The Foundational Offense: Disregarding God's Sovereignty

At the root of all spiritual corruption lies a singular, devastating offense: the rejection of God's sovereignty, His right to rule, His supreme authority, and His identity as the source of all good. This offense is not merely a mistake of intellect but a rebellion of the will. It is the primal sin that undergirds every other, as it dethrones God in the heart and enthrones self, idols, or darkness in His place.
This affront is so serious because it strikes at the very essence of who God is:

. God’s Sovereignty Expressed in Holiness and Love
• Holiness (Isaiah 6:3; 1 Peter 1:15-16): God is absolutely pure, separate from sin, and perfect in righteousness. His holiness demands reverence, obedience, and moral purity.
• Love (1 John 4:8-10; Romans 5:8): His love is not passive affection but active, covenantal commitment. It is seen in His mercy, grace, and the offering of relationship to His creation.
To disregard God’s sovereignty is to reject His holiness (by tolerating or loving sin) and His love (by seeking life apart from Him).

Humanity’s Divine Design and Its Betrayal
God's original design for humanity reveals His sovereign intent:
• Relationship with Him (Genesis 3:8-9; John 17:3): We were made to walk with God intimately, daily.
• Reflection of His Image (Genesis 1:26-28): We are to represent His character—righteousness, justice, love.
• Responsible Stewardship (Genesis 2:15; Psalm 8): We are caretakers of creation, glorifying God through our dominion.
Disregarding God’s sovereignty is not just a violation of a command, it is a betrayal of our very identity and purpose.

The Fruits of Sovereignty Rejection: A Catalog of Abominations
A. The Practical Denial of God
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’” – Psalm 14:1
This is not atheism of the mind but of the heart—a life lived as if God is irrelevant, absent, or unnecessary. Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. When this fear is cast aside, lawlessness thrives.

B. Idolatry and Occultism: Spiritual Treason
• Idolatry (Deut. 12:31; 29:17): Substituting the Creator with created things is spiritual adultery.
• Demonic traffic (Lev. 20:27; Gal. 5:19-21): Seeking power or knowledge apart from God is a fatal submission to the realm of darkness.
These practices usurp God's throne and invite judgment, for they mock His holiness and defy His authority.

C. Violations of Righteousness and Justice
These sins reflect a disordered society that has forgotten God:
• Pride and deceit (Prov. 6:16-17): Elevating self above God and others.
• Violence and bloodshed (Prov. 6:17): Destroying life made in God’s image.
• Scheming and false witness (Prov. 6:18-19): Weaponizing words to destroy.
• Unjust weights and dishonest trade (Prov. 11:1; Deut. 25:13-16): Turning commerce into a tool of oppression.
• Wicked sacrifices (Prov. 15:8): External religion without inward repentance is offensive to God.
• Justifying the wicked (Prov. 17:15): Perverting justice is to defy the God who is Judge of all.
Every act of injustice is ultimately a denial of God’s nature, for He is a God of justice (Isaiah 30:18).

D. A Reversal of Divine Values
Jesus said, “What is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God” – Luke 16:15.
The world glorifies what God despises: power without humility, wealth without righteousness, pleasure without purity. This value inversion is the fruit of rejecting God's voice and rule.
• Love of money (1 Tim. 6:10): Makes mammon a god.
• Turning from God's Word (Prov. 28:9): Silences divine truth.
• Religious acts from sinful hearts (Isaiah 1:13-15): Are an insult, not an offering.

The Weight of the Word: “Abomination”
The term “abomination” (Heb. toebah) signifies utter detestation. It is reserved for that which is most contrary to God’s nature, a stench in His holy presence. These are not merely bad behaviors—they are deep-rooted hostilities against God's being and order.br> “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him...” (Proverbs 6:16-19)
God is not indifferent to sin. His hatred of abomination springs not from cruelty, but from the intensity of His love for holiness, justice, and His creation.

