The Rev. Dr. James O. Davis gives an excellent commentary on God's Word about rebellion and stubbornness in his latest newsletter, Global Church Network. Here is what he says about God's Will:
God's Will
There are some people who say that, that God’s will is always done in everything. God’s will is not always done. If God’s will is always done, why did Jesus teach us to pray, “...Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done?" No, there are a lot of things that are not the will of God, and God will allow you to disobey Him. This reality does not diminish God’s sovereignty at all. God gives men and women the power to rebel against Him without diminishing God’s sovereignty. God has given man or a woman a choice. You can choose to obey, or you can choose not to obey.
Then, Dr. James O. Davis explains what the truth about rebellion and stubborness:
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." What he means is offering the very best, animals on the altar. In verse 23 we read: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” God says disobedience is like witchcraft. If you are disobeying something that God told you to do, you are practicing a form of witchcraft.
Well, you may not be thinking you’re practicing witchcraft, but disobedience puts you on the same side of the fence as Satan. That’s what made the devil the devil, was his rebellion against the will of God. And before long, Saul, who had disobeyed the Lord, was consorting with a witch, if you know your Bible.
Secondly, disobedience is not only like witchcraft, but it’s also iniquity. Disobedience is a clenched fist in the face of God. It is saying, “God, not Your will, but mine be done." Now it may be a small thing, but disobedience over a small thing is not a small thing because disobedience is a big thing, even if the thing is a small thing that you’re disobeying.
There may be some small thing in your heart and in your life that God is prompting you to do, but if you’re disobeying God, I mean, if you’re defying God over that small thing, that small thing becomes a big thing. God says it is witchcraft. God says that it is iniquity.
[Editor's comment: May God deliver us from rebellion and stubbornness. Let us say Yes to God's calling and opportunities He gives us to serve and bless others. I thank God for James O. Davis. What a great man of God he is.]
God's Will
There are some people who say that, that God’s will is always done in everything. God’s will is not always done. If God’s will is always done, why did Jesus teach us to pray, “...Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done?" No, there are a lot of things that are not the will of God, and God will allow you to disobey Him. This reality does not diminish God’s sovereignty at all. God gives men and women the power to rebel against Him without diminishing God’s sovereignty. God has given man or a woman a choice. You can choose to obey, or you can choose not to obey.
Then, Dr. James O. Davis explains what the truth about rebellion and stubborness:
“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." What he means is offering the very best, animals on the altar. In verse 23 we read: “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” God says disobedience is like witchcraft. If you are disobeying something that God told you to do, you are practicing a form of witchcraft.
Well, you may not be thinking you’re practicing witchcraft, but disobedience puts you on the same side of the fence as Satan. That’s what made the devil the devil, was his rebellion against the will of God. And before long, Saul, who had disobeyed the Lord, was consorting with a witch, if you know your Bible.
Secondly, disobedience is not only like witchcraft, but it’s also iniquity. Disobedience is a clenched fist in the face of God. It is saying, “God, not Your will, but mine be done." Now it may be a small thing, but disobedience over a small thing is not a small thing because disobedience is a big thing, even if the thing is a small thing that you’re disobeying.
There may be some small thing in your heart and in your life that God is prompting you to do, but if you’re disobeying God, I mean, if you’re defying God over that small thing, that small thing becomes a big thing. God says it is witchcraft. God says that it is iniquity.
[Editor's comment: May God deliver us from rebellion and stubbornness. Let us say Yes to God's calling and opportunities He gives us to serve and bless others. I thank God for James O. Davis. What a great man of God he is.]