Theme: AFTER OBEDIENCE, WHAT’S NEXT?

Scripture: Deuteronomy 28:1-12 (page194)

INTRODUCTION:

1. When we are travelling the unknown roads, sometimes we get lost along the way. That is why today, there is the GPS (Global
Positioning System) which will guide us towards the correct path towards our destination. But, even if the GPS or the Maps will
lead us to the right way, if we do not obey it, we will get lost.

2. As Christians, we have our GPS. God gave us his words, the BIBLE to be our guide and map as we travel this world.
Remember, we are just travelers here and we are not permanent here on earth. Sometimes, we still get lost along the way because
we are not obeying our map, we are not obeying our Bible.

3. The Bible is full of stories of obedience and disobedience. And each decision has its own consequences. The choice is ours.

a. Adan and Eve – Disobedience leads to their fall.

b. Prophet Jonah – Disobedience leads to his punishment.
c. Lot’s Wife – Disobedience leads to the turning of salt.
d. And the story continues…

BODY:

1. After obedience, there is perfect healing.

Bible Character: NAAMAN (2 King 5:1-14 page366)

-King Naaman, is a soldier a high ranking official who suffers leprosy.

-He went to the king, gave him gold, silver and precious things in exchange for healing.
-But the king said, don’t you know me? I can surely cannot do that. You are in the wrong person.
-Prophet Elijah heard it, and said send him to me so that he may know that there is a prophet here.
-Ordered to go to the Jordan River (one of the dirtiest river) to dig seven times to be healed.
-At first, he complained, but because he wanted to be healed, he obeyed.
-And because of his obedience, he was healed.

Christian Life:
-We are like Naaman, we are suffering from many kinds of diseases.
-And when we are sick, we realized that money, possessions, gold are useless.
-We are willing to give whatever we have in exchange of perfect health.
-Sometimes, we go to the wrong person. As if you are a Senior Citizen going to a pediatrics.
-Or as if we are a person who is very sick but instead of going to a doctor we visit a carpenter.
-Like Naaman, we are barking on the wrong tree sometimes.
-But, we can also be healed if we obey GOD.
-Just like Naaman, you need to dip. Dip in the presence of GOD.; dip in the love of GOD.
-Dip in the mercy of GOD; dip in the grace of GOD and you will be healed.
-Obey GOD and be healed. LEPERS (Luke 17:14 page107)
-Exodus 15:26 (page70)

2. After obedience, there is a new hope waiting.

Bible Character: NOAH (Genesis 6:22 page7)/Genesis 7:5 (7)

-Noah can complain to GOD. What GOD wants him to do seems to be out of time.
-There was no sign of rain, nor a single drop of rain nor a dark cloud, there was none.
-People laugh at him, make mockery out of him but Noah obeyed the Lord.
-He did not listen to critics, he focused on the plan GOD gave him to do.
-God’s plan is specific. He gave a plan to Noah. Noah did not altered it but he obeyed it.
-And in the right time, GOD sent the rain and the flood to punish the earth.
-And only the family of NOAH was saved. And when they are floating for 40 days and 40 nights,
-GOD gave them a new hope, a new beginning.
-Because he obeyed GOD, he was given a new hope and a new beginning.

Christian Life:
-Sometimes, following GOD seems so hard. We feel what GOD wants us to is not of the time.
-Sometimes, we feel that what GOD wants us to do is not applicable nor beneficial for us.
-Sometimes, we may not be able to understand what GOD wants us to do and why we will do it.
-Sometimes, when we ask for signs to understand why GOD wants us to it, signs are not available.
-But it is in this moments that we have to obey GOD.
-Like Noah, when we obey GOD, people may laugh at us, people may mock at us, talk about us.
 -Don’t mind your critics, focus on the goal and on the plan GOD gave you to work out.
-For in the right time, people will realize, it is GOD who is working on you and with you.
-You only need to obey.
-When you obey, when you will be floating and floating in the floods of life, GOD will give you hope.
I Corinthians 15:58 (page230) / Galatians 6:9-10 (page249)

3. After obedience, there is a promotion and upliftment.

Bible Character: ABRAHAM (Genesis 17:4-7 page14)

-Abraham and Sarah was childless. It was in their old age that they were given a son.
-The Lord tested the faith of Abraham by asking him to offer his only son to the Lord.
-He have all the reasons not to do it, but because of faith, he obeyed the Lord.
-In his obedience, GOD saw his strong faith to the Lord and because of that, he was rewarded.
-He was made the father of all nations and he was given a covenant of blessings from the Lord.

Christian Life:
-Sometimes, we really do not understand what God is doing in our lives.
-But it is during these times that we must stick on our faith and obey what God is asking us to do.
-Obedience is the ultimate expression of faith. Without faith, there will be no obedience.
-Because Abraham has faith in God, he obeyed the Lord.
-And he demonstrated his faith by obeying the Lord.
-So we must submit and obey the Lord as demonstration of our faith.
-When we go to the doctor, whatever he asks us to do, we obey because we have faith and trust.
-So, if we have faith in the Lord, we have also to obey him.
-When we obey him, he will promote us and uplift us like what he did to Abraham.
-And we obey the Lord, he will also give us the covenant he gave to Abraham.

