Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we are going to take a look at a passage of scripture, but before we do that, I wanted to ask you a little question.
How many of you have sat down at the supper table, getting ready to enjoy a good dinner, when a bowl of lettuce and vegetables is placed before you? You begin to roll your eyes because you can’t stand them, so you push the bowl back towards the center of the table, and then reach for your plate instead. When your dad walks by he removes your plate, and places your bowl back in front of you. Instead of humbly submitting to his wishes, you continue to resist him and once again you push the vegetables back into the center of the table.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
This is a fairly simple analogy, but this is exactly what people do to God each and every day. Jesus cares for us so much that He laid down His life for our salvation. But instead of lovingly submitting to God’s will, many people continue to resist and push away the things of His Holy Spirit. Certain Jews did it in the past, and there are Christians who continue to do it today.
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.” Acts 7:51
We are called to obey those who have authority over us, like a child obeys their dad, or a wife obeys her husband. When people refuse to obey, they are often called stiff necked. They are stubborn, proud and too arrogant to lovingly submit to the will of those who are over them. This is the way that many people treat God and the things of the Holy Spirit. They reject His will and won’t submit to His purpose. They refuse to repent, and turn away from their sins. In that state, their pride has gotten the best of them. They have stepped into the snare of the devil, and have become trapped by their own obstinate disobedience. This is not love for God, it’s hatred, and those who choose that path will reap what they sow.
“But they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear, nor receive instruction.” Jeremiah 17:23
Some people who have baptized into the Christian faith will begin the Christian walk, having the seed of God’s Word planted into their hearts. But after a certain period of time, a willful streak of rebellion will appear, and instead of submitting to what they have been taught, they won’t endure.
Mark 4. ¹⁸ And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, ¹⁹ And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:13
Through an obstinate heart, some will resist the will of God, and in that state, forfeit their salvation.
Romans 2 ⁵ But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; ⁶ Who will render to every man according to his deeds: ⁷ To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: ⁸ But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, ⁹ Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; ¹⁰ But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: ¹¹ For there is no respect of persons with God.
Somebody who is stiff necked is contentious, and they fight openly against the truth of scripture. They are very proud, and unwilling to do the things that God desires of them. They will refuse to change and obey, filled with such obstinacy that they won’t listen to biblical instruction and guidance. These people will rise up within the church, trying to lead many astray with them, as they arrogantly turn their ears away from the truth.
2 Timothy 4 ¹ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Pride is the complete opposite of humility, as different as light is from dark. The more pride is present in one’s heart, the more resistant they will be to God’s will. Some people in the church are like children in a home, who wilfully resist the authority of their own dad. Why do you think that so many of them end up being disciplined in jails and other correctional facilities? God blesses humble obedience, but will punish those who resist authority. Rebelling against the truth does not bring salvation, but eternal damnation. A true man of God preaches obedience to the Lord, but God killed Hananiah for teaching rebellion against Him, and God will do it again.
Jeremiah 28 ¹⁶ Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the LORD. ¹⁷ So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
“An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.” Proverbs 17:11
Many people profess the Christian faith, but they are reprobates concerning the faith. This is a person who deviates or turns aside from what is morally right. Instead of submitting themselves to the teachings of scripture, they follow the path of disobedience which will result in punishment. God is not mocked and their open resistance to His will is going to bring upon them public shame. Like manure on a clean white garment, their deeds will be exposed to all.
2 Timothy 3 ⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. ⁹ But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.
“When pride cometh, then cometh shame:….Proverbs 11:2
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
It is the devil who completely rebels and resists the will of God. He feels that he is superior to God, and shortly before the return of Jesus Christ he will usurp over everything that is called God. Usurping authority is one of the works of the devil, a sinful and obstinate act that many women commit each day against men.
“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.” 1 Timothy 2:12
Not everybody receives grace in the sight of God because it is granted to those who are humble before Him. (James 4:6)
“The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” Psalms 147:6
In order to get to heaven, people must repent inwardly, otherwise they will perish. This goes far beyond what people see on the exterior. It will require Godly sorrow, and a complete change of one’s heart from the inside out.
“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.” Deuteronomy 10:16
People can get a long way in their life when they submit and obey authority. Obedience is first learned in the home, and hopefully you will learn to respect those who have authority over you, and humbly…..
….. Eat your Vegetables
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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