Introduction

Open resistance to authority is a popular pastime of the human race; and, sad to say, at some time or the other we have all been rebels. We have chaffed under authority, stamped our feet, pouted, cried, thrown a tantrum, shouted and screamed to indicate that we do not wish to comply. Babies, school children, youths, men and women of all ages have, at some times in their lives, openly resisted authority. We humans just do not like being told what to do; so we resist. This means that today's sermon is for all of us; but it has a special call to all who rebel against YaHuWaH the Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Israel.

Authority is usually conferred upon a person by someone of higher rank; or it may be self-declared. Democratic leaders are voted into authority. There are others who simply assume high sounding titles and positions in an attempt to impress people that they have great authority. To be of any value authority must be coupled with power and proved valid by worthwhile results. In the spiritual realm authority has several levels. This morning I will speak briefly on three levels of authority and various forms of rebellion against such authority.

Over and above all principalities and powers in the heavens and on earth is the Creator YaHuWaH the Supreme authority in the universe. Being the Creator of all things seen and unseen He is the highest and most powerful of all authorities. Then, in ever descending steps, come other authorities; first His Son YAHUSHUA and then via the mighty arch-angels and lesser angels right down to the most insignificant soul on earth. Though invisible to the human eye, the Almighty determines the power each level of authority possesses. No authority can over-ride His will. His is the ultimate decision as to who is promoted and who isn't, who lives and who dies, who is punished and who is pardoned. He gives and He withholds according to His own will; and no one can curb His power or over-rule His decisions.

YAHUSHUA 's Authority

Second in command is YaHuWaH 's only begotten Son YAHUSHUA. Though possessing infinite power - all power - the Master is still under the moral authority of His Father in heaven.

Next come the angels, created beings who currently have authority over mankind. They were created in a hierarchic order headed by cherubim and seraphim. Satan is an archangel with authority over millions of lesser angels. He grew tired of being under the authority of YaHuWaH and His Son YAHUSHUA, so he rebelled. Symbolically described in the book of Revelation as the Dragon, Satan lead a third of the angel host in rebellion against the Almighty.

Rev. 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven,
and did cast them to the earth…

Two thirds of the angel army remained loyal to the Almighty. The remaining third joined Satan in his rebellion. This rebel third later assumed positions of YaHuWaH - like authority over the heathen and have tragically misused their powers to deceive billions of souls in all countries. These angels constitute the hard core rebels which have spread chaos on earth and throughout space. See the articles Angels, Fallen Angels, Messengers of YaHuWaH, Angel Protection, Satan, and Satanic Attack for more details about Angels - good and evil.

Man has also been given authority, not over his fellows, but over the Almighty's creation. Man has abused his authority and virtually raped the earth, wiped out thousands of species of plants and animals and is now on the brink of self-annihilation.

Rebellion began in the mind of Satan the Devil. He is the first - and worst - rebel. Satan's sin began with pride, was fed by envy, it blossomed into greed and then erupted in deception, violence and death. Rebellion is the refusal to do what YaHuWaH commands. Rebellion against the Most High is sin. Rebellion begins in the mind. It is the rejection of divine authority. As we will see, the iniquity of rebellion is a spiritual malady which first started in the mind of Satan. Sad to say it has spread to vast areas of the universe. Earth's population is infected with rebellion. It is rampant in the human mind. It surfaces in every land and in every community; even in every home. It is a chronic spiritual malady which only YaHuWaH Almighty can cure. Most people are totally unaware of the fact that they are spiritual rebels.

Satan is the leading rebel in the universe. The story of his rebellion is told in several Bible passages. Here are two.

The second reference concerning the Devil's rebellion is:

The Antichrist is a spirit being who is shortly to make his appearance. He is referred to as the Son of Perdition, the Destroyer, the Man of Sin, the Angel of the Bottomless Pit; the spiritual black hole from which millions of rebel angels are shortly to be released. The Antichrist is the implacable opponent of all things true. He is a rebel of mind-bending proportions.

The House of Israel

Alas,YaHuWaH 's chosen people, Israel, have also rebelled against Him and His Torah.

All Of Us

Like the ancient Israelites, all of us - without exception - have at some time or another rebelled against YaHuWaH. We live in a world populated by rebels - all intent on doing as they please. Listen to that great man Daniel the prophet repenting of his own and Israel's rebellion.

People rebel in many ways. In this lesson I'll consider the four most obvious and easily recognizable forms of rebellion. I'll begin with the least dangerous and end with the worst form of rebellion. In the soon coming spiritual election all mankind will choose between the authority of YaHuWaH Elohim of Abraham, Isaac and Israel and the rebel authority of Lucifer. People will then plainly reveal whether they are rebels or not. But for the present rebellion is easily detected in many actions.

