By Bishop David Oyedepo
The reason some people are getting results and others are not, is that some are taking steps while others are doing nothing. It is only what you make happen that happens. If you do nothing, you get nothing!

Last week, I brought you a teaching on the two weapons for operating in the prophetic and changing position this year—the keys of hearkening and of addressing those situations. This week, I will continue this series by showing you two more keys for changing position this year—the keys of obedience and preparation.

The key of obedience: It is true that you can change position this year by hearkening to prophetic words. Much more than hearkening, however, is doing ‘business’ with what you have heard. As Almighty as God is, if you do not obey what He says, He cannot do anything for you.

For example, if you feel too big to repent, how will God save you? It is true that God is Omnipotent, but He will not permit Himself to save you, until you humble yourself before Him and repent. Obedience was the stronghold of Abraham’s faith; it was the backbone of his success.

He used obedience to commit God to his lifting. When God told him to leave his father’s home at the age of 75 and relocate to an unknown place, he obeyed without excuses (Genesis 12:1-4). Because of his absolute obedience, God blessed him and his level changed (Genesis 13:1-2). Nothing warms the heart of God in your direction like obedience. It compels divine intervention and manifestation any day. Obedience is the hardest currency in God’s kingdom; it can purchase for you any good thing you desire.

Obedience to prophetic instructions can procure you abundance. Remember how by obedience the widow of Zarephath enjoyed abundance (I Kings 17). It can bring you good success in your career, family, pursuits, etc (Joshua 1:8). It brings signs and wonders, as it did in Cana of Galilee, where by obedience, water was turned into wine (John 2:1-11). The truth is, when your obedience is absolute, God is committed.

Prayer will never deliver to you what obedience will. As a matter of fact, prayer and fasting are a waste of energy, where there is disobedience. When we talk of obedience to prophetic instructions, it is not just obeying, but excited, delightsome, prompt, and wilful obedience. God’s Word says: “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.” (Job 36:11).

This was the secret of Abraham’s success. Obedience to prophetic utterances is your covenant access to abundance and change of position this year!

The key of preparation: Nobody scores any impressive marks in an examination that he has not prepared for. The same principle applies to prophetic utterances. Preparation is the key to their fulfilment. God’s Word says: “Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel” (Amos 4:12). God is omnipotent, yet He does not come into your affairs until you are prepared for Him.

Preparation is what moves God into action (Isaiah 62:10-12). God is coming into your family with rewards, but He does not come until you are prepared for Him; you have to be worthy of His rewards. When Jesus was to come to the world, a prophet called John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way before Him (Mark 1: 2-3). Every act of God requires the preparation of man. Preparation always precedes manifestation.

Prophecies must be prepared for, if we are to see them fulfilled. When God declares a thing, wise people key into it by their preparations.