Beware Of The Leaven Of Rebellion
Beware Of The Leaven Of Rebellion
“Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”– Hebrews 12:15
Rebellion is very subtle and can be found in different situations of life. We come across it in the work place, in the church, and even in the home. The root of rebellion lies in the difficulty to accept authority in all its forms. Recently, I was reminded of the dangers of rebellion, and of its origin; how it existed long before man was created, when Lucifer rebelled against God and was cast from His presence; and how, even today, he is at the heart of all forms of rebellion. Adam’s disobedience was an act of rebellion with repercussions for all humanity. King Saul lost his kingdom because of rebellion.
Scripture is clear that rebellion is inherent in man’s nature, and that the Lord does not tolerate it. God is adamant, “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft!” There is, however, another aspect to rebellion, which we should not ignore: just as Lucifer did not rebel alone and was cast out of heaven with other angels who joined him, likewise in Numbers Chapter 16, we see Korah rising up against Moses, questioning his authority, and enticing 250 people to stand with him. Rebellion is unfortunately very present in the Church today. Apostle Paul does not only sound the alarm about being separate from the world, but also warns us about the rebellious and ungodly within our own ranks. People can leave the church with bitter and hardened hearts and in this condition they are a real danger to the Body of Christ. We must be careful to guard our hearts and not be contaminated by them. It’s vital that we understand the importance of walking in submission to our husband and to spiritual authority. This will protect us and enable us to grow in maturity, and to serve the Lord with the right heart.