The Call to Response: From Abomination to Alignment
Understanding abomination is not meant to condemn but to awaken:
• To God's holiness: That we might tremble and revere.
• To God's love: That we might return and repent.
• To God's design: That we might live truly.
Through Christ, God provides restoration. The cross reveals both the severity of sin and the magnitude of mercy. What was abominable in us was judged in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21), so that we might be made righteous before God.

Conclusion: Reverence, Repentance, Renewal
Disregarding God’s sovereignty is not a small offense—it is the root of every evil, the poisoned spring of human rebellion. But recognizing this foundational sin brings us to the threshold of transformation. The fear of the Lord is still the beginning of wisdom, and submission to His rule is the gateway to life, peace, and godliness. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). It serves as a call to self-examination, repentance, and a turning towards a life that reflects God's righteousness and love. By understanding what is deeply displeasing to Him, we can strive to live in a way that brings Him honor and aligns with His perfect will. This wisdom calls us to a life of integrity, justice, love, and unwavering devotion to the one true God.

© 2025 Green Olives Christian Books. All rights reserved.

The Father's Good Gifts: Trusting Beyond Stones and Serpents

The passage from Matthew 7:7-11 forms the bedrock of this teaching: "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?!" (KJV) So why the disillusionment?

It often stems from two extremes:
Vagueness in our petitions—offering general prayers with no clarity or depth, while expecting precise answers.
Sanctimonious surrender—feigned neutrality that masks fear and unbelief, pretending to be okay with anything, while inwardly nursing frustration.
This scripture is a cornerstone of understanding the nature of God as Father and the posture we should adopt in prayer. The vivid analogy presented—imagining being served stones instead of bread, or venomous snakes instead of nourishing fish—highlights a profound spiritual truth and corrects a common, often subconscious, misconception in our relationship with God.

1. The Core Analogy: God's Goodness vs. Our Fear
Jesus uses a powerful rhetorical argument (an a fortiori argument – "how much more"). He appeals to basic human parental instinct: even flawed, sinful ("evil") human parents desire to provide good, necessary things for their children. No loving earthly father would mock his child's hunger with a stone or endanger him with a serpent when asked for essential food.
The "Serpents for Supper" concept captures the dreadful absurdity of imagining God doing exactly that. It describes the spiritual pitfall where believers, despite intellectually acknowledging God's goodness, approach Him with underlying fear, suspicion, or a resignation to disappointment. We might:
• Project human failings onto God: Because earthly relationships can be sources of pain, betrayal, or unmet needs, we subconsciously fear God might operate similarly.
• Misinterpret hardship: When difficulties arise after prayer, we might quickly conclude, "God must have sent this 'stone' or 'serpent' instead of the 'bread' or 'fish' I asked for." This attributes malice or indifference to God, contradicting His revealed nature.
• Engage in false piety: Sometimes, a believer might adopt a posture of "whatever You will, Lord," which sounds submissive but masks a fear of asking for specifics, lest they be disappointed or appear demanding. This "contrived neutrality" distrusts God's willingness to engage with our genuine, specific needs and desires when they align with His kingdom.

2. The Character of the Father: The Foundation of Trust
The critical point Jesus makes is the infinite goodness and reliability of our Heavenly Father. He isn't just like a good human parent; He is the perfect standard of fatherhood, infinitely surpassing even the best earthly examples. His very nature is love (1 John 4:8) and goodness (Psalm 34:8). Therefore, the idea that He would respond to a sincere request for a "good thing" (spiritual nourishment, guidance, grace, provision aligned with His will) with something harmful or useless (a "stone" or "serpent") is contrary to His fundamental character.

