December 8, 2025 -- I Samuel 15:22-23 -- What is rebellion? How do we defeat it?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

And Samuel said,
“Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
   as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
 Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
   and to listen than the fat of rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of divination,
   and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
   he has also rejected you from being king.”
I Samuel 15:22-23 ESV
 
Look at the comparison made between rebellion and other kinds of wickedness. Rebellion is as bad as divination, which is also known as witchcraft. Why are divination and witchcraft such evil that rejects those who practice it? The LORD our God has clearly revealed His will and given direction for the life of His people; those who practice witchcraft are aligning themselves with the devil to gain information and insight. It is the original sin of the Garden of Eden. The serpent deceived Eve, telling her she and Adam would be like God if they ate of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Instead, all they gained was a sinful, rebellious nature.
 
Witchcraft includes such innocuous seeming things like Ouija Boards. Tarots cards are not party games, nor are they innocent fun, but they are a gateway to rebellion of the heart and a hardening of the mind against God. Many newspapers used to have horoscopes, and now you can find such ridiculousness on-line in various places. Again, it is an attempt to gain knowledge or insight through secret (dark) arts. Remember, yesterday, when we explored Ferguson’s definition of sin, he stated: “Sin is a serious reality with layers of rebellion, action, and intent that results in spiritual death and condemnation.” The schemes of the devil include a gradual, slow acclimatisation to evil. Once someone is used to an activity that is a thin layer of rebellion and is perhaps even defensive of having another person question that activity, he is prepared for another swallow of evil, which will result in another layer of rebellion and so on.
 
To combat such rebellion, one must ask himself, where is my heart pulling against the cords of God’s lovingkindness? Where do I think I know better than the word of God and His clear instruction? It is the work of the Holy Spirit to hold high the lamp of the Bible so that Christians can clearly see where the devil is trying to influence them and having discovered this, will then turn away from it and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
 
Our Father, worthy of all honour and glory, we confess how readily, easily, and wantonly we rebel against Your clear commands. As the Spirit shines the light of the word into our hearts, we realize all over again how we turn to vile sins instead of treasuring the gift of life that is ours in Christ. We neglect the daily practice of the confession of our sins. Spirit of God, lead us away from our habitual sins and the wicked actions we so easily justify. Quiet our souls. Still our racing thoughts. Lead us to the awareness of the vast benefits divine which we in Christ possess. Help us to consider the inestimable blessedness and privilege of calling God, our Father. So renewed in our identity, instill in us a renewed zeal and holy desire to live for Jesus. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/xQP0JsxEdPo?si=dmT6VG3tl7ss6HH3 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
 

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