Causes of disobedience to GOD

Lack of love for the LORD

 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. 

And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, 

and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

John 14:21

Jesus answered and said to him, 

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; 

and My Father will love him, 

and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 

  He who does not love Me does not keep My words; 

and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.

John 14:23-24

When we receive GOD's love in our hearts and love Him and live in an intimate relationship with Him, we will not strive to keep His commandments. We will not seek to do the minimum, just for the sake of escaping the punishment for disobedience, but we will desire to please Him in all things! We will obey Him with all our heart.

Because Abraham loved, honoured and trusted GOD, he obeyed GOD to the extent of laying his precious son Isaac, on the altar of sacrifice. He was rewarded by receiving Isaac back. This act of obedience would have strengthened the faith not only of Abraham, but also that of Isaac! GOD has to take the first place in our lives! 

 "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 

  If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, 

just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 

  These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, 

and that your joy may be full. 

  This is My commandment, 

that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:9-12

The gist of GOD's law is, to receive GOD's love and to love Him with all of ourselves and to love others with that same love!

Traditions

 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, 

as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 

"For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men-

-the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do." 

He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, 

that you may keep your tradition. 

For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 

'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 

But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, 

"Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"--' 

(that is, a gift to God), then you no longer let him do anything 

for his father or his mother, 

making the word of God of no effect through your tradition 

which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

Mark 7:6-13

It is necessary for us, once in a while, to ask ourselves and others, why we do certain things or keep certain traditions and rituals that we have picked up along the way. We must diligently seek GOD as to whether such habits are in line with Scripture and whether those actions hinder us from simply obeying GOD's law of love which is more important!

Vain traditions waste our time and energy and also could make us prideful, looking down on those who do not keep them!

Something done with purpose previously, could be blindly carried down generations as purposeless and meaningless tradition. The lamb leg needed to be cut in half to fit the small ovens in olden times. Tradition would say that the lamb leg has to be always cut in half, although the ovens are now big enough to fit a whole leg!

Legalism

 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 

And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. 

And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?"

--that they might accuse Him. Then He said to them, 

"What man is there among you who has one sheep, 

and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 

Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? 

Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath." 

Then He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." 

And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 

Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, 

how they might destroy Him.

Matthew 12:9-14 

In keeping the Sabbath legalistically, the Pharisees completely missed the meaning of the Sabbath! Isn't Sabbath ceasing from our work, entering into 'His rest', connecting with Him and doing the good work He has given us to do?

 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, 

let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. 

For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works 

as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, 

lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.
Hebrews 4:1, 9-11

 The LORD JESUS Himself is our Rest!

 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, 

for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30

 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 

And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, 

and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 

But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, 

"Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." 

And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, 

and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, 

because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, 

"There are six days on which men ought to work; 

therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day." 

The Lord then answered him and said, 

"Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey 

from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, 

being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound--think of it-

-for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?" 

And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; 

and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.
Luke 13:10-17

A legalistic mindset cannot understand the heart of GOD and does not feel compassion.

GOD's law is the law of love.

Then Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. 

And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 

Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, 

and passed by on the other side.
 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, 

came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 

So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; 

and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 

On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, 

gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 

'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." 

Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Luke 10:30-37

Love does not theorize, but acts!

The priest and the Levite, probably did not want to be defiled by the injured man, who they may have thought was a corpse, and so they crossed the road to pass by on the other side! Touching a corpse would make them ceremoniously unclean! They thought about themselves and not about the man in need. A person in need is a neighbour indeed!

'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself', is the commandment.

When you juxta-position yourself and become a neighbour to anyone in need, he becomes your neighbour! 

Hardness of Heart

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, 

"Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" 

And He answered and said to them, 

"Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 

'made them male and female,' and said, '

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother 

and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 

So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. 

Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 

They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command 

to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 

He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, 

permitted you to divorce your wives, 

but from the beginning it was not so. 

And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, 

except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; 

and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery."

Matthew 19:3-9

GOD has given man a free will to make his own decision to obey or disobey. Therefore GOD's law permits a path of disobedience, while commanding obedience. If we harden our hearts and choose that path of disobedience, we will be progressing towards GOD's wrath and judgement. 

Unbelief

 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, 

let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; 

but the word which they heard did not profit them, 

not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. 

For we who have believed do enter that rest, 

as He has said: "So I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,' " 

although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Hebrews 4:1-3

If we don't believe in what GOD is saying to us in His word and through His Holy Spirit,  we will not be interested in obeying Him! If we don't believe in GOD's character, that He is good and that what He commands us to do is for our good, why would we obey Him?

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, 

for he who comes to God must believe that He is, 

and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

  By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, 

moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, 

by which he condemned the world 

and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Hebrews 11:6-7

Lack of Trust in GOD

 Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man 

And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. 

