Category Archives: Disobedience

Bible, Disobedience, God's Will, Hate, Hatred, Scripture

HATERS OF GOD

ROMANS 1:30

“slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,”

I have known some people who truly hated God. They blamed Him for every bad thing that happened to them. They couldn’t love a God “that allowed that sort of thing.” The fact of the matter is, we were all haters of God until we came to salvation. Living lives opposed to His law makes us haters, according to Scripture. I could have taken any one of the words mentioned in today’s verse, but this one really explains them all.

Paul says these individuals he has been discussing for the past several verses were indeed “haters of God.” The word for “haters” is theostygḗs and is used only here in Romans 1:30. HELPS Word studies says it is “derived from theós, ‘God’ and stygeō, ‘abhor’ – properly, to abhor God (His will). This rare term refers to people who totally turn against the Lord.” A person who fits this category is capable of any of the words mentioned in verse 29 and 30.

APPLICATION

In John 3:20 Jesus says this about these haters of God. “‘For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed.’” Darkness is used to try to hide our behaviors. I can name all kinds of sin that are done in the cloak of darkness. But God sees through the darkness, does He not?

Jesus tells us in John 7:7, “‘The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify about it, that its deeds are evil.’” When we expose the deeds done in the darkness, the evil will come against us with fangs bared and snarling. Our ministry has seen that all over the world as we have taught men how to come out of the darkness and live in the light. The haters of God do not want this. They want to keep us enslaved to our sins and in their camp as haters of God.

In one more verse from John, Jesus warns us in John 15:18 that, “‘If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.’” Don’t be surprised if you get called names and attacked for living a godly life. Don’t be shocked at the behaviors of others, even some in the church who are living according to God’s will, when you confront their sin. We have a responsibility though to share the truth and let God do the convicting. Their hatred of Him does not surprise Him, nor does it lessen His love for them. We should respond likewise.

Father, allow me to be Your vessel in this ongoing battle against those who hate You.

If the Lord should lead you to support our ministry, check out our ministry page at Trans World Radio (www.twr.org/carl-willis). 

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Bible, Disobedience, Obedience, Pleasing, Scripture

THIS IS PLEASING

COLOSSIANS 3:20

“Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord.”

I worked with children for close to forty years. I have served as a Children’s Pastor, Youth Director and various roles with Children’s Homes throughout the Southeast U.S. An obedient child is a blessing to everyone, but I have had to deal with a lot of disobedient children through the years. There is no secret to “make” a child obey. They must choose to obey on their own.

As Paul continues to discuss roles within the family, he turns to the children. He says very clearly that to obey is to please the Lord. “Obey” is the Greek word that means to listen in order to obey. It points to a hearing under authority. In other words, God has placed people over us (parents, bosses, governments) to obey in order to please Him.

APPLICATION

Now, I know there are probably people in your life to whom you report to that you don’t particularly care for. As obedient children obey their parents, we too must obey our authorities. Why? Because it pleases the Lord. One of the best passages about pleasing the Lord is found in Romans 12:1-2.

“1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice,  acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Whom do you want to please today – God or yourself? I pray it is God. He has given us so many reasons to obey. Perhaps a study on obedience would be good. Take some time today or tomorrow and look up some verses about obedience using a good concordance. You may be surprised to see just how disobedient you are. Hmmm. What will you do about that?

Lord, help me yield myself to You as an obedient child.

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Bible, Disobedience, Scripture, Wrath

SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE

COLOSSIANS 3:6

For it is because of these things that the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,”

Have you ever encountered a disobedient child? I have. I worked over thirty years in the Foster Care system and dealt with a lot of children who had never been taught how to obey. They rebelled against any authority figure. It was quite difficult to turn these behaviors around. The secret? Jesus!

Paul warns the Colossian believers and us that God will not tolerate outright rebellion. The Greek word for “disobedience” is apeitheia. “In the New Testament, “apeitheia” primarily refers to a state of disobedience or unbelief, particularly in relation to God’s commands or the gospel message. It denotes a willful refusal to be persuaded by divine truth, often resulting in a hardened heart and rebellion against God.” (Strong’s Lexicon)

APPLICATION

This word is used seven times in the New Testament. Let’s look at a couple of them and see how it applies to us. In Romans 11:32 we read, “For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He may show mercy to all.” God deals with disobedience so that He may show mercy. What?! Listen, God wants everyone to come to Him. So, He will deal with the disobedient so that they may be drawn to Him.

