This subject speaks deeply into your concept of obedience to God.
To understand this subject we have to define obedience to God. This has nothing to do with religion.
Very simply, God speaks and you and I obey without compromise or argument. For example, you bring an issue before God and He responds in different ways. Here are some typical responses of God:
Let go. I will deal with this.
Rest in Me.
Follow My instructions.
Trust Me implicitly.
I am at work through the Body of Christ.
Look no further than Me.
Walk by faith.
Live in My light and reject all darkness.
First of all, you have to be in a personal and embracing relationship with the Living Christ. You have to be in touch with the Holy Spirit and consistently hearing His voice.
Secondly, when Jesus speaks you and I must learn to respond with immediate obedience. This can only happen when you accept the words of God through the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. This is God speaking to the character of God inside you.
If you accept the words of Jesus through your intellect you will not be obedient. You will rationalize this in a way to avoid action.
The conflict is between how you make decisions. Are you directed by the Spirit of God or self? God doesn’t want you to make decisions based on logic or life circumstances. He wants total obedience to His instructions and guidance. This is how you walk by faith and please the heart of God.
The promises of God are of no value until you and I understand obedience to God. The promises come into fruition by your faith and obedience to God.
The discipline of obedience will take you into a different sphere of life with God. You will see God for who He is and live in His reality.
Who in their right mind would choose to enter into a den of wild lions? We don’t function from a right mind. We make decisions by faith and obedience with the mind of Christ.
Hal Hollister Ministry 