3. The Invitation to Ask, Seek, Knock: Childlike Confidence
Jesus doesn't just reveal the Father's nature; He issues an invitation: "Ask, seek, knock." This implies:
• Relationship: Prayer is a dialogue within a secure relationship, like a child approaching a loving parent.
• Confidence: We are encouraged to come boldly (Hebrews 4:16), not timidly or suspiciously.
• Specificity and Honesty: Children naturally ask for what they want or need specifically. While our requests must always be submitted to God's wisdom and ultimate will ("Your kingdom come, Your will be done"), Jesus doesn't condemn specific requests. Asking for "bread" or "fish" is specific. The original text rightly encourages honesty about our needs and desires (e.g., specific grace, details in a home, qualities in a spouse), provided our hearts are aligned with God's purposes ("affections set on things above," Colossians 3:1-2) and our requests have scriptural warrant (they align with God's revealed will and character). God desires relationship, not robotic, fearful subservience.

4. Discerning God's Answers: Beyond Superficial Appearances
This is where spiritual wisdom is crucial. Life involves trials, challenges, and unanswered prayers as we perceive them. How do we reconcile this with Matthew 7:11?
• God's "Good Things" are Truly Good: God promises "good things." These are things that are ultimately beneficial for our spiritual growth, relationship with Him, and His kingdom purposes. This might not always align with our immediate comfort or definition of "good."
• Distinguishing Trials from Divine Malice: God may allow trials (James 1:2-4) or discipline us out of love (Hebrews 12:5-11), but this is fundamentally different from answering a child's request for necessary food with a harmful snake. God works in and through difficult circumstances for our ultimate good (Romans 8:28), but He doesn't substitute evil for good in direct answer to a righteous request.
• The Need for Discernment: When we receive something unexpected or difficult after prayer, we shouldn't automatically assume "God sent this stone." Instead, we should:

Check our Request: Was it aligned with God's Word and character? Was our motive pure (James 4:3)?
Examine God's Character: Does this outcome reflect the loving Father revealed in Scripture? Or does it feel like a "serpent"?
Seek Wisdom: Pray for understanding (James 1:5). Consult Scripture. Seek counsel from mature believers.
Trust His Ultimate Goodness: Even when we don't understand the specifics, we hold fast to the truth that our Father is good and gives good gifts. The answer might be "no," "wait," or something different that is ultimately better, but it won't be the spiritual equivalent of a stone or a serpent.

Furthermore, we are not more spiritual by pretending we have no preferences. God created us with desires and individuality, and He invites us to commune with Him as sons, not slaves. Provided our hearts are set on His kingdom and our requests are aligned with His revealed will in Scripture, we can boldly and specifically ask. Let this be the pattern of our prayer: specific requests, scriptural validation, and childlike trust. And if ever the answer seems off, let us not walk away in silence and sorrow—let us go back to the Father, check again, and listen more closely.
The concept of "Serpents for Supper" serves as a stark warning against approaching God with suspicion born from fear or misinterpreting hardship as divine malice in response to prayer. Profound biblical teaching, centered on Matthew 7:7-11, calls us to a radically trusting faith. We approach a Father of perfect goodness, wisdom, and love, who delights in giving "good things" to His children. We are invited to ask with childlike confidence and specificity, aligning our desires with His kingdom.
If you're praying for grace, define the area and the depth. If it's a home, describe what you believe He is leading you to. If it's a spouse, articulate the godly qualities you hope to find. This is not carnality—it is covenant faith grounded in trust.
When answers come, measure them not by fear or superficial appearances but by the Word. Did I ask God for this? Does this reflect His nature? Would a good Father serve this to a trusting child? Let us reject the lie that negative realities are somehow ‘holy’ answers to hopeful requests. Our God is not in the business of mockery. If we, frail and fallen, know not to trick our children with a snake when they ask for food, how much more the One who is Light and in whom there is no darkness at all?
While we must discern His answers wisely, we can rest assured that when we ask for the bread of life and sustenance for our journey, our Heavenly Father will never mock our need by serving us stones or endanger our souls by offering serpents for supper. He gives life, nourishment, and grace, according to His perfect will and infinite love.

© 2025 Green Olives Christian Books. All rights reserved.