"Acts26:19 So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven*. NIV
Bro. Gbile Akanni shared the story of a man God called to do the work of an evangelist in Africa. He received the call of God as a young man but he didn't obey promptly.
This man negotiated his calling with God by asking for more time so that he could do certain things. Also, the man told the Lord that he needed to plant a church that'll serve as a support base for his evangelistic calling in Africa. Something that wasn't in God's plan for his life.
He started the church outside God's will but God still waited for him to obey His mandate. He wasted so much time and at old age, he finally accepted to come to Africa. However, this man was already rusty and couldn't do much at his age because of his delayed obedience to God's call.
Apostle Paul stood trial before king Agrippa. He narrated his salvation encounter to him and his audience. He made it clear to them that it was during that encounter he received his life's assignment.
Paul didn't waste time in pursuit of his calling. We all read about the exploits of Paul and how he vehemently pursued the assignment he received in the vision.
The pursuit of his calling landed him in trouble, jail and court. Despite his trials, he stood before Agrippa telling him that he had lived in obedience to the vision he received from the Lord.
In the face of persecution and trouble, will you devote yourself to the pursuit of that God-given vision? I don't know of any man who is fully devoted as Paul was. Apostle Paul is a kingdom role model. An enigma whose life is worth studying.
Many years ago, I spoke to a man who claimed he had the call of God into ministry. At the time we met, he had backslid terribly and he had abandoned everything about ministry.
Evidently, I still sensed the hand of God upon him but he was stale. On several occasions, I have met people like that or with similar stories.
Some may even tell you how God spoke to them in a dramatic way about their calling but they are yet to obey. Delayed obedience is dangerous. It is equal to disobedience.
Your vision from heaven is that unique assignment God has impressed upon your heart to pursue or fulfill.
What vision did God give to you? Have you neglected it or you are pursuing it? Yours may not be a vision to be in pulpit ministry but you know it is a calling that would change lives yet you didn't act on it.
One of the dangers of delayed obedience or disobedience is that it will put your life at risk. Maria Woodworth Etter lost five out of six children because of delayed obedience.
She was afraid of obeying God's call because of her gender but she forgot that that the opinion of people doesn't count when God gives instruction.
It was not God that killed her children but her disobedience opened the door for the devil to inflict pain and sorrow. Are you thinking about the cost of obedience? I think it is better to obey than to lose all that you've ever worked for.
Eventually when Woodworth Etter obeyed God's calling on her life, her ministry swept the whole of Pennsylvania clean of crime. Police wrote a report that they had no crime cases to attend to anymore because of her ministry.
Literally, everyone became holy. The devil knows how impactful you will become if you obey. Failure to act on what the Lord instructed you to do will make the life of some persons deteriorate even to the point of going hell. Should it be said that people went to hell because of your delayed obedience.?
Father, I receive the grace to obey God's call upon my life In Jesus name.