Are you playing your part for the promises to be fulfilled?

We may not like the idea but some of God’s promises are conditional.

He speaks but we must respond with obedience or there is no deal.

God cannot lie.  So if He has made you a promise and it has not come to pass, it can mean a few things, two of which are below.

1.  It’s not time…continue to wait in expectation.
2.  You didn’t hold up your end of the bargain and consequently you delay or nullify the promises.

It’s amazing how we (myself included) are quick to rehearse the promises God made us but don’t follow through on the conditions of the promises. I was reading 1 King 2 which details David’s farewell speech to his son Solomon.  David is on his death bed and tells the newly appointed king to keep the commands of the Lord so that the promises that God made will come to pass.  David recognized that the promises of the Lord were not automatic.  He imparts the keys for success to the newly appointed king. Many of us get excited when we hear the promises of God and rightfully so.  However, I want to encourage you to put some feet to your excitement by walking in obedience.  What has God promised you?  What is He requiring of you for those promises to be fulfilled?  Are you walking in obedience?

 

Disobedience Opens the Door to the Enemy

God’s word and my personal experiences have taught me that disobedience opens the door for the enemy to oppress me.   Disobedience is an invitation to God to lift His hand of protection from my life.  Daniel 1 says that the Lord gave the enemy the victory over His people because of their disobedience.  Also in Judges 13 we see the Lord allowing His people to be taken over by the Philistines because of their disobedience.  These are just two of many examples in scripture.

It is not realistic to think I can insulate myself from trouble because it comes knocking on everyone’s door.  However, I want to walk in obedience so that when trouble comes knocking it is Jesus that answers the door.  When He answers, I ALWAYS WIN.  I do not want to evict Jesus through my disobedience.  I desperately need His protection.  I cannot do life on my own.  I cannot fight the devil in my own strength.  I just can’t.  He is a real enemy.  When trouble comes my money, my degree, my connections, NONE of them can provide a lasting protection.

For the record, the enemy is ALWAYS on the attack.  He is a relentless foe.  He is so serious about doing his job well…to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).  I cannot afford to be left uncovered.  There were seasons of my life where I walked in disobedience and the scars were there to prove it.  There were painful consequences that I had to deal with even after receiving Jesus’ forgiveness. The price that I had to pay for disobedience was not worth the pain.

God always requires obedience.  We don’t get to pick and choose when or what we obey. A pattern of disobedience brings consequences.  There is no way around it.  God puts restrictions and instructs us for our own good and ultimately to bring Him glory.   The beautiful thing about God is that He asks us to obey but also gives us the grace to do it.  He wants His children to close the door to the enemy and claim the victory we already have in Him!  There are tremendous rewards now and later for those that obey.

Are you being attacked by the enemy?  Do you feel like you have the victory or are you being devoured?  Are you walking in obedience?  If not repent, receive God’s forgiveness and grace and begin to do ALL you know you should do.

And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. 1 John 2:17(NLT)