As we read through this and get a twinge of resistance, don’t explain it away, but recognize the need to examine ourselves for the purpose of removing the things within our hearts that prevent us from the fullness of the Father.
Rebellion is an act of violent or open resistance to an established government or ruler or leader; the action or process of resisting authority, control, or convention (agreement, contract, covenant). If we are rebelling, we are coming against the things instructed of the Father. And if we rebel then we are being disobedient. Disobedience is defined as failure or refusal to obey rules or someone in authority. As simple as this is defined, it is for us to examine the areas of our life that we have not only rebelled, but also been disobedient, first, to the Father, then to those He put in place to help guide us. It is a very selfish, prideful, and flesh satisfying to rebel, it pleases the flesh, not the spirit.
“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart” Psalms 26:2.
“But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of [that] bread, and drink of [that] cup” I Corinthians 11:28.
“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” II Corinthians 13:5.
“To the Lord our God [belong] mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him; Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him” Daniel 9:9-11.
“Servants, obey in all things [your] masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God” Colossians 3:22.
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that [is] unprofitable for you” Hebrews 13:17.
“So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” Romans 8:8.
“[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these]; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance (contention, strife), emulations (an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy), wrath, strife, seditions (division), heresies (dissention, rebellion, discord, division arising from diversity of opinions and aims), Envyings (grudges, jealousy, resentment, spite, covet), murders, drunkenness, revellings (partying, public display of drunkenness), and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” Galatians 5:16-26.