If you would, you can turn to 1 Samuel. We're going to read in the 15th chapter. This is a verse that came to our mind earlier this week. We thought about it and it kept running over in our mind throughout the week with some of the things we heard on the radio. We didn't really search it out and read it in its entirety until last night. But it's a passage of scripture that I know that growing up in church I heard a lot. Maybe a passage of scripture that we don't hear as much today as we should. It's something that as parents that we ought to take very serious. It's something that as children, that children should take very serious. Because if the Lord will allow us, we're going to be able to walk through the scripture hopefully and be able to understand just what rebellion will cost us. I know that we live in a culture today, we went over to India and we've seen it over in India. India is somewhat of a reserved society, they have a strong family unit it would seem and there's a lot of children over there in India that wants to get away from their eastern ways, wants to accept a lot of the western ways. They even think of Western societies as being Christian societies, and because of what is being depicted on television, that they think that what Hollywood's putting out and what's Christian is somehow muddled together. But that can't be the farthest from the truth. And unfortunately, they want to be more like Western culture and less like a Christian nation. I think it's in the hearts of some, You know, as we search this out, we're going to see just exactly what rebellion will cost you, and what God likens it to. First, Samuel, I don't know about you, but to understand the Bible a lot of times, and we read one verse, what we need to do is search it out. You know, if the Bible says it one time, that's enough. But a lot of times there's principles in the Bible that we read about, and we see it in a new light, and we say, wow, that's interesting. But if we search it out, we'll find out that this theme is running throughout not only the Old Testament, but into the New Testament. We can see that just because it is presented in one way, as we're going to read here in 1 Samuel, that this is a principle that is clearly taught throughout the whole Bible. That this is not something that Samuel was stating to try to make a point to Paul. You know, sometimes that's what we do. We'll make a statement to the extreme just to try to prove a point. That's not what Samuel was doing here when he was speaking to Paul, because we'll find out as we read through the Bible, and we've got a lot to read, that the Lord was showing King Saul exactly what rebellion was going to cost him. You can read it in 1 Samuel, the 15th chapter. In the 22nd and the 23rd verse, it says that Samuel said, Now we've preached, I know of many a message on this verse, but we're going to read the 23rd. It says, 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 has also rejected thee from being king." Now this is something that is very important in the life of King Saul. This is something that should be important in our life as well. We know from this point on that you begin to read that Saul, as it were, was turned over to an evil spirit. The Bible says that God sent an evil spirit to him, and we see that Saul is no longer able to govern with the wisdom that comes from God. We know that if you search out Saul's life, and Saul's moments, as it were, his last events in his life, we even find him there consulting with the witch of Endor. Why? Because the presence of God had left him. And I believe that it was prophesied to him through Samuel in this very word, in this very verse here, as everybody prays. Get this preached out. It says, for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. It doesn't say rebellion was the sin of witchcraft, but it says that it is as the sin of witchcraft. We need a church out if you want to. You can turn there. We're going to read several verses. Maybe you won't have time. Maybe you want to jot this down and read it later, but it says in Exodus, the 22nd chapter and the 18th verse, it says, Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." That was what was given in the law. So we know that the consequences of witchcraft was death. But listen, Samuel here was not trying to say, to make a point. I was to voice something extreme because it also says in Exodus the 21st chapter, the 15th verse, He that smited his father or his mother shall surely be put to death. And then in Leviticus, the 20th chapter, the 9th verse, it says, For everyone that curses his father or his mother shall be surely put to death. He that curses his father or his mother, his blood shall be upon him. And then in Deuteronomy, the 21st chapter, the 18th verse, it says, If a man hath a stubborn and a rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto him, it says, and they shall say unto the tellers of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice, he is a glutton and a drunkard. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die. So shall thou put evil away from among you, and all evil and all Israel shall hear and fear." Why would they do that? Because rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. The Bible says, if you want to turn there, Proverbs, the 28th chapter, the 24th verse, it says, Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith it is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer. A companion of what destroyer, we might ask? The devil. We know that truly, just as Saul here rebelled, that he opened himself up to an evil force. I don't want to begin to display Satan to have more power than he has, but the Bible says that he is second unto God. We've said many a time that he's a distant second, and I truly believe that each and every one of us can understand that through the Scripture. that there's a warfare going on with God and His angels and the devil and His demons. But