Unless otherwise stated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Those Who Rebel

Copyright © 2025 Dag Heward-Mills

First published 2025 by Parchment House

Find out more about Dag Heward-Mills at:

Healing Jesus Campaign

Email: evangelist@daghewardmills.org

Website: www.daghewardmills.org

Facebook: Dag Heward-Mills

Twitter: @EvangelistDag

ISBN : 979-8-89606-687-3

All rights reserved under international copyright law. Written permission must be secured from the publisher to use or reproduce any part of this book.

A king who is loyal and true will keep his power. Loyalty will keep his kingdom strong.

Proverbs 20:28 (ERV)

Chapter 1

Who Is a Rebel?

According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses. WHOSOEVER HE BE THAT DOTH REBEL AGAINST THY COMMANDMENT, AND WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO THY WORDS in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.

Joshua 1:17-18

1. A rebel is someone who is defiant and resistant.

2. A rebel is someone who openly opposes the leaders.

3. A rebel is someone who defies the leadership.

4. A rebel is someone who disobeys the leader’s instructions.

5. A rebel is someone who gets into conflict and confrontation with authorities.

6. A rebel is someone who challenges fathers.

7. A rebel is someone who refuses to obey rules.

8. A rebel is someone who does not behave properly as a subordinate ought to.

9. A rebel is someone who makes efforts to resist the leader by undermining him in any way.

10. A rebel is someone who hates the leadership.

11. A rebel is someone who hates having an authority over him.

12. A rebel is someone who hates to acknowledge that he is under authority.

13. A rebel is someone who fights the leadership of his church in court.

14. A rebel is someone who mobilizes others to fight against his pastor in court.

15. A rebel is someone who fights against his father in court.

16. A rebel is someone who uses blackmail to fight against the leadership.

17. A rebel is someone who uses extortion to fight authorities.

18. A rebel is someone who is always in conflict with authorities.

19. A rebel is someone who is usually not successful in overthrowing the established leadership.

20. A rebel is someone who breaks out against the known leaders.

21. A rebel is someone who challenges authorities but is not often successful.

22. A rebel is someone who purposefully disobeys instructions and rises against people in authority.

23. A rebel is someone who openly opposes father figures.

24. A rebel is someone who joins groups that oppose authorities.

25. A rebel is someone who does not accept the control or influence of the organization.

26. A rebel is someone who fights against the rules of the ministry.

27. A rebel is someone who does not obey the rules of the establishment that he belongs to.

28. A rebel is someone who fights against an established and powerful leader.

29. A rebel is someone who acts against or shows disobedience to the conventions that are normally accepted in the church or institution that he belongs to.

30. A rebel is someone who changes suddenly and no longer submits to authority.

31. A rebel is someone who openly fights the church leadership.

32. A rebel is someone who radically and completely goes against the normal standards of decent behaviour.

33. A rebel is someone who desires the resignation, overthrow or handover of his leader.

34. A rebel is someone who follows the pattern of Korah.

35. A rebel is someone who is cursed and doomed.

Chapter 2

What Is Rebellion?

An evil man seeketh only REBELLION: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Proverbs 17:11

1. Rebellion is defiance!

2. Rebellion is an open disregard and contempt for an authority figure.

3. Rebellion is resistance to a higher authority!

4. Rebellion is an open opposition toward a person who is the leader.

5. Rebellion is when a group of people stand in open defiance of the leadership!

6. Rebellion is when a group disobeys leadership!

7. Rebellion is when people confront leaders!

8. Rebellion is when people gang up to challenge authorities!

9. Rebellion is when a group is inspired to fight, oppose and resist leaders.

10. Rebellion is the refusal to obey rules or accept normal standards of behaviour.

11. Rebellion is when a group of people gang up together to oppose the leader.

12. Rebellion is a fight against the leader by blackmail and extortion.

13. Rebellion is a group attack against authority.

14. Rebellion is a group insubordination or insurrection that often quickly fails.

15. A rebellion is opposition that undermines a leader and his authority.

16. A rebellion is an act of revolting against authority or an established government.

17. Rebellion is to act in a way that shows that you do not accept the control or influence of someone.

18. Rebellion is to launch a fight using deception, slander, social media, extortion, blackmail, the law, manipulation and any means available to hurt the church leadership.

19. Rebellion is the action of a group which fights against an established leadership and government.

20. Rebellion is to act or show disobedience against conventions that are normally accepted.

21. Rebellion is to fight someone who is in authority or control of your life.

22. Rebellion is a strong effort by a group of people against the church leadership.

23. Rebellion is bad behaviour that goes against the expected behaviour of a subordinate.

24. Rebellion is a sudden, radical and complete change against the norm.

25. Rebellion is an activity or movement that is designed to hurt the church leaders.

26. Rebellion is the act of defying authority, defying control, or defying tradition. The art of rebellion is the art of defiance!

Chapter 3

The Rebellion of Adam

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Genesis 3:6-8

Adam was a rebel in the sense of having broken a command, but not in the bold, defiant way rebels often behave. Adam was not a revolutionary or someone seeking to overthrow God, like Lucifer. Adam did not challenge God’s authority. Adam fell after a moment of weakness or curiosity, influenced by the temptation from Eve and the serpent.

However, although Adam’s actions seem more passive, Adam was also rebellious because he disobeyed God’s clear instructions. That is why Adam went into hiding after sinning against God’s command. Adam’s rebellion began mankind’s transformation into the wretched state we are now in.

Adam was the first human created by God and placed in the Garden of Eden with one clear rule: do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Eve, persuaded by the serpent, ate the fruit and shared it with Adam. Adam also ate it, consciously defying God’s command.

A rebel is someone who defies authority or established rules. Adam had a direct instruction from God and chose to go against it, making it an act of disobedience and rebellion. Adam’s sin has three important elements which make it rebellion.

1. Disobedience: God explicitly commanded Adam not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but he ate the fruit anyway.

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 2:16-17

2. Defiance: By knowingly rejecting God’s command, Adam rebelled against divine authority.

3. Open disregard: Adam deviated from the course given to him and quietly moved away from God into a life of rebellion and defiance against God’s word.

Adam’s act is the original sin of mankind and the sin with the greatest effects on humanity. Today, that tendency to reject and defy God’s will has been passed on to the whole human race.

Chapter 4

The Transformation of Adam

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Romans 5:19

There are seven terrible changes that come over every rebel. These changes played out clearly in the life of Adam, the very first rebel. You must be wary of these terrible changes that will take place in the character of every rebellious person.

1. FEAR

2. SECRECY

3. DEMOTION

4. DEMONIZATION

5. VANITY

6. CORRUPTION

7. DEATH

Rebellion transforms a person into a completely different person from whom he used to be before he rebelled! All rebels are transformed personalities! They are not what they used to be before they entered into rebellion and disobedience. Adam is the best example of someone who was transformed into a phantom of what he used to be.

You will notice people you used to know who were noble, upright servants of God who have turned into monsters. A monster is someone who is grotesque, terrifying and abnormal in every respect. Indeed, mankind is a grotesque, terrifying and abnormal version of what we were supposed to be.

In this chapter, I want us to study the transformation of Adam into a grotesque and terrifying version of what he used to be before he rebelled.

Rebellion is when someone disobeys authority and leadership! This New Testament verse - Romans 5:19 - explicitly refers to Adam’s act as “disobedience,” which is the essence of rebellion.

For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Romans 5:19

Adam and Eve rebelled against God’s word in the Garden of Eden. The essence of rebellion is wilful defiance against authority, which is precisely what Adam and Eve did when they chose to eat the forbidden fruit despite God’s clear instruction. While the word “rebel” isn’t used in Genesis, the concept of rebellion is clearly present. Their actions were a direct violation of God’s command, which constitutes rebellion. The disobedience of Adam is the foundational act of human sin and rebellion against God.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

1 Timothy 2:14

This verse describes Eve’s action as transgression, which is another term for rebellion against God’s law.

When Adam fell into rebellion, he experienced many radical changes. We know this by looking at the fall and rebellion of man in detail and the drastic changes that came upon mankind when we fell.

I am writing this book because I have been forced to accept the reality that after people rebel, there is a change in their personalities. They become unrecognizable! They become nasty and different from how I ever knew them. Pastors who rebel after being in the ministry for so many years change completely and become hardened monsters set on a road of destruction. I have been forced to come to terms with the fact that people I knew and loved are changed by their actions of rebellion.

Indeed, when I studied the change that rebellion produced in mankind, I understood that people actually undergo a degeneration and a deterioration into corruption after they rebel, disobey and defy authority.

Mankind has been affected profoundly by the rebellion of Adam. Becoming a rebel produced seven ultimate and profound changes in the human race. Let us study seven terrible transformations that took place in fallen man.

