The Many Forms of Disobedience-Part 1

The Many Forms of Disobedience – Part 1

Praise the Lord, everybody.  We are beginning a new series on disobedience, and how it affects our walk with the Lord.  Please turn with me to Ephesians chapter 2.

Ephesians 2

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

So we already know where this sin comes from, and how the enemy tries to trick the body of Christ into reasoning that it isn’t a bad thing to do.  Through the Holy Spirit, we were quickened, which simply means awakened or revived, because we were dead.  In the past, or at least it should be, we followed the world, and took credence to its ideas and thoughts about many things, because we were deceived by Satan.

Our conversation was about our lustful desires, and what our plans were.  Please note that when I talk about lust in this sense, I’m not necessarily talking about sex.  What I want you to understand is that any desire that doesn’t line up with the will of God is lust.  You can fill in the blanks right there.

There was no difference between us and the world if we gave into these sinful thoughts and desires.  That’s called being a carnal Christian.  We may sincerely believe in God and His word, but don’t think or act upon His precepts.  We’re doing us, and it seems to be ok, as long as we aren’t committing anything that hurts anyone else.  I know I’m going to get some push back on this.

Praise God for His love and mercy, which keeps us from getting into even more trouble than we could.  I feel the Lord saying that we need to break this down, so that we have a clear understanding by the time this series is over, so we can repent and move on.  The word of God says that we are saved by grace through faith, and He has raised us up to be seated in Heavenly places in the Lord.  This is the gift that He has given us through the precious blood of Jesus Christ.

Now remember that I said before that we are Gentiles.  Anyone who isn’t of Jewish descent is considered a Gentile.  The gospel was preached first to the Jews, who rejected salvation, and now is being preached to us, but don’t get it twisted.  The Jews are still God’s chosen people, and the time is drawing nigh for Him to call them back to Himself, so that they can accept the promised Messiah that they overlooked in the Lord Jesus.  We were aliens to God, and were out doing our own thing, without hope and without a Savior.  However, thanks be to God that even those of us who have accepted the Lord, but may currently be in a backslidden condition, are being drawn back to Him, and the wall is breaking down, so that we have access to Him.

Let me say this.  It’s never the Lord, but it’s always us.  He hasn’t gone anywhere.  We’re the ones who walk away, due to disappointment, disillusionment and willful disobedience to His word.  We know better, and we are without excuse, but try as we may, we find one anyway, and then just shrug it off as “…God knows my heart.”

No truer statement has ever been made.  Don’t you know that God is trying to break up the fallow ground so that we can listen to the cry of our heart, our inner man, out to the Creator?  Now is the time to return to the Lord.

You might be saying, Sherri, I haven’t gone anywhere.  I love the Lord.  I’m not disputing that you don’t, but are you absolutely sure that at some point, you haven’t done what He called you to do, for whatever reason?  If you search your heart, you may find that you’re walking in disobedience.

Let me tell you a quick story, and then we will pick this up on Friday.  My salvation experience wasn’t at church, but at home on a hot summer Saturday afternoon.  My family had invested in a 4 volume children’s bible for me to read.  Unlike the present day excuses that parents come up with about their children being too young to understand right from wrong, I read that bible at 8 years old, and I completely understand the story about the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  My heart was broken, because I couldn’t understand why people were being so mean to the Lord.  My great grandmother encouraged me to continue reading, because that wasn’t the end of the story, praise God.

I’m glad I did, and she led me to Christ, right in her living room.  I was baptized, shortly thereafter, and I was called to preach at the age of 14.  I did my trial sermon at a Baptist Youth Conference in Seekonk, Massachusetts.  My pastor and first lady at that time saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself, but I was obedient.  Let me tell you that I probably would have been further along in ministry if I had simply yielded to the Lord’s call, and told Him yes back in 1980.

Unfortunately, I didn’t, and I tried to go my own way.  Suffice it to say that 21 years later, I accepted the call on my life.  It took me another 3 years before I wrote my first book of many, but fast forward to present day, I have had to repent for not doing or saying what the Lord wanted me to all those years ago.  I am happy to report that at almost 52, I am where the Lord wants me, and I am seeking His will continually for my life and ministry.

I will close with this.  Please don’t wait as long as I did, and go through many trials as a result of my disobedience to do what God is calling you to do.  May the Lord bless you.