SUBTLE REBELLION AGAINST GOD

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   God wants His people to obey Him in all things.

1.    It was true under the Mosaic Law (Exo. 19:5).

 

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people:  for all the earth is mine.

 

2.    It is true under the New Covenant also (Heb. 5:9).

 

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.

 

B.   Most Christians would affirm the need to be obedient to God.

 

C.   They also understand that rebellion against the will of God is displeasing to the Almighty God (

1.    God’s words spoken to Joshual prior to his leading Israel into the Promised Land (Josh. 1:18).

 

Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death:  only be strong and of a good courage.

 

2.    The New Covenant does not authorize the death penalty for rebellion, but it does tell us that the disobedient will be punished in the last day (2 Thess. 1:7-9).

 

And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:  who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.

 

D.   Because the penalty for rebellion is severe, most Christians will not stand in bold defiance of the Almighty God.

 

E.   However, Satan has found another form of rebellion that individuals will practice against God.  We describe this rebellion as “Subtle Rebellion.”

1.    Subtle:  difficult to perceive or understand

2.    Sin is committed, but we acquiesce to it.

a.    The word “acquiesce” means “to rest in.”

b.    It means that we comply silently and without protest.

3.    In other words, there are times when our sin is do difficult to comprehend that we may not even realize that we are rebelling against God.

 

F.    Some might be wondering:  “How can this be done?”  How does one involve himself in “Subtle Rebellion Against God”?

 

I.             “MINOR” TRANSGRESSIONS

 

A.   When man thinks about sin, he puts sin into various compartments. 

1.    One compartment is labelled “Major Sins.”

a.    Murder might be labelled a major sin.

b.    These are sins that we would never, ever commit.

2.    A second compartment is tagged as “Minor Sins.”

a.    Minor sins are sins that we believe to be “not so bad.”

b.    The preacher might preach against it, but it is believed by some not to be so bad that a person could lose his/her soul over it.

 

B.   In the wilderness, Moses committed a “minor” transgression when he hit the rock with his rod rather than speaking to it.

1.    The command (Num. 20:8)

 

…and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water…

 

2.    The disobedience (Num. 20:11)

 

And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice…

 

3.    Strike versus speak.  Strike versus speak. 

a.    Because we live at this time, we know this was a big deal.

b.    What if you had been Moses at the time?

c.    Here are some things Moses could have said to the Lord:

1)    Lord, the last time I brought forth water I smote the rock.

2)    Lord, I was angry.

3)    Lord, you still allowed the water to come out of the rock.

4)    Lord, this is the first time I have done something like this.

5)    Lord, it was a minor offence.

4.    Though it seems like a minor transgression, it was major to God (Num. 20:12).

 

And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.

 

II.           PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE ANGER

 

A.   Definition:  passive aggressive anger is anger that is expressed quietly and indirectly rather than outwardly and directly.

 

B.   Example:  At the Children’s Home, there was a girl who was angry with another girl in her house.  Instead of yelling or screaming at her, she would take her bath powders and pour them out of the bathroom window. 

1.    It was done quietly.

2.    It was not done directly at the girl.

3.    Yet, it was done out of anger toward the other girl.

 

C.   Church members can use passive aggressive behaviors against others in a congregation.

1.    They quit attending for a while (Heb. 10:25).

2.    They quit giving to the local congregation and send their money elsewhere (1 Cor. 16:1-2).

3.    They will not use their talents in a work in which the person they are angry with participates (Matt. 25:26).

4.    They speak evil to others about the individual in order to gain a following against the person (Eph. 4:31).

5.    They attend, but they cease being fervent in the Lord’s service (Rom. 12:11).

 

 

III.         BAD HABITS

 

A.   Habit:  an acquired behavior pattern regularly followed until it has become almost involuntary

1.    An acquired behavior pattern

2.    Regularly followed

3.    Almost involuntary

 

B.   That last part involves the subtle rebellion against God at times. 

 

C.   There are many Christians who engage in acts that seem to involve just a little sin.  Soon the behavior is acquired and is regularly followed.  They hardly give thought to whether the behavior is right or wrong.