For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, 

And shall not see when good comes, 

But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, 

In a salt land which is not inhabited. 

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, 

And whose hope is the Lord. 

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, 

Which spreads out its roots by the river, 

And will not fear when heat comes; 

But its leaf will be green, 

And will not be anxious in the year of drought, 

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:5-8

It is easier to trust in someone we know than in someone we don't know. If we have a close relationship with the LORD, we will be able to trust Him in all situations.

The systems of this world constantly woo us to place our trust in them, may they be the medical system, or the financial system. Let us be determined not to make decisions on their recommendations, until we have sought the LORD and known His guidance and leading.

The decisions we make should not be based on fear, but on faith and trust in the LORD.

https://youtu.be/4dh02OnJpIE?si=TAaDhFCWvtqvehGh

Fear of man

 The fear of man brings a snare, 

But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

Proverbs 29:25

If we fear what men think of us and what harm they may do to us, we cannot obey the LORD.

We must walk in the fear of the LORD and obey Him because He has all authority and power over all things! 

 "Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, 

You people in whose heart is My law: 

Do not fear the reproach of men, 

Nor be afraid of their insults. 

For the moth will eat them up like a garment, 

And the worm will eat them like wool; 

But My righteousness will be forever, 

And My salvation from generation to generation."

Isaiah 51:7-8

Like David the Psalmist, we can live victoriously without the fear of man, when we have the LORD as our light and salvation and walk in obedience to Him!

The Lord is my light and my salvation; 

Whom shall I fear? 

The Lord is the strength of my life; 

Of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1

 Selfishness and Carnal Motives

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, 

let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
Matthew 16:24

JESUS commanded us to deny our selfish ways so that we may follow His path of selflessness.

 Do not love the world or the things in the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, 

and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; 

but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17

Balaam was a heathen who could hear GOD clearly, but his motive was carnal and selfish. Therefore he couldn't obey GOD's instruction with all his heart! 

Numbers chapters 22-25 

Jonah was a Jewish prophet who was sent to speak to the heathen nation of Nineveh. As Jonah's motive and attitude did not align with GOD's heart, he was disobedient to GOD!

The Book of Jonah

If the motive of our mind is not in line with GOD's purposes, it will be very difficult for us to obey the LORD. Are we seeking possessions, position and fame for ourselves and for our families? If that is our goal in life, GOD's guidance may not be clear to us, even if we are seeking it. In that case, we will be progressing in the wrong direction! We might then, like Balaam, encounter a Donkey that speaks, or like Jonah, a storm and a big fish!

When our motive is to please and glorify the LORD, we are facing the right direction, and GOD's guidance through the Gentle Promptings of the Spirit - GPS, will be very clear to us, to progress in the path that He has set out for us! Thus, knowing His will, we must walk in obedience to Him.

This is important in making decisions relating to our personal lives and the ministry GOD has called us to.

 Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' 

or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 

For after all these things the Gentiles seek. 

For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, 

and all these things shall be added to you.
Matthew 6:31-33

Pride 

 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; 

But the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

The proud man says in his heart, " I know better than others. I know better than GOD."

Even if what GOD says doesn't make sense to us, it would be wise for us to still trust Him and obey Him. GOD's ways may appear foolishness and wrong to man, but in fact they are wiser and better than the ways of the wisest man! 

 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, 

and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1:25

 

Seek the Lord while He may be found, 

Call upon Him while He is near. 

Let the wicked forsake his way, 

And the unrighteous man his thoughts; 

Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; 

And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, 

Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. 

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, 

So are My ways higher than your ways, 

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:6-9

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, 

And lean not on your own understanding; 

In all your ways acknowledge Him, 

And He shall direct your paths. 

Do not be wise in your own eyes; 

Fear the Lord and depart from evil. 

It will be health to your flesh, 

And strength to your bones.

Proverbs 3:5-8

 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. 

Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, 

for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
1 Peter 5:5

If we are proud, we will not obey the LORD and follow Him in the path of humility.

Ignorance

And that servant who knew his master's will, 

and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, 

shall be beaten with many stripes. 

But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, 

shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, 

from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, 

of him they will ask the more.
Luke 12:47-48

We can only obey a command if we hear it or know it.

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, 

because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, 

although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; 

but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 
1 Timothy 1:12-13

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, 

but now commands all men everywhere to repent,
Acts 17:30

We cannot give ignorance as an excuse for disobedience. We must desire to know the LORD and His commandments so that we may walk in obedience to Him. 

 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, 

there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 

but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, 

and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Hebrews 10:26-27

 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, 

and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you 

at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, 

not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 

but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
1 Peter 1:13-15

 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32

 The LORD JESUS is the Truth. When we live in an intimate relationship with Him and know Him more and more, He will set us free from every sin and every bondage and release us to walk in obedience to Him.

The Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son  

Luke 15:11-32

The two sons mentioned here grew up together.
When they were little, I can imagine their father
getting the servants
to set up many play equipment on the farmyard
including a ‘seesaw’!
If you have two sons or two daughters or more,
you will realise that each child has his or her own personality.

The older son was on the legalistic end of the scale
while the younger son was on the lawless end of the scale.

See saw, up and down..
Legalism is prone to pride and is the up end.

Lawlessness is prone to rebellion and is the down end.

Both need to slide towards the centre
to become humbly lawful to keep the balance!

True experience of GOD’S grace
enables us to walk in this balance.
Because of this amazing grace of GOD,
I love Him and I desire to walk in absolute obedience to Him.
Yet, I recognize that I fall short and nothing I do
can match GOD’S standard to sufficiently justify myself.

 For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves;

it is the gift of God,

not of works, lest anyone should boast.

For we are His workmanship,
created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

The attitude of one
who has understood the grace of GOD would be:

I don’t deserve what I receive.

I am grateful.

I love GOD.

I want to serve Him in obedience.

Therefore he would obediently serve GOD.

The older boy served the father, but not as a son.

The younger boy was a son who did not want to serve the father.

We should be children who love and serve our Heavenly Father.

The older son did right with the wrong attitude.

When we serve GOD with the attitude
‘I deserve all I receive and more’,
what we receive is counted as wages.
Then we will be angry about what we do not get.

We will be angry about what others receive through grace.

We will be angry with GOD; we will be angry with our brethren.

We will not have love nor joy in our service for the LORD.

Ultimately, like the older son, we will refuse to go into heaven
because it is a place of celebration of the grace of GOD!
If you are not comfortable to joyously celebrate
the evidence of abounding grace on an ungodly sinner
that is drawing him to GOD, you will not fit into heaven.

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound.

But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

Romans 5:20

GOD freely releases His grace to us first.

Having experienced His grace,
we willingly serve Him because we love Him.

GOD does not expect us to serve Him first
so that He might pay us wages.

Now to him who works,

the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

But to him who does not work

but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,

his faith is accounted for righteousness, Romans 4:4-5

The younger son’s attitude was, ‘I have the right to have it now’.

But when he came to himself, his attitude was, ‘I am not worthy’.

How often do we say to ourselves

“If only this matter is completely settled, I will be at peace”

Or “When I get my Permanent Residency, I will be happy”

or “I will have faith in GOD when my medical test results are clear”

or “when my bank account is built up, I can serve the LORD”.

Does your prayer sound like that of the prodigal son?

“Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.”

Often it is a need that keeps us depending on GOD
and in relationship with Him.

Such a situation is better than being self sufficient
and independent of GOD.

This was the apostle Paul’s experience regarding an illness.

And lest I should be exalted above measure

by the abundance of the revelations,

a thorn in the flesh was given to me,

a messenger of Satan to buffet me,

lest I be exalted above measure.

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times

that it might depart from me.

And He said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you,

for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9

Don’t let the very things you expect to receive from GOD,

disconnect you from Him like the younger son.

Don’t let your diligent service and ministry for Him,

disconnect you from His Father heart
like the situation of the older son.

We should have faith before we see a matter settled.

We should experience peace and rest in CHRIST,

in the midst of unresolved problems and difficult situations.

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 91:1

Both sons did not completely understand
the privileges of living with the father in relationship with him.
The love, the constant flow of provision, the protection
and the grace available to ask for and receive ‘extra blessings’!
The fatted calf and party with friends
would have been their enjoyment under their father’s roof
if only they had asked!
If they did, they would have lovingly and joyously
served their father!

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,

you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

John 15:7

And in that day you will ask Me nothing.

Most assuredly, I say to you,

whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.

Until now you have asked nothing in My name.

Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

John 16:23-24

In a sense, all of us as mankind are like prodigals in this world.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

It takes various experiences through which
each of us ‘Comes to himself’.
It is at that point that we turn towards the LORD.

From then on, every appointment we have with the LORD
-  our personal devotion time,
discussion of Scripture with other Christians,
Church service, listening to messages
- enables us to steer our thoughts
towards our eternal home on the highway of holiness.

Let us continue to steer our thoughts
towards our Father by responding to His grace,
with all our heart, and progress on this path
by loving one another.

This is My commandment,

that you love one another as I have loved you. John 15:12

The best is yet to be for us in our Father’s home!
It will be a party in the Presence of the Father
and in perfect relationships with others!

I can imagine the angels in heaven busy
arranging a specifically customised
‘Welcome Home’ party for the arrival of each child of GOD!!