Blessings of prompt obedience.

Blessings of prompt obedience.

Acts  10:7 And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;  10:8 And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.  10:9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:  10:10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,  10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:  10:12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.  10:13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.  10:14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.  10:15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.  10:16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.  10:17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,  10:18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.  10:19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.  10:20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.10:21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?  10:22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.  10:23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.  10:24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and had called together his kinsmen and near friends.  10:25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.  10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.  10:27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.  10:28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.  10:29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

From the above passage you discover the prompt obedience of both Cornelius and Peter, to divine instructions.

Wholehearted obedience to God in all things and at all times, is what God require from His saints of all ages and that includes you.

Jeremiah  7:13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

God is very displeased and will separate Himself from anyone who disobeys Him.

1 Samuel  15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.  15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Both in the old and new testaments, saints of old obeyed Him and were blessed.

Jesus Christ our Lord was obedient to God.

Hebrews  5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Noah

Genesis  6:13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.  6:14 Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.  6:15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.  6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.  6:17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.  6:18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.  6:19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.  6:20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.  6:21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.  6:22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

Joseph the husband of Mary, the mother of our Lord.

Matthew  1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.  1:19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily.  1:20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.  1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.  1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,  1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  1:24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:  1:25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

The three wise men from the East.

Matthew  2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.  2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.  

Joseph again.

2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.  2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:  2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.  2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men.  2:17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying,  2:18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.  2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,  2:20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.  2:21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.  2:22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:  2:23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Paul apostle and his team.

Acts  16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,  16:7 After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.  16:8 And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.  16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.  16:10 And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

Abraham was blessed for obeying God.

Genesis  22:15 And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,  22:16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:  22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;  22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

When you too obey Him, you will be blessed and live eternally with Jesus.

Jeremiah  7:13 And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

Hebrews  5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Let us pray.