you know what? It's not a warfare that in any way the Lord is at wits to try to outsmart the devil. It's not a warfare as it is with mankind. But it is a warfare between evil and good. And I'm thankful that our Heavenly Father is in control of all things and that the devil is beneath Him. But listen, as we re-hear that there is principles to be found in the Bible to see just how serious it is to rebel. We read about a son and rebelling against his father. I truly want to get this preached out because this is important. It's not only important for my three boys and my daughter, but it's important for your children as well. Because the Bible says, as we've already read, that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. We know that Paul said that those that were sacrificing to these idols, he said that he was declaring to them that there was a lot of people that said it was just but idols, that it was gods that were no gods. But Paul mentioned, he said, I would like to declare to you that they're not sacrificing merely to idols, but to the devils. He said they're not sacrificing to God, but to the devils. Idolatry is not the serving of gods. It does not exist. But unfortunately, it's the serving of the devil himself. And it's the same as witchcraft. So we find out that not only has a sin of witchcraft, but yet stubbornness is as idolatry as it says here. It says here that it's an iniquity, a transgression. You know, there's a lot of people today that would say that I'm just setting my ways. We find out that those people are So many times that it can trace it out. It started in their childhood. It can trace it out. We can read about it in the Bible. About a father and a son. So many times. Oh, when Jeremiah and Isaiah and Ezekiel were to tell you the people to turn back, you are saying turn back to your ways and your father. Because why? Their fathers had rebelled and the children learned it. I'm afraid today that rebellion has taught our children by the parents of Elisha, the Bible says that rebellion It's a sin of witchcraft! This is some serious dirt, Jack! This is something we all describe! Outside the walls of this house There's something we ought to strive to drive Outside the walls of our homes And why is that? Because we know Those that worship Satan cannot have as they were When Paul said, can we worship devils? that we are at variance between those things that are good and those things that are evil. They cannot come together. The world will try to make you think that they will. Oh, it's just my son. He's just so in his wildness. Boys will be boys. Kids will be kids. But I want to tell you, we don't stop here. I am saying, with a roll of correction. Listen, we're not to beat them up. But I want to tell you, we are to correct them. We should use that roll of correction from time to time. Why? Because rebellion is as simple as witchcraft. And we see him in Saul's life. The Bible said that there was an evil spirit that would come out of him. And we know the story of Aaron David. I want you to listen. I don't want you boys and girls Because sometimes our parents would build us up and say he's a good boy. But I want to tell you, parents, if the devil has his way with our children, they will wash their hands in our blood. They will keep it up all day. They will eat your flesh. Why? Because Rebellion is just a shit on witchcraft. He'll get a hold of you. You think you'll use him for your benefit. But I declare you laity and all the rest of you. He'll riddle you. He'll bring you to the altar of life. And you'll do everything within your power to defeat that demon. Oh, I'm the cause. You ain't no better than Saul, but you say I'm good. Major Burns, oh, he's a good boy. I want to tell you, if you turn yourself over to rebellion, your life will come to nothing. Your life will be as it were. Something that has such great potential, just like the Bible spoke about Saul. The Bible said that he stood a head taller, and then all that was around him, another cause of rebellion. He was brought down to the end of his life, going to a wedge. Listen, Samuel was not going to the extreme to try to prove a point, but he was declaring the truth to Saul when he said, Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry. Think about it. He had an evil spirit that would come upon him, and the Bible said that there was nothing that would shoot him. But David, playing on the harp, and it would bring a calmness to him. But listen, because of stubbornness and rebellion, he told himself, it doesn't stop there. of the very thing that comforted Saul. In the plan of Daniel, it was the very thing that seemed to rise up in a few years, rise up that evil spirit in his heart to the point that he would take his javelin and he would throw it. Pray for us. We want to get this preached out. This is something that's very important. As parents, we need to realize the seriousness of it. There's been times that I've taken my belt off and I've talked to my children. And I said, I don't know. I don't know what's going to reach you. But I want to declare to you that I've got to do this. The Cardinals, the Bible says so. Listen, it breaks our heart. It broke the parents' heart. That's why they didn't do it. Now listen to me now. There is power in prayer. Each and every one of us. We can listen to the spokes of this world and Moses say we've got a better way of instructing our children. But listen, they would declare to you that rebellion wasn't witchcraft or anything like it. I thought it was our child trying to show independence. Well listen, our children don't need to learn independence. They need to learn obedience. And we are instructing them. And we are to use the rod. Listen, I'm not telling any one of you to beat your children. But I want to tell you, in the fear of the Lord, obey His word. Because if you don't, you're turning your children over to the devil himself. And they'll shake their fists, and they'll