1. FEAR: REBELS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO MEN OF FEAR.

And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I WAS AFRAID, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

Genesis 3:9-10

Adam said, “I was afraid and I hid myself!” Fear! Fear was a new condition previously unknown to man. The human race tasted its first experience of fear in the Garden of Eden. They had never been afraid before. When Adam and Eve rebelled, they opened themselves to demons of fear. There had been nothing like fear in a human being until after the rebellion and fall of man. It was after the fall of Adam and Eve that man became subject to the evil spirit of fear. Fear is the most common motivation for men today. Many things are done simply because of fear. That is why today, the spirit of fear is the commonest evil spirit that afflicts man.

Obedience to God should be a great motivation for men. We should live, work, travel, and preach because we love God and not because we are afraid of something bad. All rebels are full of fear and insecurity. Rebels are always looking around the corner to see if anyone is coming to get them.

I remember one rebel who attacked me fiercely. I perceived that he was afraid that he was going to die. He began to go to the gym and workout, doing many exercises and walking several miles a day to lose weight. He also began to take his medicine very diligently. He was frightened that he would die suddenly because of what he had done. Rebels are full of fear!

The human race is now a race of rebels; full of fear. Most people do things out of fear. Fear is the greatest and most common motivation behind the things that men do. Many people go to school out of fear. Many people go to work out of fear. Many people migrate to other countries out of fear that if they stay behind, they will not prosper. Indeed, fear is a great and common motivation for men today. Rebellious man has fallen into the grips of fear!

And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me. Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, WHOSOEVER IS FEARFUL AND AFRAID, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. AND THERE RETURNED OF THE PEOPLE TWENTY AND TWO THOUSAND; AND THERE REMAINED TEN THOUSAND.

And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Everyone that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

Judges 7:2-7

In the story of Gideon, we see that 68.7% of the army was possessed with the spirit of fear. This shows that the majority of human beings are affected strongly by fears. Indeed, the majority of human beings are subject to raging fears.

Rebellious men are subject to many fears. They are afraid of their own shadows! I remember one rebellious man who seemed to think that I was cursing him whilst I was preaching. He slandered me in a video and sent it around the world, claiming I was cursing him. It was one of the greatest surprises of my life when I found out that this fellow thought I was cursing him, because I did not think of him at all when I was speaking. This rebellious man had no idea of what I was talking about. But I understood that rebellious men are full of fear. They fear that they are cursed! They fear their impending judgment! They fear impending doom! They fear their own shadows! That is the lot of rebels!

I remember another rebellious fellow who listened to my preaching. I thought because he had left the church, he would never listen to me preaching again. Apparently, he was glued to his television, watching me all the time. He sent me an amazing message, accusing me of discussing someone’s tragedy in my sermon. I almost fell out of my chair when I read the message. I could not even find the words to respond to his preposterous accusation. He was as far from the truth as the east is from the west! This miserable rebellious pastor was afraid of his own shadow, fearing that tragedy would strike him. Rebellious people are simply full of fear and accusations! The fallen and rebellious human race is full of fear and accusations which destroy relationships.

When man fell, he became subject to many fears. Fear is full of torment! Fear destroys relationships! Fear causes people to be insecure, to look over their shoulders all the time, and to accuse people who only love them. Fear destroys people’s personalities, turning calm souls into accusatory personalities.

2. SECRECY: REBELS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO MEN OF SECRECY AND DARKNESS.

And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife HID THEMSELVES FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD GOD AMONGST THE TREES of the garden.

Genesis 3:8

Rebellion is defined as a resistance and a defiance of authority. A rebel is someone who defies authority. Adam and Eve defied God’s authority and when they did, they fell into a life of darkness, secrets and fear. When Adam and Eve rebelled against God, they descended into a life pattern of secrecy, secrets and darkness.

Those who rebel become men of darkness and secrets. When people live in sin they sit at the back of the church, as far as possible from everyone. When people live in sin and rebellion, they have many secrets, secret friends, secret relationships and secret activities. A fallen and rebellious man is full of secrets, secrecy, hiding and darkness. All his activities are works of darkness.

AND HAVE NO FELLOWSHIP WITH THE UNFRUITFUL WORKS OF DARKNESS, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

Ephesians 5:11-13

Men of darkness and secrets are men of many evils. Almost every evil work is done under the cover of darkness. A rebellious and disobedient pastor has many secrets and hidden things. He murmurs and complains about things in secret. But when he sees you, he smiles and acts like everything is perfectly fine.

A rebellious man is full of secret meetings and conspiracies. He has secret comments, secret phone calls, secret texts, and secret rendezvous. One secret leads to another, and one discovery leads to another discovery!

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5

God has no darkness at all around Him. Imagine that! No darkness at all! So then how did Adam and Eve end up in darkness and hiding? Are you a man of secrets and hidden things? Indeed, the secrets and hidden things are evidence that you have fallen into sin and rebellion. In God, there is no darkness at all.

3. DEMOTION: REBELS ARE DEMOTED TO A LOWER STATE OF EXISTENCE.

But God be thanked, that YE WERE THE SERVANTS OF SIN, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 6:17

Rebels try to go higher but end up going lower! Man tried to be like God but ended up being a wretched and miserable servant of sin. Men have become servants of sin. Mankind has been demoted to become servants of sin instead of dominating in this life. Those who rebel are demoted in this world. Man was created to rule and to have dominion. Rebellion reversed all of that and converted man into a servant and a slave. A rebel is always lowered to become a servant and a slave instead of being a king.

A rebellious person is someone who confronts, challenges, overthrows and disobeys established authority and ends up being demoted! Shockingly, the rebellious man ends up being the opposite of what he tried to become. He tries to go higher in ministry by becoming independent but he ends up being lower.

I remember a senior pastor of my church who was respected and honoured to preach and minister in many countries when he was part of our ministry. He rebelled and ended up as a lazy, good for nothing personality who just sat at home playing board games. He ended up becoming a driver for a few pennies a day, living as a menial servant for a relative who pitied him. What a fall from grace! This is someone who was welcomed with a bouquet everywhere he went. This is someone who was hailed as a great man of God and accorded many privileges. Rebellion led to his utter demotion! How pitiful rebels are! They aim so high and challenge men in authority, thinking that they can perhaps replace them.

Adam and Eve were demoted from being the lords and kings of this world. They became fugitives and slaves and fell into a cowardly state of insignificance. Instead of being in charge of the animals, the animals became a threat to them. Even the animals realised that they were no longer dealing with someone who had dominion over them. Man’s dominion was lost through the rebellion. Through this wholistic demotion, mankind is now terrorized by creatures as small as insects. Snakes, scorpions, lions, crocodiles and other fierce creatures now terrorize men and frighten men away. Man runs away from animals today. How unfortunate this is! Before the fall, Adam did not run away from animals. He summoned them, he spoke to them and he named them.

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them HAVE DOMINION OVER the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

Genesis 1:26

Every rebel undergoes a total transformation of his status. When a person tries to overthrow a government and fails to do so, he is quickly captured and he becomes a prisoner of the lowest order until he is executed for his treacherous plans.

Man was created to have dominion, lordship and absolute domination of this world. Man was the king! Man was the lord! Man was subject only to God. When he fell, he was thrown out as a fugitive and he became subject even to animals.

Is Israel a servant? Is he a homeborn slave? Why is he spoiled? The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.

Jeremiah 2:14-15

This is what happens to rebellious pastors and leaders who fight against the authority that God has set up in the church. They are demoted further and further into insignificance and oblivion. It is rare for a rebel to excel! I am yet to see a rebellious person who has excelled in this life. All forms of rebellion lead to demotion!

4. DEMONIZATION: REBELS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO DEMONIZED MEN.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:8

Neither give place to the devil.

Ephesians 4:27

To be demonized is to be harassed and afflicted by demons. The entire human race has been plagued by demons and devils since the rebellion and fall of man. Once demons spot a weakness and an opening in your life, they will invade you and afflict you.

What happened after the fall of man? The rebels became subject to evil spirits. The human race became subject to evil spirits. Rebellion is the reason why a fallen, rebellious man becomes subject to demons. Demons are always seeking rest in the bodies and lives of men of rebellion.

Rebellious pastors are plagued with demons. When pastors become rebellious and begin to challenge authority, they also become afflicted with evil spirits. They become progressively demonized until you can hardly recognize the person any longer. They have new, unrecognizable beliefs that reveal their demonic mindsets.

Just as weak antelopes are subject to attacks from lions, rebellious human beings became weaker than demons after the fall and became subject to attacks from these evil spirits. Unfortunately, men have opened themselves up to evil spirits because of their rebellion. Notice this about the ministry of Jesus:

And in that same hour HE CURED MANY of their infirmities and plagues, AND OF EVIL SPIRITS; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

Luke 7:21

When Jesus came to this world, He found a world of men plagued by evil spirits. Jesus constantly confronted evil spirits in human beings. It was not so at the beginning of the world when Adam and Eve were created.

