Thanksgiving and the Sin of Rebellion

Brethren, I think Lucifer's original sin has intrigued most of us to one degree or another. Perhaps you've done a lot of thinking about Lucifer's sin. I think we've all contemplated that to, again, a large degree. Now, we know that Lucifer was created a perfect spirit being, perfect in every way, until iniquity was found in him. Now, of course, he was spirit, but he was not God. He was a created being, not eternal, but nevertheless a spirit being, certainly different from God, obviously, because God cannot sin. God will not sin. As Mr. McGarvey was talking about, the one who became Christ as well cannot sin. Not to say that perhaps he could have when he was in human flesh, but we won't get into that controversy. That was called the Great Gamble Theory, if you remember. Some years ago, there was a discussion about a sermon that was given called the Great Gamble Theory. Well, we know that Christ did not sin when he was here on the Earth, and of course, he's a spirit being at the right hand of God. He cannot, he will not sin, and God the Father will not sin, but Satan the devil did sin. Lucifer sinned. Lucifer had a lot going for him, however, didn't he? He had been given dominion over the Earth and over apparently one-third of the angels. He was a powerful angel. He was a mighty archangel. He was very, very high in the government of God. He had everything really except one thing. He was not the most high. He wasn't God. He was a created being. Again, he was not eternal. He was under authority. Why did Lucifer sin? No doubt pride was the sin that was committed. We've heard that mentioned many times. We've heard it in sermons and we've discussed it. I'm sure pride was a major factor, perhaps the biggest factor of all, that pride dwelled up within him. He became proud. He became proud about who he was, and he began, I'm sure, to resent the authority that was over him. Was it not, again, the sin of pride that motivated Lucifer to commit the sin of rebellion? He rebelled against God. Lucifer wanted to be like the most high. In fact, he wanted to be the most high. So did he not rebel against the most high? Did he not rebel because of who he thought he ought to be, should be? Didn't one-third of the angels follow him in his rebellion against God? Again, why did Lucifer rebel? Yes, he became filled with pride. He wanted to be like the most high, or even wanted to take over God's throne. But what was another root cause of Lucifer's problem? Was it not a lack of gratitude or thankfulness toward God, his Creator?

Was that not a major problem that Lucifer undoubtedly had? That he wasn't thankful for the position that God had given him? Even though he was high up in the government of God, he still wanted more. Why did he want more?

Well, brethren, isn't rebellion often caused by a lack of gratitude, a lack of thankfulness for what God has given us? So let us consider Thanksgiving, because we're going to be observing that day here in the United States very soon. Let's consider today Thanksgiving, but let us also consider the sin of rebellion.

Because I believe they are connected. Why do people rebel? What is it they are rebelling against? Why is rebellion referred to as the sin of witchcraft?

As we approach Thanksgiving Day here in America, let's ask ourselves, for what should we really be thankful, first and foremost, and if we are truly thankful, toward God, will we sin in rebellion against Him? So today's sermon is entitled, Thanksgiving and the Sin of Rebellion. Thanksgiving and the Sin of Rebellion. Rebellion goes as far back as Lucifer, who became Satan the devil. It goes back as far as that original sin, and the rebellious angels, of course, became demons as they followed Satan and his rebellion. Rebellion also goes as far back as the first human beings, Adam and Eve. Did they not rebel in the Garden of Eden? They were not satisfied with being able to eat of every tree in the Garden, oh, except one.

They could eat of all the trees except one. Sounds a little familiar to Lucifer. Lucifer had it all going, except one thing. He just wasn't God. And God had told Adam and Eve that they could eat of every tree in the Garden except one.

Of course, that was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam and Eve wanted to eat of that tree so they could become like God, and so they could decide for themselves what is good and evil. Actually, there's a lot of parallel here between Satan the devil and Lucifer and his sin, and Adam and Eve's sin. Adam and Eve exalted themselves when they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They exalted themselves above their Creator by disobeying Him, by going against Him, and by leaning to their own understanding. Because of their rebellion against God and for not being completely thankful for what God had given them, but wanting still more, Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden. It wasn't long before their son Cain rebelled. He rebelled against God.

He obviously wasn't completely thankful for what God was doing in his life, for what God had given him. In fact, he was somewhat stingy in the sacrifice that he brought forward, as we know.

