The Limitations of Obedience
by John Garfield
Learning - Learning the Kingly, entrepreneurial mindset and coming out of poverty is an amazing journey for all of us. We come from a theological paradigm that places a premium on obedience and service, and we don't have a practical grasp on how to be God's friend.
I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15 NIV
Servants know how to obey. They are great candidates to have a job, do what they are told, and never learn to embrace a personal dream or create wealth. They view God as a "guidance giver" and themselves as faithful followers who are good at hearing revelation and obeying. They resist their own will as carnal, and have little room for exploring the desires their own hearts. They are left without personal initiative, a major key to the Kingdom and being Kingly.
Friends relate to God in a way that makes them comfortable exploring the desires of their own hearts. That's where they find the will of God. Instead of revelation and obedience, they have a better balance of revelation and wisdom. They are willing to make wise decisions without requiring a revelation from God.
Example - I'm a trader learning from two mentors, along with hundreds of other Christians. Learning to day trade is a multi-year process that requires patience and commitment. What I've noticed is that most of us start the process treating the mentors like pastors, and wanting to relate out of an obedience dynamic. That sets up a conflict, traders expect the mentor to represent God, predict the future, and tell them which direction to trade. The reality is that even the mentors are never sure which way the market will move. They simply teach how to observe price action and take trade set-ups. "Servants" are inclined not to hear the training. They just listen for hints for what the mentor is doing, and try to obey. The result is bad - although they thought they heard the mentor, they just got a bias for up or down, and missed the seeing the price action and setups for themselves. Many never grasp the entrepreneurial mindset of thinking for themselves and using "wisdom" to make decisions. They can't get away from obedience.
That "bias" premised on obedience to the mentor is, in fact, a perception of God's expectation for us; a belief that we should obey 'our false perception' of God's rules, which is embedded deeply in our conscience. Rule #1 is "obey God, and if He's not providing direction, then obey His representative... pastor, mentor, etc. Obeying a perception in our conscience is not easy to overcome, and it has to be purged before we can stop the dead works and poverty... and then relate to a living God and experience abundant life, pretty amazing when you think about it. We have to think and take initiative, not just live out the expectations of others (including those expectations we ascribe to God in our conscience).
How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Heb 9:14 NASU
Becoming entrepreneurial, Creating wealth is a scriptural promise of maturity available to every believer. All those "ask whatsoever" verses are hinged to our ability to have desires, take personal initiative, and make wise decisions. That level of relationship spawns creativity, industry and innovation that create wealth and result in ministry. That is the definition of personal freedom.
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Ps 37:3-4
May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. Ps 20:4
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:13-14 see also Jn 15:7-8, 15:7-8, 15:15-16, 16:23-24
Prophetic revelation, personal discipline, and character qualities are wonderful and necessary ingredients of a serving disciple. But, they are not sufficient to be Kingly, entrepreneurial, and creative. We are being invited to friend, in some practical ways:
1. Transition from servant to friend by exploring the desires of our own heart
2. Once we are freed from the expectations of others (including our mental opinion of God's rules), we are positioned to relate to the desires in God's heart.
3. Once we can relate to God in terms of His and our desires, we can connect with the desires of others and find the synergism of Kingdom multiplication.
4. Liberation from the obedience-only theology opens the door to take initiative and make decisions on the basis of wisdom and common sense.
We were all created to be Kings whose dreams come true. Service and obedience doesn't describe the level of freedom and creativity God has in mind for his friends. We are here to bless the nations and fill the earth with His glory.
The glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Rom 8:18-21 NIV
John Garfield
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