Where Does Your Faithfulness Lie?

Message by: Lady K 9.14.2025

A Message on Obedience, Distractions, and Staying True to God**

There are moments in worship where heaven feels close — where praise rises, testimonies stir the room, and you can almost feel God leaning in. That’s how this service began. A testimony went forth, and the family of God responded with a two-step praise, not to entertain, but to honor the One who is faithful.

But joy wasn’t the only message heaven wanted us to catch. God had something deeper to say:

“Where does your faithfulness lie?”

This blog unpacks that message.

The Story God Used to Confront Us: The Young Prophet (1 Kings 13)

In 1 Kings 13, God sends a young prophet to confront King Jeroboam — a ruler who had led Israel into idolatry, compromise, and people-pleasing. While Jeroboam was burning incense on a false altar, God sent correction. The prophet spoke God’s word boldly, and immediately a sign followed:

Jeroboam stretched out his hand in anger, and it withered on the spot. Only when the prophet prayed did the king’s hand restore.

In that moment, Jeroboam recognized God — but instead of surrendering, he tried to offer the prophet food, drink, and gifts.

The prophet refused.God had told him clearly:

• Don’t eat there.

• Don’t drink there.

• Don’t go home the same way you came.

And initially, the young prophet obeyed.

But an older prophet — someone with position, someone who “looked spiritual,” someone who should have been trustworthy — lied to him.He claimed an angel told him the young man should come home with him.

And the young prophet listened.

Just one moment of distraction…Just one moment of listening to the wrong voice…Just one moment of compromising God’s instruction…

…and it cost him his life.

A lion met him on the road. The animal killed him, but did not eat him — a divine sign that this was not nature, but judgment.

And the heartbreaking question echoing through the story is the same one God is asking us today:

**Who bewitched you?

Who distracted you from your purpose?Where does your faithfulness lie?**

We Are Living in a Distracted Generation

We live in an age where:

• People trade obedience for approval.

• Truth is rejected for whatever feels good.

• Compromise is celebrated.

• Entitlement is normal.

• Distractions multiply by the day.

• Even believers search for constant “confirmations” because they haven’t spent enough time with God to recognize His voice.

  
  

Just like the young prophet, many believers start out strong, then drift because someone influenced them, deceived them, or simply occupied their attention.

And God is saying: “Don’t lose your way by distraction. Don’t lose your way by position. Don’t lose your way trying to please people.”

Why Disobedience is So Dangerous

Disobedience rarely shows up as rebellion. It shows up as:

• “I’ll read later.”

• “I’ll pray tomorrow.”

• “I’ll worship after I get things done.”

• “Let me just check this real quick…”

We give God the leftovers of our attention and call it devotion.

But God is clear: Partial obedience is disobedience.

We want full blessings, but we offer God half-presence. We want miracles, but we give Him minutes. We want protection, but refuse intimacy. We want direction, but hand Him a deadline.

Yet He’s the One who wakes us in the early morning whispering:

“Come talk to Me. Come study with Me. Come sit with Me.”

And too often we respond:

“God…not right now.”

Stop Treating God Like an Option

We will rearrange our entire schedule for:

• work

• football games

• entertainment

• social events

• relationships

• errands

• scrolling

• everything else…

…but not for the Creator of the universe.

We say with our schedule what we would never say with our mouth:

“God, I’ll get back to You when it’s convenient.”

But He is the One who:

• woke you up

• kept your children alive

• kept the car from crashing

• shielded your family

• raised you from sickness

• forgave what others would condemn

• and protected you from dangers you didn’t even see

Where does your faithfulness lie?

People Will Always Pull — God Will Always Lead

Like Jeroboam, people will:

• try to give you what God didn’t promise

• flatter you

• pull on you

• expect you to compromise

• want you to follow their plan

• demand you be who they want

• distract you from the path God set

But God will always lead you to obedience, clarity, holiness, and purpose.

The enemy works through distractions. God works through direction.

The enemy sends voices.God sends instructions.

The enemy lies.God speaks truth.

And like the young prophet, the one question will always determine your destiny:

Whose voice will you follow?

Parents, Don’t Be Your Child’s Friend — Be Their Example

The sermon called out a truth many avoid:

Our children do not need parents who imitate their behavior.They need parents who model godliness, discipline, and wisdom.

You can’t expect children to honor truth you don’t live.

You can’t tell them not to drink while you drink. You can’t tell them not to smoke while you smoke. You can’t tell them to pray if you don’t pray. You can’t tell them to trust God if you only trust Him when you’re in trouble.

Let your home be the first church they experience.Let your life preach louder than your words.

To the Young People: Listen to Wisdom

The next generation is drowning in entitlement. Many expect blessings without effort, results without discipline, and favor without sacrifice.

But the Bible is clear:

“In the multitude of counsel there is safety.”(Proverbs 11:14)

There are elders, parents, pastors, and spiritual leaders whose wisdom can save you years of pain — if you listen.

Don’t think you know it all. Don’t think correction is control. Don’t mistake freedom for foolishness.

God puts wise voices in your life for a reason.

Stop Asking Others to Confirm What God Already Said

If you need ten confirmations, five signs, three prophetic words, and a fleeced prayer…

…it means you haven’t spent enough time with the Father to trust His voice.

When you know God, you know His tone. You know His nudges. You know His instruction.

Obedience becomes natural.

God Wants Intimacy — Not Your Leftovers

He doesn’t need us. But He wants us.

He wants our attention. He wants our mornings. He wants our devotion. He wants our heart.

Not because He’s needy — but because walking with Him is where protection, instruction, and purpose live.

He sings over us. He watches over us. He protects us when we don’t even realize danger was near.

The least we can give Him is our faithfulness.

Final Call: Don’t Be Bewitched

In this season, God is asking:

• Who has pulled you away from Me?

• What distraction stole your intimacy?

• What voice replaced My voice?

• Where does your faithfulness lie — truly?

  
  

You cannot fulfill your assignment if you follow everything but God. You cannot walk in purpose while entertaining compromise. You cannot hear God clearly while listening to every other voice. You cannot live in victory while living distracted.

Return to obedience. Return to intimacy. Return to the narrow path. Return to the One who never stopped watching over you.

His eye is on the sparrow — and He watches over you. Where does your faithfulness lie?