burn, and they won't justify it. But I didn't want to harm his child. I didn't want to hurt him emotionally with the power that comes before. The elders of the city, and they said, look, we can't do nothing with these. And because they didn't listen to God's word, and the teachers that were impoverished, they turned them over to strangers, as it were, who picked up not a rod and struck their chops, but a stone. And they took it in their hands. And they killed the son of the parent who loved him so much to the point that they discomforted him to instruct him. I want to tell you something. You're going to instruct your children. The Lord's going to do it. You're going to instruct your children. For God himself, I will do it. I pray in the present day, but if not in the present hour, in all of eternity. Because why? Rebellion is a sin of witchcraft. Oh, Daryl, what you're telling me, though, is an Old Testament. Is it Old Testament teaching? I need to hear what the New Testament has to say about it. Alright, that's good. Boy, we're having a hard time breathing. Oh, I want to get this preached out. Listen to me now. What we're going to talk about, if you would, is Peter. We read it in Matthew. It's too hard to get out of. But I want to tell you something. I think it's in Matthew the 13th chapter. Listen. Rebellion is as a sin of witchcraft. And the devil don't want this preached out. So praise be to God. HE'S SECOND UNTO GOD IN THE DISTANT CIRCUM! WOW GLORY GOD! SO THEN WE FIND JESUS TALKING TO PETER AND THE TWELVE DISCIPLES AND WHAT HE SAY? HE SAID PETER! WHO SAY MAN THAT I AM? THEN HE SAID SOME SAY JESUS AND I SOME THIS ONE AND SOME THAT ONE OF THE THIRTEEN PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT I AM Who say that you are Peter? Who say that I am? And Peter said, Thou art the Christ. And he said, Peter, this wasn't revealed unto you in flesh and blood, but from the Father. And listen, just a few, maybe like three or four verses later, Jesus Christ. begins to tell how he was going to be abused, how he was going to be sacrificed. And Peter said, My soul, Lord. He said, these things won't happen. And what did the Lord say to him? This was the Peter who he had just spoken to. He said, God, the Heavenly Father has revealed these truths unto you. He said, Peter, get behind me, Satan. That's what he said to Peter. Get down behind me, Satan. Why? Because rebellion, that's the sin of witchcraft. Peter, thou does not desire the things of God, but the things of man. Strong words, wasn't it? I often wondered when he said, get thou behind me, Satan, why those choice of words? Because what is spoken about in the Old Testament, rebellion, says the sin of his craft. We can turn, if you will, we can do it. But the 30th chapter, Proverbs says in the 11th verse, there is a generation that curses their father and does not bless their mother. There is a generation, there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet is not washed from their filthiness. There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes, and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men. The horse lays hath two daughters crying, give. This is not speaking of four different generations here, but it's speaking of all the same. A generation that curses their father and their mother is a generation that thinks no doubt they're better in their eyes. We spoke to someone last week There was a man, I believe it was Harry Smith who worked for him. I think it was him. He was a wicked man. Cursed. And somebody was downing their parents. I think it was. It wasn't Harry, it was someone else. And I remember it made him so angry. And he said, if you ever rise above your parents, it'll be because you're standing on their shoulders, not because you trot them. down in the mud. Something to think about, isn't it? When you run down your parents, you're running down who you are. That's what he said, and he'd mix in a bunch of other expletives I wouldn't repeat as a Christian. But this was a heathen man that knew that truth. We've got a lot of rebellious children in the house of God, rebellious against the earthly fathers, rebellious against their heavenly father, and rebellious against their mother, the church. And they say, let's come and have the spiritual service. Nah, they don't say that at all, because they're not concerned about the spirit. The Bible says in Isaiah, the 30th chapter, the first verse, it says, whoa, unto the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me. And they cover with a covering, but not of my Spirit. But they may, I have sinned to sin." That's the danger, as it were, and when we're no longer concerned about the covering of the Spirit. As somebody mentioned several times when we was in India, I've never seen a missionary come here that had such a burden, and that shed tears for the children of India. We prayed there and it broke her heart. But you know, that's just the way it is. If we're not covered with the Spirit. What covering is it talking about here? It says the Lord said they have taken counsel but not of me and that cover with a covering but not of my Spirit. So what covering is that? Praise. That's what the world gives, don't it? Praise. That's what a lot of parents give to their rebellious children. Oh, he's good. He's just going through the teen years. Oh, he's just nine years old. He's just testing the water. He's a good child. And God said, he's practicing in the water as serious as witchcraft. And we heap upon them praise, but God said they need a covering and it's a disparity. And that's what we have out in the world. Praise and honor. Praise for our children that are disobedient because they're not as disobedient as their neighbors. Praise and honor for this one or that one because they're a whole lot better than those across the ocean. But God would have us measure each and every one of us up to the Lord and be covered in His Spirit. See, that's the crux of the