Unlocking Blessings Through Personal Obedience to God

Devotional

Day 1: Private Devotion Fuels Public Success

To be effective in our public lives, we must first cultivate a strong, private relationship with God. This involves daily prayer, devotion, and adherence to His Word. A Sunday-only faith is insufficient to withstand the devil's schemes. The story of the wedding at Cana illustrates that the servants' private obedience led to a public miracle. Similarly, our private devotion to God prepares us for public success and fortifies us against spiritual attacks.

In our daily lives, this means setting aside dedicated time for prayer, reading the Bible, and reflecting on God's Word. It is in these private moments that we build a strong foundation of faith, which will sustain us in times of public challenge. Remember, the devil is constantly at work, and only a robust, private relationship with God can help us withstand his schemes. [02:37]

Matthew 6:6 (ESV): "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you."

Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to strengthen your private devotion to God? How can you ensure that your private relationship with God fuels your public life?

Day 2: Invite Jesus Before Crisis Hits

The story of the wedding at Cana teaches us to invite Jesus into our lives before we face crises. When Jesus is already a part of our lives, we can call on Him in times of need, and He will show up. This proactive relationship ensures we are not just seeking Him in desperation but are continually walking with Him.

By inviting Jesus into our daily lives, we build a relationship that is not based on crisis management but on continuous fellowship. This means acknowledging His presence in our everyday activities, seeking His guidance in our decisions, and thanking Him for His blessings. When crises do arise, we can confidently call on Him, knowing that He is already an integral part of our lives. [06:51]

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Reflection: How can you invite Jesus into your daily routine today? What are some practical ways to acknowledge His presence in your life before a crisis hits?

Day 3: Personal Obedience is Essential

While the command to obey was given to a group, each servant had to individually follow it to see the miracle. This highlights the importance of personal obedience in unlocking God's blessings. We must focus on our own obedience rather than pointing out others' failures.

Personal obedience means taking responsibility for our own actions and decisions in our walk with God. It involves listening to His instructions and following them, even when it is challenging or inconvenient. By focusing on our own obedience, we open ourselves up to the blessings that God has prepared for us, rather than being distracted by the shortcomings of others. [16:48]

James 1:22 (ESV): "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to focus on personal obedience to God? How can you take concrete steps today to follow His instructions?

Day 4: Obedience Unlocks Blessings

Just as money is needed to retrieve clothes from the cleaners, obedience is the currency that unlocks God's blessings. Whether it's healing, joy, or material provisions, obedience is the key that opens the door to God's abundant provisions.

Obedience to God is not just about following rules; it is about aligning our lives with His will and purpose. When we obey God's instructions, we position ourselves to receive the blessings He has already prepared for us. This could be in the form of spiritual growth, emotional healing, or even material blessings. By prioritizing obedience, we demonstrate our trust in God's plan and open ourselves up to His abundant provisions. [22:18]

Deuteronomy 28:1-2 (ESV): "And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God."

Reflection: What specific act of obedience is God calling you to today? How can you take a step of faith to unlock the blessings He has prepared for you?

Day 5: Obedience Transforms Trials into Joy

The miracle of turning water into wine serves as a metaphor for how obedience can transform our trials and tribulations into joy and blessings. By following God's instructions, we can experience a profound transformation in our lives.

Obedience to God often requires us to step out of our comfort zones and trust Him in difficult situations. However, it is through this obedience that we witness His transformative power. Just as the water was turned into wine, our trials can be turned into testimonies of God's faithfulness and provision. By obeying God's instructions, we allow Him to work in our lives in ways that bring joy and blessings out of our challenges. [19:56]

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV): "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Reflection: How can you trust God and obey His instructions in the midst of your current trials? What steps can you take today to allow Him to transform your challenges into blessings?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today's message centers on the transformative power of obedience to God's instructions. Drawing from John 2:5, where Mary tells the servants at the wedding in Cana, "Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it," we explore how obedience is crucial for experiencing God's blessings. The story of Jesus turning water into wine serves as a powerful metaphor for how our obedience can turn our trials and tribulations into joy and blessings.