Men were not created to be occupied by demons. Man rebelled and fell, and that opened up mankind to these spirits who were waiting for a chance to invade and occupy the human race. Today all over the world, everywhere I go, I encounter many who are possessed with devils. People in rebellion have given place to the devil and are exposed to many evil spirits.

Have you noticed how rebellious and breakaway pastors become increasingly demonized? You can see it from their words, their stance and their statements. The demons lead them further and further into delusion and destruction.

I remember a group of rebellious pastors who increasingly became deluded about their stance against their former church. I was amazed at their ludicrous stance and attitude. I could only conclude that these people had become completely demon-infested. A delusion and a deception are always evidence of demonic infestation and invasion.

5. VANITY: REBELS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO MEN OF VANITY.

FOR THE CREATURE WAS MADE SUBJECT TO VANITY, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

Romans 8:20

Those who rebel become subject to vanity! Human beings became subject to vanity when they rebelled in the Garden of Eden. When man fell, he became subject to vanity! When pastors and leaders rebel, they also become subject to vanity. A rebel becomes a useless person. He is unfit for service in the church where he rebelled and he is also unfit for service in any other church.

Rebellion is an ugly thing and God has no place for that. Rebellion will never flourish in the sight of God.

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 1:2

This verse speaks of uselessness, worthlessness and hopelessness. When men rebelled against God, they become vain, useless, worthless and hopeless!

Solomon was able to see that the life of a human being, who is essentially a rebel towards God, has been subjected to a terrible and utterly profound hopelessness through sin. Our world means nothing! Our successes mean nothing! Everything about our lives is vain and hopeless. It is this hopelessness that Solomon was talking about when he said, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”

A man of God who lifts himself to confront, to challenge, to accuse men of authority whom God has established, is rebellious. Rebels become nothing! They are cursed to vanity just as Adam and Eve were cursed to the vanity we now experience. This is why the book of Jude describes them as twice dead!

Oh, how sad it is to see men who were ministering powerfully fall to vanity, to uselessness, to worthlessness and hopelessness! Men of honour who were loved and respected become despised and unwanted dropouts and losers.

Satan so desires to turn men into waste material. Demons often succeed in inspiring men to rebel and that turns them into failures and losers and waste material! Do you want to become waste material that has to be discarded? If not then stay far away from defiance, disobedience, deviation, pride and rebellion!

6. CORRUPTION: REBELS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO MEN OF CORRUPTION.

Because THE CREATURE ITSELF ALSO SHALL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:21-22

All creation has been made subject to corruption. Indeed, our state is described as “bound to corruption” (bondage of corruption). Adam and Eve delivered themselves into a state where everything became helplessly corrupted and spoilt. To be corrupted means to be debased in character, perverted and depraved. To be corrupted means to be made inferior by errors and unfortunate alterations.

When pastors rebel against authority, they undergo corruption in the same way that Adam and Eve underwent corruption when they rebelled. They became inferior and the human race was altered forever. Indeed, Adam and Eve were lowered to a “deteriorated and decayed” state.

Rebellion had the effect of corrupting Adam, Eve and all their descendants. Today, we live as the corrupted and spoilt descendants of Adam and Eve.

Rebellious men undergo a major change in their character after they rebel. They are corrupted, dishonourable, disliked, degraded, depreciated, disfigured, reduced and spoilt forever!

You will notice an unbelievable deterioration and decay in the character and personality of men who have become rebels in the church. You cannot recognize them or understand how people can change so much. How does a very respectful person turn into a monster, insulting his spiritual father and mocking the one he has loved for many years?

Indeed, a rebellious man is subject to corruption. A rebel’s very nature changes and becomes corrupt. How do I know this? The scripture tells us so!

That ye put off concerning the former conversation THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT ACCORDING TO THE DECEITFUL LUSTS;

Ephesians 4:22

The nature of man changed when he fell into sin and rebellion against God. This terrible transformation is described by Apostle Paul as the “old man” or the “flesh” who is corrupt in his deceitful lusts. “Lie not one to another, seeing that YE HAVE PUT OFF THE OLD MAN WITH HIS DEEDS; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:” (Colossians 3:9-10). Man became evil, filled with deceptions, lusts, desires and negative character patterns.

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:

Isaiah 40:6

Corruption is an inbuilt decay, deterioration and degeneration of a thing. The human race is subject to this inbuilt decay and deterioration in character, in behaviour, in the human body and in every conceivable way.

Corruption occurs in all aspects of human life. You may see a successful person achieving a lot, moving around sprightly, full of life, full of energy with a desire to achieve and accomplish many things. Years later, this healthy and lively fellow may be bent over, speaking slowly, smiling very little, unable to remember many things, speaking softly and hardly able to move around. What has happened? Corruption! The human being has decayed and deteriorated. This natural, inevitable corruption was transmitted to the whole world by Adam. Remember that Adam did not have a child until he became a rebel. It was after he rebelled that he gave birth to children who then carried the corrupt nature.

Two things that are subject to corruption are the human flesh and the human character. Our human bodies have become subject to corruption since the fall. Our personalities are also subject to corruption.

Because THE CREATURE ITSELF ALSO SHALL BE DELIVERED FROM THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Romans 8:21-22

You may see somebody living well, healthily and happily. Because the flesh is subject to deterioration, forty years later, this same person may lose weight, become bent over, wizened, hardly able to walk and uninterested in life. This deterioration is because the person is subject to “corruption”!

Corruption may not be apparent initially. If you leave a loaf of bread outside for some time, you will come back to find a horrible and uneatable loaf of bread. That is corruption!

Corruption is an inbuilt deterioration that everything on this earth is subject to. Apart from being subject to vanity, human beings are also subject to corruption. Indeed, corruption is inevitable wherever there are human beings.

That ye put off concerning the former conversation THE OLD MAN, WHICH IS CORRUPT according to the deceitful lusts;

Ephesians 4:22

When man fell into sin, he fell into corruption. This nature is described by Apostle Paul as the old man who is corrupt in deceitful lusts. Man became evil, filled with lusts, desires and negative personality traits.

The personality of the human being is described as corrupt. The human nature is indeed subject to a terrible corruption. The human nature is undergoing a continuous, negative deterioration. Apostle Paul warned of even more deterioration as we approach the last days.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

2 Peter 3:3

Human nature is deteriorating! You can see from movies today how human beings are deteriorating. The kind of deterioration we see today was unheard of some time ago. Like a piece of bread left outside to deteriorate, human beings have deteriorated unbelievably.

You cannot stop corruption. You can only slow it down.

When pastors rebel against authority, they undergo corruption in the same way that Adam and Eve underwent corruption. Rebellious men undergo a major change in their character after they rebel. You will notice an unbelievable deterioration and decay in the character and personality of men who have become rebels in the church.

7. DEATH: REBELS ARE TRANSFORMED INTO DEAD MEN.

But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: FOR IN THE DAY THAT THOU EATEST THEREOF THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.

Genesis 2:17

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

1 Corinthians 15:22

Those who rebel become subject to death. Disobedience and defiance of authority is rebellion. A rebel is resistant to leadership and authority. This defiance, disobedience, confrontation and rejection of authority leads to death. God assured Adam and Eve of death if they disobeyed or defied Him. The ability to die or the capacity to die is called mortality. When Adam sinned, he became a mortal man. He was no longer immortal.

FOR THIS CORRUPTIBLE MUST PUT ON INCORRUPTION, AND THIS MORTAL MUST PUT ON IMMORTALITY. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

1 Corinthians 15:53-54

Mortality and corruption will be exchanged for immortality and incorruptibility. When Adam rebelled against God, he became subject to death. He died and experienced a terrible separation from God. Instead of being connected directly to the power of life, he became like a battery that was losing power slowly. Today, our lives are fading gradually and heading towards the endpoint called death. It is just a matter of time and all of us will be gone from this earth.

Those who rebel in the ministry, those who disobey, those who confront authorities, those who challenge and fight authorities are condemned to die in the same way that Adam died. They fade away inevitably and gradually become nothing.

A man who was once living, moving and vibrant, can be converted into dust in a glass jar. Those who rebel are cursed and that is how the human race has been cursed to die.

Rebellion is one of the most terrible evils known to man. The rising up to challenge authorities, and to oppose them brings a curse of separation unto the rebel.

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

Genesis 3:23-24

Adam and Eve were disobedient and resistant to God’s instructions. They defied God’s authority and attempted to become like God. Through this process, they lost their lives and became separated from God.

Man has become like a phone which is disconnected from the electricity that powers it up. As soon as Adam and Eve rebelled against God, they were disconnected from their source of life and began to die.

Man has become like a phone that is disconnected from power with a battery that is gradually failing until it comes to zero.

When pastors rebel against authorities, they become separated from the source of life of their ministries. Their ministries undergo a terrible separation from what gave them life and power. This is how people become a phantom of what they would have been if they had been faithful.