problem, isn't it? When God says, come and follow me, we say, I'll go another. We leave the Spirit behind. That was years ago something that was of importance to a lot of people. But today, in our denomination, it's not that important at all. To be considered spirit-filled is not something that a lot of people strive for. Oh, they strive to have a congregation that fills the church. They strive for this and that. But really, it's a covering of praise and of pride. And it's not a covering of the Spirit of God. Why? Because their children have learned their rebellion from the parents. Come and follow me. Listen, Jesus Christ healed many a person. I find it interesting to search the scripture. I don't think he healed one blind person that he said come and follow me. I could be wrong but just To recall my memory, the people that he said that to was the cripple. He would heal him and say, come and follow me. Simple command of obedience that men and women today are rebelling against. They've come to the altar, whether they find salvation or not, it's between them and God. But I want to tell you, they raise up off that altar. They don't answer the call to follow Him. They have rebelled. And they leave that altar with a covering that's not the Spirit of God. And they leave that altar with a new religion. But the Bible says it's a witchcraft. What is witchcraft? is serving the devil. I don't know about you, but I don't want no parts of that. Do you? Get thee behind me, Satan. Thou art an offense to me. For thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Children, I know there's children here today that's not accepted the Lord as their Savior. My prayer is that they one day will. That they have grown so accustomed to rebelling against their father and their mother. That when they enter the church, that us as preachers and as pastors, will have to be ever-villaging to teach them the principles of obeying a Heavenly Father. Because some of them have not had that instilled in them as they should by their earthly parents. The Bible we read in Proverbs 30th chapter, this is in the 17th verse. And I that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it." There is nowhere in the Bible whatsoever that rebellion is presented in a favorable light. in Leviticus the 20th chapter. And not only we hear about it as the sin of witchcraft, but in the 20th chapter of Leviticus it speaks about the consequences of those that don't, as it were, practice the sin of witchcraft, but seek their advice, seek their counsel. And it's the same consequences as the ungrateful children. They are both to be put to death. Aren't you glad we no longer live underneath the mosaic law? I know myself at times, whether it might not have been known to anybody else, that me myself, as I grew up, that rightly underneath the mosaic law, I deserve to die. But we're no longer underneath that mosaic law. But let us not be deceived to think that we no longer need to obey God's commandment. Because there is a spiritual death that will take place if we practice the arts of witchcraft or rebellion. Let's get some songs sung and get this preached out like we wanted to. It seems like the cold we had got down in our lungs. Take a deep breath. It just rattles. You know, I hope that I've instilled into the children of this church, not only the children, as in small ones, underneath the tutelage of their parents, But to all of us that are children of God, how deceptive Satan can be. See, cause the devil don't really care whether you bow your knee at an altar of an idol. Does he really care if you bow your knee as it were, sacrifice a goat or a child to Satan himself. He's just content. He's content for you to worship at the altar of rebellion. You know, no doubt, when Saul come to the witch of Endor, the devil thought we've got him now. But the devil already seen where Saul was at and he was just as content when he was thrown a spear at the man who would be king. So what do we do, Daryl? What do we do of our rebellion? You repent. The Bible, I believe it's in Jeremiah, it might be Isaiah. He was reading that God is long-suffering, full of mercy. In Ezekiel, the twelfth chapter, the second verse, We heard in Isaiah that they seek not a covering of the Spirit, but they seek another covering. Because of it, because they have not the covering of the Spirit, and they have ears that will not hear and eyes that will not see those things that God would have them to know. I'm going to read two verses and then we'll close real quick. We hear that stubbornness, we didn't nearly even get up to that, is as iniquity and idolatry. It says, mature iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you that He will not hear. Isaiah, the 59th chapter. second verse, the devil knows this. That's why he would have us all to rebel. Then it says in Nehemiah the ninth chapter the 16th through the 17th. But they and our fathers dealt proudly. See, it is learned by our fathers, is it not? And hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments, and refused to obey, neither were mindful thy wonders that thou didst among them, but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage." But listen, the question I ask, so what do you do about your rebellion? It says, that thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious, and merciful. slow to anger, and of great kindness." Is that what you want? It says in this, God forsook them not. The Holy Scripture teaches us that God has many a promise for us that are His children Just like there's many a promise for those that rebel against God. But if we want to experience the promises that God has as his children, let us not rebel. Because the same God that spoke to Peter and said, Peter, the Heavenly Father has revealed these wonderful truths to you. It's the same Jesus that said, get down behind me, Satan. Why? Because rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. We all drive it far from us.