Sermon # 23 - The Blessings Of Obedience Series

We read in Jonah 2:10, And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land. (ESV)

When the fish obeyed

If I were to rephrase the above mentioned verse this is how I would say it, ‘An obedient fish vomited a disobedient prophet out on the dry land’. Jonah disobeyed God, and chose to go in the opposite direction, but the fish that God made was obedient to swallow Jonah, and to later vomit him as God commanded. Inside this obedient fish, Jonah truly repented, turned to God and chose to go to Nineveh as God had originally instructed him. So, in a way the fish that swallowed Jonah was instrumental, in helping the people of Nineveh hear the word of God, through the preaching of Jonah.

What happens when we obey God’s word?

As children of God we are going to understand through this message that by being obedient to the word of God, we will be blessed, and those around us will be blessed as well.

We read in Luke 11:28, Jesus replied, "Rather, how blessed are those who hear and obey God's word." (GW)

Jesus refers to those who hear and obey the word of God as being those who are greatly blessed.

Today there are many hindrances to hearing the word of God. People find it hard to concentrate on hearing God’s word, as there are far too many distractions. We must ask God to help us listen and obey the word of God, for only in doing so will we have victory, healing and every other blessing.

When Peter obeyed

We read in Luke 5:4, And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”(ESV)

This is the scenario that happened that day on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Peter and his partners who were all fishermen were washing their nets early in the morning. As they did so, Jesus was teaching the word, and the people were crowding in to listen to Him. In order to avoid the thronging crowds, Jesus got into Peter’s boat, and asked that he put the boat a little away from the shore so He could sit down, and teach the crowds from the boat. Peter obeyed Jesus, and gave Him permission to use his boat. As Jesus taught the people, Peter too was probably listening to His teachings. When Jesus had finished His teaching, he asked Peter to go into the deep, and to throw in their nets for a catch of fish.

Many of us have many experiences in our lives which may be good, and may have even taught us many vital lessons for life. However, if there was a conflict between our experiences and God’s word, let us remember that God’s word must take priority, and we must hold firmly to the word only and do what it says.

Peter obeyed despite his previous experiences

We read in Luke 5:5, “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.”(NLT)

As soon as Jesus told Peter to let down his nets, Peter reasoned with Jesus based on his previous experience. Peter explained to Jesus that they had toiled the whole night, and had caught nothing. Anyhow, because Jesus said so, Peter said that he was willing to give it one more try. It must have been the word of God that Peter heard that instilled within him the faith to believe in Jesus, and to do as He said.

There are people who do all kinds of jobs, and there are those who strive hard, and end up with nothing substantial. The Lord reminds us in His word that those who love God’s word, obey and live by it, are assured that everything they do will prosper. There are many who think that going to church once a week, and listening to the word will suffice, but this is not so. Think about the number of times we eat during a day to keep our bodies hale and hearty. So also, when we read, listen, and meditate on the word of God as much as we can, we too will be strengthened by God in our inner man. That is why we read in Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”(ESV) Every time we have an opportunity to hear God’s word, let us do so, for only then our faith will firmly established and strengthened.

Peter as an experienced fisherman knew that after laboring all night, the chances of catching fish early in the morning was an impossibility. It was most certainly the word that Peter heard from Jesus’ mouth that prompted him to venture out in faith and obedience.