Friday, April 26, 2013

April 27, 2013

"Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”  Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city." Acts 1:11-12
 
 While we were without a children's director for a brief period at a church I served, I began giving a children's sermon every Sunday. It worked much better than I expected and if you ask me, the adults enjoyed it as much as the kids!
 
On particular Sunday I had talked to the kids about the importance of obedience. As I was wrapping it up and making the powerful application of this profound truth, a little girl named Maddy was persistently raising her hand and calling, "Passer Brad, Passer Brad!"

I finally recognized her, "Yes, Maddy!"

She exclaimed with great emphasis,"Passer Brad, we don't got no 'bedience at our house!"

My glance shot past little Maddy to her parents who were beet read with embarrassment.

Let me ask you, "Do you have 'bedience at your house? How about in your heart?"
 
If you want to know the one thing that is the key to making the seven soulshifts it is obedience.
 
In these verses from the first chapter of Acts, we see the disciples responding in obedience to the command Jesus had given them prior to His ascencion into Heaven. They responded immediately and they responded urgently. Their response is to be admired and imitated because delayed obedience is disobedience.
 
The day that changed history - the Day of Pentecost - would never have happened without their obedience. Nothing transformational will ever happen in your life without obedience. There will be no soulshifts without obedience. There will be no spiritual power or growth without obedience. There will be no salvation nor holiness apart from obedience.
 
One of my favorite singers out of my generation, Don Francisco, connects obedience with holiness in this song:
 
 
 
When you hear the Lord do you answer, "Yes", regardless of the question?