Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
8 30 2023
OBEDIENCE IS A TWO-EDGED SWORD
Isn’t it amazing what Paul said about putting on the whole Armor of God? One or two pieces are not enough. What would you say about obedience being a prerequisite to going to heaven? Obedience to God involves the rejection of neutrality. The Neutrality of NOT using the tools He gives us. The Neutrality of not studying his word and resting on “once saved always saved”,
when the question might truthfully be – were you ever really saved?
(He says you will know his children by their fruit!)
The Neutrality of people not being able to SEE that you’re a Christian. Selling out is being disobedient to Christ and His plan for your life. Neutrality is being Lukewarm! We are either growing or dying? I believe by being here with us, reading as you can, you’re growing but that means continuing to come out of your comfort zone to really hear what the spirit of God is saying to us.
God has warned us of what will happen without His Armor!
Hebrews 11:7–By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence/obedience prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness
which is according to faith.
This hard lesson from Noah gets to the grittiness of a stark reality depicted in both Covenants: some will not be saved. Faith is more than a spiritual exercise: it is the vitality of obedience that prepares us for the day of God’s judgment.
Noah was a child born with a destiny, (Just like you) but this is not why God warned him. God warned him because “Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9). God is a good friend. He doesn’t keep from sharing his secrets with those who walk with him.
God warned Noah by sharing with him what He saw (the corruption of the world) and what he was going to do about it. (Flood the whole earth). He let Noah, who could only see with his two eyes, what God saw in the unseen. This warning is privileged to one who is seeking to know the Unseen God. Noah was ridiculed for this ridiculousness. He was totally out of step with society.
Today too many leaders in organized religions are unwilling to support the tenets of what the bible says. Why? Because they are in direct conflict with the demands and expectations of an increasingly secular world. To make matters worse, some religious leaders have deviated from their faith in their own moral standards and have fallen under the pressure of a fallen world. Sexual child abuse and moral failures illustrate this poignantly.
Noah was obedient. He had a relationship with God, and he would not remain neutral. Noah warned the people time and again over the 100 yrs plus building the Ark.
What has He been warning you about?
What has He been revealing to you about hearing what God is telling you in His word - about the protection and the fight that is supposed to be in you? For you to be that role model for your family even if you didn’t see the light until your kids had grown up and moved out. It is never too late to stop being neutral or lukewarm before God. He is sharing secrets with you from His living word as one, who like Noah, walks with God. You may be more of a youngster walking with Him, you may only be receiving these gentle urging to find an accountability group or a bible study but there is much more for you to grow into. If you will continue to press in and be obedient, He will grow you up by His Holy Spirit. (Are you hearing and seeing what God is saying?)
Obedience to God involves the rejection of Neutrality in religion. The rejection of neutrality for your character and morals. The rejection of walking in the middle of the road. Do you walk with way too much neutrality? Too many compromises?…
What has to happen for you to serve God and be obedient to the call on your life?
Meditative Scripture: Hebrews 4:12, ESV: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Lord, I refuse from this moment forward to not be neutral anymore. I want to walk with you and hear your living voice in scripture. Open my eyes further. Lead me out of my comfort zone so I might know you more and more.
Some excerpts are taken from a blog byAner327
Brett
August 30, 2023 9:44 amThank you so much for the messages. Keep them coming. I only hope to feel some peace very soon.
Dennis
August 30, 2023 11:18 amHe says draw near to me and I will draw near to you. Sometimes we have to deny how hard it is to just sit and read some of the psalms like 91. It hard to be still when you chest is caving with anxiety but he says to lay it down. You’ve done what you can,.. or there is no going back… Let it go. Call it our using his name Jesus. Command it to leave. He says we have that authority! Take it! Believe it, not matter what it looks like. Walk in peace even in the storm when we trust him truly trust him with the outcome!
Brett
August 30, 2023 9:44 amThank you so much for the messages. Keep them coming. I only hope to feel some peace very soon.