Obedience: Close Your Mouth! (Part II)

VERSES

(40) ‘And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. (41) Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her,“Talitha, cumi”, which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” (42) Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. (42) But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.’

REAL ISSUE

Have you experienced short-term victories, only to fail in that area again?

RESEARCH AND STUDY

In verse 42, we see that the parents are ‘overcome with great amazement’. They want to go and tell everyone their daughter has been healed. They want to Facebook, Twitter, Skype, and text everyone that Jesus healed and literally raised their daughter (or situation) from the dead. This would be a prime opportunity to share their testimony and give God the praise, right? What’s wrong with that? Everything, if the Lord told you not to do it!!!

Surely, the Lord wouldn’t tell me not to tell of His goodness? Hallelu’jer! Yes, He would and did! Verse 43 states, ‘But He commanded them strictly that NO ONE SHOULD KNOW IT,..’ Now why would Jesus COMMAND THEM STRICTLY to keep their mouths closed? Because it was too soon. They were not ready for the scrutiny of their haters, critics, and those unbelievers.

What if those same haters and critics come back into your life and began to question you? Are you fully prepared to explain what the Lord did? But let’s look further into another reason why they had to keep it on the hush.

Though it seemed like the miracle was completed and all was well, there was a second part to their obedience. And if they missed this, it would have caused their daughter to fall sick again. Or maybe for you, to fail in that area again. Look at verse 42 carefully, ‘But He COMMANDED THEM STRICTLY that NO ONE SHOULD KNOW IT, (part one of their obedience assignment) and said that something should be given her to eat (part two).’

The Lord told them to feed that girl. It was not TIME to be calling Big Momma and Lil Pokey. There would come a time when the people would see the little girl for themselves, but it was not their place to go, run and tell er’body in the hood. No, it was time to feed their daughter. Give her what she needed and more importantly, be obedient to what the Lord told them to do.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT

Pray about the areas in your life where you failed to be obedient with the second part of His assignment. Ask Him to help you know when you have not fully complied and ask for His grace to complete the assignment and know when you are released to share it with others.

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