How Are You Hearing? - Part Two

"Obedience to GOD indicates that we're listening to Him and that His words aren't falling on deaf ears."

As I was preparing to teach a Sunday School lesson last quarter, the text contained a scripture that taught me something very valuable. As I studied it out, I soon realized that it would be one of those never-to-be-forgotten moments in scripture. You know, those "ah-ha" moments, if you will, that radically shift your thinking about a word because NOW your understanding of it has been cemented by the Holy Spirit.

In Paul's epistle to the church at Philippi, he encouraged them to remain just as obedient in his absence as they were in his presence (Philippians 2:12). Below is that verse from The Message Remix Bible:

"What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before GOD."

The King James translates the Greek word "hupakouo" (hoop-ak-oo'-o) as "obeyed" in this verse of scripture. Hupakouo means "to hear under" as a subordinate; by implication, to heed or conform to a command or authority. Therefore, it is safe to say that obedience is submissive hearing, in which the listener's response is totally predicated upon recognizing oneself as being under authority.

This totally revolutionized my understanding of obedience. It finally became clear to me why obedience to GOD is so important. Firstly, it indicates that we're listening to Him and that His words aren't falling on deaf ears. Secondly, it's evidence that we recognize GOD as our authority figure, not as our equal or subordinate. Thirdly, it shows GOD that we love Him indeed (according to John 14:23 and John 15:10), not just with words from our lips.

The same principle applies with our earthly relationships. Whether it be the parent-child relationship or the employer-employee relationship, obedience is about respecting the position of the authority figure. Where there's disobedience, there's clearly a misunderstanding of who's in charge. The disobedient party clearly sees him/herself as either the authority figure's equal or superior. If that weren't the case, then there would be no rebellion taking place.

Therefore, I encourage us all to look at the manifestations of rebellion in our lives in a different light. We must look beyond the actions and see the spirit at work behind the scenes motivating these actions. The power to attack the spirit of rebellion that's wrecking havoc in our relationship with GOD as well as our relationships with other people is already in our possession. We can not be afraid to have the tough conversations and ask ourselves and others, "Is there a problem here? Is there a misunderstanding of our respective roles and how we interact with each other?" It's taking these proactive steps under the guidance of the Holy Spirit that we're able to maintain control of our situations and exercise dominion in our environments as Kingdom citizens.

Let's pray:
Father, we Your children humbly come before You in complete and total submission to You. We're grateful to be called the children of the Most High GOD, and we appreciate Your hand of mercy upon each of us. Thank you for loving us beyond our faults, O GOD. Thank You for not dealing with us according to our sins and iniquities, but according to Your tender mercy and loving kindness shown ever so generously toward us.

Father, we ask now in the name of Jesus that You would open our ears that we may hear You clearly. Saturate our hearts, O GOD, with Your love that we might obey You instantly and without hesitation. For we believe wholeheartedly by faith and decree with our own mouths that it is so! Even now, we declare that our feet are bound to Your path of righteousness that we might walk blamelessly in Your way as never before. It is Your decree, O GOD, that our love for You be manifested in our obedience to You; and we submit ourselves wholly to the work of accomplishing that which pleases You.

Forgive us, Father, for our acts of disobedience, for we boldly come against the spirit of rebellion that arises in our hearts and causes us to sin against You. Our adversary, the devil, has no authority in our lives because we have been made free from the grip of sin and have been given the power to resist him, thereby causing him to flee from us. By the power of the Holy Ghost, we command every principality and power that opposes the Kingdom of Light to be cast out of the minds of GOD's people now into outermost darkness and dry places. For the precious, powerful shed blood of Jesus is against each and every one you cohorts of Satan!

And to the Most High King; the matchless, eternal magistrate of heaven, whose Kingdom is from everlasting to everlasting; to Him be all glory, honor, majesty, dominion and power. May Your name, great and sovereign GOD, be praised, exalted and extolled forever and ever. AMEN!