Appearance

Silent but visible rebellion can be expressed in dress and in hairstyles. Just observe the clothes many people wear. Outward garments make unmistakable statements about a person's mindset. Modesty is being sacrificed on every high street. Nakedness is fashionable.

Speech

Rebellious viewpoints are best expressed in the written and spoken word. Smutty jokes, dirty ditties and blasphemous language are all forms of verbal rebellion. This form of rebellion is only too apparent on T.V. and radio.

Blatant rebellion manifests itself in sinful actions. A sexual revolution with its free love, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, and incest has overtaken mankind. We are living at a time identical to the days of Noah just before the world was destroyed by the flood. We are being engulfed by sexual practices which mirror the days of Lot in that evil city of Sodom; when YaHuWaH rained down fire and brimstone from heaven and burned the cities of the plains to ashes. Rebellion against YaHuWaH 's Torah is never so blatant and blasphemous than when it concerns the sexual behavior of the human race. Sinners now wallow in their sins and even boast about them.

Mental Rebellion

Though mental rebellion is difficult to identify it is by far the most serious. Mental rebellion manifests itself in inner doubts and then in outspoken unbelief. Though invisible to the human eye, this is rebellion at its worst; because all man's words and subsequent actions follow the path set by mental rebellion and DOUBT! We see Satan sowing the seed of doubt in Eve's mind in the Garden of Eden.

In other words: 'Is that really what YaHuWaH said or meant? And are you sure He is correct? Because I know the fact is: Ye shall not surely die.' Here is Satan planting doubt in Eve's mind; and, like a deadly contraceptive, it nullified the Truth YaHuWaH had spoken. Eve sinned because she doubted YaHuWaH and believed Satan.

Doubt is the Opposite of Faith.

• Faith leads to everlasting life. Doubt leads to everlasting death.
• Faith is a product of the Holy Spirit. Doubt is the product of Satan.
• Faith manifests itself in obedience to YaHuWaH. Doubt manifests itself in disobedience.
• Faith is believing YaHuWaH, it is an inner confidence that He is speaking the Truth. Doubt is disbelieving YaHuWaH, it is the inner conclusion that He is not telling the Truth; that He is a Liar!
• Faith is the highest compliment one can pay the Almighty. Doubt is the worst insult one can hurl at Him.

4. Eternal Harvests

Rebellion produces a harvest, a reaction from which no one can escape without divine help. Rebels may ignore these facts; but sooner or later the harvest of rebellion will overtake them. YaHuWaH describes the certainty of spiritual harvests - good and bad - in these words:

5. What About You?

Do you doubt the Almighty's Word - the Holy Bible?

• Do you believe the account of the Creation as recorded in Genesis?
• Do you believe the miracles YaHuWaH performed for ancient Israel, when He led His people through the Red sea and fed them for 40 years in the wilderness?
• Do you believe that the Ten Commandments were actually written with the finger of YaHuWaH ?
• Do you believe the virgin birth of YAHUSHUA Elohim's only begotten Son?
• Do you believe that the miracles that YAHUSHUA performed happened exactly as recorded?
• Do you believe in His sacrificial death on your behalf and that He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven?
• Do you believe his promise to return to earth?
• Do you believe that 'All scripture is given by inspiration of YaHuWaH' and has been divinely preserved down through the ages as YaHuWaH promised it would be? Do you believe that fact?

Or do you have doubts and reservations about YaHuWaH's Promises, His Word and His only begotten Son? These are vital questions which will not go away. They must be answered - by you! I tell you, your very life depends on how you answer them. So be careful - very careful!

Not only is YaHuWaH ; but He is the only begotten Son of YaHuWaH. The Greek word translated begotten is 'monogenes.' It means 'mono' (of one and the same) 'genes;' the genetic code that is passed from parents to children that issue from their bodies. Monogenes is only used of sons or daughters who issue from their parents bodies; children who have their parents genes. Unlike Adam who was a created son (note the small 's') of YaHuWaH (Luke 3:38) YAHUSHUA was the begotten, the only begotten, the genetic, biological SON of YaHuWaH !

This word 'begotten' is slowly being phased out of modern translations of the Bible. See NIV renderings of John1:18, 3:16 & 18, 1John 4:9 and Rev.1:5. In its place come phrases and words like one, only, unique, firstborn etc.

Are you a rebel? That may sound like an insulting question. But it is not meant to be. Rather, it is an invitation to examine yourself to see whether you have any doubts about YaHuWaH, His only begotten Son YAHUSHUA and His Holy Word. Because if you do, it will not be long before you join the rebellion sweeping the Earth.