And he became envious. He became jealous of his brother, and he killed him. He rose up against God. He broke God's commandment about, "...thou so not murder," and he killed his own brother.

Instead of repenting of his sin, the sin with the sacrifice, he rebelled and sinned a greater sin, of course, in some ways. I mean, all sin is bad. It's all against God. But he sinned a great sin by killing his own brother. He even sinned against his parents, because no doubt his parents loved their son Abel. Man has been guilty of rebellion ever since the Garden of Eden, ever since Cain flew Abel. You don't need to go to Genesis 6, verse 5, unless you want to. You probably have time, if you'd like. But there it talks about how the wickedness on the earth became so great that every thought of their hearts was evil continually, and it distressed God so much that he wanted to destroy mankind off the face of the earth, except for Noah. Noah was not a rebellious person. Noah was a God-fearing person. He was a humble person. He was an obedient person. Noah found favor in God's sight, and it was through Noah that God saved the earth at that time. Now we fast forward through the time of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, through the book of Genesis. We come to the time of Moses and the selection of Israel as God's model nation and their deliverance from the land of Egypt. Let's go to Exodus 32, and let's consider the golden calf incident. If you remember, Moses was up on the mountain. He was getting the Ten Commandments, and of course, he had fasted for 40 days and nights himself. He was gone a long time, and the children of Israel became very, very restless, and they started to complain. They started to murmur. They went to Aaron. They wanted something that they could look at, something that they could bow down before, something they could look to, something they could put their eyes on. Let's start reading here in Exodus 32, verse 7. And the Lord said to Moses, Go, get down, for your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly. Aaron molded the golden calf, and they began to worship that golden calf, saying it was what had brought them out of Egypt. Not God himself, but a calf that supposedly represented God. Twisted thinking, of course. Pagan heathen practices and ideas. This is what was happening here. They were reverting back to the land of Egypt and those types of practices. And so God told Moses to go ahead and get on down. And it says they also rose up to play. There was sexual immorality that was taking place among them. They were partying. They were having this rebellious spirit that had overtaken them. Verse 8, They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf and worshipped it and sacrificed to it. And said, This is your God, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt. And the Lord said to Moses, I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people. It is a stubborn, rebellious people. Now therefore let me alone that my wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them. So he was beginning to feel basically the same way about them as he had felt at the time of Noah. He saw that there was great wickedness. He was ready to destroy them. He was ready to wipe out the children of Israel.

He says, Therefore let me alone that my wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them, and I will make of you a great nation. Now, if Moses had been like Lucifer, what do you think Moses' reaction would have been? Hmm, you're going to make of me a great nation. I'll get to be number one in every way. Go for it, God.

That's not the approach Moses had, because Moses was a humble, amik person. He really did care for the people of Israel, the children of Israel. In fact, he walked away from Egypt and Pharaoh's household so that he could be with the children of Israel. So, there was something about family that Moses understood. There was something about family, something about unity, something about faithfulness and obedience that Moses understood. And so, Moses pleaded with God. He pleaded that God would not do that, that God would not wipe them out. And we don't have time to read all that, but he pleaded with God, and God decided. He relented of that, and God did not destroy them. However, there were great consequences for their sins, and many of them died because a plague went through the children of Israel, and many died because of their sin. In Numbers 14, again, speaking of rebellion, in Numbers 14, Moses is instructing the children of Israel here again in Numbers 14.

Now, this was when Israel was refusing to enter into Canaan. God was delivering them into the Promised Land. That was His promise. He promised them this land. It was a land flowing with milk and honey, and He was going to give them tremendous blessings. He was going to give them great blessings. All they had to do is go in and possess it. All they had to do is believe in Him, trust in Him, and do what He said. But instead, they began to rebel against Him because they were frightened people. They were fearful people, and oftentimes fear drives rebellion. When we don't have faith and when we're afraid, that's when we'll oftentimes rebel. And that's exactly what was going on here. And you know the story about how Joshua and Caleb gave a good report, but everyone else gave a bad report and said, there are giants in the land. They're too big for us. We can't go in. We can't prevail against these giants. Of course, God had just destroyed the most powerful nation on earth, Egypt. He had just brought them out of Egypt. Why were they not grateful for what God had done for them? Were they not thankful for all that God had done? Did they just forget everything that God had done? Did they not see how God was working in their lives? Apparently, they didn't, because again, they're leaning to their own understanding, and they're looking at outward appearance. They're looking at giants in the land instead of looking at the power that was obviously with them to lead them and to guide them and to give them freedom in a promised land.

