The Power Of Obedience In A Believer's Life

      I have been sitting here, just ruminating on all the experiences that have come my way over the last week or two.  And I'm seeing God working in so many ways, taking people in new directions and broadening their understanding of His Word.  It is absolutely exhilarating!
     I am seeing Believers who are willing to walk out their faith in ways that make them uncomfortable.  They are willing to challenge the Church's "sacred cows of theology" to discover whether they are actually Biblical or not. And if the teachings prove to be false, they are making the decision to let the Holy Spirit guide them into new truths from the Father. And speaking of "new truths", Christians are actually discovering old truths in a new light.  It's as if they are seeing the Bible for the first time, and uncovering fundamental facts that have been hidden through centuries of false doctrine.  These are facts and concepts that have never been taught as part of their denominational belief system, and it is awakening their spirits with a hunger for more knowledge of God.

     Believers who have been told (or taught) that signs and wonders, mighty works of God, and miracles are no longer for the Church are searching Scripture to verify that claim.  They are willing to look at the Word to see if the spiritual gifts are for today; or to determine just what is expected of us after they read that Jesus gave us authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the Enemy. The Body of Christ is rediscovering that mankind's dominion over the earth [which was established in Genesis] has been restored through Jesus's resurrection and defeat of Death.  People aren't afraid to ask questions like "Is God really in control of everything"?  Or, "Were Healing and the Prophetic Gifts lost when the Canon closed"?  Or, "Can Christians be demonized"? -- and then to search out the answers by actually going to Scripture, instead of relying on someone else's  opinion!
     I have been blessed to be in the company of people who are willing to take a fresh look at the Great Commission (in Matthew 28 and Mark 16), and to see the exact commands coming from our Lord's own mouth. Unlike the accepted doctrine of the Church that the Great Commission is to spread the message of salvation through Christ's death on the cross (and the forgiveness of our sins), Jesus didn't actually make that message His focal point.  Although that particular theme is correct, that wasn't what He commanded the Apostles (or us) to do. He said to baptize in His Name, cast out demons, heal the sick, and spread the Gospel of the Kingdom [that these things are to be done "on earth as it is in Heaven"].  We are to be seeing signs like people speaking in tongues, and drinking poison and being unharmed.  We are to do these things, and expect these signs.  Anything less is a product of Unbelief!
     So, I am excited to be involved with people who want to obey the Word of the Lord because they love Him.  It's really as simple as that.  I have been in the midst of people who believe Jesus when He says He came to set the captives free, and they are willing to co-labor with Him and the Holy Spirit to make that happen. These are people who are dedicating their lives [and livelihood] to spend hours ministering to people's inner wounds that keep them in bondage to Satan's schemes and deception.  The things of this world have begun to look dull and useless to them, while the opportunity to participate with Jesus in freeing someone from the Enemy's clutches is worth more than gold.
     But I have to tell you that it requires obedience to step outside the comfort zone of what the Church has established as "acceptable".  Obedience is a willful act and it is the fruit of your decision to honor Jesus as your Authority.  Not that I don't honor the position of Pastor and Teacher and Prophet, or the teachings of Biblical scholars and theologians.  But my Ultimate Authority is Jesus Christ and what His Word tells me. All that Christ did in His life on earth was done according to the Scriptures, and He did it in obedience to His Father who established the Word.  Our lives should mirror that same commitment and obedience.
     And for some reason, Christians are afraid of the word "power" when it is applied to them, but I am here to tell you that there is real power in the life of a Believer who is willing to be obedient to Jesus's commands and authority.  When you are walking in Obedience, you will find that the floodgates of Heaven open up, and God is able to work through you, demonstrating His Power in the fruit that you bear for His Kingdom.  People are healed -- physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The spiritual forces and demonic beings of the Dark Side are put into submission under the Name of Jesus. People step into their destinies as Children of God, and prosperity and blessings take root in their lives. Peoples' minds, bodies, and souls can be literally transformed by our free will decision to obey our Master and Lord!  In effect, our obedience is the catalyst that releases God's Power into this realm, and pushes back the cloud of evil that blankets this domain.
     It is God's Power, and His alone -- make no mistake -- that changes the lives of everyone; both the Saved and the Lost. But there is power in a Believer's life when you know that you are in obedience to God's will.  You know you have the capacity or ability to affect someone's life [for eternity] by being in fellowship with the One True God, and being a willing vessel to carry out His Will. It's not a power that you can boast about or exhibit for all the world to see.  It is not power as measured by the world's standards.  It is simply the fruit of the spirit of an obedient servant of the Kingdom. And you will find that you have possession of Divine Power to demolish strongholds, tear down arguments, and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God.  May the Lord grant each of us a heart of obedience in this season of our life.

Psalm 119:13-16   "With my lips I declare all the rules of Your mouth. In the way of Your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your Word".