What role does obedience play in witnessing God's "wonders" today? Introducing the Passage “Joshua told the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.’” (Joshua 3:5) What “Consecrate Yourselves” Meant • Separate from impurity—wash garments, abstain from anything ceremonially unclean • Dedicate heart and actions wholly to God • Practice immediate, unquestioning obedience to every revealed instruction Linking Obedience to Wonders 1. Obedience positions us to see what God already intends to do. • Israel’s step of consecration didn’t create the miracle; it aligned them to witness it. 2. Obedience opens spiritual eyes. • John 14:21: “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me… and I will reveal Myself to him.” 3. Obedience invites the Holy Spirit’s corroboration. • Acts 5:32: “We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” 4. Obedience guards against counterfeit wonders. • 2 Thessalonians 2:9–10 warns of “false signs” that deceive the disobedient. Remaining under God’s commands protects us. Practical Expressions of Obedience Today • Personal holiness—turning from known sin immediately (1 Peter 1:15-16) • Active love—meeting real needs with tangible service (1 John 3:18) • Persistent faith—acting on God’s promises before seeing results (Hebrews 11:8) • Corporate unity—refusing gossip, pursuing reconciliation (Ephesians 4:3) What “Wonders” Look Like Now • Changed lives—addictions broken, marriages healed (2 Corinthians 5:17) • Answered prayer—specific, timely interventions (John 15:7) • Gospel advance—hearts opened in hard places (Romans 1:16) • Manifest presence—tangible awareness of God in worship (Psalm 22:3) Putting It All Together When God’s people consecrate themselves—setting hearts, habits, and relationships under His authority—He delights to display His power in unmistakable ways. Obedience doesn’t earn miracles; it clears the clutter so we can witness them. |
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