Verse 1 of chapter 14, So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. They were so distraught, and all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, If only we had died in the land of Egypt, oh, if only we had died in this wilderness, why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword that our wives and children should become victims? Oh, they'd rather just didn't want to die by the sword, huh? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt? Better to be slaves? So they said to one another, Let us select a leader and return to Egypt. So this is a full-scale rebellion. They're wanting to go back to Egypt. They want a new leader. Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jafuna, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes. And they spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying, The land we pass through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land, and give it to us a land which flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread. They're our bread. You know, they're nothing to us. We will eat them up.

Their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them. And all the congregation said to stone them with stones. That's how they responded. All out rebellion against God and against His servants. Now the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel.

I think I would be getting real frightened about that time if I was one of those who was rebelling, and then God all of a sudden appears.

Then the Lord said to Moses, How long will these people reject me?

How long will they despise me? is what He's saying. And notice what He says, And how long will they not believe me with all the signs which I have performed among them? All the signs, all the plagues in Egypt, plague after plague, to bring them out of the land, and also taking care of them in the wilderness, and providing manna for them. Miracle. Every week, every day, there was a miracle. And of course, it didn't come on the Sabbath, so that was another miracle. But it came all the other times. And God was so with them. He was right there with them. He says, I will strike them with the pestilence and disinherit them, and I will make of you a nation greater and mightier than they. So Moses has another shot at being the head person here. But Moses didn't want any part of that. He said, The Egyptians will hear it, for by your might you brought these people up from among them, and they will tell it to the inhabitants of the land, that they have heard that you, Lord, are among these people, that you, Lord, are seen face to face, and your cloud stands above them, and you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. It was daily miracles. Now if you kill these people as one man, then the nations which have heard of your fame will speak, saying, Because the Lord was not able to bring this people to the land which he swore to give them, therefore he killed them in the wilderness. And now I pray, let the power of my Lord be great, just as you have spoken, saying, The Lord is long suffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression. But he by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations. Pardon the iniquity of this people, I pray, according to the greatness of your mercy, just as you have forgiven this people from Egypt even until now. And God again listened to Moses. So Moses again shows his love for the people. He shows his unselfishness. He shows his lack of having to be exalted. And also he shows his gratefulness to God because he did believe in God. He had faith in God. He saw all the miracles that were performed. He believed what he knew to be true. And he did not rebel against God. He said a wonderful example. Now God pronounced the death sentence on the rebels. I don't have time to read further here, but the rebels died. Many of them, of course, God didn't kill them all, but many of them did die. God struck them down. Of course, Joshua and Caleb were not harmed because they stood fast for God. They did not rebel against him.

Now in number 16, it speaks of another rebellion that happens not too much later. Even after this, you would begin to think that people would be a bit more careful about opposing Moses. Moses was the one that God had selected to lead his children and Aaron along with him.

Moses had to go to bat for Aaron too because God was going to strike Aaron down. God was going to kill Aaron because Aaron listened to the people and Aaron molded that golden calf and he was right there with him and he did not restrain the people. So God was certainly not happy with Aaron, but nevertheless, because of Moses, he continued to work with Aaron. He did not completely wipe him out and discredit him.

But soon they're rebelling again against Moses and Aaron. This time it's Korah. Again, most of us, I think, are familiar with Korah's rebellion. Although I don't know that we've said much about Korah's rebellion in a long time, we used to preach a lot more about Korah's rebellion back in the old days. We used to preach a whole lot more about it. I think we have a better balance now. We don't preach so much about it, but maybe we ought to talk about it once in a while.

Korah did rebel, and God was not happy with Korah. And 250 other men of renown, as it says in verse 2, that rose up with Korah, along with Dathan and Abiram, and on the son of Peleth, and sons of Reuben, and so forth. So they rose up against Moses. Notice verse 3, They gathered together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?

Okay, so instead of realizing that they were the ones who were exalting themselves, they accused Moses of exalting himself. Moses and Aaron. So they were guilty of the very thing that they were accusing Moses and Aaron about. Moses and Aaron were just, especially Moses, Moses was just following God's lead, doing what God told him to do, and God had put him in charge. And it doesn't end well for Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. They all die that day. God clearly shows that he's with Moses. They rebelled against God, and they rebelled against God's anointed, the one that God had put in charge.

