Stages of Rebellion

Jeremiah 5: 3 O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

Today we will meditate upon the stages of rebellion. 

GOD hates rebellious people.

Stage 1. Ungrieving in nature

Genesis 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?

Here we can see that Cain was not grievous to his hate and bitterness towards his brother to the point that he killed him. He was ungrieving in nature. 

Stage 2. Unwilling to receive correction.

Genesis 9:25 And he said, Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 

Here we can see that Ham was consumed by the curse but still he refused to receive correction.

Stage 3. Unwilling to Change 

Genesis 14:16 And he brought back all the goods, and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

Here we can see that the Lot had been saved from a great destruction, but instead of returning to the Lord. He stayed in Sodom and made his face harder than rock and refused to return.

Which tree are you?

Ezekiel  17:24  And all the trees of the field shall know that I the LORD have brought down the high tree, have exalted the low tree, have dried up the green tree, and have made the dry tree to flourish: I the LORD have spoken and have done it.

All the trees were created by Lord.

Genesis  1:11  And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

High tree

High tree denote proudness in life.

Psalms  37:35  I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.

Deuteronomy  12:2  Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:   

2 Kings  17:10  And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:   

2 Chronicles  28:4  He sacrificed also and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.   

Jeremiah  3:6  The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

Low tree

Low tree signifies lowly spirit

Isaiah  44:23  Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel.

Isaiah  66:2  For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.   

Matthew  5:3  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Green tree

Green Tree signifies prosperous life

Psalms  1:3  And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalms  92:12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

Psalms  104:16  The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Green tree plays harlotry 

Jeremiah  2:20  For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.   

Jeremiah  3:6  The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

Dry Tree

Dry tree signifies tribulation in life

Psalms  104:16  The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Psalms  104:16  The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;

Job  14:7  For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease.

So which tree are you?

Every tree is known by its fruit.

Luke  6:43  For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.   

Luke  6:44  For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.   

Luke  13:6  He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.   

Luke  13:7  Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?  

Revelation  9:4  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

Firstborn Blessing

1 Chronicles  5:1  Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

Firstborn has a special place in blessing. 

Here we find Reuben lost his blessing because of defilement.

In Bible we find many firstborn losing blessing. 

1. Blessing lost due to profanity. 

     

     Genesis  27:32  And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy son, thy firstborn Esau.   

     Genesis 25:31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.  

      Genesis 25:34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and       drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

      Hebrews  12:16  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

2. Blessing lost due to adultery

Lot's firstborn committed adultery with her father and brought curse on the entire generation. 

     Genesis  19:34  And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.   

     Genesis  19:37 And the first born bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

     Ezekiel  25:11  And I will execute judgments upon Moab; and they shall know that I am the LORD.   

     Zephaniah  2:9  Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.

3. Blessing was hindered due to hasty decision. 

Genesis  16:1 Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar.  

Genesis  16:15 And Hagar bare Abram a son: and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael.

Genesis 16:12 And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

4. Blessing lost due to wickedness. 

Genesis  38:7  And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.   

5. Blessing lost due to disobedience 

Exodus  11:10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

Exodus  11:5  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.   

But there is a good news, because we can get the blessing of the firstborn of God Almighty.  We need to surrender and come to him. 

Firstborn Blessing 

Psalms  89:27  Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.  

Zechariah  12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.   

Matthew  1:25  And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.   

Luke  2:7  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

Matthew  28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

John  3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

In which book your name is written?

There are many books written in the Bible. 

Today the question is "Is your name written in the book?"

1. Book of generation 

Many people are satisfied finding their names written in this book.

Genesis  5:1  This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;   

1 Kings  2:27  So Solomon thrust out Abiathar from being priest unto the LORD; that he might fulfil the word of the LORD, which he spake concerning the house of Eli in Shiloh.

1 Chronicles 6:28 And the sons of Samuel; the firstborn Vashni(Joel), and Abiah.

Matthew  22:14  For many are called, but few are chosen.  

2. Book of law

Deuteronomy  28:58  If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, THE LORD THY GOD;

Deuteronomy  28:61  Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.   

i)How do Gentiles behave?

Romans  2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Romans  2:15  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another

ii) Why do people die

Ezekiel  33:11  Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

iii) Why do good people suffer?

Psalms  7:11  God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.  

Psalms  11:5  The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.

iv) What must we do be 

Deuteronomy  30:10  If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.   

Joshua  1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

3. Book of covenant 

Exodus  24:7  And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient.   

Isaiah  59:21  As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

Isaiah  56:6  Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

4. Book of suffering 

Job  19:23  Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!  

