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(Clip) Your Obedience May Cost Others their Lives
Henry Blackaby
0:00
0:00 2:49
Henry Blackaby

(Clip) Your Obedience May Cost Others their Lives

Henry Blackaby · 2:49

Henry Blackaby emphasizes that obedience to God's calling may require great personal sacrifice and can impact the lives of others, urging spiritual readiness for God's transformative work.
This sermon emphasizes the importance of being willing vessels for God's work, highlighting a powerful encounter where a man is called to preach the gospel to China despite the risks involved. It underscores the need for obedience to God's calling, even when it may come at a great personal cost, and the profound impact of spiritual decisions in geopolitical events like the communication between North and South Korea.

Full Transcript

And there were a number there who came and said, South Korea has not seen a touch of God like this in 30 years. And I had talked to them and asked them a question. I said, do you believe that God is willing that any North Koreans perish? And they all on accord said, no, he wants them to be saved. And I said, are you willing for God to begin to prepare you for what he might be about to do to open the doors to North Korea? I'd said that earlier. Well, I'd said that with fear and trembling because I just come from Taiwan and not of that magnitude, but something very similar, I had not given an invitation, I had not finished the message, and pastors began to come with brokenness at the altar and on the front row, and I, when I thought it was appropriate, went down to talk to one who looked to be in his early thirties. And through swollen eyes, he looked at me and I said, sir, did God speak to you? He said, yes, sir. I said, what did God tell you? He said, God commanded me to go and preach the gospel to China. And I looked at him and said, you know, sir, that may cost you your life. He looked back at me and I'll never forget the look in his eyes. He looked straight through me and he said, sir, that's the issue. I just settled with God a few minutes ago. And then I trembled because I realized that for me to be obedient to God may cost others their life. And you see, it's so critically important that spiritual leaders know the tremors of the activity of God. And so this past week I listened as North and South Korea are communicating. It's not a political decision. It's a spiritual decision. And I watched to see how God was touching the pastors, because when God's about to do something here, he starts it over here. And then he works his way to this moment so that everything is in place when God does a mighty work.

Sermon Outline

  1. I
    • God desires all to be saved, including North Koreans
    • The call to prepare for God's work in difficult places
    • The reality of fear and trembling in obedience
  2. II
    • Personal encounter with a man called to preach in China
    • The cost of obedience may be life-threatening
    • The resolve to accept God's call despite risks
  3. III
    • The importance of spiritual leaders discerning God's activity
    • Observing spiritual movements beyond political decisions
    • God's preparation for a mighty work through pastors

Key Quotes

“God commanded me to go and preach the gospel to China.” — Henry Blackaby
“For me to be obedient to God may cost others their life.” — Henry Blackaby
“When God's about to do something here, he starts it over here.” — Henry Blackaby

Application Points

  • Be willing to obey God's call even when it involves personal risk or sacrifice.
  • Pray for spiritual leaders to discern and prepare for God's movements.
  • Trust that God is working behind the scenes to open doors for His kingdom.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does obedience to God mean in this sermon?
Obedience means responding to God's call even when it involves significant personal sacrifice or danger.
Why might obedience cost others their lives?
Because following God's call can lead to dangerous missions or situations that affect not only the believer but also those around them.
How does God prepare people for His work according to the sermon?
God begins by moving in the hearts of spiritual leaders and believers, preparing them through conviction and brokenness.
Is the change in Korea described as political or spiritual?
The sermon emphasizes it as a spiritual decision rather than a political one.
What should spiritual leaders be attentive to?
They should be sensitive to the tremors of God's activity and movements in their communities.

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