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 tell you a little story.
Ever since my children were very young, I would impress upon their minds the importance of obedience. All of them would sit down on the living room floor as I instructed them out of the teachings of scripture. Suddenly, I would tell one of my sons to stand up, and with a large smile, he would jump to his feet. After a few moments, I would tell him to sit back down, and he would quickly plop down onto the floor. If I needed something from the other room, he would quickly run and get it. If I told him to put his toys away, he would immediately begin picking them up and putting them away. I explained to the children that this is called obedience, which is one of the greatest qualities that you could ever possess. Moses was filled with this attitude, and found great favor in the sight of God. He was known as the meekest of all men, which means that when God told him to do something, he did it!
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
Defiance is open resistance to authority, or an action which shows that someone refuses to obey someone or something. A defiant person will openly flout and challenge authority, exhibiting bold disobedience toward those whom they should be in complete submission to. To possess this quality will destroy any hope of obtaining eternal life, and those who continue to abide in this behavior will inherit God’s wrath.
Romans 13 ¹ Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. ² Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
Defiance is doing the exact opposite of what you are commanded to do. You might tell your wife not to do something, but she does it anyway. It’s an arrogant refusal to hearken to those who have authority over you. As I’ve always taught, a dad in his home is the ruler of His household, one that must be obeyed, feared, loved and respected. When you are in complete submission to Him, it pleases both him and the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be blessed because of it.
Ephesians 5 ²² Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. ²⁴ Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
When a woman departs from her husband’s side, it is an act of open defiance. It’s no different than a teenager who refuses to submit to authority, sneaks out their bedroom window, and runs away from home. When a wife defies and usurps her husband in this manner, the effects can be devastating, because their open opposition and rebellion towards their own husband can trickle down to their children. If their mother rebelled against her husband, a daughter might do the same thing to her future husband. As I’ve always said, it’s one thing to sin yourself, but it’s quite another to cause children who have been raised in the teachings of the faith, to do things that are contrary to the will of God. This is what it means to cause them to offend. It’s like a bank robber, who educates and teaches his own children how to rob banks. It’s one thing for unbelievers to do this, but those who educate a child to go against their conscience, and become disobedient to the will of God are the children of the devil.
Matthew 18 ⁶ But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. ⁷ Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Rebellion is open resistance to an established authority in one’s life. It is the action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention. It could be a dad, or a man of God who has raised you in the faith, baptized you, or gave you Holy Communion. If they have instructed you in the teachings of Christ, and led you on the path of salvation, they are over you in the Lord, and you must obey them. To openly resist them is to forfeit their soul.
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17
“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5
Moses was in a place of authority over the Israelites, but there were those who resisted him.
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.
Even when Aaron and Miriam spoke out against God’s servant Moses, the Lord was so angry that He caused Miriam to be filled with leprosy.
Numbers 12 ⁹ And the anger of the LORD was kindled against them; and he departed. ¹⁰ And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. ¹¹ And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. ¹² Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his mother’s womb. ¹³ And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee. ¹⁴ And the LORD said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. ¹⁵ And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.
A lot of times when people rebel against authority it is because of their refusal to submit and conform to the authority of another. Many times they are referred to as nonconformists. Many people think that they will find freedom through rebellion, but the truth is that rebellion will only bring forth damnation. Like Moses, we must be humble and submissive to the will of God, which are found throughout the teaching of scripture.
Psalms 32 ⁹ Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” James 1:21
Even though Joseph was sold into slavery, he never rebelled against Potiphar. He never resisted evil when he was falsely accused and sent unjustly to prison. But the things that he endured brought him to the place that God wanted Him to be, and he was eventually lifted up into high places of Earthly authority. Although Joseph found favor with God, not everybody can find Grace in God’s sight. Proud people who refuse to humble themselves under His will, are outside of His Mercy. God doesn’t bless the rebellious, He punishes them, both now and forever. Be forewarned to fear God, lest He sees you mock Him, and punishes you for your impudence and…….
…….Defiance
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 all, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody.❤️
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