Before you answer that question, you may need to take a good long look in the mirror and brace yourself for a moment and the answer just might surprise you…
Many times when people talk or think about witches, we tend to think of evil, malevolent beings who ride on broomsticks, cast spells and practice sorcery.
If we look at scripture however, it may surprise some of us to find that the truth about witchcraft may be much closer home than we first thought…And No; I’m not talking about your “evil” wife, and it certainly isn’t your “devilish” mother in law either!
Let’s look at a few Scriptures, then we will try to answer the question again.
“17So whoever knows what is good to do and does not do it is guilty of sin”. James 4:17
One of the things that we have learnt about disobedience, is that it is choosing our own way or our own will, instead of what is the good and perfect will of God, as He has instructed us to do.
In the context of the above Scripture (James 4:17), it is not hard to deduce that:
Without any exception,
1. Every act of disobedience is a sin.
It follows therefore, that every sin that we commit is basically an act of disobedience to the will or word of God.
2. Every sin takes its root in an act of disobedience.
Whenever we disobey God, we rebel against Him.
3. Every act of disobedience is a rebellion against the will of God or the word of God.
4. Every act of rebellion is just like the sin of witchcraft in the sight of God.
Let’s look at the Scripture which is our main text for today: 1 Samuel 15:1-24.
In this text, God had given king Saul specific instructions on an assignment that he was to undertake. Saul carried out the assignment on his own terms, flagrantly disobeying God’s express command and presumptuously assuming that what he did was acceptable to God. God sent Prophet Samuel to rebuke him.
See what the bible says in verses 22 and 23:
“So Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.””1 Samuel 15:22-23NKJV
Samuel called Saul’s disobedience a rebellion that is the same as the sin of witchcraft!
When you know the good that God has instructed you to do, and you act in disobedience, you have sinned by rebelling against the word of God, and your rebellion makes you guilty of the sin of witchcraft; and guess who practices witchcraft?
Selah…
I ask you again: Do you know any witches?
Rebellion or disobedience opens us up to demonic interference in our lives. It provides an open door or a window of opportunity for the devil to have a foothold in our lives.
As the bible says in Ephesians 4:27 (NET),
“27Do not give the devil an opportunity.”
The devil is looking to exploit any opportunity, to take advantage of any weakness in our lives that allows darkness to prevail over the light of the truth of God’s word. That’s why the bible says in 1 Peter 5:8,
“Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.”
And in James 4:7,
“So submit to God. But resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
Dear friend, that is the one antidote to disobedience:
Submit yourself to God.
When you live a life of surrender and submission to God, His will becomes your desire and His delight and pleasure become your will.
Obedience is a natural consequence of a life that lives to please God.
I pray that you will receive the grace in Christ today, to live a life that is obedient to the will of God, and walk in the fullness of the blessings
of obedience in Jesus’s Name. Amen.
Pastor Wale Ola
LIFE APPLICATION
1. What is God saying to me in today’s message?
2. What was ministered to me in the bible verses that I read today?
3. What are the changes or adjustments I need to make in my life to align with the word of God?
4. What is my commitment to the word for today?
5. What practical steps can I take to benefit from the word I have read today?
PRAYER FOCUS
Repent of any act of disobedience or rebellion against God.
Confess and repent and renounce the sin of witchcraft. Plead the blood of Jesus Christ as a defence and remedy for the sin.
Make a commitment to address and redress these areas that God will reveal to you immediately.
Ask God to shut any doors through which the enemy might have come in to take advantage of your rebellion against God.
Pray and bind every influence and consequences of demonic activities in your life as a result of disobedience.
