God's Will | Willing Disobedience
Book of James • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 3 viewsWithin God's will, we have three ways to respond: Ignore, Obey, or what we find within our text, disobey. Where are you at in life? Are you obeying, ignoring, or outright disobeying.
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Focus Passage: James 4:17
17 So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.
Outline
Why do children disobey their parents? What do you feel is the root cause of disobedience?
Why do you think we disobey God? Do we have excuses for disobedience?
Three Reasons We Disobey God’s Will
People disobey God out of ignorance
Too many people see God’s grace a license to sin. As Paul wrote, God forbid (Rom 6:2). We must understand that God’s commands are not options. They are not up for debate.
People disobey God out of pride
People disobey God out of a lack of fear
People disobey God out of misunderstanding
Two misunderstandings that lead to disobedience are _______________ and _______________?
Misunderstanding of God’s character
Misunderstanding of the outcome of obedience (many think it brings misery)
As we look at our text, we see a blaring obvious omission? Any guess as to what that omission is?
The individuals, that James is writing about within this text, have not sinned out of ignorance, who knows the right thing.
How often is this case for us? Right?
Most of the time, when we sin, we are sinning voluntarily. No one has twisted our arm or put a gun to our head and said, “Or else.”
Why is this?
Another question that must be asked is this…Is it possible to sin by doing nothing?
Two avenues of disobedience
The first avenue is willful disobedience through action
The second avenue is willful disobedience through the absence of action, who know the right thing to do and does not do it, for him it is sin.
What are the consequences of willful disobedience to the will of God? What do the consequences received or the lack thereof reveal about our relationship with God? Both are good questions and questions that must be addressed.
The Results of Willful Disobedience
Misery is destined to follow disobedience
It is far better to not have known at all than to know and still disobey God’s commands. As Peter writes...
21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.
However, many of us are willingly doing what Peter warns not to do, returning to our vomit (i.e. our rebellion and filth, our former life)
22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A dog returns to its own vomit,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.”
As we return to this former condition, we find ourselves in utter misery and desperation. We are in a place of death, drought, and stagnation. Why is this? Because God breaks our spirit down. We see this in David’s Psalm of repentance after his affair with Bathsheba.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness, Let the bones You have broken rejoice.
Understand just as David did, God is justified in his judgment of our sin.
4 Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.
Discipline is destined to follow disobedience
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are punished by Him; 6 For whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He punishes every son whom He accepts.”
Loss is destined to follow disobedience
24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. So they do it to obtain a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way as not to run aimlessly; I box in such a way, as to avoid hitting air; 27 but I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
“disqualified” within the Gk means “not standing the test,” “rejected,” or “disqualified”
Paul in writing this is not stating that one loses their salvation but loses their place. They are removed from the race. As we look elsewhere in Paul’s writings we find another message of loss...
12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 13 each one’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each one’s work. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet only so as through fire.
Discipline reveals the condition of your relationship with the Father
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Conclusion
When it comes to God’s will, we can ignore it, as we discussed previously. We can obey it, or we can do as we discussed within this text, disobey it. I would submit that disobeying God’s will should never be an option. It will cost way too much. It will cost discipline. It will cost loss. It very well may cost others in the process.