Becoming A Heavenly Rebel

Becoming A Heavenly Rebel

Introduction: The word "Rebel" is defined as "to rise in opposition or armed resistance to an established government or ruler." The ultimate rebellion is to rise up against the ultimate authority, which is God. And those who do, will pay the ultimate price, which is eternal damnation. So the title of our message may seem bizaare or at least a major contradiction, but we as Christians are a contradiction! We must be a contradiction! To rise up in opposition against the devils work upon the earth means that we are going to be a very visible and annoying contradiction to it. Salt is different than the dirt, light is a contradiction to the darkness and we are called to be both salt and light. Once we understand the authority that we are in rebellion against, we will understand what it means to be a heavenly rebel.

In 2 Cor. 4:4 Paul writes: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." In John 14:30 we read that Satan is "the prince of this world" and Ephesians 2:2 describes the devil as "the prince of the power of the air." We read that he is the "god of this age" and the "prince of this world." At first it sounds like blasphemy, but looking around today at the culture and the increasing wickedness can anyone doubt it? The phrase “god of this age" indicates that Satan is the primary influence on the ideals, opinions, education, and philosophies of the majority of people of this age, which has been every age since the ascension of Jesus.

Jesus is the prince of peace but this world is not peaceful. Jehovah is the God of creation but this age worships the creation rather than the creator, deifying the devil as a result. As Christians the age is against us and we are against it. As Born again Christians, we are sent to be a heavenly rebel that is rising up against the prince of darkness who wants to rule the earth with evil!

Transition: The question is how do we overcome the devil who wants to corrupt us and convince us to become a part of his demonic kingdom? I want to share with you from three different scriptures of the ways we are called to be heavenly rebels.

Heavenly Rebels obey God rather than man

"Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29

When a sin infested world is trying to work the refs against the saints of God, we must do as God says regardless of what man says. We disregard what man says is allowable, acceptable when it is against the word of God. The way to overcome the evil of the age that is orchestrated by the prince of the air is to refuse to play by his rules and refuse to play his game. Let him take his ball and go home out of frustration. When the devil is behind men's laws that are designed to undermine God we must obey God rather than man. When Satan's agents were scheming for a way to get Daniel, they devised a law to have whoever prayed to any other god than king Darius they were to be thrown into the Lion's den, the King signed it into law and we read what Daniel did when he found out about this law in Daniel 6:10:

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, (which was illegal) giving thanks to his God, (which was illegal) just as he had done before."

I'm astonished of how many spineless so called Christians we have that refuse to pray for fear of ridicule. I wish there were more people that would stand up and pray in a place that doesn't allow it. A heavenly rebel should disregard the rules that say we can't pray in this place or that place, it is not a matter of spite, it is a matter of obedience! I Thess. 5:17 - "Pray without ceasing" Regardless of the thoughts, words, and laws of men- WE WILL OBEY GOD. If the laws of God offend you, I am sorry you are offended, but I would rather offend you than my God! I won't have to answer to you when I leave this world.

What mankind deems good will always be at odds with what God says is good. Am I saying that we shold go out and jaywalk because there is nothing in the Bible that says we shouldn't or disregard the speed limit for the same reason. Absolutely not, we should be law abiding citizens. To be a heavenly Rebel, simply means that you are determined to live by the law of God rather than the law of man when the two are at odds.