Do not forget to watch out for these seven changes that come into the lives of rebellious people and their followers:

1. FEAR

2. SECRECY

3. DEMOTION

4. DEMONIZATION

5. VANITY

6. CORRUPTION

7. DEATH

Be careful that you never become a rebel!

Chapter 5

The Rebellion of Korah

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the REBELLION of Korah.

Jude 1:11 (NASB95)

Apart from the rebellion of Adam, the rebellion of Korah is perhaps the most vivid rebellion that is reported in the Bible. The rebellion of Korah is described in detail in the book of Numbers. The rebellion of Korah is also analysed in the epistle of Jude. We learn much more about the effects of rebellion by studying the rebellion of Korah. Anyone who seeks to understand the deterioration and the destruction that happens to rebels must read about and study Korah.

Just as Abraham advised the rich man who was in hell to tell his brothers to read from Moses and the prophets, we are also advised to read from Moses and the prophets so that we would be delivered from hellish situations that are borne out of rebellion.

1. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO DEFY AUTHORITY.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in THE REBELLION OF KORAH.

Jude 1:11 (NASB95)

The rebellion of Korah happened when Korah defied and challenged Moses.

The rebellion of Korah is famous because it was the most dramatic and serious challenge to Moses’ leadership. It teaches us that if Moses, who spoke to God face to face, could experience such defiance and rebellion against his leadership, then any of us can expect this to happen.

2. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO ARE PROUD.

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, MEN OF RENOWN:

Numbers 16:1-2

Rebellion is carried out by proud men who are often prominent in the church. I have experienced rebellion by people who were bishops, pastors and leaders in the church.

3. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO ACCUSE.

And they gathered themselves together against Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

Numbers 16:3

A rebellion usually comes with strong accusations against the leadership. Moses was accused of lifting himself up. I have been accused of being many things. I remember one pastor who was accused by his subordinate with a sixteen-page letter filled with insulting and confrontational language.

4. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO FORGET.

Rebellious men who rise to challenge authority like Moses’, are often people who have forgotten the privilege that was given to them to draw near. They are men who have forgotten the honour that was done to them to include them in the ministry. Such people have forgotten how they came to have an opportunity to be close.

And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi: SEEMETH IT BUT A SMALL THING UNTO YOU, THAT THE GOD OF ISRAEL HATH SEPARATED YOU FROM THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL, TO BRING YOU NEAR TO HIMSELF TO DO THE SERVICE OF THE TABERNACLE OF THE LORD, and to stand before the congregation to minister unto them? And HE HATH BROUGHT THEE NEAR TO HIM, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee: and seek ye the priesthood also? For which cause both thou and all thy company are gathered together against the LORD: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?

Numbers 16:8-11

5. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO REFUSE TO ATTEND MEETINGS.

Rebellion is defined as a defiance and a resistance of authority. Rebellious men will manifest this defiance by refusing to come to meetings.

And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, WE WILL NOT COME UP:

Numbers 16:12

6. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO CONFRONT AUTHORITY.

And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, we will not come up: Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, EXCEPT THOU MAKE THYSELF ALTOGETHER A PRINCE OVER US? Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: WILT THOU PUT OUT THE EYES OF THESE MEN? we will not come up.

Numbers 16:12-14

Rebellion is the confrontation of a leader. Dathan and Abiram confronted Moses and accused him of taking them out of a land of milk and honey and putting them in a wilderness.

They accused Moses of making himself a prince over them. They accused Moses of attempting to kill them in the wilderness. They pointed out to Moses that he had not given them any inheritance or any good thing as he had promised.

They concluded by asking, “Do you want to pluck out the eyes of these men [and blind them]?” In other words, “We can see exactly what you are doing. We are not blind. We can see through your false prophecies. Your deceptions will not work any longer!”

7. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO PROVOKE AUTHORITIES.

AND MOSES WAS VERY WROTH, AND SAID UNTO THE LORD, RESPECT NOT THOU THEIR OFFERING: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them. And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the LORD, thou, and they, and Aaron, to morrow: And take every man his censer, and put incense in them, and bring ye before the LORD every man his censer, two hundred and fifty censers; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron.

Numbers 16:15-18

Rebels release preposterous accusations which are so annoying and irritating that God’s servant becomes completely enraged and outraged by them. The victim of such accusations has a desire to show how false and misleading the accusations are. Moses was so affected by these outrageous accusations. If you are experiencing this kind of accusation, do not be surprised. You are just experiencing what one of God’s greatest servants experienced.

8. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO ANGER GOD.

And Korah gathered all the congregation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the congregation. AND THE LORD SPAKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON, SAYING, SEPARATE YOURSELVES FROM AMONG THIS CONGREGATION, THAT I MAY CONSUME THEM IN A MOMENT. And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

Numbers 16:19-22

When a rebellion occurs, it is often only an intervention from God that will end the controversy of men rising to challenge authorities.

Rebellion against God’s servants is not only an indignation to man, God Himself is outraged! Almighty God wanted to consume Korah instantly without any ceremony or delay. All those involved in rebellion should know that they are touching the apple of God’s eye when they rebel against God’s servants.

9. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE YOU MUST BE SEPARATE FROM.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. And Moses rose and went unto Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spake unto the congregation, saying, DEPART, I PRAY YOU, FROM THE TENTS OF THESE WICKED MEN, AND TOUCH NOTHING OF THEIRS, lest ye be consumed in all their sins. So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children.

Numbers 16:23-27

Separate yourself from rebellion and rebellious people! Separate yourself from those who attack, confront and challenge God’s honourable servants. I know people who did not separate themselves from men who were openly confronting and challenging God’s servants and it cost them their lives.

10. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO ARE DESTROYED.

And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind. If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then the LORD hath not sent me. But if the LORD make a new thing, and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit; then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the LORD. And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them: And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. THEY, AND ALL THAT APPERTAINED TO THEM, WENT DOWN ALIVE INTO THE PIT, AND THE EARTH CLOSED UPON THEM: AND THEY PERISHED FROM AMONG THE CONGREGATION.

Numbers 16:28-33

Rebellious people will have an unusual and extraordinary end. Rebellion is a very serious sin. Anyone who dabbles in rebellion should expect the hand of the Lord to be against him. Korah and his family were destroyed in the rebellion of Korah.

11. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO MURMUR.

BUT ON THE MORROW ALL THE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MURMURED AGAINST MOSES AND AGAINST AARON, SAYING, YE HAVE KILLED THE PEOPLE OF THE LORD. And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and, behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the LORD appeared.

And Moses and Aaron came before the tabernacle of the congregation. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces. And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.

Numbers 16:41-46

Many people do not understand why and how rebellion occurs. Many ordinary people are turned against the leadership, when there is rebellion. On the occasions where I have experienced rebellion, I have noticed how the ordinary church member has been influenced to turn against the leader without knowing the facts. Ordinary people have no idea about the sins and wickedness of the rebel.

12. THE REBELLION OF KORAH: THOSE WHO PERISH.

The two hundred and fifty men of renown who were part of the rebellion of Korah perished as part of the judgment against rebellion.

And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. And there came out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.

Numbers 16:34-35

God wants all His children to remember the rebellion of Korah. It is important to set up a memorial so that people remember and learn never to be like Korah. People must learn never to confront, challenge and disobey God’s Word and God’s authority. God does not need you to correct His servants. God can correct His servants without you!

Ignorant people think that they can correct God’s servants whom He has raised up.

Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed. The censers of these sinners against their own souls, let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: AND THEY SHALL BE A SIGN UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. And Eleazar the priest took the brasen censers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar: TO BE A MEMORIAL UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; THAT HE BE NOT AS KORAH, AND AS HIS COMPANY: AS THE LORD SAID TO HIM BY THE HAND OF MOSES.

Numbers 16:37-40

Over fourteen thousand people died as a result of the rebellion of Korah. This was God’s punishment to those who rose to challenge, confront, defy and disobey Moses. Today, many people are in difficulty because they choose to challenge, confront, defy and disobey God’s servant.

And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people. And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed. NOW THEY THAT DIED IN THE PLAGUE WERE FOURTEEN THOUSAND AND SEVEN HUNDRED, beside them that died about the matter of Korah. And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and the plague was stayed.

Numbers 16:47-50

Chapter 6

The Transformation of Korah

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF KORAH. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

All rebels are transformed personalities! Rebellion transforms a person into a completely different person. They are not what they used to be before they entered into rebellion and disobedience. Korah is an example of someone who was radically turned into a wretched, miserable failure.

Korah was a Levite who led a rebellion against Moses and Aaron during the Israelites’ journey in the wilderness. He, along with Dathan and Abiram from the tribe of Reuben, defied Moses’ leadership and Aaron’s priesthood, claiming that all Israelites were holy and that Moses was taking too much authority for himself.