Psalms  34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

i) Why do many Christians leave?

Psalms  34:19  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.   Mark  4:17  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.

5. Book of tears

Psalms  56:8  Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?   

 

Hebrews  11:25  Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

6. Book of substance 

Psalms  139:16  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.   

7. Book of life

Revelation  3:5  He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Exodus  32:33  And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.   

Psalms  69:28  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous

Are you in this book of life?

1 Samuel  13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.  

1 Samuel 13:14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

 John  15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.   

John  15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

How can we be in this book

1. Keep the commandment 

2. Seek the Lord

3. Put God first place 

I am the One who helps you

Isaiah 41:14 Fear not, thou worm Jacob, and ye men of Israel; I will help thee, saith the LORD, and thy redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.  

How will God help you

1. He will uphold your right hand

Isaiah  41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.  

He will teach you things which will make you successful, 

Psalms  45:4  And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things. 

He will make you strong for himself

Psalms  80:17  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself.

2. All your enemies who plan for your destruction will  be ashamed

Isaiah 41:11 Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.  

3. All your contenders who speak harshly and fight with you will be nowhere.

Isaiah 41:12 Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. 

4. Lord will help you at all times.

 Isaiah 41:13 For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee. 

5. You will be an overcomer to all your problems.

Isaiah 41:15 Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.  

6. You will spread your enemies abroad.

Isaiah 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

7. You will rejoice in the Lord

Isaiah 41:16 Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel.

What is your purpose in life

Jeremiah  29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Everybody wants to know his purpose for existence .

There is a famous saying "Know Thyself"

Aristotle says "Knowing yourself is the beginning of wisdom"

Bible says "Fear of God is beginning of wisdom"

There is a purpose in everyone's life

1. Adam's purpose 

Adam's purpose was to keep the Eden Garden

Genesis  2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

2. Noah's purpose 

Noah's purpose was to save the souls from the flood.

Genesis  7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

Genesis  7:15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.  

Genesis 7:16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.

3. Abraham's purpose 

Abraham's purpose was to show faith and be a blessing for many nations. 

Genesis  12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:  

Genesis 12:2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

4. Joseph's purpose 

Joseph purpose is to save the world from famine.

Genesis  50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  

Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

5. Moses purpose 

Moses purpose was to deliver the children of Israel from bondage.

Exodus  3:9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.  

Exodus 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

6. Jeremiah's purpose was to be prophet of Israel.  

Jeremiah  1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

7. Jesus purpose to save the world. 

Isaiah  42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

John  3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

How to know your purpose.

Proverbs  20:24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

Isaiah  14:27  For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?   

Ephesians  3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:  

What is your purpose 

1. Purpose to be a witness for the Lord.

Acts  26:16  But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;   

2. Purpose to give fruit in the Spirit.

Romans  1:13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.   

3. Purpose to show the power of Jesus to the Gentiles.

Romans  9:17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.   

4. Purpose to follow your calling in the Lord.

2 Timothy  1:9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Lord's Strength

Isaiah  25:4 For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Enemies attack are like storm on the wall.

1. What does enemies think about you?

Enemies think you are helpless

Exodus  14:3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.

2. What does God do for you?

Habakkuk  3:19 The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

3. How to receive the strength 

A)Fear the Lord

Isaiah  41:5 The isles saw it, and feared; the ends of the earth were afraid, drew near, and came.

B)Believe in Him

Genesis  15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Genesis  15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

C)Praise Him

Psalms  34:1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

D)Wait upon him

Isaiah  40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

4. Why do you receive this strength?

A)To make disciples 

Acts  1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

B)To be strengthened in the time of distress

2 Corinthians  4:8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;  

2 Corinthians 4:9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;  

2 Corinthians 4:10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

C) To help your fellow servant receive the inheritance / teach the word

Joshua  1:6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.  

D) To prosper in wherever you go

Joshua 1:7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  

E) To receive good success always

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.  

F) To receive Lords continual help

Joshua 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

D) To destroy the Devils Kingdom 

2 Chronicles 32:7 Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: for there be more with us than with him:  

E) To encourage others in Christ

2 Chronicles 32:8 With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

Lords strength personified 

A) Lord is your rock

Psalms  62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

B) Lord is your present help

Psalms  46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

C) Lord is merciful 

Psalms  51:1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

D) Lord will keep you in his wings

Ruth  2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

E) Lord is your refuge 

Isaiah  4:6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

F) Lord is the booth for shade

Isaiah  32:2 And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

G)Lord's shadow

Psalms  91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

H)Lord's wings 

Psalms  57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast.