{"id":45090,"date":"2020-12-23T01:33:44","date_gmt":"2020-12-22T22:33:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=45090"},"modified":"2025-05-09T13:12:45","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T10:12:45","slug":"45090","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/12\/23\/45090\/","title":{"rendered":"Hold Firmly to God\u2019s First Instruction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<p><strong style=\"font-size: revert; color: initial;\">Shalom!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Welcome as we reflect on the Word of God\u2014the true source of life and guidance for our souls.<\/p>\n<h3>1. <strong>God\u2019s Instructions Are Not Arbitrary or Changing<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>A foundational truth in theology is that <strong>God is immutable<\/strong>\u2014He does not change in nature, purpose, or will.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cFor I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\u2014 <strong>Malachi 3:6\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This also means that <strong>His commands are deliberate and purposeful.<\/strong> When God gives an instruction, He expects full obedience unless He clearly reveals its fulfillment or expiration.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, many believers today ignore the original instructions God gave them. Instead, they wait for new revelations or adapt to changing circumstances, assuming that God must have<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>changed His mind. This mindset often leads to spiritual stagnation, delayed blessings, or even divine correction.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>2. <strong>Biblical Examples of Ignoring the First Command<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4>a. <em>The Disobedient Prophet \u2013 1 Kings 13<\/em><\/h4>\n<p>God sent a young prophet to confront King Jeroboam with a specific command:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>He was not to eat, drink, or return by the same path (1 Kings 13:9).<br \/>But after completing his mission, an older prophet lied to him, claiming that an angel had brought new instructions (1 Kings 13:18). Trusting the man over God\u2019s original command, he disobeyed\u2014and was killed by a lion (1 Kings 13:24).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Theological Insight:<\/strong><br \/>This story reveals a key truth: <strong>Experience, age, or status do not override God\u2019s Word.<\/strong><br \/>Paul warned believers not to accept even \u201can angel from heaven\u201d preaching a different gospel (Galatians 1:8). God\u2019s Word must remain our highest authority.<\/p>\n<h4>b. <em>Balaam\u2019s Compromise \u2013 Numbers 22<\/em><\/h4>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Balaam was initially forbidden by God to go and curse Israel (Numbers 22:12). However, he persisted, and God allowed him to go\u2014but with wrath and judgment (Numbers 22:20\u201322).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Theological Insight:<\/strong><br \/>God sometimes permits what He has already warned against\u2014not as approval but as <strong>a form of judgment (Romans 1:24)<\/strong>. Disobedience disguised as &#8220;divine permission&#8221; is often the result of self-deception.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>3. <strong>The Danger of Abandoning God\u2019s Commission \u2013 Ezra 1\u20136<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After 70 years in Babylon, God stirred King Cyrus of Persia to allow the Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple, fulfilling Jeremiah\u2019s prophecy.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cThus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven\u2026has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\u2014 <strong>Ezra 1:2\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At first, the people obeyed. But opposition arose (Ezra 4:1\u20135), and a new king issued a decree to halt construction (Ezra 4:23). The Jews became discouraged and stopped the work for nearly 16 years (Haggai 1:2\u20134).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Theological Insight:<\/strong><br \/>Human opposition does <strong>not override divine instruction.<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cWe must obey God rather than men.\u201d<\/em> \u2014 <strong>Acts 5:29\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Later, God raised prophets Haggai and Zechariah to remind them to resume building (Haggai 1:4\u20138, Zechariah 1:3\u20136). The delay wasn\u2019t due to God changing His mind\u2014it was due to their fear and forgetfulness.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>4. <strong>The Unchanging Great Commission \u2013 Mark 16:15\u201316<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Jesus gave us a clear and final command:<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cGo into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\u2014 <strong>Mark 16:15\u201316\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Yet, in many places today, laws restrict evangelism. Some Christians hesitate, saying, \u201cMaybe this is not the right time.\u201d But God has <strong>not revoked<\/strong> this commission.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Theological Insight:<\/strong><br \/>Jesus\u2019 command is universal and timeless. It reflects God&#8217;s <strong>missional nature<\/strong> (Matthew 28:19\u201320) and is part of our identity as the Church. Postponing it out of fear is <strong>practical unbelief.<\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>5. <strong>Excuses and Delays Are Often Spiritual Traps<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Many believers say:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m waiting for a better season.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>\u201cMy finances aren\u2019t ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>\u201cMy family life is too complicated.\u201d<br \/>But these are often tools of the enemy to delay your obedience. Remember the parable of the banquet\u2014those who made excuses were replaced (Luke 14:16\u201324).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Faith requires action\u2014even in uncertainty.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cTrust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\u2014 <strong>Proverbs 3:5\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>6. <strong>The Journey of Faith Is Not Always Smooth<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Following God\u2019s command won\u2019t always be easy. There will be resistance, confusion, and discouragement. But God is with us.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><em>\u201cWhen you pass through the waters, I will be with you&#8230; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned.\u201d<\/em><br \/>\u2014 <strong>Isaiah 43:2\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This promise has always been true\u2014from Abraham to Moses, from the early Church to today.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Conclusion: Stay Committed to What God First Told You<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>God is not double-minded (James 1:17). His first instruction still stands unless He <strong>clearly<\/strong> changes it.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>\n<p>Don\u2019t abandon your calling because of pressure.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Don\u2019t let fear or delay steal your assignment.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>Don\u2019t wait for a second voice when the first was clear.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Obey, endure, and trust. God is faithful to complete what He began in you (Philippians 1:6).<\/p>\n<p><strong>Shalom.<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class='share-to-whatsapp-wrapper'><div class='share-on-whsp'>Share on: <\/div><a data-text='Hold Firmly to God\u2019s First Instruction' data-link='https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/12\/23\/45090\/' class='whatsapp-button whatsapp-share'>WhatsApp<\/a><div class='clear '><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shalom! Welcome as we reflect on the Word of God\u2014the true source of life and guidance for our souls. 1. God\u2019s Instructions Are Not Arbitrary or Changin<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1225,"featured_media":39682,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"episode_type":"audio","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16929,9938],"tags":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-45090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home-en","category-uncategorized-ar"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/main-qimg-8c7fe60b30015ff62505200a214da3b4.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/main-qimg-8c7fe60b30015ff62505200a214da3b4.jpg","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/feed\/podcast\/wingu-la-mashahidi","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"zhoFfKgpVa\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/12\/23\/45090\/\">Hold Firmly to God\u2019s First Instruction<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2020\/12\/23\/45090\/embed\/#?secret=zhoFfKgpVa\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Hold Firmly to God\u2019s First Instruction&#8221; &#8212; Wingu la Mashahidi\" data-secret=\"zhoFfKgpVa\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1225"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45090"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45090\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45098,"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45090\/revisions\/45098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39682"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45090"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=45090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}