Korah was a defiant and rebellious man!

Now Korah the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took action, and they rose up before Moses, together with some of the sons of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, chosen in the assembly, men of renown. They assembled together against Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You have gone far enough, for all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is in their midst; so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the LORD?”

Numbers 16:1-3 (NASB95)

You will notice how rebels you used to know as noble and upright servants of God have turned into miserable monsters. A monster is someone who is grotesque, terrifying and abnormal in every respect. Indeed, Korah turned into a grotesque, terrifying and abnormal version of what he was created to be.

Korah turned into someone who was a hidden reef, doubly dead, a cloud without water, a tree without fruit and a wandering star! What a change came upon this honourable elder of Israel!

In this chapter I want us to study the transformation of Korah into the monstrosity he became.

1. Those who rebel are changed into hidden reefs.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. THESE ARE THE MEN WHO ARE HIDDEN REEFS IN YOUR LOVE FEASTS when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

A rebel is a hidden reef! A reef is an underwater formation of rocks. Hidden reefs are very dangerous to ships. Many ships have run aground and been shipwrecked on hidden reefs.

Rebellious men are very dangerous to the church. A hidden reef is someone who is hidden but extremely harmful. People who are hidden reefs within the leadership structure can cause damage and hurt to the church and ministry. Do not allow dangerous rebels to operate in your church. Mark and avoid them! Dangerous rebels must be driven away from the church.

Cast out the scorner and strife will cease! (Proverbs 22:10). Scorners are defiant mockers. They are hidden reefs! They must be treated for what they really are - very dangerous people. Have no fellowship with dangerous rebels who are dedicated to attacking their former church and their former pastor.

2. Those who rebel are transformed into clouds without water.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF KORAH. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; CLOUDS WITHOUT WATER, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

A rebel is a cloud without water! He looks as though he has a lot to offer but actually has nothing to offer! How sad it is to encounter all these clouds without water who look so impressive and righteous though they have nothing to give.

Someone who refuses to obey rules is a cloud without water.

Someone who refuses to accept the normal standards of behaviour is just a rebel and is a cloud without water.

Someone who challenges authority and leadership is often an empty barrel making a lot of noise. Do not follow a cloud without water; you will be following an apparition. The rebel you admire is simply a mirage!

3. Those who rebel are transformed into trees without fruit.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF KORAH. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; AUTUMN TREES WITHOUT FRUIT, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

A rebel is a tree without fruit!

Rebellious people are trees without fruits because they usually have nothing to show for their lives. They do not have churches! They cannot grow a church! They cannot build a church! They cannot gather people! They cannot pray. They are not spiritual. They are not anointed. They may be intelligent but are spiritually stupid. Trees without fruit! They cannot pastor a church! They cannot do the work of God!

Someone who resists authority is often a tree without fruit.

Someone who openly opposes a person in authority is often a tree without fruit.

Someone who defies authority and leadership is often a tree without fruit.

Someone who purposefully disobeys authority and rises against authority or leadership is often a tree without fruit.

Someone who openly opposes authority and undermines leadership becomes a tree without fruit.

Someone who takes part in revolting against authority or an established government becomes a tree without fruit.

4. Those who rebel are twice dead.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF KORAH. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, DOUBLY DEAD, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

A rebel is twice dead!

Rebels are doubly dead! They are twice dead!

A rebel is dead in two different ways. He is dead because he is part of the Adamic rebellion and he is dead a second time because of his rebellion against the church.

Someone who acts in a way that shows that he does not accept the control or influence of authority and leadership is dead in two different ways. That is why he is described as doubly dead.

Someone who fights against the rule of a leader or a government is doubly dead!

Someone who fights against an established leadership is doubly dead.

Someone who acts against or shows disobedience to the conventions that are normally accepted by authorities is twice dead.

5. Those who rebel are turned into uprooted trees.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF KORAH. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; AUTUMN TREES without fruit, doubly dead, UPROOTED; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

A rebel is an uprooted tree! Many rebellious ministers are uprooted trees.

Someone who refuses to obey the rules of the authority of their church is often just an uprooted tree. Someone who does not accept the rules of their home church is just another uprooted tree.

I remember one uprooted tree who said, “I do not want to be the subject of any more meetings.” This fellow was uprooted from his position and became a withered tree. He resisted the authorities and the leadership decisions of his church. Obviously, he did not want to accept the standards of behaviour that were part of that ministry. He became an uprooted tree because he refused to obey the rules and accept the normal standards of behaviour that were accepted by anyone who was part of that church. Rebels are men who are uprooted from their rightful position.

6. Those who rebel are changed into wandering stars.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF KORAH. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; WANDERING STARS, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

A rebel is a wandering star! A wandering minister! An unstable personality. A man who belongs nowhere in particular.

A rebel is someone who has no stability because he will not obey the rules in his home church.

He is forced to move around from place to place, claiming that he is an international or itinerant speaker. Such wandering stars seek to start new churches because they are disobedient to the authorities in their home churches.

Someone who purposefully disobeys authority and rises against authority or leadership is a wandering, unstable personality.

Someone who openly opposes authority and undermines leadership becomes a wandering star.

Someone who takes part in revolting against authority becomes a wandering star because he is unstable.

Wandering stars are usually broke and poverty-stricken, without any stability in their lives.

7. Those who rebel are transformed into shameful men.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF KORAH. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, CASTING UP THEIR OWN SHAME LIKE FOAM; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

A rebel is a man of shame! A rebel is a man who casts up shame like the foam of the sea. You can virtually see the white foam coming out of the mouths of wretched rebels as they speak their slander, their hatred and their venom against God and against the leaders of the church.

Someone who purposefully disobeys authority and rises against the leadership of the church becomes a man of shame. Rebels are men of shame who constantly beg for money. There are rebels who seek to extort money from their former employers. Such people are men who cast up their own shame like foam.

Rebels cannot hide their hatred from the world. I remember a friend of mine who described the hatred of a group of rebel pastors. He said, “I have never, in all my life, seen such hatred and venom in anybody I have encountered.”

Rebels cannot hide their desire for dishonest wealth. I remember a friend who encountered a group of rebellious pastors. He said, “I have never seen clergymen who are so shamelessly desirous of money like these fellows. These rebel pastors shamelessly demand huge amounts of money, seeking to become suddenly wealthy through extortion and manipulation.” It is sad to see rebellious men shamelessly seeking for wealth through extortion and manipulation.

This is how the Bible describes them: “They cast up their own shame like foam”!

8. Those who rebel are reserved for the black darkness.

Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, AND PERISHED IN THE REBELLION OF KORAH. These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, FOR WHOM THE BLACK DARKNESS HAS BEEN RESERVED FOREVER.

Jude 1:11-13 (NASB95)

A rebel is headed to the judgment of blackness and darkness. A rebel is someone who does not obey rules and therefore will suffer in the difficulties of black darkness. Rebels are reserved for the blackness of darkness.

Someone who fights against an established government is headed for judgment. I remember watching a documentary of some rebels who tried to overthrow a government. They were caught, tried and summarily executed. No one even attempted to defend these fellows in court. There was no hope for them. The black darkness had been reserved for them because they were rebels who actually tried to overthrow a government. Black darkness is the portion of all rebels!

There are pastors who seek to harass, persecute, intimidate, overthrow, overturn and fight against authorities in established churches. Such people will have the fate of all rebels. Black darkness!

The blackness of darkness speaks of the difficulties, the financial hardships, the problems, the crises, the distress, the poverty, the spiritual darkness and the demonic hordes that will flood the lives of rebels. Prepare for the blackness of darkness if you want to be a rebel.

Chapter 7

Letters of Defiance

Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves.

Romans 13:1-2 (NASB95)

Defiance is the open rebellion of a bold and fearless person who has lost all regard and respect for authority. Defiance is rebellion! Defiance is a daring and bold resistance to authority! Make sure you never fall for the deceptions that will make you speak or think like a rebel. A rebellious spirit is what comes upon people when they defy authorities.

Some defiant men manifest their rebellion by refusing to come to meetings or refusing to have any discussions whatsoever.

Lucifer was a rebel. He defied and resisted Almighty God Himself. When he fell, his nature was changed drastically and he turned into the horrible creature called satan. Lucifer means “the bright morning light” but satan means “the adversary” and “opposer”. Since Lucifer fell, he has inspired all other deviants and rebels.

In the following letters, you will see the defiance, resistance and opposition to a senior pastor by his assistant. The letters show how a rebel defies someone who has been set over him. When a man falls into rebellion, his words give him away. A rebellious man’s words reveal his utter contempt for his former boss.

Rebellions are inspired by the devil and the words of a rebellious person are often demonic. They are words from hell and are easy to identify. In every country and in every situation, rebellious people speak in the same way and with the same spirit.

In this chapter, I have produced examples of words you should expect from a rebellious person who has risen up to challenge, defy and oppose you. As you develop in the ministry, you will hear words like these.