And God put down that rebellion rather vigorously as he swallowed up even their families, their children, and so forth, their wives, their entire families died because of their rebellion. God really does hate rebellion. He's not real sympathetic to rebellion. In Deuteronomy 9, verse 7, it says, Remember and forget not how you provoked the Lord your God to wrath in the wilderness from the day that you did depart out of the land of Egypt until you came unto this place, you have been rebellious against the Lord.

I mean, that was their overall approach. The children of Israel were a stiff-necked and rebellious people. Deuteronomy 9, verse 24, it says, You have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. So, from the very day that they were known by Moses, you have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you. Thus, I prostrated myself before the Lord. Forty days and forty nights, I kept prostrating myself because the Lord had said He would destroy you. Therefore, I prayed to the Lord and said, O Lord God, do not destroy your people and your inheritance, whom you have redeemed through your greatness.

Again, you see His thankfulness for God's deliverance. He's a thankful person. These other people are not thankful people. They're not grateful for what God's doing in their lives. They're not grateful for the blessings that God has given them. They want more. They want to be exalted. They are lifted up in pride, just like Lucifer was lifted up in pride. Moses instead, he bowed before God, he prayed before God, he laid down before God and prostrated himself on behalf of the people because he cared for them.

He loved them and he stood for them. And God honored that. God saw the love that he had, the family approach that Moses had. That was very, very important to God. I mean, that showed God a tremendous amount about Moses. Moses really was a very meek and humble man. Now, in Deuteronomy 21, Deuteronomy 21 verse 18, some instruction is given here regarding a rebellious son. If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, when they have chastened him, will not heed them, then his father and his mother shall take hold of him and bring him out to the elders of his city, to the gate of his city, and they shall say to the elders of his city, the son of ours is stubborn and rebellious.

He will not obey our voice. He is a glutton and a drunkard. Then all the men of his city shall stone him to death with stones. Now, really, that's how God said, deal with these people. Take them out and stone them. Kill them, because their attitude and their example will pollute others. And it's not good for them, it's not good for anyone. And I don't think God likes rebellion any more today than he did back then.

I really don't. I think he hates it just as much today as he did back then. And I think it is our responsibility to teach our children not to rebel, but to obey. And when you don't do that, you teach them to be rebellious. And God hates rebellion. So don't teach your children to be rebellious. I read a story just recently, and this is a true story, and it's a very sad story, but there was a three-year-old little girl who was rebellious.

She was not listening to her mother and father, and they thought it was kind of cute. And she could get away with things by smiling and you know, just running away and acting all cutesy-cutesy. Well, one day they realized that she had gotten out on the road. Three years old, they yelled for her to come back.

At that time, she was still safe. She could have come back. Instead, she just smiled and took off across the road. I don't think she was quite into the road. She went into the road and she ran over and she was killed. True story. It does happen. You know, it does happen. We really need to teach our children to be obedient children. And kids can get away in a second, and if they haven't been taught to obey you in a second, it could mean their lives. So really, take it seriously and teach your children to be obedient. And don't let them be all cutesy-cutesy about disobeying you, because you'll regret it. I tell you with no reservations, you will regret it if you allow that to go on. We are called to take care of our children, to discipline them, to love them first and foremost, and that is love, to teach them to obey. That is real love.

So that was God's will to take them out and to stone them. And really, if we did that today, we'd have a much better world. We really would. We'd have a much better world, and people would come into line. They would realize, oh man, they mean business. Especially if we were also loving people at the same time. If we were loving people and we would do this to them, in a few cases we probably wouldn't have to do it very many. I mean, because people will respond to that kind of, you know, let's face it, that does speak volumes. Of course, we don't live in that kind of a world.

Someday it will be a different world, and I'm sure that disobedience and rebellion isn't going to be tolerated. You know, we're not going to laugh at rebellion and disobedience in the millennium. It's not something we're going to laugh about. We're going to say, this is the way, walk you in it, or you will not be walking long on this earth. And that's the way it's going to happen. That's what's going to be carried out. Again, we like these cutesy, cutesy stories. For example, there was a minister who shared the following two stories about a conversation between Max, a first grader, in this man's congregation and his father. His father said, Max, why didn't you answer me when I called you? Max doesn't respond. He doesn't hear anything from Max. Daddy says, Max, how many times didn't you hear me? Max says, I don't know, maybe three or four times.