Obedience is not just a public act but a private discipline. To be successful in our public lives, we must first cultivate a strong, private relationship with God through prayer, devotion, and adherence to His Word. This is not a call for Sunday-only believers but for those who live out their faith daily. The devil is constantly at work, and we need to be spiritually fortified to withstand his schemes.

The narrative of the wedding at Cana also teaches us the importance of inviting Jesus into our lives before crises hit. When Jesus is already a part of our lives, we can call on Him in times of need, and He will show up. This proactive relationship with Jesus ensures that we are not just seeking Him in desperation but are continually walking with Him.

Moreover, obedience must be personal. While the command was given to a group of servants, each had to individually obey to see the miracle. This personal obedience is essential for unlocking the blessings God has for us. It's not enough to point out others' failures; we must focus on our own obedience to God.

Finally, obedience is the currency that unlocks God's blessings. Just as you need money to retrieve your clothes from the cleaners, you need obedience to access the blessings God has already prepared for you. Whether it's healing, joy, or material blessings, obedience is the key that opens the door to God's abundant provisions.

###

Key Takeaways

1. only faith is insufficient to withstand the devil's schemes. [02:37]
2. Invite Jesus Before Crisis Hits: The story of the wedding at Cana teaches us to invite Jesus into our lives before we face crises. When Jesus is already a part of our lives, we can call on Him in times of need, and He will show up. This proactive relationship ensures we are not just seeking Him in desperation.

3. Personal Obedience is Essential: While the command to obey was given to a group, each servant had to individually follow it to see the miracle. This highlights the importance of personal obedience in unlocking God's blessings. We must focus on our own obedience rather than pointing out others' failures.

4. Obedience Unlocks Blessings: Just as money is needed to retrieve clothes from the cleaners, obedience is the currency that unlocks God's blessings. Whether it's healing, joy, or material provisions, obedience is the key that opens the door to God's abundant provisions.

5. Obedience Transforms Trials into Joy: The miracle of turning water into wine serves as a metaphor for how obedience can transform our trials and tribulations into joy and blessings. By following God's instructions, we can experience a profound transformation in our lives.

### [02:37]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:15] - Introduction to Obedience
[02:37] - Private Devotion Fuels Public Success
[03:56] - The Wedding at Cana
[05:21] - The Necessity of Following Instructions
[06:51] - Invite Jesus Before Crisis Hits
[08:03] - The Importance of Being a VIP
[09:04] - The Key to Unlocking Blessings
[10:02] - Perfect Obedience
[11:19] - Examples of Obedience in the Bible
[12:54] - Bless Those Who Curse You
[14:35] - Celebrate Those Who Hate You
[15:44] - Stop Being Jealous
[16:48] - Personal Obedience
[19:03] - The Cost of Disobedience
[19:56] - Transforming Water into Wine
[21:00] - Just Do It
[22:18] - Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice
[23:31] - The Currency of Obedience
[24:33] - Obedience Brings Blessings
[25:38] - Seek First the Kingdom of God
[26:45] - The Worth of Obedience
[27:28] - Final Encouragement to Obey

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What specific instruction did Mary give to the servants at the wedding in Cana? ([01:15])
According to the sermon, what does wine symbolize in the context of the wedding at Cana? ([03:56])
How does the sermon describe the relationship between private devotion and public success? ([02:37])
What examples of obedience from the Bible were mentioned in the sermon? ([11:19])

Interpretation Questions

Why is it important to invite Jesus into our lives before crises hit, according to the sermon? ([06:51])
How does personal obedience differ from group obedience, as explained in the sermon? ([16:48])
What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between obedience and receiving God's blessings? ([22:18])
How does the miracle of turning water into wine serve as a metaphor for the transformative power of obedience? ([19:56])

