Obedience

Oct07
by Michael King on October 7, 2013 at 9:01 am
Posted In: fundamental truths
obedience

 
God says,

“What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains? And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus. For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.”

Esther 1:15-17

When you have a large kingdom, it is vital that you be able to count on the obedience of your subjects. When QueenVashti refused to come at her husbands command, that public display of rebellion threatened to set a bad example for all women, undermine his authority, and destabilize the Kingdom.

Here is a truth,

“The larger the group the more important it is for those within the group to be obedient.

What we see from how King Ahasuerus dealt with Queen Vashti’s rebellion, is that submission begins in the home and is the foundation of all submission to authority outside the home. Vashti’s disobedience threatened the very foundation (obedience) upon which the King’s dominion was based, which had to be dealt with accordingly lest the kingdom fall into disorder.

Fallen Lucifer

In a time before this creation, Lucifer an archangel, was found to be in rebellion to God and the story of Esther and Vashti is just an echo of this event. In a Kingdom of perfect order, perfect obedience (out of love) and perfect submission, any disobedience brings about disorder and threatens the stability of the whole. Lucifer decided that he wanted to sit in the sides of the north and be like God. He challenged God’s rule and threatened His Kingdom through being unwilling to remain obedient to the Almighty. What Started with Lucifer spread (just as the natural counselors of the King had warned) to others within our Father’s kingdom and eventually one third of the angels rebelled with the fallen one. Like Vashti, God (the King) had to deal with the rebellion and so Lucifer and his fallen angels were cast out of heaven.

Disobedience is the source of all conflict

Disobedience is the source of all conflict. In God’s perfect Kingdom Lucifer became disobedient and corrupted others to join him. In the Garden of Eden it was the disobedience of Eve that lead to the disobedience of Adam. Disobedience is, in its most elemental form, simply deviating from the will of God. This is the basis of all sin and the root cause of all suffering. When we set our minds to be obedient we reverse this process and everything starts to come into alignment with His will. To the extent that we let Him live His life through us, we are re-made into His image and likeness. If rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, obedience is as the holiness of God.

Our homes are to be pictures of heaven

Our homes are to be pictures of heavenly obedience. As we organize ourselves around Christ, we become an example of His submission to His Father and this submission permeates everything we are and do. We love Him because He first loved us and we willingly submit to His will because of that love. Our wives and children submit to their husbands and fathers, not because they fear them, but because they love them. They trust and that trust encourages them to be willing to obey, even when they do not understand. True submission is not oppression but rather an eager obedience given freely out of love and respect. Those who demand obedience through fear are not Christlike but rather simple bullies that know not God.

There is a generation

We live in a disrespectful generation. Many are taught, from our early years, to disregard and disrespect authority. We are told that those who have the rule over us are selfish, evil, and uncaring. Women mock men as mere animals driven by lust and appetite. Some women even refer to men as “dogs” even though they are made in the image and likeness of God. Children are taught that their parents do not understand them and are incapable of relating to them. Unlike eastern societies, some young people despise those of old age rather than respect the wisdom of their years.

God says,

“There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Proverbs 30:11,12

We are not of this earth

As Christians we are not from this Earth, but the country that we come from is a heavenly one. We have a different set of customs, sensibilities, and morals. When we are reviled we bless, when we are wronged we forgive, when others spitefully use us we return good for their evil. In a world full of rebellion we submit both to our heavenly Father and to those who have authority over us. Our homes are to be models of heavenly submission, willingly given out of heartfelt love and respect. Our children honor their fathers and mothers, not because they must, but because of reverence and awe.

True obedience is a function of God’s Spirit living through us

True obedience cannot be achieved through our natural efforts for very long; our flesh is just too opposed to it. Godly submission starts with our submission to the Holy Spirit. First we confess our sins and ask Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. Secondly, we yield our tongue to His will as we speak in other tongues. It is perfected when we fully yield the rest of our body, allowing His divine love to flow into us. When Christ lives in us and through us, his submission becomes our very nature (because it is His nature.) It is as effortless and as natural, as breathing.