Kind of funny, huh? Yeah, I didn't hear you three or four times, Dad, because I don't care what you tell me. You know, I'm not that concerned about you. No, they better be concerned. You should put the fear in them. If they don't fear you to some degree, there's a problem as a parent.

Believe it or not, they should have some fear. Again, they should also know very well that you love them. So I hope I'm not sending a wrong message here. I hope I'm sending a strong message of love and also of putting the fear of God and the fear of you in them for their own good.

Now, Moses was very concerned about the children of Israel, and he had every right to be. He was very concerned because he knew how stiff-necked and how rebellious they were. He feared for their future. Notice in Deuteronomy 31, verse 27. He's telling them in verse 26, chapter 31 of Deuteronomy, "...take the book of the law and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you, for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death?" No, Moses knew that he had a great deal to do with them towing the line, at least to some degree. God had shown him that he was his appointed leader, and he really did care for the people, and he did teach them, he did instruct them, and he was very, very concerned that after he died, it would all fall apart. It would all fall to pieces, and frankly, it did in large part. Now, Moses wasn't perfect. In fact, we know Moses wasn't even allowed to go into the Promised Land himself because of his sins. He wasn't perfect. He was disobedient and rebellious on a few occasions. He was not a rebellious person, but because of a few acts of rebellion, he was not allowed to go into the Promised Land. So that should tell us something about how God looks at rebellion. God hates rebellion. In 1 Samuel 8, verse 7, God is speaking to Samuel the prophet, and he's telling Samuel who's distraught because the people want a king. They no longer want God to rule over them. They want a king, a human king. And God says, they have not rejected you in 1 Samuel 8, verse 7, but they have rejected me that I should not reign over them. In other words, they have rebelled against me once again. They have rejected me totally. They don't want me to rule over them. They want a human king. Fine. I'm going to give them a human king. And that's what we've been dealing with ever since, is human leadership. And human leadership falls short, especially when it isn't God ordained, and especially when the people aren't striving to obey God and keep every word of God. So that's the mess we have today because of rebellion. Satan's rebellion in the first place, Adam and Eve's in the second place, Cain and everyone else since. It's rebellion. We're just really not thankful enough for what God is doing in our lives. We're not grateful enough, and so it's easy for us to rebel against him. We don't see the great acts that he's done in our lives. The many, many blessings. We don't count our blessings like we should. I mean, there are so many blessings that God gives us. We should be so grateful and so humbled by it that it really does direct our steps. We no longer lean to our own understanding, but we look to God for his direction and his guidance in our lives because he's the only one that really loves us. He's the only one that really loves us in the fullest sense. God is love, and God loves us as a parent, loves a child. And God is going to discipline us and work with us one way or the other. He doesn't want us to run out in the road and get run down, get run over like the little three-year-old did because he was rebellious and disobedient. That isn't what God wants to see happen to any of us. He wants all of us to repent of our sins and stop entertaining these thoughts of rebellion.

How often do we entertain thoughts of rebellion? And how often do we support those who have rebelled, thinking it's not that big a deal? I think it's a huge deal. I think it is humongous. I think when you support others who have rebelled, you are teaching rebellion yourself. And God has something to say about that, too. So, I don't know. I guess I'm becoming stronger about all this whole topic because over the years, many years in God's Church, I've seen quite a lot of rebellion, frankly. I've seen it in myself, to a degree. Every time I sin, I rebel against God. I'm not grateful enough. I'm not thankful enough. I don't appreciate Him enough. I become too selfish. I want to do what I want to do, rather than what God wants me to do. I lean to my own understanding, to my own loss, to my own vanity and pride. God wants us to lean to Him for everything. He doesn't want us to learn rebellion, and He certainly doesn't want us to teach rebellion. In 1 Samuel 12, God gives us some good instruction here in 1 Samuel 12. After He allowed them to have a king, He warned them about the king. He warned them what would happen. They still wanted a king. 1 Samuel 12.

