By Faith we Obey HIM

As I write this blog I come to this subject as I struggle to know precisely what GOD will have me do here and I am drawn once again to the experience of Abraham

Can you imagine hearing GOD talk to you? Can you imagine the thoughts and feelings that Abraham had as GOD commanded him? What command did the God of heaven give to Abraham?
"Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee." Genesis 12:1.
...
"So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran." Genesis 12:4.

We can now look back and see why, and for what purpose GOD commanded him this way. We can see that HE gave Abraham a way to understand a little of what GOD himself would be doing in giving HIS only SON for our salvation. So... What promise did Abraham's obedience result, or bring forth fruit?
"By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Hebrews 11:8.

As difficult as that first step would be for us today, that was just a "beginning exercise" of Abraham's faith. That was the easy part. Now...What later command did the Lord give to Abraham?
"And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of." Genesis 22:2.

Some people have twisted these verses to make it look like GOD is some sort of horrible figment of a sick mind, but if we read the entire story in context and compare it with the scriptures in the New Testement regarding this same event we are enlightened to see how GOD was teaching Abraham.
Do you remember upon what ground were the previous promises made to Abraham later renewed?
"And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Genesis 22:16-18.

and...What was it that enabled Abraham to obey the great test?
"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son." Hebrews 11:17.

...by faith Abraham obeyed

So then, what were these works of Abraham an evidence?
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?" James 2:21.

Notice this...By his actions, or works, what was shown to be perfect?
"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" James 2:22.
(not faith alone....but faith with his works results in faith being made perfect)

When GOD reveals the smallest thing to us, it is imortant that we act on that thing so that HE can reveal more to us. This exercise of our faith strengthens us.
therefore, What is genuine faith?
"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." Galatians 5:6.

Then ... just what is the purpose of the grace of Christ?
"By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:" Romans 1:5.

Can you imagine what would happen today if we would determine in our heart to obey Him?...to take hold of HIS hand , to take hold of HIS strength and choose to obey HIM? ... Indeed ,it will take HIS power in our lives for us to do it, and HE will give it to us.
Notice...What was the effect of the Apostles' preaching upon the hearers?
"And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith." Acts 6:7.

Have you ever looked at your own life and realized that your spiritual growth has slowed down or maybe even stopped, or even worse...reverted to some old ways?
GOD is gently calling us to changed lives. He reveals things to us so we can call upon HIM to make those changes. Sometimes the devil, the enemy of our souls, will try to make us believe that we do not have to do these things, remember...the devil himself will trasform himself and pretend to be and angel of light or even higher.... be sure to cling tightly to the clear WORD of GOD.
How highly does God regard obedience in the lives of men?
"And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." 1 Samuel 15:22.

Ask yourself this..."What example of obedience to the will of the Father has Christ given to us"?
"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:8.

And then think about this... "What great cost did even He learn the lesson of obedience"?
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered." Hebrews 5:8.
Wow!!! Jesus learned obedience... He truly did allow himself to be subject to the same trials and temtations that we humans face, He laid aside his own Divine powers and was only able to learn , obey and overcome by calling on His FATHER. What and example and encouragement to us!!!

So...to whom did Christ become the author of salvation?
"And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." Hebrews 5:9.

obey? such a small word...but such power... because how can we obey? Like Abraham...we can only obey by faith. GOD has promised us the strength to obey HIM if we will only take it.

So then...How complete should this obedience be?
"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Have you ever noticed that many church groups follow so many tradiditons? Some traditions are not found in GOD's WORD at all.
What important fact did Jesus mention about the Pharisees?
"And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." Mark 7:9.

This is serious! What will be the future of those who refuse to obey the gospel of Christ?
"And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thessalonians 1:7,8.

On the other hand... What is the result of faithfully obeying the truth by the enabling grace of Christ?
"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:" 1 Peter 1:22.

"If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land." Isaiah 1:19.

Let us each one determine in our hearts that we will grasp hold of HIS hand and follow HIS every command... Thank GOD that HE forgives us for the sins we have committed as we ask to be forgiven in the name of Jesus Christ, and then HE goes on to give us the strength to be cleansed from all unrighteousness...
See 1 John 1:9