Games People Play With God

GAMES PEOPLE PLAY WITH GOD

1. Adam and Eve – BLAMING OTHERS

Genesis 3:9-13 9Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”NKJV

·       They did not acknowledge their own sins

·       They shifted blame to others

·       They failed to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness

Result: separation from God

2. Nadab and Abihu – PROFANE OFFERING

Leviticus 10:1-3 1Then 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. 2So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’ ” So Aaron held his peace.NKJV

·       Disregarded God’s specific instructions

·       Mixed carnality and worldliness with their sacrifice to God

·       Failed to glorify God with their actions

Result: Consumed by fire

3. Gehazi – CROOKED DEALS

2 Kings 5:20, 25-27 20But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” …25Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” 26Then he said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? 27Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.NKJV

·       Did not value the merits of financial discipline

·       Took advantage of his position to illegally acquire wealth

·       Couldn’t wait for his time of promotion

Result: Afflicted with disease and curses

4. Jonah – RUNNING FROM GOD

Jonah 1:1-4…15-17 1Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.” 3But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. 4But the Lord sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea, so that the ship was about to be broken up…

15So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows. 17Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.NKJV

·                                                                                                        Moved away from the direction God was leading him

·                                                                                                        Preoccupied with his own selfish interests

·                                                                                                        Invested his resources in the wrong things

Result: Miserable life

5. Ananias and Sapphira – PUBLIC DECEPTION

Acts 5:1-5 1But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. 2And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.NKJV

·       Opened their heart to satan’s lies and deception

·       Conspired to deceive the church through false impressions

·       Took back that which they had publicly dedicated to God

Result: Premature death

6. Sons of Sceva – FAKE SPIRITUALITY

Acts 19:13-16 13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. 15And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.NKJV

·       Had no personal relationship with Christ

·       Followed the crowd without conviction

·       Tried to show off ‘imitation’ spiritual power

Result: Demonic attack