Rebels Are Men with No Fruits!

Fortunately, God has given us a sign that will help us identify these rebellious and empty words. Rebellious men give appealing and impressive speeches but have no fruits! You shall know them by their fruits! You shall know a tree by its fruits. The pride, bitterness and defiance of rebellious people come out through their words. They have well-framed words which are laced with the spirit of defiance, unrighteous judgment, self-righteousness and piety.

But these rebellious and defiant men have no fruits!

Rebellious men have big mouths but no fruits!

They have loud mouths and sharp fingers to type wickedness!

They spend hours writing defamatory words and speeches.

Yea, they shall be judged for their wickedness!

Jude describes such rebellious people as trees without fruit! Jesus said we shall know them by their fruits. The fruit that a person has in the ministry tells you all that you need to know about him.

Why don’t these defiant people have fruits?

Where are their churches?

Where are the souls that they have won?

Where are the works of God that they have built?

Why can’t they grow a church or a fellowship?

Jesus said, “I will build my church.” Why can’t they help Jesus build His church? Why do they spend all their time fighting those who are building the church?

Watch out for men without fruits who constantly attack you on social media and other platforms. Such people cannot build a church of twenty members but can speak great swelling words of arrogance. They speak the words that come from “clouds without water” and “trees without fruit”. These words are the messages of “wandering stars” who are “twice dead” and “reserved for the blackest of darkness”.

In the following letters, you will recognize the spirit of defiance and a certain bold resistance to authority. You must not be moved by the letters or the writing of rebellious men. Pray that you never become a defiant or rebellious person.

I have produced these letters so that you will not be moved if someone speaks to you in this way. They are the words of a defiant, rebellious spirit. They are words that hurt your spirit because they are words that come from satan who inspires all rebels.

Letters of a Junior Pastor to His Bishop

I want to show you twenty letters of a junior pastor to his spiritual father. The following are twenty letters written by a junior pastor to his senior pastor, bishop and father. The following letters are from a disgruntled former employee to his former employer. The following letters are written to the bishop of a large and successful church.

The following letters are written by a pastor to the bishop who appointed him as a pastor and ordained him into the ministry. The following letters are written by someone who could not grow a church beyond twenty members. The following letters are written by a pastor whose marriage was rescued by his spiritual father. The following letters are written by a man who literally failed in his ministry and in his marriage.

He writes these letters to his employer, his spiritual father and to the one who was in authority over him. You will notice the tone of self-righteous judgment and piety that this insolent and defiant pastor has.

TWENTY LETTERS OF DEFIANCE

1. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: FALSE LOVE

Dear Bishop,

I urge you to hear what I have to say to you. I do not mean to be disrespectful. I am warning you because I am concerned about you.

Be humble and consider your ways. I hope by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ you will have some humility for some deep reflection upon your ways. I want to help you to do the right things for the glory of God.

Now, why do I care? Because I simply do. I care because if you do what is right, it will only be to God’s glory. I care because I won’t be loving enough if I watch you carry on in these dangerous ways.

Your faithful assistant

2. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: OVERCONFIDENCE

Dear Pastor,

You have veered from the right path and departed from your original beliefs: There is a gradual erosion of healthiness in the church that you lead. Knowing who you are, where you started from and your family background, I do know that your intentions for venturing into ministry were genuine.

However, it needs to be said that the church you are leading now has gradually metamorphosed into becoming a toxic culture and has largely deviated from sound biblical doctrine. I have watched you develop into a phantom of what you once were.

3. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: FAMILIARITY

Dear Pastor,

I have known you for a long time. No one knows you the way I do. That is why I am speaking to you in this way. I was there when you began; that is why I can see that you have deviated from the right course. I am bringing these issues up because I am concerned for you.

It is heart-breaking to even write this to you but I only do so out of concern and hope that there is still a glimpse of integrity in you somewhere so that you will save yourself from self-destruction. I have known your family for years and your arrogance and haughtiness are not something I can associate with your family.

Please don’t forget your roots!

4. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: ACCUSATIONS

Dear Pastor,

You are turning our church into a cult. Your teachings are no longer sound. Remember, on the internet, we see the characteristics of a cult. One is that it is difficult to leave and also a cult teaches a lot about loyalty. Based on these two characteristics, I believe you are building a cult now.

It is not by mistake that the word “culture” has in it the word “cult” and it is worth knowing that when a culture is not built on integrity, it turns into a cult. I wish to stress that you are leading the church, by your teachings, into a cult with an evil culture.

(Author’s comment: Please note that churches that emphasize being a family are often accused of being a cult. Jesus stressed on all Christians being one big family in His last prayer on earth. Jesus prayed, “That they may be one.”)

5. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: ACCUSATORY

Dear Pastor,

You are not God. Do not build the church around your personality or your desire for greatness. I can see that you are now building the church around your desire for greatness, so stop it.

6. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: ACCUSATIONS

Dear Pastor,

You now have an unquenchable desire for wealth. You have lost your integrity because your desire for money cannot be quenched. Your being the head has, to a large extent, prompted this.

Let us start with the myriad of projects which you are forcing the church to undertake. Consider the erratic means by which money can be requested for projects that are unsustainable or beyond the church’s means. There is nothing wrong with dreaming big and having faith in big plans yet if the means of executing these big plans would require putting undue stress on the people you lead, then it is wrong.

You must not force your congregation to cough up whatever finances are needed to accomplish your many dream projects.

With all due respect, it is the opinion of several that these projects are only serving to balloon your ego and are not necessary for the church.

7. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: FAULT FINDING

Dear Bishop,

God is not happy with your desire to do these church projects with speed. It is the work of the flesh. God rejects the work of the flesh. The end justifies the means, as they say; but if doing church projects hurriedly would impose an untold burden on church members then I beg to say, the Lord won’t be pleased with the results.

I know from personal experience the unpleasant financial strain being put on members due to your erratic and unplanned church projects.

A word of warning worth taking here is, God does not recognize the work of the flesh. There are many people today trying to help God out through fleshly activities for God, and such work is unrecognized by God.

Please take a moment to consider if many of the projects you are undertaking could be the work of the flesh. I implore you to consider if it is possible that the Lord is not pleased with you. Do you remember the song, “What if God is not happy with our praise, what if He is not pleased with the words we say; what if God is not happy with the way we live; What if He is not pleased with the way we give?”

Meditate on it!

8. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: COMPLAINTS

Dear Pastor,

You are manipulating people to give towards church work. You are wrong in using scriptures from Exodus to make people give to God. You are wrong to suggest any amount that people should give.

You have taken scriptures from the Old Testament and are using them out of context. Using scriptures like Moses’ call for an offering in Exodus is a misapplication of the Bible and is a clear manipulation. This is not right! Even Solomon’s famous offering which opened the heavens for him to encounter the glory of God was not given under any sort of compulsion.

Using financial suggestibility as is done in some churches lacks integrity and is detestable. It is not pleasing to the Lord.

Please remember that the scriptural example of giving, states emphatically that each person should give what they have decided in their heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Do not use financial suggestibility to build the church.

9. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: WARNINGS

My dear Pastor,

Return to God before it is too late. Do you have any respect for the scripture or will you argue against it just to achieve what you want? Please return to scriptural ways. It is not too late for you to repent.

10. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: ARROGANCE

Dear Senior Pastor,

You are abusing people when you ask them to honour pastors. This system of celebrating pastors is a well-intentioned idea, but again it baffles my mind as to why every form of honour has to be quantified in money. You should be aware that gradually you are creating a culture in which pastors manipulate the flock and fleece them with a sense of unwarranted entitlement in demanding monetary gifts or “seeds” on certain days. Through this system, you have burdened the people and enriched yourself and your family.

Stop abusing the church before it is too late.

11. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: JEALOUS

Dear Honourable Pastor,

Please, it is time to repent of your greed and discontentment! God is blasphemed by it!

At what point will you have enough? How much do you need to reach the level of satisfaction? Greed is an unsatiable thing and in all humility, I challenge you to do better.

Why should you receive gifts from people? Do you still have a conscience?

On top of receiving a salary as a pastor and the numerous gifts people would freely give you, why do you feel entitled to demand such materialist things? Doesn’t your conscience bite you a bit that all these would bring an untold burden to some of our poor members?

12. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: PIETISTIC

Dear Bishop,

Be mindful that as you sit in wealth accumulated by foul means, God is the most blasphemed. Mammon is a dangerous god and greed is insatiable. You cannot serve God and money. It’s never too late to repent and take steps towards contentment. I hope you take heed to this humble admonishing of mine. I know you will and I can see what is happening to you, albeit slowly.

13. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: UNCTUOUS

Dear Pastor,

You are relating to, associating with and learning from pastors who have many flaws. No persons are perfect and no church is perfect and we have to be circumspect about what we learn from others. Most of the people and churches you are learning from and associating with have big flaws and you have to be careful what you learn.

