Paul said, "But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak not as pleasing men but God, which trieth our hearts," (1 Thess. 2:4; Isa. 58:13) not by our own wisdom (Ezek. 36:17). "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord" (Isa. 55:8). When Ephriam spoke trembling, he exalted himself in Israel but when he offended in Baal he died. "Now they sin more and more and have made them molten images of their silver and idols according to their own understanding" (Hosa. 13:1-2; 1 Cor. 1:20-25). Solomon said, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding" (Prov. 3:5). It is not in man to direct his steps (Jer. 10:23). God must tell us how to worship (Heb. 1:2; Matt. 17:5). We must not add to what he says (Rev. 22:18-19; Deut. 4:2). God said He would raise up a prophet and put words in his mouth and he would speak all He commanded him (Deut. 18:18). This was fulfilled in His Son, Jesus the Christ. He is that prophet; He walked and talked with men and while doing so He chose twelve men whom He named apostles. After He finished the work which the Father sent Him to do, was crucified, buried, rose again the third day, and proved Himself to be that prophet. He gave to these apostles a commission, but while with them He told them that after He went away He would send them the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth (Jno. 16:13). In His prayer to His Father He said, "I have given them the words Thou gavest me; and they have received them and know surely that I came out from Thee." He also said, "I pray not for these alone, but for all them also that shall believe on me through their word" (John 17:8-21).

Just before Jesus went back to the Father, he instructed these apostles to tarry at Jerusalem and wait for the promise of the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth. They did what He commanded them, the Holy Spirit came as He said (Acts 2). Now they were ready to put the commission into operation, which was: first, teach the nations and baptize them, and second, teach them to 'observe all things I have commanded you' (Matt. 28:19-20). Paul, one of the apostles, said to the elders of the church at Ephesus, "I have kept back nothing that was profitable unto you; I have declared all the council of God" (Acts 20:20-32).

Before these apostles went away they wrote these things down, being guided by the Holy Spirit. So we have all that God wants us to observe, written down and the only way we can hope to please Him is to stay within the bounds of that which is written. To go beyond and do things not commanded is dangerous (2 John 9). We have examples in the Old Testament that we would do well to consider. Consider what happened to Nadab and Abihu for doing a thing that God commanded them not (Lev. 10:1-2). Perhaps the fire they used burned the incense all right, and the work was done, but the means used was rebellion against God, He having told them where to get the fire to burn the incense, hence, they were smote to death on the spot. God had told them where to obtain the fire (Lev. 16:12).

We have another example I wish to mention in this connection. On one occasion the Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant and they decided they did not want to keep it, so they sent word to David to come and get it. When David and the ones who went for it, arrived they found the Philistines hauling it on a cart. When they saw this, they probably thought it a better way to carry the ark, so they made a new cart and placed it on the new cart. Now God had said for no one to touch the ark save the priests of Levi; His order was to put a ring in each corner and run staves through and the priests of Levi should carry it (Ex. 25:10-15; Deut. 10:8). So they put it on the new cart and Ahio and Uzzah drove the oxen, and when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, it being rough, the oxen shook the ark and Uzzah reached up and touched it to steady it. Perhaps he was honest in what he did, but honesty will not excuse us (2 Sam. 6:1-8). Uzzah died on the spot. In changing God's order they made a condition that caused Uzzah to do what he did. In changing God's order now, a condition is brought about that is causing thousands of perhaps honest men and women to do things displeasing to God, trying to prop up the church with all kinds of human societies.

When the ship on which Paul was making his missionary journey, ran aground near a little island, some of the crew began to let down the little boat, thinking by this way to make the shore; but when Paul saw it he said, "Except these abide in the ship they cannot be saved" (Acts 27:30-31). The Lord organized the church, His only institution, and if we would please Him we must stay with the old ship of Zion and give Him glory in it (Eph. 3:21). God said, "My people have committed two evils, first, forsaken me, the fountain of living water, and hewn them out cisterns that can hold no water" (Jer. 2:13). It is not difficult to learn His will (Deut. 30:10-20; Rom. 10:5-9).

I read an article written by a church of Christ preacher in which he said we cannot teach the gospel by the same method that we did fifty years ago, and used farming to illustrate. He said we farm the same land but use different method. The comparison will not work because we are the boss over our farms, God has given us dominion over them, we can do as we please about them, but God is boss over His worship. So, if we would please Him, we must follow His orders. We must not strive to please ourselves; we must not strive to please men (Gal. 1:10) but our every effort must be to please God.