Janice McVeigh. 17/07/06

REVOLUTION VERSUS REBELLION

In these days where we are rising up and finally "taking hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us"... We also find we are caught up in a "Holy War"... a "righteous revolution"!

But there are some who would move beyond the "Godly Gateway" into "no-man's land" and into a dangerous place... the place of rebellion! Where we are exhorted to be passionate and "violently" take the kingdom by force. There are those amongst us that are "forceably" taking that which hasn't been given them and have now become unteachable and are now unfortunately operating in rebellion.

Pride has risen up in their hearts and instead of running with Holy Fire, they are found producing their own profane fire and are offering that up to the Lord! The difference between revolution and rebellion is minimal and it is so easy to slip from one to the other, and we must carefully guard our hearts against it.

A "revolution" is a forcible, strong, militant overthrow of a government or sound order, in favour of a new system... it's where people begin to "revolt" against the rigid rule and regulations (of religion) that bring bondage, imprisonment, and even death!

It is any fundamental change or reversal of conditions. It is a "revolving" taking place - a turn around back to God, and how it should be, how it was supposed to be from the beginning.

Now a "rebellion" is "open resistance to authority and especially 'armed' resistance to the established government!"

Sounds similar, except that there is no "turning around" - just a militant "fighting against" - a "militancy with arms" that could even cause "death" in one's own camp! And there is a tendancy to fight against all authority. A rebel is one who is "insubordinate" who is "unmanageable", "untameable", "wild"... in opposition to what God declares - that even the "spirit of prophecy is subject to the prophet" and "all things are to be done decently and in order!" God's order - not my way or your way but YAHWAH!

A rebel is one who is totally rebellious to all authority in the end, even Godly authority and is convinced they are right and everyone else is wrong! They become totally "unteachable"! Pride rises up in their hearts - and we know God resists the proud! And it's so serious...

1 Sam 15:23 tells us "for rebellion is as witchcraft - and stubbornness or arrogance is as wickedness and idolatry" - (the main things they came to fight against in the first place!)

When the Pillistines captured the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Sam 5:1-3, they carried it to Ashdod and it was taken into the temple of Dagon. The word "Ashdod" means: a "city on a hill" a high and lofty place (the counterfeit to the Lord's city on a hill). It was interesting that as Dagon was brought down - both the head and palms of his hand's were broken off (not disimilar to the way the dogs devoured and left Jezebel's carcass! 2 Kings 9:35)! Again the very one they proclaim to be fighting against!

We must guard our hearts and watch for the "great deception" the enemy knows he is running out of time and he would have no greater delight than to deceive those called and raised up for "such a time as this".

May we humble ourselves under God's mighty hand and in due time, (the right time, the set time, the appointed time) let God exalt us and use us as He wants to use us, and let us not exalt ourselves, but let us lift Him up. Let the Lord be exalted, for we know, God tells us: "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto myself"! All Glory to God!