1 00:00:12,559 --> 00:00:15,494 Welcome to the intercessor's corner where life's questions 2 00:00:15,494 --> 00:00:18,214 and topics are met with biblical truth and 3 00:00:18,214 --> 00:00:19,355 spirit led wisdom. 4 00:00:19,894 --> 00:00:22,554 Here's this week's work to fuel and fortify 5 00:00:22,774 --> 00:00:23,914 your prayer walk. 6 00:00:27,654 --> 00:00:30,554 Hello, and welcome to today's episode entitled 7 00:00:31,230 --> 00:00:33,329 obedience opens every door. 8 00:00:34,829 --> 00:00:37,890 I wanna talk about it from today's scripture, 9 00:00:38,350 --> 00:00:39,969 John fourteen twenty three, 10 00:00:40,750 --> 00:00:42,450 where it says, Jesus replied, 11 00:00:42,909 --> 00:00:45,869 because I will only reveal myself to those 12 00:00:45,869 --> 00:00:47,495 who love me and obey 13 00:00:47,875 --> 00:00:49,975 me. The father will love them too, 14 00:00:50,435 --> 00:00:52,755 and we will come to them and live 15 00:00:52,755 --> 00:00:53,495 with him. 16 00:00:55,234 --> 00:00:55,734 Now 17 00:00:56,435 --> 00:00:59,635 one of the chapters in my book, Kneeling 18 00:00:59,635 --> 00:01:00,534 at the Throne, 19 00:01:02,170 --> 00:01:03,310 a prayer devotional 20 00:01:04,010 --> 00:01:05,390 has a chapter called 21 00:01:06,170 --> 00:01:08,030 the blessing is in obedience. 22 00:01:09,530 --> 00:01:11,150 Now why do I say that? 23 00:01:11,849 --> 00:01:13,790 Because the scripture tells us, 24 00:01:15,135 --> 00:01:17,614 God told the people of Israel, if you 25 00:01:17,614 --> 00:01:19,715 love me, obey my commandments. 26 00:01:21,375 --> 00:01:22,435 There was a condition. 27 00:01:23,854 --> 00:01:26,194 We often associate love with 28 00:01:26,655 --> 00:01:28,515 physical or emotional things, 29 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,019 but the scripture is talking about it 30 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:33,819 as an act of obedience. 31 00:01:35,719 --> 00:01:38,359 Now we often if you're a parent, we 32 00:01:38,359 --> 00:01:40,280 get a little frustrated with our children when 33 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:41,579 our children don't obey 34 00:01:44,255 --> 00:01:47,635 and inflict consequence on them because of them 35 00:01:47,694 --> 00:01:48,594 being disobedient. 36 00:01:49,694 --> 00:01:51,395 But consider the fact that 37 00:01:51,935 --> 00:01:54,594 God being the perfect parent has guidelines 38 00:01:55,180 --> 00:01:57,099 to how he wants us to act and 39 00:01:57,099 --> 00:01:58,239 approach him also, 40 00:01:59,500 --> 00:02:00,000 but 41 00:02:01,019 --> 00:02:03,280 much more than a natural parent, 42 00:02:03,739 --> 00:02:07,519 he wants to build and enhance the relationship 43 00:02:08,604 --> 00:02:10,444 in many ways that we would have never 44 00:02:10,444 --> 00:02:11,425 even thought of. 45 00:02:12,604 --> 00:02:14,384 Obedience isn't about rules. 46 00:02:14,925 --> 00:02:16,544 To God, it's about relationship. 47 00:02:18,925 --> 00:02:21,185 He gives us a template and a guideline 48 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,900 to what holy living looks like. 49 00:02:25,599 --> 00:02:28,340 What does it mean to bear the name 50 00:02:28,879 --> 00:02:30,340 of the divine one? 51 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:32,500 Well, 52 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:36,340 it's about trusting God enough to say yes 53 00:02:36,655 --> 00:02:38,514 Even when the path isn't clear, 54 00:02:39,375 --> 00:02:41,715 it's about standing up for things 55 00:02:43,055 --> 00:02:45,534 we know to do right, even if it's 56 00:02:45,534 --> 00:02:48,354 an uncomfortable place and requires courage, 57 00:02:48,989 --> 00:02:50,669 which by the way, God will have to 58 00:02:50,669 --> 00:02:54,349 provide because in times like that, it will 59 00:02:54,349 --> 00:02:55,169 test you 60 00:02:55,870 --> 00:02:59,150 and to what you believe or reveal what 61 00:02:59,150 --> 00:03:00,049 you don't believe. 