Seven Ways to Disobey God Title Slide: Seven Ways to Disobey God (2 Cor.2:11) “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.” {2 Corinthians 2:11}

Introduction The negative approach-- failure to submit to God’s will. Presenting these seven ways may make us more sensitive and cognizant regarding any type of disobedience on our part. These are not all the ways…just seven of them!

Introduction God has always required man to accept and explicitly obey Him. “So the LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.’” {Genesis 4:6,7} Also read Hebrews 11:4. Instruction were given, but only one of the brothers followed them—the other followed his own reasoning.

Introduction The final dispensation in which we live--the age of grace--is no different. “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” {Hebrews 5:8,9} God’s people today live in the Christian Age—the last days. (Acts 2:16; Heb.1:2) Yes, we live in the age of God’s grace, but He still requires obedience of us.

Introduction God speaks to us and commands us through His Son: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...” {Hebrews 1:1,2} God no longer speaks to us by direct means, but by His final spokesperson—His Son. (Acts 3:22,23; Jno.12:48). Those who seek a relationship with the Father can find access only through the Son—Jno.14:6. He has the final word in all matters—He has not delegated His authority to any man—Matt.28:18.

#1. By Doing What Is Forbidden By eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve violated God’s will. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, ‘Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.’” {Genesis 2:16,17} #1. By Doing What Is Forbidden. When Adam and Eve partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they disobeyed God. (Gen.2:16,17) They understood what He said, but they yielded to Satan’s lies. (Genesis 3:1-4) They did something that God had specifically prohibited. We can do the exact same thing today.

#1. By Doing What Is Forbidden By eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve violated God’s will. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” {Genesis 3:6} Genesis 3:24 #1. By Doing What Is Forbidden. When Adam and Eve partook of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they disobeyed God. (Gen.2:16,17) They understood what He said, but they yielded to Satan’s lies. (Genesis 3:1-4) They did something that God had specifically prohibited. We can do the exact same thing today.

#2. By Refusing to Do What God Has Commanded One can disobey God by failing to follow His instructions. “But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” {Luke 7:30} “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” {James 4:17} #2. By Refusing to Do What God Has Commanded. Many people sin by just failing to do what God has commanded them to do. The sin of omission. (Lk.7:30; Jam.4:17) The rich man refused to share the blessings of his wealth with the poor man, Lazarus (Lk.16:19-31). The rich young ruler made the same fatal mistake. (Matt.19:16-22)

#3. By Adding to God’s Word Adding to God’s instructions is a very common mistake. “You shall not add to the word which I command you...” {Deuteronomy 4:2} “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.” {Revelation 22:18} #3. Adding to God’s Word. In today’s religious world, adding to God’s commandments is very common place. (Deut.4:2; Rev.22:18; Prov.30:5,6) They do this in many ways: Singing—Eph.5:19—adding instruments of music. Baptism, which is a burial—Col.2:12—adding sprinkling and pouring, or sprinkling babies. Elders—1 Pet.5:2—God said elders are men; modern religions add women, and they add to their authority by making it apply to more than the local church.

#4. By Subtracting From God’s Word Subtracting from God’s instructions is another common mistake. “…nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” {Deuteronomy 4:2} “And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” {Revelation 22:19} #4. Subtracting from God’s Word. It is also very common for people in today’s religious world to take away from God’s commandments. (Deut.4:2; Rev.22:19; Prov.30:5,6) They do this in many ways: (1) MDR—Matt.5:32—some say that some commands are “non-essential” today, so they just ignore certain ones! Yes, the book says we must be baptized, but it can be excluded…

#5. By Ostensibly Obeying, While the Heart Is Absent God knows when we’re just going though the motions. “…Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.” {1 Samuel 15:22,23} #5. By Ostensibly Obeying, While the Heart Is Absent. The word ostensible means represented or appearing as such. Saul learned this the hard way (1 Sam.15:22.23). We are the servants of the one to whom we yield our hearts (Rom.6:17,18). The church in Ephesus had done many things right, but they left their first love (Rev.2:1-7). God does not want eye-service or lip-service—He wants genuine obedience!

#6. By Substituting for What God Has Commanded Nadab and Abihu failed to grasp this, and it cost them their lives. “Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.” {Leviticus 10:1,2} #6. By Substituting for What God Has Commanded. The priests in their priestly garments, offering service to God, failed to obey when they offered something different that God had not commanded. (Levi.10:1,2) People today use sprinkling instead of baptism. Another example—changing the church’s spiritual work into the world’s social-gospel needs. The result is the same—disobedience and God’s displeasure!

#7. By Not Respecting the Silence of the Scriptures Not only must we respect what God has said; we must also respect His silence. “Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls, saying, ‘You must be circumcised and keep the law’ --to whom we gave no such commandment.” {Acts 15:24} “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah, of which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood.” {Hebrews 7:14} #7. By Not Respecting the Silence of the Scriptures. Not only must we respect what God has said; we must also respect His silence. (Acts 15:24; Heb.7:14) Would it be Scripturally allowable for brethren to form a missionary society, having a president, board of directors, and treasury through which to preach the gospel, support, and send out preachers, with the provision that this "Reach-the-Lost Foundation" did not solicit or accept monies from churches (just individuals)? (1 Tim.3:15)

Conclusion We must have a “thus saith the Lord” attitude—no more and no less. “Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the LORD my God, to do less or more.’” {Numbers 22:18} “…If you were to give me half your house, I would not go in with you; nor would I eat bread nor drink water in this place. For so it was commanded me by the word of the LORD, saying, 'You shall not eat bread, nor drink water, nor return by the same way you came.’” {1 Kings 13:8,9} Summary—Invitation…