Seven Ways to Disobey God “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!

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} 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} 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} Introduction

#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}

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

#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}

#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}

#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}

#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}

#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}

#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}

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}