Jul. 27, 2017

Genesis 12:4 Exodus 3:1-22 Matthew 4:18-22 Luke 6:38 Acts 1:8

One of the most fascinating things to me is the relationship between someone who is blind and their seeing eye dog. There was a story about how dogs are selected, some as young as puppy's and the training these special dogs go through to graduate ultimately becoming the lifelong companion of someone in need. The cost of this training is approximately $50,000.00 per dog, even if they do not graduate.

The person who receives their dog will have developed a unique bond and will give their total trust to the dog. The person may want to lead their dog a certain way but the relationship and trust developed between the two will dictate that the blind person must allow the dog their obedience to arrive at the destination safely.

The scripture references for this message all feature men, Abram in Genesis believing in the God who told him to leave his comfort zone to a place God would show him. God didn't tell him where but it didn't matter to Abram. Because of his blind obedience God pronounced a seven fold Blessing into his life. This Blessing is so profound that those of us who believe are living today in that seven fold covenant that was made in Genesis.

Moses in Exodus, was called by God to a bush burning but not consumed in the desert and when he turned to see that sight God spoke to him. The blind obedience Moses showed God enabled him to lead millions of people to God's promised land of milk and honey.

In the New Testament Gospel of Matthew, ordinary men were fishing when Jesus walked by the sea of Galilee and said to Simon (called Peter) and Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother saying very simply...Follow me and I will make you fishers of men. Verse 22 of Matthew chapter 4 says...And they immediately left the ship and their father and followed Him. The blind obedience of these 4 plus others who were called became the Disciples Jesus used to perform extraordinary things once they received Power from on High.

God calls you and I in unique ways as well, not to perform things on our own because we can't. But if we will give Him our Blind Obedience He can perform amazing things that will benefit those in need and win souls for His kingdom. That is really what He wants from us, the absolute obedience a blind person has for their dog is what He needs from you and I.

This message came from a conversation a Evangelist and I had recently. We had attended a going away dinner for another Evangelist who gave God her Blind Obedience for foreign missions. She is in the Dominican Republic performing amazing things for those in need. She had come back to Memphis because God Blessed her with a home but she needed items to make it inhabitable. 

She contacted people about things she needed, furniture was among them. My wife and I had recently put most of our furniture in storage because of moving from our home. I had posted a message about what happened to my wife and I earlier and God used our incident to Bless the Evangelist with enough furniture to be put on a boat and sent to the Dominican Republic for her house He Blessed her with. Yep, Romans 8:28 is definitely in this...And we know that all things work together for good to those them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose....Glory. 

The reason we have problems with God's call to us is fear. Let's be honest, reading about people in the Bible, allowing God to use them for His purpose is a great read but when it comes to many of us...fear outweighs our willingness to become obedient.  It is much easier for us to believe the lie satan throws at us than the precious promises God has for us.

We will use the fear of demands of the job on our time as a reason why we can't be obedient. The truth is all God wants is for you to do as The Holy Spirit tells you...like witnessing to someone next to you about how good God is, how good He can be in their lives. We fear having to give up too much of what we have. The truth is all we have came from God. The money is His, the home is His, the Bible says the cattle on a thousand hills is His and that includes the hills the cattle are on.

We will use the fear of failing, what if I say the wrong things...do the wrong things. What if someone challenges my faith. The truth is there is no failure in God. The Bible say's when you are challenged about defending what you believe, Jesus said ...the Holy Ghost will teach you what to say in that very hour Luke 12:12...

We will say, I don't have to give what God wants me to. My funds won't allow me to contribute even though I know I should. The truth is Luke 6:38 says what Jesus taught...Give and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. Giving and receiving go together hand in hand. As we give, God gives back in various ways.      

The price paid by Jesus on the old rugged cross was for our salvation. Trying to be the top dog, the number one person at whatever it may be in this world may be your aspiration but compared to what is waiting for you in Jesus...this world can't hold a candle to it.  Believe in Him and have life eternal, that is what our job is to be...especially now because this world is in one chaotic mess. 

God so loved us, He gave us Jesus, Jesus cared so much for us He did not want us to be left comfortless when He left earth going back to be with the Father. We have the Holy Spirit abiding in us whose task is to provide us with the POWER we need to witness for Christ. That is what Acts 1:7 tells us Jesus said...But ye ahall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judaea. and in Samaria and unto the utter most part of the earth.

In this world, many things will want your obedience, some will demand it. Who will you give it too? The one who can't do anything no matter how great they claim they are or to the one who was...is...and forever will be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. My Blind Obedience goes To Him who sits on the Throne, I will forever give Him Honor and Glory Forever.