How about Ephesians 2:1-2? “1 And you were dead in your offenses and sins, 2 in which you previously walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.” It is Satan who spurs us towards disobedience. God did not make you that way. He desires obedient children.

How are you obeying today? Is your heart turned toward Him or your own pleasure. Decide today you will obey your King and Master. He longs for fellowship with you. We obey because we love Him, not to get His love.

O Lord, lead me in a way to obey You in all things.

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Bible, Children, Disobedience, Grandchildren, Obedience, Parenting, Scripture

OBEDIENT CHILDREN

EPHESIANS 6:1

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.”

What parent doesn’t want obedient children?! Can I get an Amen? Lol. Of course, we want children to obey us, but why? Well, there are just supposed to, Carl. Children should be seen but not heard. Yeah, right! Do you really believe that? I didn’t think so. Children are gift from the Lord. We are so blessed to have them in our lives. Isn’t it great that the Lord gives us so much instruction about them and for them?

After spending the last several verses discussing husbands and wives, he turns to the children. Now, as far as we know, Paul didn’t have any children. But remember, he is simply passing along the Lord’s words through the Holy Spirit. He says in today’s verse that children should obey their parents because it is right. We’ll look back at the Law in a bit and look at that command God gave Moses. This letter would have probably been read aloud in the Ephesian church, so the children who were present would have sat up and listened when they heard they were being addressed specifically.

APPLICATION

We all know the ten commandments, don’t we? The fifth commandment is the one addressed to children. Exodus 20:12 says, “‘Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be prolonged on the land which the LORD your God gives you.’” It is the only commandment with a promise. I think that is pretty cool, don’t you? God specifically talks to the children here in Exodus.

I can remember going away on business trips when my kids were little. I bet you can guess what I told them, can’t you? I would say, “Now, you mind your mother and no fighting.” They were usually pretty good, but occasionally I would come home to a very frustrated wife due to their behavior. Our children weren’t always perfect little angels.

Chances are there are not any children reading my blog right now. So, you parents and grandparents need to share this with the kids. Remind them that God expects obedience. A child that won’t obey their parents won’t obey God either. That is our goal as parents – to raise children who love and obey God. Why? So they will raise obedient children (our grandchildren). That’s our payoff, lol.

Father I need to be Your obedient child every day as well.

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Bible, Deception, Devil, Disobedience, Evil, Scripture, Wrath

WORLDLY DECEPTION

EPHESIANS 5:6

“See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

Many years ago, when I was on a trip, I was propositioned by a lady while I was eating my dinner alone in a restaurant. I had seen her and another lady sitting across the restaurant at another table when I was seated. About halfway through my meal she approached and asked if I was interested in some “company.” I proudly raised my left hand, pointed at my wedding band and said, “Sorry, I am happily married.” She said back very quickly, “That’s okay, honey. She won’t know.” I told her again that I was not interested and she walked away.

Worldly deception has been around a long time. Paul warned the Ephesians about it in today’s verse. All the things in which they had been involved (see verse 5) and all the things their unbelieving friends were still practicing were a lure by the evil one. They were probably saying things like, “Oh, come on. You’ve always participated in these things. They are our custom.” These “sons of disobedience” were being used by the evil one to try and drag these new believers right back to their old lifestyles. Paul says, “No, you have a new life now.”

APPLICATION

In Romans 2:7-9, Paul shows us the contrast between being a child of obedience versus a child of disobedience. “7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life; 8 but to those who are self-serving and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, He will give wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of mankind who does evil, for the Jew first and also for the Greek,”

We will always have people in our lives who will try to lead us astray. Even other believers who are deceived may try to do this. So, how do you protect yourselves? James 1:22 says it rather simply. “Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” We have to live out the Word of God in our daily lives. We have to walk in truth.

2 Corinthians 11:3 is another verse I have memorized about this worldly deception. “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray for your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” Stay sharp. Stay in the Word and set your mind on things above. 

Lord, guard me against any worldly influence as I walk with You

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