1.    Skipping Bible classes

2.    Missing worship services

3.    Failing to study the Bible

4.    Not praying regularly

5.    Talking badly about others

6.    The practice of a “little” sins

 

D.   Hebrews 2:1

 

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

 

1.    Should let them slip

a.    Definition:

1)    Strong (3901):  to flow by, carelessly pass

2)    Thayer:  to glide by, pass by, a thing escapes me, slips my mind

b.    The ASV states:  “lest haply we drift away from them”  The picture is that of a boat that has been loosely tied to a pier.  Slowly the knot becomes untied, and the boat slowly drifts into the deep, dangerous waters.

2.    The writer notes that this could happen “at any time.” 

a.    There is never a point in our Christian lives that we are immune from sin or unfaithfulness.

b.    Some could develop the attitude that this could never happen to me.

c.    Jeremiah 2:32

 

Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?  yet my people have forgotten me days without number.

 

3.    Thus, the inspired penman exhorts us “to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard.”

a.    This phrase involves two Greek words.

1)    The first word is defined as:  “to hold the mind towards, that is, pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.”

2)    The second word means:  “superabundance.”

b.    The Hebrew writer knew Christians can slowly drift away from their steadfastness.  Thus, he exhorts them to pay attention and adhere to the things they are taught in a superabundant fashion. 

 

IV.         SELF-DECEPTION

 

A.   Several times the Bible warns us about self-deception.

1.    Obadiah 1:3

The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee…

 

2.    1 Corinthians 3:18

 

Let no man deceive himself…

 

B.   Self-deception involves nothing more than our lying to ourselves. 

We convince ourselves that falsehoods are the truth.

This means we must believe that God’s truth is not really the truth.

Can you believe that we think our falsehoods are truths that trump God’s truth?

 

C.   Some thoughts we might believe.

1.    God understands my sins.

2.    God will overlook my sins.

3.    I do not have to be faithful.

4.    I do not have to use my talents for the glory of God.

5.    God does not expect my best from me.

6.    Doing just enough to get by is enough.

7.    God will cleanse me with the blood of Jesus without repentance and confession of sins.

8.    As long as I believe I am forgiven, I am forgiven.

9.    God doesn’t really expect me to do everything He has commanded.

10. God’s love will trump His divine will every time.

 

D.   One of the best examples of self-deception was when Saul was returned from his victory over the Amalekites.

1.    He had been commanded to kill all of the Amalekites, men, women, and children and all of their flocks and herds.

2.    He returned with King Agag and the best of the flocks and herds.

3.    1 Samuel 15:20

 

And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone in the way which the Lord sent me…

 

V.           NEGLIGENCE

 

A.   Definition:  neglecting duties, responsibilities…lacking attention, care, or concern

 

B.   NOTE:  Negligence can involve just one or two times.  But, it often winds up in the habitual category.

 

C.   Example:  worship

1.    When we come to worship, we have responsibilities to carry out not only before God, but also to one another.

a.    According to Hebrews 10:24-25, we are to provoke one another to love and good works.

b.    According to Colossians 3:16, we are to teach and admonish one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

2.    When we fail to worship, we neglect our brothers and sisters in Christ.

3.    When we say this, how do those who fail to be in the worship respond?  Do they respond with a lack of care or concern for their brothers and sisters in Christ?  That is the very definition of negligence.

 

D.   The Pharisees were rebuked by Jesus for their negligence (Matt. 23:23).

 

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith:  these ye ought to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

 

1.    Some might say that Jesus condemned them for omitting the weighty matters.

2.    But, we need to listen again to all Jesus said.  He told them that the tithing of herbs should have been done.

3.    In other words, God expects us to fulfill all of our duties and responsibilities and not to leave any of them undone.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Samuel told King Saul:  “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry…” (1 Sam. 15:23).

1.    We would agree with Samuel’s statement when we think of blatant, high-handed rebellion. 

2.    But do we agree when we think of subtle rebellion?

a.    Minor transgressions

b.    Passive-aggressive anger

c.    Bad habits

d.    Self-deception

e.    Negligence

 

B.   All rebellion is just that rebellion.  The rebel is an enemy of God and needs to repent

1.    In Psalm 2:1-3, we read of the rebellion of man against God.

2.    In Psalm 2:10-12, the narrator of the psalm exhorts the kings and judges to repent.

 

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings:  be instructed, ye judges of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.  Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.