No pastor or mentor is so great to make you want to learn so much from them.

I challenge you to repent and learn from God Himself.

Return to God and to sound, accountable ways instead of trying to impress certain men of God.

14. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: DISAPPROVING

Dear Pastor,

Do not be deceived. It is not the mark of success to have a large church accompanied by financial influence.

Sadly, most people have come to regard ministry success as having large numbers and financial influence. If that is your aim, then perhaps these ministries are good enough but I hope you know better.

Being loud doesn’t make someone right.

Being popular doesn’t mean God is with you!

Having a multitude doesn’t mean God is pleased with your ways. Remember that the majority did not support Moses but it did not mean that they were right.

15. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: DISAPPROVAL

Dear friend,

You need to reflect on your leadership system and structure.

I have been part of the church council before. I know there is no sense of serious accountability whether personal, financial, or systemic.

In my opinion, your record keeping is simply to cover up for any future scrutiny but not to give account to your followers on how their money is being used.

16. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: FEARLESS

Dear Pastor,

I am not afraid of you. I have served my term as a humble follower. Those around you are unable to confront you and bring you to order because they are simply YES MEN. I do not need to agree with you on everything any more. That is why I am telling you these truths.

17. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: DESPISES

Dear Bishop,

How can you give awards to people for being the biggest givers or the best shepherds in the church? You are not qualified to reward people for what they do for the Lord because it is carnal!

How do you reconcile that with scriptures that challenge us to give privately and leave our rewards to the Lord? Are you qualified to reward people for things they do as to the Lord?

You are trying to make yourself God to these people. You just want them to like you.

18. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: REJECTS LOYALTY

Dear Bishop,

Since I left the church, I have been irked by your continual harping on loyalty teachings.

Loyalty is not biblical. Stop copying this teaching blindly! It is destroying people. Where can you find any teaching on loyalty in the Bible?

Pastor, stop misusing and taking advantage of people! You have imbibed this loyalty false doctrine too much! You have elevated yourself to the status of God who alone deserves our unwavering loyalty!

Since when did it become okay for you to discuss people who have left the church in a demeaning, insulting, and disparaging manner? How could you instruct people to cut off those who leave the church? I forgive you but stop saying bad things about those who leave you.

Are church members and helpers simply tools for your use and subsequent disposal, when there are disagreements? There must be mutual submission and respect! We are all the children of God! The Bible calls for mutual submission and respect!

Do not go through this rabbit hole of this loyalty junk, as it only sets you and the church up for toxicity!

Some of the things said against me personally after I left were not right and I thank God for granting me the strength to forgive you.

I am concerned for you because your loyalty teachings will lead to dangerous outcomes for both you personally and the church as a whole.

19. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: REBELLIOUS

Dear Bishop,

Stop appointing and ordaining ministers unnecessarily.

Stop the random appointment of pastors.

Stop sharing titles and creating a desire in people for mere titles!

Many in the church just work for the next title.

Stop denigrating the pastoral calling!

There is a need to re-examine the qualifications for a pastor and not belittle the gracious place of pastoral calling.

Beware of elevating skills over character.

It is treacherous to assume that a person who brings large numbers of people to church is worthy of being appointed as a pastor. It is inconceivable that people who bring in large amounts of finance to the church are worth promoting to the pastoral office.

Be careful, you are peddling carnality!

20. A MAN OF DEFIANCE: PHARISAICAL

Dear Pastor,

Repent, so that you can be right with God again!

Yes, you did appoint me as a pastor and you did help me in my initial ministry. But how long shall I be saying “thank you” for that initial swing?

When will you be tired of hearing “Thank you”. Are you not tired of hearing the sycophants sing your praise at every birthday celebration?

I have many things I could point out to you. But out of respect, I will end here. I will not go any further. My last questions are simply these:

Do you still have any integrity at all as a person? Can you still discern between right and wrong? I am praying for you to heed and not to have a hardened heart.

May your heart not be hardened to hear my counsel!

I pray for you to experience a great reformation before it is too late.

Chapter 8

Why Rebellion Must be Punished

Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. HE IS A HOLY GOD; HE IS A JEALOUS GOD. HE WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR REBELLION AND YOUR SINS.”

Joshua 24:19 (NIV)

1. REBELLION IS A UNIQUE SIN.

FOR HE ADDETH REBELLION UNTO HIS SIN, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Job 34:37

Rebellion is a specific evil that is distinct from every other sin. To have committed the sin of rebellion is to have committed a specific sin of resistance, disobedience, confrontation, challenge and defiance to authorities and leadership.

2. REBELS ARE EVIL MEN.

AN EVIL MAN SEEKETH ONLY REBELLION: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

Proverbs 17:11

Rebels are evil men who constantly and continually defy, challenge and confront authorities. These evil men often start their defiance in their school days and continue as they grow up into adulthood. All through their lives, rebellious men seek out opportunities to oppose leadership and challenge authority. Such evil people are part of every insurrection and rebellion in the classroom, in the school, at the workplace and in the church.

It is important to find out about the history of a person’s rebellion. I remember one fellow who caused much confusion in a church that he belonged to. He then moved on to cause and stir up rebellion in another church. He then came to our church and started a rebellion to challenge and fight the bishops of the church. Indeed, an evil man seeketh only rebellion!

When such a person enters your congregation, his eyes will target the leadership and he will see only reasons to rise up to defy leadership. Such a person will see only faults and reject whoever is in leadership. As the years go by, such an evil person will have a track record of being part of rebellion after rebellion.

3. GOD WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR REBELLION.

Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. HE WILL NOT FORGIVE YOUR REBELLION and your sins.”

Joshua 24:19 (NIV)

There are very few things that God has said He will not forgive, and rebellion is one of them. God declared to the Israelites that He would not forgive their rebellion!

You must avoid rebellion at all costs. Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost will not be forgiven! Rebellion will also not be forgiven! Read it for yourself!

4. REBELS ARE STUBBORN MEN.

FOR I KNOW THY REBELLION, AND THY STIFF NECK: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?

Deuteronomy 31:27

Rebels are stubborn men. Rebellion is always associated with stiff necks! A rebel is someone who is wrong about his beliefs and yet is highly resistant to change. This is why to overcome rebels you have to destroy them completely.

Rebellion, which is resistance and defiance of leaders and authorities, is always associated with the terrible evil of stubbornness.

5. REBELLION IS WITCHCRAFT.

For REBELLION IS AS THE SIN OF WITCHCRAFT and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

1 Samuel 15:23

Rebels have some power within them that inspires the challenge against authorities. The power of witchcraft works in every rebel. A rebel uses manipulation inspired by hell.

Rebellion which is resistance and defiance of authority is as terrible as the sin of witchcraft. Remember that God’s word says “Suffer not a witch to live “. Indeed, rebels must be put away for good.

6. REBELLION IS BETRAYAL.

For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: REBELLION AND TREACHERY AGAINST THE LORD, turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.

Isaiah 59:12-13 (NIV)

Rebellion is associated with treachery, betrayal and treason. Treachery is betrayal! Often, those who rise up in rebellion need to do so under the cover of deception and treachery. Treachery is the act of betrayal, deception, or breaking trust in a way that harms others. Treachery leads to conflict and division and fosters resentment.

A leader often looks to his followers for support. If instead of support, the leader’s authority and leadership style are resisted and challenged, the leader will feel betrayed.

Rebellion causes deep, emotional wounds and leaves lasting pain in loved ones. Rebellion destroys trust. Once betrayed, trust is hard to rebuild. Rebelling, confronting, attacking, challenging and disobeying those in charge are often done through treachery, trickery and deception.

7. TO REBEL IS TO GRUMBLE.

But the Lord said to Moses, “Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony TO BE KEPT AS A SIGN AGAINST THE REBELS, THAT YOU MAY PUT AN END TO THEIR GRUMBLINGS AGAINST ME, so that they will not die.”

Numbers 17:10 (NASB95)

Grumbling and murmuring are signs of rebellion. They are an insidious form of defiance against leadership.

Murmuring and having secret meetings against the leadership is a sneaky, underhand form of rebellion! Avoid becoming a murmurer. Avoid people who murmur! Reject secret meetings!

Be open in your discussions! Be open about what you think. Avoid ever being associated with rebellion!

Beware of secret rebellion! Beware of open rebellion!

8. REBELLION LEADS TO DESOLATION.

Then I heard a holy one speaking, and another holy one said to him, “How long will it take for the vision to be fulfilled-the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, THE REBELLION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION, the surrender of the sanctuary and the trampling underfoot of the LORD’s people?”

