A Call to Obedience

© 2011 Maky Fernandez. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 08/11/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-1620-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-1619-6 (ebk)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-1621-9 (hc)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011908001

Printed in the United States of America

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contact information:

Maky Fernandez

email: [email protected]

blog: acalltoobedience.blogspot.com

Dedicated to

my loving heavenly Father,

my precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

and to my counselor, teacher and guide--the Holy Spirit

May my obedience to You bring you Glory and Honor

…Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as

in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice,

and to heed is better than the fat of rams.

(1 Samuel 15:22)

My Personal Call to Obedience

And he said to me, Son of man, listen carefully and take to heart all the words I speak to you. Go now to your people in exile and speak to them. Say to them, This is what the Sovereign LORD says, whether they listen or fail to listen. (Ezekiel 3:10)

….This is what the Sovereign LORD says

Whoever will listen let them listen,

and whoever will refuse let them refuse;

for they are a rebellious people.

(Ezekiel 3:27)

God’s Call to You to Obedience

Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD.

"Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.

If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the best from the land;

but if you resist and rebel,

you will be devoured by the sword."

For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

(Isaiah 1:18-20)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND THANKS

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)

As with any project, many wonderful and talented people have been involved in this undertaking. It is the result of a combined effort. I am grateful for each one who faithfully lent their support, wisdom, talent, love, and prayer.

I would also like to acknowledge the following exceptional people who helped make A Call to Obedience a reality:

To my supportive husband Orlando—thank you for believing I could write this book and for willingly sacrificing my undivided attention until it was finished.

To my loving daughters Dasha and Michelle—thank you for your constant support and encouragement throughout this project.

To my best friend and prayer partner Belkis Casas—your constant prayers and insightful, candid, and valuable input have been an indispensable contribution.

To Anna Fernandez, Yazmina Flores, and Josie Laucirica—your friendship, time, feedback and faithful prayers have greatly blessed me.

To Noreen Hay, Arlene Hoffman, Rosa Gonzalez, and my sister, Esther Lopez— thank you for sharing your editorial insight and skills.

The LORD commanded us to obey all these decrees

and to fear the LORD our God,

so that we might always prosper

and be kept alive, as is the case today.

(Deuteronomy 6:24)

Contents

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1 Obedience In The Holy Spirit

Chapter 2 Obedience In Loving God

Chapter 3 Obedience In Marriage

Chapter 4 Obedience In Ministry

Chapter 5 Obedience In Career

Chapter 6 Obedience In Honoring Parents

Chapter 7 Obedience In Raising Children

Chapter 8 Obedience In Finances

REFERENCES

INTRODUCTION

In obedience to God’s specific call on my life and as a personal testimony of what God can do when one obeys, I have written A Call to Obedience.

I am not particularly qualified for this type of work. My credentials are unimpressive. I’ve never written anything before, nor am I an avid reader. And although I wish I could tell you that I am always quick to obey the voice of the Lord, I can’t even claim that as my area of expertise.

Truthfully, when the thought of writing this book came to my mind, I had two initial reactions—unbelief and fear. I chuckled to myself at the idea. Besides, who would read a book I wrote? But when the desire continued to grow in my heart so did the fear of ridicule and rejection. All I could think of was if someone did read this book what would they say? However, despite skepticism and dread I decided to plunge into this unknown world because of one thing—I love God and I want to honor Him with my obedience. Knowing Jesus qualifies me to proclaim the things God has done in my life.

The principles we will be looking at come straight from the Word of God. In His Word, we have everything we need to live godly lives. Many of the lessons are drawn from my own personal journey. Along the way I have experienced both the benefits of obedience and the consequences of my disobedience.

On December 7th, 2004, sensing I needed His assurance for this bizarre assignment, I asked God for a spectacular sign as confirmation. As I was having my devotional time that day, I read this verse and it clarified everything.

This is what the LORD says; Make this valley full of ditches. You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink. This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD (2 Kings 3:16-18).

God wasn’t going to give me a sign. He simply wanted me to OBEY! All He desired was a ditch digger—He would do the rest. So I began the daunting task of writing this book and told some of my family and friends. To my amazement, the overwhelming response was positive. Every one of them gave me a thumbs-up, and my husband, Orlando, our two daughters, Dasha and Michelle, and my best friend and prayer partner, Belkis, could not have been more supportive.

