BY: EVANG MICHAEL OKOLIE,

Obedience is an important tool for receiving blessings. Children who wish to be loved and cherished by their parents must be obedient. Obedience is important in a Christian community. No wonder God is always close to people who are obedient to his instructions, he does not withdraw his blessings from them. The problem of man dwells in disobedience, God created us and prepared a place of rest and fulfillment for us in the Garden of Eden, but the devil our enemy denied us that place due to disobedience. (Gen 3vs 1)

…if you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands that I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. Deut 28 vs. 1.

Note: He said if you fully obey, he did not say if you obey some or try to obey. Your inability to fully obey God is the cause of your pain and tragedies on earth. When you choose the laws you will obey, you will lose the blessings of others and also reap the reward of disobedience.

God commanded Joshua to destroy everything in the city of Anakites and her surrounding towns. He obeyed, however; he destroyed everything in the major cities but left the smaller cities around. Joshua thought he had saved his people.

At that time, Joshua destroyed the Anakites from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua destroyed them and their towns. No Anakites were left in Israelite territory, only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive. Joshua 11 vs 21

He spared those in the cities of Gaza, Gath and Ashdod where few were existing, underrating their influence. The result of

this, some years later, the people of Gath (philistines) started terrorizing Israel. Till today they are still thorns in the flesh of the Israelites. The people of Gath gave birth to a traitor called Goliath who humiliated them and troubled them until God raised David to rescue them. Many believers don’t like to pray for the death of their enemies because they want them to live and see what they become tomorrow. But I tell you; if you don’t kill them now you may end up in the grave they prepared for you. You have to pray for destruction of those who wish you death. It is the plan of God that you must pray for your enemies, no condition is attached to this prayer which means you must pray for them in other to live…

The problem of believers today is an exception; they obey all the laws except a few. These few look so insignificant but they are capable of killing and destroying an entire generation. Salt is one of the smallest ingredients in cooking but when neglected, the food will lose its taste. This is how exception in obedience of God’s law affects our end results. As you read this article. recall your attitude towards God’s law and instructions. Begin to ask God for mercy and amend your ways. Many would have given God every other thing on earth except their son but Abraham obeyed God totally and gave his only son to be sacrificed to Him. He blessed Abraham by making him the father of many nations. He did not allow him to kill his only son Isaac to show that obedience

is better than sacrifice. Avoid exceptions in obedience to God’s laws. How many of the prophet’s messages have you neglected cause of doubt? You doubt God whenever you doubt his prophets. When you doubt his prophet you will not prosper 2 Chronicle 20 vs 20). The king’s attendant doubted prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 7 v 2, he died and did not benefit from that miracle. Never doubt the prophets of God so that you will prosper and live.

CONSEQUENCES OF DISOBEDIENCE

The consequences of disobedience render its victims useless and unwanted. It is destructive and painful. Few of these consequences are enumerated below;

1. It creates barrier between you and God.
2. It disqualifies you from God’s blessings. It endangers your future.
3. It attracts punishment.
4. It kills.

Above are a few consequences of disobedience. God is never happy with disobedient children. David was the man after God’s heart because of his attitude towards obedience to God’s instructions. God is a God of law who does not joke with his laws. His laws are his word and when obeyed they bring life and fulfillment. You distance yourself from God’s presence and blessings whenever you die and cannot behold iniquity so avoid sin for his presence to be with you. The future of the Israelites was ended spared their enemies in foreign lands (Joshua 11). When God’s presence is far from you, the presence is far from you, the presence of the devil is near; hence danger is around and can destroy you anytime.

Disobedience also kills, God commanded our ancestors not to eat the fruit in the middle of the Garden so that they may live, but out of disobedience they ate it and introduced death to the human race. It is always better to obey than disobey. I therefore urge you dear reader, to amend your ways if you are guilty of disobedience. Beware of of disobedience and embrace obedience then it shall be well with you. IT IS WELL