The Path to Abundant Harvest: Obedience and Restoration

To truly experience the fullness of God’s blessings, we must embark on a campaign of honest self-examination, acknowledging and repenting for our deviations from divine guidance. This process involves confronting the pitfalls of self-will, recognizing how our desires can create idols that hinder spiritual growth. Through humble confession and a commitment to obedience, particularly in honoring God with our resources, we unlock the potential to break destructive patterns and step into a season of restoration. God’s patience and love, as evidenced by His desire for all to repent, offer us a constant opportunity to align our lives with His perfect will, ultimately leading to spiritual and material abundance. The words of Isaiah the prophet profoundly reflect the heart of God toward us and, by inference, His disdain for sin and transgression:

[Isa 1:19 KJV] 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

God’s will is that we prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers. If that isn’t our experience, then the next course of action is to examine our hearts and purpose to eradicate every transgression, action, habit, or thought that offends God’s character. Our journey towards spiritual and material abundance hinges on our willingness to align our lives with God’s divine will. Disobedience, particularly when it stems from self-will, creates barriers to the blessings God intends for us. However, through sincere repentance and a commitment to obedience, we can dismantle these barriers and step into a season of restoration and flourishing.

In the opening verse, we see an intrinsic link between obedience and the blessing and prosperity God desires for our lives. It establishes that our willingness to align with God’s will is directly tied to experiencing His blessings. If our lives are not reflective of “eating the good of the land” as it were, then we must find this missing link between God’s holiness and our blessings that are lacking, and to correct ourselves in humility and repentance, that blessing might come. Many will object that this is putting them under the law, but know this – every action, every sin, every motivation not reflective of God’s holy character places us outside of grace, and outside of grace, there is only the law and its consequences as outlined in the Old Covenant. 

2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

We may be tempted to think that somehow in our lives or in our situation, God isn’t holding up His end. Peter knew this and, in the verse above, emphasizes by contrast God’s patience and desire for our repentance, highlighting that the opportunity for change is always present. Without that predicating contrition on our part, the blessing, however available, is nonetheless withheld until repentance comes. This isn’t punishment on God’s part but patience and long-suffering as He stands ready like the father of the prodigal, giving us every opportunity to come back to Him. 

Confronting Disobedience:

Disregarding divine instruction of God’s word carries consequences that impact every area of our lives. It’s essential to honestly assess where we’ve deviated from God’s path and acknowledge the repercussions of our choices.

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48 KJV)

The grace of Christ through the suffering of the Cross is not a permission slip allowing us to live our lives dialed down to the lowest common denominator of sin, willfulness, and transgression. Our actions matter. Our pursuit of God’s holiness as our personal standard (or failure to do so) has consequences both in this life and the next. God’s word calls us to a high standard, emphasizing the need for self-examination. Where do we begin? Confronting disobedience starts with recognizing our need for alignment with God’s perfect nature, not excusing ourselves by embracing a message of cheap grace and no accountability to anyone but ourselves.

The Pitfalls of Self-Will:

When our desires overshadow God’s perfect plan, we create an idol of self. This misplaced priority leads to spiritual stagnation and establishes negative patterns that not only mar our lives but can affect in some measure generations to come.

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (Isaiah 42:8 KJV)

This is God’s warning against idolatry, including the idolatry of self-will. Idolatry is not just some ancient image of a person bowing down to a graven image. Idolatry is present when we look elsewhere to the world, relationships, materialism, etc., for what we ought to be looking to God for. Placing our desires above God’s leads to spiritual detriment, aligning with the previous section’s emphasis on the consequences of disobedience.

Restoration Through Repentance:

Only true repentance brings true restoration and recovery of our lives that we might enjoy the blessings that God has set aside for us in His promises. True restoration begins with humble repentance. By confessing our specific acts of disobedience and seeking forgiveness, we open the door for healing and renewal.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 KJV)

What does it mean to be cleansed from all unrighteousness? The word “righteousness” in the original language means the “ability to stand upright” in God’s presence. In everyday life, righteousness in Christ will cause us to experience everything we say and do to become as effective as if God said it or did it – a life of authority in Christ. If that is not our experience, sin is the most readily identifiable cause though human nature will make every other excuse to avoid setting aside pride and stubbornness and admitting our lost condition and the fact that even as believers we can find ourselves out of fellowship with God not because He wills it but because our actions and the consequences thereof brought it about. 

Breaking Destructive Patterns:

Negative cycles of unaddressed sin, pride, and stubbornness will hinder our progress in career, relationships, and spiritual growth, but they can be broken through prayer and faith. We possess the power to dismantle these destructive patterns and claim the blessings God has promised. What is the answer? To apply religious laws to make ourselves look good? No, the answer is within; true repentance is turning not toward a culture of sterile religious adherence but an outright pursuit of God above all things. 

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13 KJV)

A sincere pursuit of God empowers us to overcome these hindrances. God is not interested in us conforming our lives according to externals, but rather that we might be transformed inwardly (which will be reflected outwardly) by spending time in His presence and valuing our relationship with Him above all else. 

The Power of Obedience:

Obedience, especially in honoring God with our resources, unlocks a flow of blessings. When we acknowledge God’s ownership of all we have and give accordingly, we demonstrate our trust and invite abundance.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10 KJV)

It is very common to find that those suffering poverty and lack are not givers. Regardless of whether you believe that tithing is for today is not the point. The fact that God required tithing in the Old Testament indicates that this is an example, a hidden message to those of us under the freedom of grace that there is a direct correlation between obedience in giving and receiving God’s blessings. It connects to the overarching theme of obedience, demonstrating how it unlocks divine abundance.

Reflection:

Our willingness to address disobedience and embrace obedience determines the extent of our spiritual and material harvest. By choosing humility and submission, we position ourselves to receive the fullness of God’s blessings.

Call to Action:

• Self-Examination: Reflect today on areas where you may have strayed from divine guidance.
• Confession and Repentance: Find a place of prayer. Bring these areas before God, seeking forgiveness and cleansing.
• Pattern Breaking: There is a living, sentient opposition deriving from Satan militating against your blessing. These demonic forces infest and inhabit the neural pathways where transgression is the formative influence. Pray against any negative cycles hindering your progress.
• Commitment to Obedience: Dedicate yourself to aligning your life with God’s will.
• Honoring God with Resources: Consider how you can honor God with your giving, acknowledging His provision.