Read Deuteronomy 11:8-17

Obedience does not only make a way for us to experience God’s presence (John 14:21,23) and to display His “wisdom and intelligence” as true witnesses (Deut. 4:6), it makes a way for us to take possession of that which God has for us (Deut.11:8-17).

Furthermore, in order for us to thrive in the realm of our blessing, obedience is necessary (Deut.11:9). In other words when we get answers to our prayers and we are actually living out what we prayed for or know God’s prophetic promises are being out worked, it is not the time to be complacent or “sit on our laurels” we must continue steadfastly to obey He who made our breakthrough possible.

When we consider God’s ways not only from the perspective of the New Testament but the Old Testament as well, we realise time and time again that as Israel of old, we do not get anything for nothing when we walk with God through Christ.

I am feeling a nudging of the Holy Spirit to be attentive to these verses (Deut. 11: 8-17 see above).

The meaning of Deuteronomy 11:8-15 is paraphrased in Isaiah 1:19 as follows:

“if you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land” (ESV).

In addition, these New Testament scriptures remind us of the magnitude of God’s blessings and promises to the born again believer:

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard,and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT).

“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21).

This nudge is because I am experiencing some breakthroughs in certain areas of my life.Likewise I am led to nudge you as well. You may however say “Deborah, I am not experiencing any breakthrough nor answers to prayer!” not a problem, the main fact that you are reading this is a sign that your time is nigh or is just around the corner. God foreknew that you would read this and is saying something to you right now. Tune in with your heart or spiritual eyes and you will hear Him. Receive this as a word of counsel and encouragement whether you are within the realm of your blessing, waiting on God or you just feel like you are barely surviving.

While I take this as a word of counsel for the breakthrough I am experiencing now, I also pray that I will remember these verses and other similar ones when I experience another breakthrough or fulfilment of other prophetic promises. At every stage of the journey we are on with Christ, we must remember to have the “key of obedience” firmly in our hands to use at all times. Let us never taking God of our Lord Jesus Christ for granted because as we can read from key scriptures while there are blessings galore at our disposal from a generous God, most of them are conditional; they require our obedience.

After God had spoken through Moses and explained the blessings awaiting Israel in the land He has given them, if they were obedient, He also warned

“16 “But be careful. Don’t let your heart be deceived so that you turn away from the LORD and serve and worship other gods. 17 If you do, the LORD’s anger will burn against you. He will shut up the sky and hold back the rain, and the ground will fail to produce its harvests. Then you will quickly die in that good land the LORD is giving you.”(Deut.11:16-17).

Worship of other gods is not just standing before an image or idol worshiping it, “other gods” are things that we give priority to, honour or glory to over and above the priority, honour and glory we give to God and our Lord Jesus Christ. This could be ourselves (self obsession, self elevation etc…), work, our personal business, a person or people, money etc…Let’s regularly examine our hearts in relation to this; as a regular check up at the doctor’s is good for us, so too is a regular check up of our hearts before God.

Also in the New Testament as in the Old, we are reminded that to have a sustained blessed life as a child of God there are conditions, some are as follows:

1.If we obey God’s command that we should confess our sins, then He will faithfully cleanse us from all wickedness or unrighteousness. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.(1 John 1:9 NLT).

2. If we are obedient, we will be loved by God and Jesus. In addition we will gain revelation of who Christ is, reserved only for the obedient. “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” (John 14:21 NLT)

3.Obedience will result in Father manifesting his love to us. He and Christ will abide with us. His glory will therefore be revealed in our lives and through us to bless multitudes. “Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.” (John 14:23 NLT).

4. God will only forgive us our sins if we forgive others their sins against us.”And forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us…“If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (Matthew 6:12,14 -15 NLT)

It is easy to have a blind spot or deafness to the conditions that God requires us to be attentive and responsive to before He releases blessings to us or prophecies are fulfilled (Believe me I know, I have been there!). Then we wonder why we are not advancing victoriously in our Christian walk.

Gracious Father,

today we ask you to forgive us for the times when we have disobeyed your commands. We also ask that you would deliver us from any tendency within to ignore parts of scripture or your voice requiring us to pay a price for the fulfilment of your purposes in our lives.

We pray LORD that you would cleanse us from any secret sins or presumptions that serve as obstacles to us living in total obedience to you.

In Jesus’ mighty name we pray, Amen.

“For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.”(Isaiah 44:3 NLT)

You are blessed, determine to stay blessed!

Deborah Esther

©April 2018Deborah E. Nyamekye