Application Questions

Reflect on your daily routine. How can you cultivate a stronger private relationship with God through prayer and devotion? ([02:37])
Have you invited Jesus into all areas of your life, or are there parts you are holding back? What steps can you take to fully integrate Him into your daily life? ([06:51])
Think about a recent situation where you were tempted to point out someone else's failures. How can you focus on your own obedience to God instead? ([16:48])
Identify a specific area in your life where you need to practice obedience to God's instructions. What practical steps can you take this week to follow through? ([22:18])
Consider a trial or challenge you are currently facing. How can you apply the principle of obedience to transform this situation into a blessing? ([19:56])
Reflect on a time when you experienced God's blessings as a result of your obedience. How can this testimony encourage you to continue obeying God's Word? ([24:33])
What distractions or obstacles are preventing you from fully obeying God's instructions? How can you address these challenges to strengthen your obedience? ([21:00])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "If you're going to be successful, first of all, Jesus has to be invited before your wine runs out. You've got to have him a vital, visible, and vivid part of your life before your wine runs out. Don't wait until you're drowning in a dreadful ditch of despair. Don't wait until you're broken, busted, and disgusted. Don't wait until tears are running down your eyes when you wake up and when you get up. Don't wait until enemies get on your trail. Don't wait until your back is up against the wall, but you need Jesus in your life." [06:51] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "If you never needed Jesus before, you need him right now. If there was never a day, if there was never an hour, a minute, a second, a month, or a year that you needed Jesus, you need him right now. The devil is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He's looking for somebody to destroy. He's looking for somebody to tear down, and you don't just have to have to run into something, but something will run into you." [08:03] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Obedience will get you those blessings. Obedience will take you to another level. Obedience will get you blessed. Shake somebody's hand and say, Obedience will get you blessed. Obedience will bring blessings your way. Obedience will give you joy, will give you money. Obedience will get you a relationship. Obedience will get you a brand new job. Obedience will get you the blessings of God." [24:33] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all, all of his righteousness and all other things will be added unto you. No good thing will he withhold from him who walks aright. Delight yourself. Delight yourself. Delight yourself. And the Lord and God will, I said, God will, God will give you the desires of your heart." [25:38] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Obedience, it pays off. It's worth it all to do what he says. Obedience, it's worth it all, I said it's worth it all. Somebody shout a hallelujah. Somebody shout glory, shout glory, shout glory. Any worthy, I said any worthy." [26:45] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "We have got to have a productive private life if we're going to be successful before the masses. We're going to have to be successful in our closet. We cannot expect success in society if we are not doing success in our own personal closets through prayer, through the Word of God, through our private and personal devotion, through spending time with God. It's time out for Sunday only believers. The devil is too busy. There's too much going on. There are too many tricks and traps. There are too many blockades and barricades set up just for us to be Sunday only believers." [02:37] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "The key to unlock the door is obedience and it's right there in the text, the call to perfect obedience. Somebody shout perfect obedience. Whatsoever, meaning whatever the thing he tells you to do, whatever the place he tells you to go, whatever the circumstance, whatever the situation, however he tells you to act, it is advantageous, it is to your benefit for you to do it." [09:04] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Obedience is personal. I've got to obey for myself. I remember my little brother, who I love dearly, would run and find my mom and say, mama, he won't clean up his room. Mama, mama, he won't clean up. Look, look at him over there. And his room was dirty and my mother would say, I'm gonna get him but you need to go clean your own room. And it's a lot of folk running around saying, Sister so-and-so's room is dirty. Brother so-and-so's room is dirty and that room got more junk in it. Obedience is personal. You need to obey because it's your blessing that's at stake." [16:48] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Somebody today, your water hasn't been turned in the wine because you are not following the prescribed formula found in the prescription bottle. Somebody's water is not being turned into wine because you are failing following instructions 101 and he says that whatsoever I tell you to do, it's advantageous, it's to your benefit, it's so that you might be blessed." [19:03] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "The Bible said in 1st Samuel chapter 15 verse 22 that obedience is better than sacrifice. May I say to you that it's better to obey than to sacrifice the blessings of God. It is true that what God has for you, it really is for you. But I need to encourage you somebody that just like going to the cleaner, when you go to pick up your clothes from the cleaner, those clothes belong to you and those clothes were yours all the time. Yeah, but in order to get your clothes, you've got to have some money." [22:18] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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