Matt 7:24-27
It’s not about you hearing or receiving instructions from God it’s about taking and running with them. Two classes of people heard from God, one took it and began to run with it, while the second only carefully documented it, and possibly has misplaced the ‘Word Note’ – the jotter.
Both of them might be children of the Kingdom, but the Kingdom’s influence in the affairs of creation was only promoted by one and deterred by the other. And no man knows exactly what happens in the entire realm of creation when people with instructions don’t do what they SHOULD do.
Jesus gave a parable about two brothers (Matt. 21:28-30): one received the instruction and never did anything about it, whereas the one who didn’t leave a promise eventually carried it out.
Whatever the reasons might be, if they abort a step that should be taken, they qualify you to be called ‘an unwise builder’ from the context of the parable of the builder.
In the parable (Matt. 7:24-27), the unwise builder has a building – a work – to show. He was not lazy. He had fruit of efforts to show, but not the one required of him. That’s why his ‘works’ couldn’t withstand the changing times and the forces that accompanied those changes.
If what you perceive God to be leading you to do requires no faith, then you don’t need the enablement that comes through faith. Unfortunately, that’s the primary element with which you must please God – faith (Heb. 12:6). So you want to think again: would He lead you only through what would give Him no pleasure? Occasionally, He might lead you through what requires no faith at the time, but not often – not as a lifestyle. For the righteous must learn to live by faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; Heb. 10:38)!
From the scripture text above, a man is tagged as either ‘wise’ or ‘foolish’ based on what he does with clearly spelt out instructions. In the sight of Divine obedience, modifying ‘these instructions’ is a means of generating a new instruction for yourself. The only time instructions bring perfect result from the stand point of Divine expectations is when they are matched with corresponding obedience within the required timing.
God is not known to give instructions, and thereafter request for a budget, then expect you to raise all necessary resources before taking the first step of obedience. While planning is good, it shouldn’t be a pitfall. Sometimes, analysis produces doubts and fears, and can ultimately plunge a course into uncertainty. These can produce failure by sowing a seed of rebellion through inaction on clear instructions! And you know what? to doubt is to give the enemy’s opinion a ticket to into God’s agenda for your life.
On the other hand, to seek excessive or undue opinion from people can be a way of seeking approval from men on God’s word to you. It can be a way of opening the door for the corrupt nature to drop a seed. In fact, to rely on man who relies on man that relies on another man, is pure disobedience to God. However, counsel must not be ignored. The emphasis here is “excess” or “undue opinion” from men. This does not negate the fact that God can send a man to another man for instructions or directions (Acts 9:6-11), and by the way in a multitude of counsel there is safety (Prov. 11:14; 15:22; 24:6). But to totally rely on men is colossal failure. Counsel from humans can be great, but to exclude God in decision-making by sticking to men’s opinions is a personal spiritual hazard.
Often when people find themselves starting off with God’s clear instructions, suddenly they can’t explain why it appears He’s no more part of their course anymore. Simple: how much of the blueprint do they stick to? It takes more than available instructions to succeed: it takes corresponding obedience according to Divine desires within the set time.
This reality plays out in marriages, relationships, jobs, businesses, ministry, etc. How closely do you watch to stay within the walls of Divine instructions? How much of people’s opinion have you used to modify your God-given course? You hear people talk about ‘a system that works’, sure enough something works somehow, somewhere, for someone; but you have an instruction, how much do you pin yourself to that? Results can be shown anywhere, but the question is: are they the expected results? At least from Divine standpoint.
A lot of godly courses are perishing for two reasons: either there’s an instruction(s) that was not adhered to, or one that was ignored. This is why most people, though not outside God’s plan, yet have limitations. Don’t be carried by just any results you see. There can be results anywhere. What matters is whether your results come from your God-given instructions. The foolish builder had a house to show, but not the type commanded. Instructions per time are the way to succeed. Seek to KNOW daily.