REBELLION VERSUS SUBMISSION by Dr Pat Holliday
We live in a rebellious generation of individuals who feel it is their right to sit in judgment of those in authority over them. Christians are no exception. Church members critique the choir and criticise the sermon. We would be far better off if we entered into worship instead of critiquing it and allowed the sermon to judge us instead of criticising it.
Rebelling against God leads to nothing but trouble, as our commanding general, the Lord says, “Get into ranks and follow me. I will not lead you into temptation, and I will deliver you from evil.” But we sometimes say, “No, I don’t want to follow today.” So we fall out of ranks, do our own thing, and get shot. Then we blame God for not protecting us. We are also tempted to rebel against human authority. We have two biblical responsibilities in regard to authority figures: pray for them and submit to them. The only time God permits us to disobey earthly leaders is when they require us to do something morally wrong before God. Study the following passages of Scripture to further understand our response to authority: civil government (Rom. 13:15; 1 Tim. 2: -4; 1 Pet 2:13-16; parents (Eph. 6:1-3); husbands (1 Pet. 3:1,2), employers (1 Pet. 2:18-21); church leaders (Hebr. 13:17).
“Submission,” then, does not mean enslavement. It is the “yielded, intelligent, humble obedience to an ordained authority. Christ is the ultimate example of submission. Throughout His time on earth, He submitted Himself to the will of the Father.” Being submissive to human authority demonstrates faith. As you submit to God’s line of authority, you are choosing to believe that God will protect you and bless, and that all will go well with you. Ask God to forgive you for those times you have not been submissive, and declare your trust in God to work through His established lines of authority. After you have confessed any willful rebellion to God, pray the following prayer aloud:
Dear heavenly Father, You have said that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry, (1 Sam. 15:23). I know that in action and attitude I have sinned against You with a rebellious heart. I ask Your forgiveness for my rebellion and pray that by the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ will take back all ground taken against me by evil spirits because of my rebelliousness. I pray that You will shed light on all my ways that I may know the full extent of my rebelliousness and choose to adopt a submissive spirit and a servant’s heart. In the name of Christ Jesus my Lord. Amen. We must begin Christian by Christian, street by street, block by block, politician by politician.