You don’t have to do it on your own

In conclusion, if you find obedience difficult know that you do not have to do it on your own. Seek to be filled with His Spirit and allow Him to live His life through you. Allow the Holy Spirit to take over,Christ’s yoke will truly be easy and this burden will be light. Know that as you make little efforts to become submissive, that God will bless you. What was once difficult will become very natural and free flowing. Remember, we live in a generation that is not obedient, so becoming obedient will seem a bit strange at first.

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Were There No Graves In Egypt?

Oct05
by Michael King on October 5, 2013 at 9:17 am
Posted In: contemporary christian issues
Egypt

God says,

“And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord. And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”

Exodus 14:10-12

Longing for the leeks and garlic of Egypt

There are times in our lives when we are tempted to despair and accuse those around us of mishandling the dire situations we face.  Realizing our circumstances, we glance back at where we came from.  Many wonder, at that time, if it would have been better to have stayed put where they were. Hindsight becomes 20/10 when second guessing everything and everyone around us.

However Egypt, no matter how good it looks in retrospect, is, was, and will forever be synonymous with bondage.  Breaking free of bondage is never an easy task.  In fact, the longer we are bound, the harder it is to break free of it.  To those who have known nothing else but slavery, the benefits of broken shackles, especially when it involves sacrifice, seems dubious at best. Given the unknown risks, we wonder if the costs of breaking the chains that bind are even worth the trouble.

Freedom can be scary

Some people, who stay in prison a long time, become “institutionalized”.   This means that some become so accustomed to incarceration, they find the thought of freedom terrifying.  Many Christians, bound so long by legalism, find freedom from bondage terrifying too.  Satan tempts some, when things get rough, to long for the comfort and security of their former chains.

The Devil always tries to prevent our deliverance.  For him, it is a battle to the death, and he has nothing to lose by risking everything to keep us in chains.  However, Christ shed his blood for each one of us, and Satan is a defeated foe.  Though the final battle has not yet taken place, fallen Lucifer’s faith is sealed and there is no escape. Here is a truth,

“As God stood with the children of Israel at the Red Sea, Pharaoh’s army was “as good as dead” even before it arrived.”

God demonstrates, through parting the Red Sea, His ability to deliver anyone out of any circumstance.  What looked like total defeat was, in fact, God’s opportunity to gain total victory and show forth His glory.

Trials may be opportunities in disguise

Led by the Spirit, God will put us in situations that often look as though they are disasters in the making.  Sometimes, our Father leads us into places that, if He does not come through, bad consequences ensue.  However, as we mature, we begin to see trials as opportunities for God to show Himself strong in our lives.  As we follow God into the impossible predicaments, we automatically expect the improbable.  Facing overwhelming odds, we declare, “our Father has 10,000 different angels to deliver me, even if I can’t see a single one of them.”

God loves it when, in our troubles, we say  “though He slay me yet will I serve Him”.  We bring healing to our Father’s heart when we simply believe what He says. Pure faith, the kind that moves mountains, believes what God speaks even when everything else appears to contradict Him.

Anyone can have mustard seed faith

Even our small faith can be very powerful.  Christ said even the mustard seed faith enables us to move mountains.  Why is this so?  It is because God, pleased by our smallest faith, moves mountains for us. Believe our Father, even in the smallest way, and God will make the impossible possible.  Moses raised his staff over the waters, simply believing the word that God Spoke.  This small act of faith, done in the midst of such unbelief, moved God to part the Red Sea.

The next time a situation arises that seems impossible, simply stand firm in your belief.  Calmly say, “My God is able and He will deliver me.”  Even the smallest faith in great adversity impresses God.  When God sees you believing in the midst of impossible odds, like Joshua, He will move heaven and earth for you.

Sail On Sailor by Mustard Seed Faith

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