The Rebellion Of A Nation!

Matt. 21:28-32

Apostasy materializes in a series of errors. A nation, a church, a person does not fall into apostasy in an instant. It happens over time in which God will correct and give the opportunity to repent and return to the Truth.

The first error that these Jewish leaders made was to challenge the authority and plan of God. By rejecting Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah sent by God, they were in full-blown rebellion against God who they claimed to serve.

That generation had witnessed the power of God through the miraculous acts that Jesus performed. Yet their lack of spiritual discernment compelled them to ask, “...By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority.” Matt. 21:23

That generation had witnessed the presentation of the King and the fulfillment of prophecy. Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.” See also Matt. 21:5.

That generation had witnessed the purging of the Temple which is God’s chastisement of error. See Matt. 21:12-13. They had made the Temple into something that it was not intended to be, “a den of thieves” rather than “a house of prayer.” I am reminded of the dedication of the Temple that Solomon built. He built it for a habitation of God, a place where heaven and earth came together. 2 Chron. 7:1, “Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD'S house.”

Apostasy is the result of rebellion. Man has fallen into apostasy because of the failure to correct his error in repentance and change. Jesus was speaking specifically to the nation of Israel. Israel paid a high price for their rebellion. They rejected their Messiah, therefore God rejected them Matt. 21:31, “...Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” The same principle can be applied to any nation, any church or any person. Our world society has challenged the authority and plan of God. And, more specifically this nation has walked away from God in open rebellion.

In the last century, our country has witnessed the manifest presence of God. From the isolated revivals of the Appalachians in the late 1800”s to the spiritual awakening of Azusa Street in the early 1900’s and beyond, this nation has witnessed the manifest presence of God. However, we should be concerned about our churches today and the lack of a visible witness of the power of God. We cannot rebel against the authority and plan of God and expect to walk in the power of God. We cannot walk away from the purity of His Word and expect the Holy Spirit to empower us. (continued)