Okay, this is Saul's coronation. The first king, Saul's coronation. Verse 14, If you fear the Lord, and serve Him, and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord. This word, rebel, is in the Bible quite often. If you do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. And, you know, we'd be just fine if all of our leaders would not rebel against God, and then we would also, in turn, not rebel against God. Okay, we would be just fine. But the problem is, like Saul, who did rebel against God, all of our leaders, in many ways, not every single one, certainly. Some have been faithful like Moses. You know, maybe not to the great extent that Moses was, because he was such a wonderful example, but we have had some leaders who really do care about us, who love us as people, as God's children. And yet, we've had others who really have rebelled against God, and set horrible examples for us. And we ought to be able to recognize it. We ought to be able to see that. You know, it shouldn't be a problem. But it is a problem. It's a huge problem. If you fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, and that means every word of God. You've got to read every word of God. You've got to live by all of it, and you've got to look at people. Are they following every word of God? And if they're not, don't follow them, certainly, when they're not following God, and pray for God to put someone else in charge, if that's what he desires to do. The only problem is, you're still going to have another human being. Once he removes one, he's got to put another human being in there. But nevertheless, the instruction again.

However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but you rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you as it was against your fathers. Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes. Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord in asking a king for yourselves. So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel, because they knew there was a direct correlation here, that God was intervening, showing his displeasure. And Samuel said to the people, okay, well verse 19, and all the people said to Samuel, pray for your servants to the Lord your God that we may not die, for we have added to all of our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves. Then Samuel said to the people, do not fear, you have done all this wickedness, yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all of your heart. And do not turn aside, for then you will go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver. If you turn aside from God, then you're going to go astray, for they are nothing. For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you his people. Now, I'm so grateful that God has chosen to make us his people. Now, I think that's wonderful. Is that not wonderful, that we are his people? I believe we are his people. I truly believe that we are God's people, and that God loves us, God cares for us, God's guiding us, God's directing us. We are a family, and we need to learn the lessons that God wants us to learn from the Bible. And we shouldn't make excuses for sin and bad behavior and rebellion. And we ought to be able to recognize it, and we ought to be able to stand up against it, and we ought to say, I'm not going in that direction. And we should stop vacillating so much, and frankly, we give too much the benefit of the doubt sometimes, when there is really no doubt. It is what it is. Look at it, and face it, admit it, and get on with your life, and stop wallowing around in vacillation as to what is right and what is wrong. It's rather ironic, but on the 4th of July weekend in 2011, there was a group of motorcyclists who gathered together in Onondaga, New York, to ride in protest against the New York State law that requires motorcycle riders to wear a helmet. One of those riding in protest was a 55-year-old man from Parrish, New York. During the ride, police say, his 1983 Harley Davidson spun out of control, and he flew headfirst over the handlebars. His head struck the pavement, and his skull was fractured. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The police and the doctor treating the man said afterward that if he had been wearing a helmet, he probably would have survived the accident. The group organizing the protest ride said that while they encouraged the voluntary use of motorcycle helmets, they opposed mandatory helmet laws. Whatever the case for or against laws concerning motorcycle helmets, you cannot miss the irony of this accidental death. The man died protesting a law that if he had obeyed it, would have surely saved his life. This was from Craig Bryan Larson, the editor of preachingtoday.com.

I think it came from an article, New York writer dies protesting motorcycle helmet law. Now, if we have a law here in Oklahoma that says you don't have to wear it, then you don't have to wear it. It's your choice. But the Bible says we're supposed to be subject to the governing authorities. So if you're living in Oklahoma and there's a law that says you have to wear it, I don't think you have to wear it in Oklahoma, right? I don't really care. It's your life.

It's your life. But the point is, there was a law against it. It was a bona fide law that was put in place. And supposedly, it was done for the benefit of the people so that they wouldn't scramble their brains all over the highway.