OBEDIENCE BRINGS TESTING

My first trial came one month later when my 102-year-old grandmother went home to be with the Lord. Grandma was one of the two women in my life whose commitment to Jesus inspired me in my spiritual walk. The other, Aunt Gladys, passed away a few years earlier. My grandmother’s death was the culmination of the deaths of four very important people in my life. My mother and father had also gone to be with the Lord in recent years. Experiencing the heartache of separation from loved ones, while nurturing a demanding marriage, raising two daughters, participating in various ministries, working full-time and acquiring a bachelor’s degree had left me emotionally insecure, mentally vulnerable and physically drained.

Within a week of my grandmother’s death, my friend Lourdes and I were talking. Lourdes is my pastor’s wife and a strong Christian woman. I shared my feelings of discouragement, exhaustion, and loss with her. I told her about the book and how strongly I had felt that the Lord was leading me to write a book on the subject of obedience, but was unsure of taking on another task.

As I spoke, a look of excitement came over her. She told me that the day before she felt led to pray for a book project. She didn’t know anyone who was writing a book and wondered why she felt such an urgency to pray. When I began telling her about my situation she suddenly realized I was the one she was praying for and encouraged me not to give up.

She was another confirmation. However, it still took a few months for me to get started. When I read this passage I knew I needed to do what God was asking.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words. When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, My vow was a mistake. Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God." (Ecclesiastes 5:1-8)

Meditating on this portion of Scripture helped me to grasp the importance of keeping my vows to God. I thought of all the vows I had made to the Lord in the past—some that I had broken and others that I had kept—this one had yet to be fulfilled. I asked Him to forgive my failures and strengthen me to be able to begin writing this book.

As I continued seeking God He spoke to me through His Word, specifically the Old Testament books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. God, through His Word, challenged me to keep my vow, empowered me with faith, provided me with the information and bestowed me with the inspiration I needed to start writing.

In the following chapters we will explore what God’s Word teaches about the necessity of obedience. The key theme is how obedience to God leads to blessings in our lives. Each chapter focuses on developing an attitude of obedience in one specific area of our Christian walk. A study guide at the end of each chapter contains a number of questions that are suitable either for small group or individual study. These questions will lead you to examine your personal relationship with Jesus Christ and your obedience to God’s Word. My prayer is that this book will help you develop a better understanding of why obedience is such a key component of our faith and that you will begin to choose walking in all God has for your life.

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you,

in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.

And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-

for all whom the Lord our God will call."

(Acts 2:38-40)

CHAPTER 1

Obedience In The Holy Spirit

In ballroom dancing, two individuals—one leader and one follower—move as one. Using well-rehearsed signals and gentle nudges, the leader communicates each step to the follower. When done correctly, the two appear to glide gracefully and effortlessly across the dance floor, in perfect unity. However, the success of the team rests on both individuals performing their roles. The leader must always be aware of his responsibility to set the pace and tone and the follower must wholly depend on the leader to direct each step. When both are in sync, the result is a beautifully executed pattern.

In many ways, obedience to the Holy Spirit is similar to ballroom dancing. When we allow the Holy Spirit to direct the steps of our lives, God’s perfectly orchestrated plans will unfold. Our duty is to follow His lead. When we surrender to Him without struggling, resisting, or complaining, God’s perfect plan for our lives will be accomplished.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

"Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters" (Genesis 1:2).

The Holy Spirit is God. The Bible teaches that God is One, yet that He exists in three separate and distinct personages. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity—co-existent with God the Father and God the Son. While each is distinct in function, each shares the same deity and each reflects the divine attributes of one Holy God. This truth is a mystery that can be difficult for many to understand. However, there are some simple illustrations that can help us grasp God’s infinite and divine triune nature with our finite human minds.

For instance, water can exist in three distinct forms—liquid, solid, or vapor, yet it is still one substance. It is still water. An egg is another example. Comprised of three separate and distinct parts—the shell, the white, and the yolk—yet it is still one egg. Another simplistic illustration is a flashlight. Made of three things—a light bulb, a battery, and a casing—yet you need all three for one flashlight.

Many things in our world exist in triune form. None of these can adequately define the nature of our God completely. He is unique. However, they help us conceptualize the idea that three distinct entities can function as one.

• God the Father is Sovereign. He orchestrates everything and rules over all. The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. (Psalm 103:19, NASB)

• God the Son is Savior. Jesus died so that we could receive forgiveness of our sins and have eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

• God the Spirit is our Counselor. His role is to testify of Jesus. When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. (John 15:26)

WHY DID HE COME?

When speaking to His disciples shortly before His death Jesus spoke of what He expected of them. He also told them what was to come, and why He had to leave.

"If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And