4. After obedience, there is continuous blessings.

Bible Character: THE WIDOW (2 King 4:1-7)

-There was this widow who was left with nothing when his husband died.
-She was given a lot of debts and only empty bottles and one bottle of oil.
-She was very problematic about her situation and how she will survive and pay her debts.
-Then Prophet Elisha ask her what does she have at home.
-Elisha instructed her to gather all empty bottles and fill it with oil.
-The single bottle of oil filled countless bottles. Until there is a bottle, the oil continues to flow.
-And the widow, through her obedience, experienced the flow of continuous blessings.

Christian Life:
-Sometimes, we may feel like the widow, we lack things in life we need.
-Sometimes, we have very limited resources and we have very vast need to respond to.
-But despite of being problematic, the widow let her faith ruled over her.
-and because of that faith, she was able to obey Elisha to gather every empty bottles.
-When we act like this widow, that despite of our greatest need and despite how bad the situation
-We will allow our faith and our obedience to God rule us, we will experience the continuous blessing
-God will fill all the emptiness of our lives, all the aspect of our lives, God will fill it.
-He will fill it with his continuous blessings only if we obey him.
-so the secret of continuous blessing here is the obedience of the widow.
-unlock the door of continuous blessings, start by obeying the Lord.
- Deuteronomy 28:6 (page194) in all we do, in all aspects of our lives, we will be blessed.

5. After obedience, there is provision.

Bible Character: THE SOLDIERS DIGGING WELL (2 King 3:16-17 page 364)

-The soldiers were ordered to go for war against the Moabites.

-When they reached a place after days and nights of travel, they do not have water to drink.
-They asked the Lord through Elisha and the Lord said, they need to dig ditches out of baren land
-They were hesitant at first, that how will the baren land, without rain produce water for drinking
-But because they need it and because of their faith, they obeyed and dig ditches.
-Even if it seems impossible that there will be water because no river, no rain and baren land
-But because of their obedience, impossible things became possible, rushing waters came.
-Because of their obedience, rushing waters came and all the ditches they dug were filled.
-Because of their obedience, GOD provided their need, even they think it is impossible.

Christian Life:
-When we are walking and living this life on earth, there are times we have needs.
 -These needs seem to be impossible when we look at the things around us and the situation.
-But GOD can do it too. If GOD was able to provide the needs of the soldiers, he can do it to you.
-It may seem impossible on the sight of man, but remember the God who called you.
-Remember the GOD who called you can divide the sea, can make the fire come down from sky
-The God whom you are serving can turn water into wine, can walk into the waters
-In short, the GOD we are serving can do the impossible things.
-And whatever situation you are having now, GOD will provide. Raragasa ang pagpapala niya.
-It will come like the rushing waters and your life every need will be met and will be given.
-But first, you need to obey. Prepare your ditches. Before the waters will come.
-Matthew 6:33 (page9)
-Before GOD will bless you, you need to do something first. You need to obey first.

6. After obedience, there is expansion.

Bible Character: JABEZ (I Chronicles 4:10 page398)

-Jabez is one of the people who was given favor by GOD.

-He was an honorable man because he demonstrated obedience to the Lord.
-and because he was an obedient man before the Lord, his request was granted.
-God expanded his territories and was with Him every day of his life.

Christian Life:
-GOD can also exoand our territories if we learn how to obey GOD.
-We can have the confidence to ask God of expanding our territories if we obey Him.
-If we obey God, he will be pleased with us and he will grant all the desires of our hearts.
-Are you ready for the expansion that God is going to do in your life?
-Prepare for it and start by demonstrating obedience to the Lord.

6. After obedience, there is multiplication.

Bible Character: 5 BREADS AND 2 FISHES (Mark 6:41-44 page56)

-It is quite impossible for 5 breads and 2 fishes to be distributed to thousands of people.
-But it was possible when Jesus prayed for it and distributed it to the people.
-But before the power of multiplication was demonstrated, there was a boy who obeyed.
-there was a boy who obeyed and willingly gave everything he had to the Lord.
-when he had given everything he had, there and then the power of multiplication was manifested

Christian Life:
-Sometimes, our needs are impossible compared to the available resources we have.
-But when we give it to the hands of the master, we will see that the power of multiplication.
-we need to give what we have to the Lord, willingly and whole heartedly, we have to obey.
-when we do that, the power of multiplication will be manifested in our lives.
-are you ready to experience the power of multiplication in your life?
-ang biyaya ng Diyos minsan hindi lang sapat, minsan sobra-sobra pa.

7. After obedience, there is salvation.

Bible Character: JESUS CHRIST (John 8:29 page 134)

-Jesus is the perfect example of obedience.

-He submitted himself to the will of the Father as an example of obedience. (Luke 22:42) 114
-He obeyed his Father for the salvation of man. (Romans 5:19) 201
-He obeyed his Father even in the face of death. (Philippians 2:8) 259

Christian Life:
-We must obey GOD through the example JESUS gave us.
-That even on the face of death, our obedience to the will of God should prevail.
-And when we do this, we will please the father in heaven.

Conclusion:

- Blessings are waiting for those who choose to obey. Deuteronomy 28:1-12 (page194)
- Story of Community who prayed for rain. Only one came with umbrella.
- Story of two farmers who prayed for rain, only one prepared his fields to receive it.
- You will receive the blessings of God only if you start preparing and obeying the Lord.
- I know that we all obey the Lord, so today I am led to end my sermon to a message:
- Because you have obeyed GOD, God wants you to claim – I Kings 18:41 (page354)
- I can now hear the abundance of rain, rumaragasa na ang pagpapala ng Diyos.
- Because of your obedience, be now ready to swim in the blessings of the Lord.