And perhaps, had he yielded himself to this law, he'd still be alive today. I think there are certainly lessons to be learned in examples like this one. I mean, we are a stubborn and stiff-necked people. There is no question about it. In 1 Samuel chapter 15, let's go there, 1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 23. Now, this was after Saul went awry. Saul gave an unlawful sacrifice. He became impatient, didn't wait on Samuel to arrive, did the sacrifice himself, which was unlawful for him to do, he also spared King Agag. He was supposed to kill Agag. He wasn't supposed to let him live. And all the spoils were supposed to be destroyed. So, there were a number of infractions, sins, rebellion that took place with Saul. So, Saul is rejected as king. God says, I've had enough of Saul. I've had enough of him. You know, for a while he was humble, and he was a good king when he humbled himself and obeyed and followed God. But then he became proud, he became vain, and he took upon himself, he attempted, he started to exalt himself, just like Lucifer, just like Adam and Eve, just like Abel, just like you and me. He started to exalt himself. And so, in verse 22, speaking to Saul, "...as the Lord is great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord. Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." You know, he thought he was doing God a service by sacrificing these animals, even though it wasn't his place to do this.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, or divination. Now, that's an interesting word, divination, something divine. What is witchcraft? Is not witchcraft trying to buy in, or to lock in, or whatever, to the power of the Lord of darkness. Is that not what witchcraft is all about? Trying to get some power from Satan the devil.

That's what witchcraft is. It goes right back to Satan the devil, Satan who rebelled in the first place. Satan who disobeyed God and rebelled against God, exalted himself above God, and of course was struck down because of his rebellion. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. It's like sorcery and divination. You know, God is a jealous God. He wants us to serve only him because he knows that only then will we be happy. And he made us, he created us, he has every right to give us some rules because he's the only one who really loves us. So he's a jealous God. He doesn't want us to seek after other gods. He doesn't want us following Satan the devil in his rebellion. The rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.

Now, if Saul wasn't real happy about that, in fact, Saul feigned some repentance. He wanted to go ahead and, you know, and what's he say here? Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned in verse 24. I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord in your words because I fear the people and I obey their voice. Again, fear comes in here. Now therefore, please pardon my sin and return with me that I may worship the Lord. But Samuel said to Saul, I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel. And as Samuel turned around to go away, Saul seized the edge of his robe, and it tore. So Samuel said to him, the Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.

And of course, that was David. David was to be the king, but not for a long time. For what? Close to 20-some years? It was a long time before David would actually become king, and God would allow Saul to be king for a long time, and David would not raise his hand against God's anointed. When Saul was still king, David did not rationalize. He could have killed him. That one night, it looked like God was delivering Saul to him. And probably a lot of us would have thought that, and we may have killed him. But Moses had enough sense not to do it, because he would have raised his hand against God's anointed. Because it's God who decides the timing. God says, "'Thou shalt not murder.'" He would have been murdering Saul. So, later on, David becomes king, because he did not rebel. But he did obey God. He did follow God. Okay, reading just a little further here. And also, the strength of verse 29, chapter 15 of 1 Samuel. And also, the strength of Israel will not lie nor relent, for he is not a man that he should relent. Then he said, "'I have sinned, yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.'" Now, notice in verse 30, instead of really being broke up for his sins against you and you only have I sinned and done evil in your sight, God, please forgive me. Please don't take your spirit away from me. Don't, you know, wash me clean. You know, this is a different attitude than David had. David, in Psalm 51, wanted to be cleansed. He didn't want to be exalted, but here we see Samuel still wants to be exalted. He says, "'I have sinned, yet honor me now, even though I don't deserve it, but honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel.'" You know, Samuel would have none of that. In fact, what does Samuel do very, very soon? Samuel says, "'Bring Agag, the king of the Amalekites, to me.'" A rather violent thing is about to occur. Samuel hacks, "'I gag the pieces.'" Because God had told him to. I mean, if God says, "'Do it,' do it." It's okay.

But if God isn't telling us to do it, then don't do it. God says, "'Don't murder.'" And that's, you know, that's how we're to live our lives. But these are interesting historical truths. You know, these things took place for our admonition, as it says in the book of Corinthians. They took place for our example, for our admonition, that we might learn from these things. God wants us to learn. He doesn't want us to try to exalt ourselves and tap into the powers of darkness, the power of witchcraft and sorcery and idolatry. Rebellion is as witchcraft. God hates sorcery and idolatry and witchcraft. It's all tied in together. I've got about five more pages of notes here. I knew I wasn't going to get anywhere near done, but that's okay. I think I'm getting my point across. Let's go to Ephesians chapter 4. Ephesians chapter 4.