Daniel 8:13 (NIV)

Rebellion leads to desolation. Many ministers with a bright future are destroyed by rebellion. Their lives and ministries enter into desolation, bleakness and emptiness because of their rebellion. Watch every pastor who starts a church out of rebellion against his senior pastor. After challenging and confronting the senior pastor, they move out and begin a new ministry. But the new ministry they begin is birthed into a strong desolation, emptiness, unhappiness, misery, isolation and anguish.

9. REBELS ARE DECEIVED MEN.

Against whom do you jest? Against whom do you open wide your mouth And stick out your tongue? ARE YOU NOT CHILDREN OF REBELLION, OFFSPRING OF DECEIT,

Isaiah 57:4 (NASB95)

Rebellion is an offspring of deception. Rebels are products of self-deception. They deceive themselves into thinking that they can overthrow an established government. Rebels are often deceived into thinking that because there is an error or weakness in the government, they have a right to overthrow it. Rebels are an offspring of deceit because they are deceived into thinking that the majority will follow after them because of the accusations and slander they spread. As they spread stories, gossip and accusations, they think that the whole world will leave and follow them. Many rebels are so shocked that people continue to flock to their leader. Many rebels are disappointed that people do not follow their slander.

10. A REBEL IS A THREAT.

Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand; Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, THAT THOU AND THE JEWS THINK TO REBEL, FOR WHICH CAUSE THOU BUILDEST THE WALL, THAT THOU MAYEST BE THEIR KING, according to these words.

And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. THEN I SENT UNTO HIM, SAYING, THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS DONE AS THOU SAYEST, BUT THOU FEIGNEST THEM OUT OF THINE OWN HEART. For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

Nehemiah 6:5-9

A rebel is a serious threat to your leadership and stability. To be accused of rebellion is a very serious thing.

Nehemiah was building the walls of Jerusalem when he was accused of rebellion. An accusation of rebellion, if proved right, could have caused great difficulty for Nehemiah.

You must never be accused of rebellion. You must never be involved with rebellion. Nehemiah went to great lengths to prove that he was not in rebellion but just building the walls of Jerusalem.

11. SOME ARE REBELS FROM BIRTH.

You have not heard, you have not known. Even from long ago your ear has not been open, Because I knew that you would deal very treacherously; AND YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED A REBEL FROM BIRTH.

Isaiah 48:8 (NASB)

Rebels must be punished because many of them have been rebels from birth. They have challenged authorities from their youth upwards. They are rebellious in their very nature and rebellion shows up in everything they do. It shows up when they are babies; in the way they cry, in their insistence on crying and in their persistence in crying. They are indeed born rebels!

Rebellion shows up in their childhood, it shows up in school and it shows up at work. At work, these born rebels would join or form groups to challenge authorities and would be at the forefront of every demonstration or riot. In church, these rebels would be at the heart of every dissenting group. Such rebels would be the instigators of all kinds of discontentment and murmuring. They are simply rebels from birth!

12. SOME CHURCHES ARE KNOWN FOR REBELLION.

And I commanded, and search hath been made, and IT IS FOUND THAT THIS CITY OF OLD TIME HATH MADE INSURRECTION AGAINST KINGS, AND THAT REBELLION and sedition have been made therein.

Ezra 4:19

Rebellion is associated with certain cities and groups of people. Some churches have more rebellion than others. In some spiritual groups, the leader is constantly challenged, confronted and defied. He does not lead with ease and confidence because rebellion is always in the air.

13. DO NOT REBEL AGAINST GOD OR HIS SERVANT.

Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD’S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: BUT REBEL NOT AGAINST THE LORD, NOR REBEL AGAINST US, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.

Joshua 22:19

Rebellion can be against the Lord and His servants. Many times, when you are defying God’s servants, you are defying God Himself.

Rebellion against the commandments of the Lord happens when a person confronts, challenges and disobeys the commandments of the Lord.

Disobeying God is seen as rebellion! Disobeying God’s servant is also rebellion! Beware of rebelling against God or His servant!

14. YOU MUST REJECT REBELS.

Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, AND ABHOR THOSE WHO ARE IN REBELLION AGAINST YOU?

Psalm 139:21 (NIV)

Do not admire rebels! Do not use a rebellion as a good example. Rebellion is always evil, no matter who does it. It is important to abhor those who are in rebellion. You must hate all forms of rebellion. If you find anyone rebelling, you must not have anything to do with the person. If you admire a rebellious person, you are in great danger of becoming a rebel yourself.

15. REBELS DESIRE ALTERNATIVE LEADERSHIP.

And refused to obey, neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among them; but hardened their necks, and IN THEIR REBELLION APPOINTED A CAPTAIN TO RETURN TO THEIR BONDAGE: but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and forsookest them not.

Nehemiah 9:17

Sometimes people who are part of a ministry defy and insult their pastors. They are therefore forced to go to another ministry to submit to another man of God who does not even know them. I have seen junior pastors leave a church in rebellion and seek spiritual appointments from other apostles elsewhere. Sometimes they would go to other countries and find someone to ordain them as reverend ministers, apostles, or even bishops. This is a common phenomenon.

I once had a rebellious pastor who travelled to another country to submit to someone else as his bishop and mentor. Unfortunately, this new mentor died prematurely and he was left again without an authority figure over his head. I waited to see whether he would find another authority to appoint over his soul. Perhaps, he was tired of appointing alternative authorities over himself!

People who live in rebellion want to have new leaders appointed over them because they have rejected, confronted, challenged and insulted the leadership and authority that was set over them.

Chapter 9

Nine Punishments for Rebellion

Why do you keep on rebelling? Do you want to be punished even more? …

Isaiah 1:5 (GNT)

1. A rebellious person should expect punishment for himself and his children. In this scripture, we also see that rebellion can be taught.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, I WILL PUNISH SHEMAIAH THE NEHELAMITE, AND HIS SEED: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the LORD; BECAUSE HE HATH TAUGHT REBELLION against the LORD.

Jeremiah 29:32

2. Rebellious men should know that the reward for their continual defiance, resistance and rejection of authority is that a cruel messenger shall be sent against them. A rebel must therefore expect cruelty from a cruel messenger as his reward.

An evil man seeketh only rebellion: THEREFORE A CRUEL MESSENGER SHALL BE SENT AGAINST HIM.

Proverbs 17:11

3. A rebellious person should expect to die an unnatural and premature death. A rebellious person will be cast from the face of the earth because of his rebellion.

Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: THIS YEAR THOU SHALT DIE, BECAUSE THOU HAST TAUGHT REBELLION AGAINST THE LORD.

Jeremiah 28:16

4. Rebellion will be punished with death. The children of Israel pledged to execute and eliminate anyone who rebelled against Joshua’s command. So is the destiny of all rebels!

WHOSOEVER HE BE THAT DOTH REBEL AGAINST THY COMMANDMENT, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, HE SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH: only be strong and of a good courage.

Joshua 1:18

5. When you rebel against the commandments of the Lord, you must expect that the hand of the Lord will be against you.

But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, THEN SHALL THE HAND OF THE LORD BE AGAINST YOU, AS IT WAS AGAINST YOUR FATHERS.

1 Samuel 12:15

Whatever punishment will come to a rebel will not be by the hand of man but by the hand of God. Your punishment will be manifest because the hand of the Lord will be against you and no man will be able to stop it or change it. The hand of God is very different from the hand of man. When the hand of man is involved in your punishment, you will see the human effort to judge you. When the hand of God takes over, there is no human engineering or manipulation of events! All rebels must watch out for the hand of the Lord which is against them.

6. One of the severe punishments of rebellion is to be destroyed by the sword.

BUT IF YE REFUSE AND REBEL, YE SHALL BE DEVOURED WITH THE SWORD: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 1:20

7. Every rebel should expect a lion from the forest to attack him.

Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, FOR THEIR REBELLION IS GREAT AND THEIR BACKSLIDINGS MANY.

Jeremiah 5:6 (NIV)

Rebels should expect a wolf from the desert to ravage them. Rebels should expect a leopard to jump out at them and surprise them. Indeed, there is a great curse for all those who have developed the confidence to defy the Lord’s ordained authorities in His church.

8. People who live in rebellion have a lot of headaches and heartaches.

Where will you be stricken again, AS YOU CONTINUE IN YOUR REBELLION? THE WHOLE HEAD IS SICK AND THE WHOLE HEART IS FAINT.

Isaiah 1:5 (NASB95)

The head is sick and the heart is sick! The hearts and heads are sick because of resistance, defiance, confrontation and the challenging of God’s servants. Rebels are not well. Rebels are not normal people. Rebels have many problems. They are not well in their hearts and in their minds.

9. People who rebel will not enter their promised land.

Aaron will be gathered to his people; FOR HE SHALL NOT ENTER THE LAND which I have given to the sons of Israel, BECAUSE YOU REBELLED against My command at the waters of Meribah.

Numbers 20:24 (NASB95)

Aaron died and did not enter the Promised Land because of the rebellion that occurred at the waters of Meribah.

“And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” Ecclesiastes 12:12