We are entering a time when only absolute and complete obedience to God's daily direction will do and any rushing ahead, lagging behind, or getting creative on Him will create trouble for us and others connected to us. God had expectations concerning Cain and Abel's sacrifice but only Abel did the right thing. Abel was obedient but Cain decided to do it his own way which led to rejection by God. Then as you probably know Cain murdered Abel out of jealousy and anger and he was punished by God.

^{GE 4:1} Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." ² Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. ³ In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. ⁴ But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, ⁵ but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

   Try to think of the Spirit and flesh as Cain and Abel and when you are obedient to God's Spirit it is like Abel, and when you do what you want in the flesh it is like Cain. The calling God has placed upon your life is what He expects of you and anything apart from what He directs you to do will only cause delay, frustration, and anger for you because you will feel rejected by God and possibly rebel and create more grief. We can take God's shut downs personally if we are not careful and suffer great loss.

^{GE 4:6} Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."

   Rebellion and defiance are born out of insecurity and distrust toward God's love. We must be secure in the fact that our Father loves and approves of us or we can easily get exasperated and start trying to find our worth through dead works of the flesh, rather than in God's love. If you have been sidelined or shut down by God because you went beyond His directions try to just remember that it is not you that He has rejected, but rather the works of flesh that you offered to Him in place of obedience.

   If you are not sure why you lost your spiritual mantle or the grace off of the work you have been doing then just take a step back and stop striving. Ask God to show you what may be wrong with what you are doing and get back in line with what He wants. If you get mad at God then you will just get yourself into trouble. If you are feeling dis-appointed today then allow God to re-appoint you by getting you back on the right track. Be secure in your Fathers love and approval and allow Him to help restore you.

^{ISA 1:18} "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. ¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land; ²⁰ but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.