Ephesians chapter 4, the Apostle Paul, who was really a fine example of someone who did humble himself before God, said, Follow me as I follow Christ. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 1, he says, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long suffering, with patience, and bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all. But to each one of us, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore, he says, when he ascended on high, he led captivity captive and gave gifts to men. Now this he ascended, what does it mean but that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? You know, Christ was crucified and died for us. He went into the earth, he died for us, he paid the penalty for our sins, but God resurrected him and he ascended up into the heavens and he's at the right hand of God. He is the head of this church and he gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and some teachers. Now it's real nice to say, well, I only obey God. I don't follow any man. Well, you know, that's kind of fun, but, you know, it doesn't really work because God put men in charge just like Moses was in charge, just like Samuel was in charge to a degree, just like some of the kings, David and Saul for a time. He said, he gave these people pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry and for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things to him who is the head, Jesus Christ, from whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. You know, brethren, we all have a responsibility. You have a responsibility, as do I. To this congregation here in Tulsa and to the greater body of Christ, we have a responsibility to do our part. We can either tear down or we can build up. It's our choice. God allows us to make choices. He allows us to make decisions. You can either build up or tear down. You can either try to exalt yourself or you can humble yourself and you can follow God as He wants you to follow Him. You know, it is our choice. We have to make a decision. We decide. God is mindful of this little congregation in Tulsa. I have no doubt that He is. You know, He's mindful of each of us individually and how we treat our family, how we look to Him for guidance and direction, how we have faith in Him, or do we fear others? Or, you know, do we lean to our own understanding?

In his book entitled, Up with Authority, Victor Lee Austin uses the analogy of an orchestra to explain why we need human authority. Orchestras need conductors because the musicians don't have a single right answer to questions like, what should we play at the concert? Or, what should we practice today? Or, how should we interpret this passage? Each musician might have a perfectly reasonable opinion. He's got a fine opinion. He might be a very talented musician. He has a reasonable position or opinion. But their opinions will inevitably be different and will almost always be incompatible with one another. And it's no good for each musician to do what is right in his own eyes and in his own ears. It won't do for the brass section to insist on playing a one musical piece if the strings have chosen to play a completely different piece. If the orchestra is to perform coherently, if the musicians want to perform music rather than just make noise, somebody has to have the authority to decide. By submitting to the authority of a conductor, individual musicians attain musical expression they could never realize individually or even as a collection of free-wheeling players. Authority is necessary for classical musicians to bring musical fulfillment to others. In the words of Victor Lee Austin, the conductor's authority yields a greater degree of human flourishing than we would have from the musicians separately or individually. So what he's saying is, if we all decide to go out and do our own thing, what's ever going to be accomplished in preaching the gospel to the world? How are we ever going to do that? The smaller we get, the more divided we become, the less unified we are, the less effective we're going to be, and frankly, the more rebellious we are.

Brethren, as we approach Thanksgiving Day, it's coming very soon now, let us truly be grateful to our God and to His Son Jesus Christ for all the blessings that He has abundantly poured upon us. You know, one of the greatest blessings, I think, is this church that we're blessed to be a part of. This is a great blessing, as far as I'm concerned. I believe you feel the same way, or you wouldn't be here. Why would you come here otherwise? This is a great blessing. We are indeed the most blessed people on the face of the earth. We here in this room today, so brethren, let us be satisfied, let us be content with all that God has done for us and given to us as an organization. Content in some ways. Not that we want to become complacent, not that we want to be lethargic, but let us be satisfied and content with what God is doing with us. But let us not be content with ourselves. Let's stir ourselves up to do greater things in the future, to be more pleasing to God. Let's be careful to humble ourselves and show real appreciation to God for what He's given us here. I think we should be grateful for our church, grateful for this congregation that we have today. Let us not be stiff-necked and rebellious like so many of our forefathers. And I'm talking about some that are fairly recent forefathers, maybe in the last 20 years.

Let us not be stiff-necked and rebellious like so many of our forefathers, going all the way back to Adam and Eve, but also recent date. Let us follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ, and let us be submissive to God's will in our lives. The sin of rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.

Division is something God doesn't like. He hates it. He loves unity. Unity under Him, under the true God. That's the kind of unity that He wants us to have in this church. So the sin of rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, the demons, and Satan the devil. So let us rejoice. Let us be thankful for our calling and for God's wonderful plan for us. Let us be truly grateful this Thanksgiving Day that we are a people that He's called out and brought together.