1 Samuel 15:23 KJV “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 hath also rejected thee from being king.”

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The rebuke above was spoken by the prophet Samuel to king Saul. Why? King Saul was given specific instructions from the Lord that he did not obey while claiming he followed through (1 Samuel chapter 15). Sadly Saul had grown accustomed to doing his own thing. God had enough of it and now punishment was sure to come: “Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord,” Samuel told him, “He hath also rejected thee from being king.” The word REJECTED in the passage above means to spurn, despise, refuse, to disappear. Saul despised God’s commands and caused them, “To disappear,” from his heart and mind.

THE PASTOR WHO SAID, “IT AIN’T THERE NOW”

I remember years ago talking with a pastor and asking him, “Why do we Christians not conduct our church meetings the way we are instructed to by the Lord in 1 Corinthians chapter 14?” Read it it’s quite insightful. I then read the passage to the Pastor as he read along in his own Bible. When we finished I asked him the question again, “Why aren’t we doing it the way it’s written here in the Bible?” He said, “Man if we did that we wouldn’t have any order!” What he did next shocked me: he angrily tore the page out of his own Bible and said, “It ain’t there now!”😳 This Pastor rejected the word of the Lord. He literally caused God’s word, “To disappear,” from his own Bible by tearing out the page he did not agree with.

We would never think of doing such a thing as that, I know. But are we doing the same thing in another way?🤔

THE GREAT DISAPPEARANCE ACT

For example let’s notice one of Jesus’ commands:

Matthew 6:14-15 NET “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.”

Do we cause this command, “To disappear,” from our hearts and minds because it’s sometimes hard to do? Do we pretend that it’s not written in the Bible like the Pastor did? And do we dare call ourselves Christians knowing we hold grudges in our hearts and refuse to repent? No, we may not tear the pages out of the Bible like the wicked Pastor, but are we guilty of rejecting God’s words just like him? We all have been guilty of this at one time or another if we are truly honest.🤔 But there’s a strong reason why we don’t want to make this a habit:

Hebrews 10:26-29 NET “For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies. Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace?”

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Nope, we may not tear out pages of the Bible like the wicked Pastor, some of us are too pious for that. But how many of God’s commands might we be willfully causing, “To disappear,” (reject) from our hearts and minds?🤔

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This is no light thing brothers and sisters. Claiming to follow God while rejecting His word has serious consequences. We cannot pick and choose when it comes to obeying God. We must strive to obey Him in everything:

Luke 13:24-28 KJV “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. [25] When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: [26] Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. [27] But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. [28] There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”

The key here is to REPENT. Not make excuses as to why we can’t obey God’s laws or pretend they are not there. If you read 1 Samuel chapter 15 you will see king Saul was given specific instructions by God and CHOSE NOT TO OBEY. When confronted by the prophet Samuel about the matter Saul kept lying and making all kinds of excuses. Sadly he kept saying that he was obedient when he knew he wasn’t. Saul was a hypocrite. Satan had overtaken him. This costed Saul dearly. May we never follow his example.

GOD CAN DO A DISAPPEARANCE ACT TOO😳

Nope, we may not tear out pages of the Bible like the wicked Pastor, some of us are too pious for that. But how many of God’s commands might we be willfully causing, “To disappear,” (reject) from our hearts and minds?🤔 (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Revelation 22:18-19 KJV “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: [19] And if any man shall TAKE AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, GOD SHALL TAKE AWAY his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

I hope that Pastor I spoke to years ago repented. He was so bold to literally tear out a page of the Bible he did not agree with and say, “It ain’t there now!” He really put himself in a bad spot with Almighty God. As stated above ANYONE who takes away any part of God’s word God will take away his/her part out of the book of life. God can cause things, “To disappear,” too!😳 If we stubbornly reject ANY of God’s commands in His written word the Bible he can also look in His Book Of Life, find our names, tear it out and say, “It ain’t there now!”😳

Let us not be stupid. If there are any of God’s commands that we are struggling with beg God in prayer for help. Ask Him to give us His Holy Spirit so that we can obey Him. (Luke 11:9-13) Pray to Him for this help like your life depends on it because it does! Also utilize any brethren that God gives you:

James 5:16 NET “So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.”

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1 John 2:9-11 KJV “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. [10] HE THAT LOVETH HIS BROTHER abideth in the light, and THERE IS NONE OCCASION OF STUMBLING IN HIM. [11] But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

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A believer who loves the brethren is strong. Nothing can make them stumble the Bible says. Nothing!😊 No wonder Jesus’ greatest commandment is love. Love (not hate) makes us powerful. Walking in darkness (hatred) can FEEL very powerful but it’s all an illusion. A professed believer who hates any bretheren is being misled by the Devil. The Bible says he/she is walking in darkness and does not know where they are going because that darkness has blinded their eyes.

Titus 1:16 KJV “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY HATE YOU

If you find yourself hated even by those who claim to be believers remember the Lord said this would happen:

Matthew 24:10-13 KJV “And then shall MANY be offended, and shall BETRAY ONE ANOTHER, and shall HATE ONE ANOTHER. [11] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. [12] And because iniquity shall abound, THE LOVE OF MANY SHALL WAX COLD. [13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

What a fight we have! While the MANY around us become offended, betrayers, whose hearts grow cold as ice and hard as stone, we are to grow in the opposite direction: in warm LOVE.😊 Yes, we must be strong enough to swim against the current. Only those who endure to the end; who weather the hatred storm, “the same shall be saved.” (Matthew 14:23-33). So don’t be in awe when this storm comes your way like a hurricane. ⛈ Jesus says it must happen. Going through it to the end is proof that you will be saved.😊

Luke 6:22-23 KJV “BLESSED ARE YE, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. [23] REJOICE ye in that day, and LEAP FOR JOY: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”

Those who are hated because of living their faith (NOT JUST PROFESSING IT) will receive the same reward from God as the prophets! What a great company to be in!😊 (Hebrews 12:1-2) I know, the hatred storm doesn’t always feel good or make you wonna rejoice but it is good. It is proving you to be counted worthy of the kingdom of God:

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 KJV “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in ALL YOUR PERSECUTIONS AND TRIBULATIONS that ye endure: [5] Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that YE MAY BE COUNTED WORTHY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD, for which ye also suffer:“

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A believer who loves the brethren is strong. Nothing can make them stumble the Bible says. Nothing!😊

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You obviously love the brethren or you wouldn’t be going through this trial. You are strong though you feel weak. Our faith is not based on our feelings. Feelings are most deceiving. (Jeremiah 17:9) Our faith is based on the written words of God:

Romans 5:3-5 KJV “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope: [5] And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 KJV “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for MY STRENGTH IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN AM I STRONG.”

We also glory in our tribulations because of what they do for us and in us like Paul. And remember, “When I am weak [feel weak], then am I strong.”😊 It is true that hatred from others can be a cause for FEELING weak. But as we’ve learned as long as we are living a life of brotherly love we are far from weak, we are STRONG!💪 So don’t let your feelings fool you. God’s written word (not our feelings) is what we go by. He says you’re strong in Him. Believe God not your feelings.😊

1 John 2:10 KJV “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and THERE IS NONE OCCASION OF STUMBLING IN HIM.”

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