I had the privilege of learning from John Paul Jackson, founder of Streams Ministries International. The first time I went through one of his classes, he taught about the reality of lawlessness and rebellion and how it undermines all God wants for us.
John Paul used Numbers 16 to describe the deadly decay a spirit of rebellion brings. This story shows us rebellion is a spiritual issue and how much the Lord hates the spirit of rebellion.
I am sure Moses was not perfect. He was a godly man – one who God worked powerfully through. But he was still a human with imperfections. Moses and his brother Aaron had offended and frustrated many people in the nation of Israel.
Yet God appointed Moses as a spiritual leader and insisted His people honor Moses’ God-given spiritual authority. Even when they didn’t agree with it!
I encourage you to read Numbers 16 for yourself. An instigator named Korah rebelled, and as a result, he and his men died, along with their families. As horrible as this was, it didn’t stop Israel from continuing to rebel. God was angry and allowed a plague.
But Moses asked for mercy. At Moses’ instruction, Aaron ran with a censer of incense toward the people. He repented and prayed on their behalf, and the plague stopped.
On the Dare to Believe Podcast, we recently interviewed Pastor Michael Smith from Redeeming Love Church in Maplewood, MN. Pastor Mike is a spiritual father in the Twin Cities area. On this podcast, he shares further insights into this biblical story.
When George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis, the Lord led him to do something very much like Aaron did in Numbers 16. Pastor Mike ran right into the worst part of the conflict to repent, pray and love on people. I highly recommend you listen to this podcast (it releases on Tuesday, August 11 (subscribe here)). The results from his obedience were extraordinary!
Satan was the first to defy God. He left heaven in rebellion. Today, he encourages us to partake with him in this rebellion.
When I first heard John Paul’s teaching about this, I immediately thought of everyone who challenged and rebelled against MY God-given authority. I was ready for God to deal with them on my behalf. But as I sat with the Lord and asked for his help, the Lord gently and lovingly suggested we deal with the person seated in my chair first. Oh my! That was me!
Making it personal
The Lord touched my heart by revealing that my rebellion was not outward, but an unseen heart issue. He showed me that when I spoke about leaders I disagreed with, my actions were less than honorable and my words undermined them, lacking honor and grace.
The Lord taught me that I have every right to disagree and voice an opposing opinion against what is wrong. However, if I am going to do this in partnership with heaven, I MUST incorporate God’s heart for the person I disagree with. This includes the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, humility and patience.
So what does a Godly person do when we see rebellion and Godlessness all around us? How do we speak up and speak out to agree with heaven in a world that is dark, where destruction is evident? We can’t do this without the Lord’s strength, guidance, wisdom and direction.
God is for us and not against us. He has solutions to problems we could never think of on our own. His power has already overcome the enemy and is available to us right now.
Jesus paid with his life and suffering so the Holy Spirit would have access to live in you. God’s Spirit provides words and strategies that allow you to know how to fight for God’s best in this world, agree with heaven and overcome evil.
In order to be a powerful instrument for God’s will, we each need to be vulnerable and real with our God. Ask Him if there is anything in you that stands in the way of being a powerful messenger for Him.
Trust Him. Invite God to bring it to your attention, heal you, strengthen you and empower you.
You were created for such a time as this. You live where you live because God put you there. You live in this generation because you are needed.
Allow the Lord to heal, cleanse and empower you to make a heavenly difference in a dark world.
In Psalm 139, David shows us the secret of his powerful success as a man of God. He realized only God knew the depths of his heart.
“God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart. Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me. Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting ways – the path that brings me back to you.” -Psalm 139:23-24 (TPT)
God is a Good God and a merciful Father. He will lovingly allow us to see our spiritual vulnerabilities. He already bore the weight of our sin. He will heal us and empower us, for such a time as this. He is for us!
With love,
Pastor Kristi Graner