Five Steps to a Full-Blown Rebellious Heart

In our society today, a rebellious heart has become acceptable behavior.  It is found everywhere – in our homes, our churches, places of business, in schools, and in our communities.  As a society we have learned to close our eyes and ears and just dismiss this behavior as an acceptable way to express ourselves.

Rebellion is damaging to relationships.  We were created to be relational.  We were meant to be together in relationship to care for one another, to encourage one another, and to love one another.   We were not created to destroy one another – that is the job of Satan – to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10).

What is rebellion?  Rebellion is defined in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as:

• An effort by many people to change the government or leader of a country by the use of protest or violence
• Open opposition toward a person or group in authority
• Refusal to obey rules or accept normal standards of behavior, dress, etc.

Rebellion starts as a small destructive seed that is planted in our heart.  If we start to feed it and water it well – it will continue to grow into an ugly uncontrollable behavior.  It doesn’t happen overnight – it takes time to develop.

Rebellion is a type of a spiritual cancer.  Spiritual cancer resembles physical cancer in that it causes chaos and havoc in our bodies and in our lives.  Spiritual cancer also follows the same path as cancer cells in that it has the freedom to move about freely – and like physical cancer – the cells will multiple without restrictions. Cancer whether physical or spiritual, touches the lives of many along its path of destruction.

Cancer Cell

The word “cancer” is an ugly word.  Every day someone receives the news that they have cancer or that someone that is close to them has cancer.  No one wants to hear those words, “I have cancer.”    And yet when we hear about different types of spiritual cancer – we tend to close our eyes and ears and walk away from it.  Walking away from spiritual cancer only allows the ugliness and destructiveness of it to grow and continue to grow until it destroys everything and everyone that it comes in contact with.

I do not claim to be an expert on the topic of cancer, but I do know that cancer kills people every day.  I also know and understand that rebellion is a type of spiritual cancer that destroys relationships every day.

In the Bible, God says that rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft.  In 1 Samuel 15:23 it says, “Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols.  So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as King.”

This is a story about King Saul and David.  It is about a man who allows jealousy to plant a seed of rebellion in his heart – and grow to the point that he would desire to kill another man.

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing five steps that lead up to a full-blown rebellious heart.  These steps will show us where that seed of rebellion is first planted and how if it is watered and well-fed, it will start a path that leads to the development of an uncontrollable rebellious heart that destroys everything along the way.

Five Steps to the development of a full-blown rebellious heart:

1. Hurt or a Wounded Spirit
2. Bitterness
3. Anger
4. Stubbornness
5. Rebellion

Psalm 78:1-8:  O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old — what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.  He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.  Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.  They would not be like their forefathers — a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose hearts were not loyal to God, whose spirits were not faithful to him. (NIV)

The reason that I write is to speak out to another generation and share the goodness of God and what He has done in the past to transform lives forever for His Glory.  God is looking for a generation of warriors who are willing to stand for the Kingdom of Heaven.  A generation willing to step out into waters of faith and trust and be willing to serve Him at all costs.

God’s Word was not meant to be hidden away and never talked about – it was meant to be shared with the next generation so that we would remember his goodness and his mighty deeds and share it with the next generation.  Satan doesn’t want us to live in victory.  Remember Satan’s job is to steal, kill, and destroy.

John 10:10 – The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Dear Heavenly Father, I know that you have entrusted me with a topic that is not easy for me to speak about.  For many years, I walked along that path towards rebellion in my heart.  I thank you Father for patiently walking me through those hard places in my life and encouraging me to trust you with my life.  Father God, I thank you for showing me the way to peace and joy by learning how to let go of bitterness and stubbornness that could have turned into full-blown rebellion.   May these words that I share with others help them in their life journey with you to be blessed by obedience.  I love you Lord.  I ask this in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.