DCLM Higher Everyday 25 November 2023 — Teaching Rebellion Against God
Topic: Teaching Rebellion Against God
Text: Jeremiah 28:10-17
10Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it.
12Then the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
13Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
14For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.
15Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
16Therefore 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.
17So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.
Key Verse: “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” (Jeremiah 28:16).
Message
Charles Spurgeon said, “I heard the story of a man, a blasphemer, profane, an atheist, who was converted singularly by a sinful action of his. He had written on a piece of paper, “God is nowhere,” and ordered his child to read it, for he would make him an atheist too. The child spelled it, “God is n-o-w h-e-r-e-God is now here.” It was a truth instead of a lie, and the arrow pierced the man’s own heart.”
The first rebels were Satan and his fallen angels. They were cast out of heaven and were all doomed. No one has ever trodden the path of rebellion against the Almighty God and made away with it. Pharaoh perished in the Red Sea. Nebuchadnezzar’s heart was changed and he ate grass like an animal in the bush. Benhadad, Sennacherib, Ahab, Haman, Herod, Korah and his cohorts perished in rebellion but God remains the same. He is still on the throne ruling and reigning. To rebel against God is grievous; to teach others rebellion is gruesome. Stop fighting the battle you cannot win – yield!
Quote: Stop fighting the battle you cannot win
Challenge: Never instigate anyone against God and His word.
Prayer for today: Lord, help me never to overtly or covertly support rebellion.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
