prospects of timely finding an alternative source were either quite slim or even nil.

It happens in life; we, as Christians, sometimes feel hopeless, only to later realize that the source of our hope had been right there with us all the time!

I am truly inspired by the attitude and conduct of the servants at the wedding; they demonstrated that they were genuine servants.

Jesus instructed the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” John 2:7 [NIV]. The words of Jesus are one example of the “whatever He tells you” that Mary had earlier talked about.

What did the servants do in response to Jesus’ instruction? The Bible says: “… so they filled them to the brim.” John 2:7 [NIV]. The servants obeyed Jesus. They did not delay, but immediately did as they had been instructed. The servants filled the jars "to the brim". This is a powerful lesson on obedience!

The servants did exactly as the Lord Jesus Christ had instructed them, and just as Mary had also instructed them. They obeyed immediately, not at a time of their choosing, as some Christians of this generation tend to do.

Jesus further instructed them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet” John 2:8 [NIV].

How did the servants respond this time? The Bible says, “They did so…” John 2:8 [NIV]. What a breed of servants this was!

How encouraging it must have been for Jesus to witness the servants walking in total obedience! Unfortunately, some Christians in our generation waver. Sometimes they obey God; sometimes they obey themselves. Sometimes they use their own reasoning. Imagine what the outcome would have been had the servants at Cana tried to first reason out what Jesus was up to!

We need to remain exemplary, as Christians, when it comes to obeying God. If believers won't obey God, then who will?

Some servants would have thought that Jesus was out of His mind, that it was unreasonable for them to obey His instructions. Truly, we miss a lot when our human logic gets in the way of the Holy Spirit!

As soon as the servants obeyed the Lord, the miracle came to pass. Glory to God!

The servants probably did not understand what all this was leading to; they however still did exactly as Jesus had instructed them!

I think that the miracle would not have come to pass had the servants disobeyed the Lord. Therefore, in faith, you should take each step that the Lord requires of you. The first step kick-starts a process; so, without taking the first step, the process will never take off.

I, therefore, implore you today: “Do whatever He tells you.” Whatever! No cherry-picking, absolutely. Even when it is difficult. Even when the sky is overcast. Obey God nevertheless.

Learn to obey the 'voice' of the Holy Spirit; pay attention to the promptings of the inner man - the still, small voice that whispers into our hearts every day, even today, even now. Some call it 'conscience' for lack of a better word.

I think everybody hears a small 'voice' that normally speaks only three words, "do", "don't", and "watchout!". In some instances, maybe several times, some people choose to go against the voice. 

“Do whatever He tells you.” Will you? Always?

Now I pray that the Lord grants you the spirit of obedience and that you may walk according to his will without wavering, for the rest of your life.

DEVOTIONAL PRAYER

Prayer Point for Today: That I may walk in total obedience to God always.

I make various sacrifices in your service, Holy Father, the main of which is partnering with you financially.

I however understand that according to your Word, obedience is better than sacrifice. So, each of my sacrifices needs to be rooted in obedience if they are to be truly acceptable to you.

Sometimes I do your will, Holy Father; sometimes I dare to do my will. Forgive me for straying and equip me to overcome the temptation to disobey you, so that I may conduct my life exactly as Christ conducted His when He walked the earth. Fill me with the same Spirit who was in Christ Jesus, Father, I beseech you.

I also pray for the entire body of Christ, that each member may walk in total obedience to you, and that each member may effectively play their role, so that you may be glorified. Daily we witness in the body of Christ every manner of disobedience, by both the leaders and the followers, giving a very bad picture of Christianity to both the saved and the unsaved.

I pray, Father, that the Holy Spirit might move powerfully within the body of Christ, so that you may raise for yourself men, women, and young ones who are fully devoted and obedient to your will and cause.

I ask all this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

You may also want to read:  LED BY THE SPIRIT

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