62 00:03:01,405 --> 00:03:03,405 Many of our blessings in our lives are 63 00:03:03,405 --> 00:03:05,504 waiting on the other side of obedience. 64 00:03:06,444 --> 00:03:09,324 Jesus told his disciples, everything I do, I 65 00:03:09,324 --> 00:03:10,625 only do it because 66 00:03:11,084 --> 00:03:13,104 the father has instructed me. 67 00:03:13,485 --> 00:03:15,504 When he gave them the Lord's prayer, 68 00:03:16,189 --> 00:03:19,569 he opened the prayer up with, our father 69 00:03:19,629 --> 00:03:22,129 who is in heaven, holy is your name. 70 00:03:22,669 --> 00:03:23,889 Your kingdom come, 71 00:03:24,189 --> 00:03:25,409 your will be done. 72 00:03:26,030 --> 00:03:27,889 It's never about us. 73 00:03:28,455 --> 00:03:30,474 It's always about the will of the father. 74 00:03:30,935 --> 00:03:33,574 We're only the conduit or the servant that 75 00:03:33,574 --> 00:03:35,834 he uses when we give him our yes. 76 00:03:37,894 --> 00:03:39,435 Your next step 77 00:03:39,735 --> 00:03:42,314 might feel small, or maybe it feels daunting, 78 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,379 but small obedience creates big breakthroughs. 79 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:52,540 If he can trust you with a little 80 00:03:53,719 --> 00:03:54,460 in obedience, 81 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:56,699 then he'll give you more. 82 00:03:58,314 --> 00:04:00,974 I talk about God isn't looking for perfection. 83 00:04:01,915 --> 00:04:04,474 He's looking for a willing heart. But can 84 00:04:04,474 --> 00:04:06,794 I tell you that when you walk in 85 00:04:06,794 --> 00:04:08,735 obedience, you will achieve perfection? 86 00:04:10,875 --> 00:04:12,574 Because it puts you in 87 00:04:13,370 --> 00:04:15,150 a correct heart posture. 88 00:04:15,930 --> 00:04:16,669 It says, 89 00:04:17,610 --> 00:04:18,110 Lord, 90 00:04:18,490 --> 00:04:21,709 even though I don't understand, I still follow. 91 00:04:22,730 --> 00:04:24,430 I often liken it to 92 00:04:25,129 --> 00:04:26,189 being in the military. 93 00:04:28,035 --> 00:04:29,715 Now I myself have never been in the 94 00:04:29,715 --> 00:04:31,735 military, but I do know enough 95 00:04:32,194 --> 00:04:32,694 that 96 00:04:33,314 --> 00:04:35,154 you have a soldier and you have a 97 00:04:35,154 --> 00:04:37,814 commanding officer, and the commanding officer 98 00:04:38,275 --> 00:04:40,035 tells the soldier what it is they want 99 00:04:40,035 --> 00:04:41,814 them to do, and the soldier 100 00:04:42,579 --> 00:04:43,560 is not allowed 101 00:04:44,180 --> 00:04:45,240 to talk back. 102 00:04:46,259 --> 00:04:49,379 They take the detail the the commanding officer 103 00:04:49,379 --> 00:04:53,399 gives and replies with, yes, sir, yes, ma'am, 104 00:04:54,259 --> 00:04:54,759 and 105 00:04:55,544 --> 00:04:56,044 goes 106 00:04:56,664 --> 00:04:58,824 about fulfilling whatever the task is that they 107 00:04:58,824 --> 00:04:59,485 were given. 108 00:05:00,745 --> 00:05:01,644 So consider 109 00:05:02,584 --> 00:05:03,564 when you obey 110 00:05:05,225 --> 00:05:06,365 heaven aligns, 111 00:05:08,089 --> 00:05:08,990 peace increases, 112 00:05:10,170 --> 00:05:13,149 and the purpose for God in your life 113 00:05:13,209 --> 00:05:14,350 will become clearer. 114 00:05:16,169 --> 00:05:17,389 It's about prayer. 115 00:05:18,250 --> 00:05:20,029 It's about applying his word. 116 00:05:21,209 --> 00:05:22,269 And it's about 117 00:05:22,569 --> 00:05:23,069 remembering 118 00:05:23,504 --> 00:05:24,004 that 119 00:05:25,824 --> 00:05:26,324 obedience 120 00:05:26,865 --> 00:05:29,764 is the key that opens every door.