Time to turn back.

Last week we started looking at how refusing to submit to authority is rebellion. What is rebellion really? 1 Samuel 15:23 says, “Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshipping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

Those words are in the Bible y’all, I did not make them up. So, rebellion is connected to disobedience. Rebellion simply refuses to do the right thing, it says, “I will not do it”. Stubbornness chooses to stick to what it knows and its own opinions. Stubbornness says, “I’ll do it my way” or “I have always done it this way” or “this is just how I am”. Both rebellion and stubbornness are so bad that they are likened to witchcraft and idolatry.

What’s the point of talking about submitting to authority and rebellion when we are talking about purpose? Because you cannot walk in purpose and in rebellion at the same time. God says we cannot serve two masters at the same time, we’ll hate one and love the other or we will be devoted to one and hate the other (see Matthew 6:24). Submission is of God, rebellion and stubbornness are of the devil.

So, we must forsake all the things that stop us from fully walking out our purpose. All the things we have been talking about are essential. We must love God, obey God, meditate on the word, be planted in a church, honour our leaders and submit to authority, it all matters. We cannot do all of this in our own strength which is why Jesus sent us the awesome Helper and Comforter who is the Holy Spirit.

We have help. We have God not just living with us but living in us to empower us (see Philippians 2:13, Hebrews 13:20-21, John 14:15-17 TPT). Does it mean we will never make mistakes? Nope. We will still fail sometimes but the word says in Proverbs 24:16, “For though the righteous man falls seven times, they rise again…” The point is even though we may fail, we always get up.

What we must remember however, is that our spirit is right with God. Don’t let your mistakes stop you from getting up. We are a triune being, spirit soul and body and our spirit is 100% saved from the day of our salvation. That’s the real you. That’s the part of you that is One with God and where the Holy Spirit dwells. It is perfect. Our soul and body though, still need work. Hence, we meditate on the word of God so our soul can be transformed and we eagerly await the return of Christ so we can take off these broken suits (bodies) and put on our new and perfect ones. Mistakes do not define us. We haven’t failed until the day we decide to stop getting up. Keep getting up, keep moving, keep growing, keep chasing after God.

But this week, I want us all to pray and seek God. Ask Him to reveal those areas where we have been walking in rebellion or stubbornness. When He does, we need to repent quickly and ask for wisdom on how we ought to move ahead in our walk with Him. He is a good God and I believe amazing things will happen if you take the time to do this. Repenting means turning back. So when we see where we have been going wrong, we must turn the other way from it and ask God to help us do what is right.

Love and blessings,

Melissa Tsingano