Sometimes You Just have to Obey

So the weekend was upon me, and I had no clear direction from God.  Ever been there?  I finally stayed up all night Friday night to prepare a message, only to have God interrupt my plans.  The message I gave was basically me repenting before God then sharing it with everyone else.  I have been having a hard time as a leader, under a lot of financial pressure because we are barely making it, let alone have enough to do all the things we have planned.  God really convicted me to bring the need to the people and quit carrying all the pressure personally.  I think a lot of pastors try to “lead” rather than “obey” God at times, and this has been one of those times for me.  God reminded me that He can do more with my simple obedience than I can do in a lifetime of planning.   Sometimes you just have to obey God.  If this doesn’t make sense, you may want to watch the message from this weekend.  I can sense God doing something special in our church right now, because for God to do something special, He always first “breaks the leader.”  I’m broken.  I can’t be fixed apart from His grace…and I love it.   What is God leading you to do right now?  Did you hear it?  The still small voice of “suggestion?”  You say “how do I know it is really God talking?”  Answer:  you don’t.  But if you obey anyways, if you think it may be God, just obey, and the worst thing that God can accuse you of is “over obeying” Him.  He is not looking for people who get His will right everytime, He is looking for people who are willing to risk being wrong, but are not willing to risk not risking.  If you think God is telling you to do something, give something, call someone, or whatever else, then do it!  Then watch God do what only He can do…miracles.

Comments

[Tony McCollum]

Thanks, Bil, for another great post. I so appreciate how open you are when you write. It's very helpful to me to hear about how God is moving in your life.

[Mark Pryor]

"He is not looking for people who get His will right everytime, He is looking for people who are willing to risk being wrong, but are not willing to risk not risking."

That is powerful, thanks for posting it.

[Jake Baker]

Pastor Bil,

I remember hearing that in church next Sunday we would be talking about the book of Ezra. I didn't put much thought into it and noted it in the back of my head that that's what we would be listening to next week. I've been struggling with my relationship with Christ lately to a point where I've been angry with him, feeling like he is not responding to anything I'm talking to him about. It came to a point this week where I just about gave up all together with praying. After my all time low Sunday night I am here Monday deciding it's got to change. I spent the day in prayer (feeling as if it were in vain) and tonight I sat at my table, opened my bible randomly to a page. I didn't even look at what I had opened to because I knew I would just go to the back and look for a topic to research. But before doing this I prayed honestly to God. I told him I was mad at him, that I felt like I was alone in this relatioship and that I had no hope. I looked at my bible and what page is staring me in the face? The Book of Ezra. Tonight he has told me that I will be laying a new foundation with him. Creating a foundation built on the word, not on my strength, or my own will, but word of God...the Bible. The book of Ezra also told me that I will be getting resistance. I don't know what will be there but knowing me, Satan loves to tempt me. I look forward to this Sunday and seeing what the Lord has for me this week.

[BuddyLee Stevens]

We are so very blessed at Bay Area to have a spiritual leader like you. You have shown so many of us how to align our lives with what our God wants from us. Keep teaching us how to listen for God's word. I pray that we all have the faith needed to live the obedient life that God requires. Amen.

BuddyLee

[Sandra]

Pastor Bill,

You message really hit home this week for me. I have always had a tithing heart until in April when my toddler started daycare. This took a big chunk of money from my finances. I have been so obessed with trying to save money for a house, I stopped tithing. It hit me this Sunday that I have been so worried about saving money, I have neglected tithing my 10 plus% and guess what - I also have NOTHING added to savings - WOW surprising. So I tithed this Sunday and guess what, I some how still had money to save, for the first time since April......Funny how that works, right!? Thank you for your leadership! - Sandra

[buddy]

Bil, Thanks for keeping it real. Praying for ya!

Buddy

[Jeff Murphy]

Bil--I am praying for you and the church. May he have his way with you and the people of Bay Area Fellowship.

[Rick M.]

Thanks for keeping it "REAL". Since me and my family and been a member of Bay Area we have grown with Christ. I know it is because we have a leader like you. I was never really faithful when it came to tithing until I started to attend Bay Area, I was convicted by God to so His Will, and I tell you what, since then me and my family have NOT been in want because HE ALWAYS PROVIDES.

Thanks for being such a GREAT leader!

[Marilyn]

Pastor, I believe what you wrote "... bring the need to the people and quit carrying all the pressure personally" means that it can be difficult to have faith that others will step up. Seems to me that since God blesses me with a goal, I have to believe that He's already surrounding me with people who will help me reach that goal. All I need to do is let God guide others as He is guiding me. I don't have to worry about anything! God's got my back, so I'm pretty sure He's got yours too.

[Adriana Muniz-Caceres]

I just wanted to let you know that today's message really spoke to me and I can say that God truly provides for us. I recently had a baby and had taken maternity leave from teaching, well along with the two months that I took off came no paycheck. I had disabilty issurance and I thought it would last me until the next time I would receive a paycheck, which wouldn't be until 11-15-07. Well, I was down to my last $200 and I had been praying that my disability issurance would pay me for the two additional weeks I had taken,which they told me would not be covered. Well, long story short, 1 wk ago I got a phone call from the issurance asking when I had returned to work, I didn't think anything of it, but when I hung up with them I prayed that they would approve payment for the two weeks. Well yesterday God answered me and took care of me and my 4 children, I received a check in the mail for $1200. I immediately thanked God for his blessing and today at church I gave back to him. I thought that by giving my 10% I would find myself a little tight every month, but I was so wrong. From now on I will give God what is his, after all if it weren't for his blessings and love I would not have the job and paycheck that I have. Thank you for your inspiration and devotion to God.