DEALING WITH REBELLION

We started last week working on the subject of rebellion. We talked about how to prevent rebellion. Most of it has to do with the consistency and dedication of the parent.

The real problem is when we already have a rebellious child.

Children can rebel for many reasons. They can rebel because of a poor or inconsistent upbringing. They can rebel because of friendships they are allowed to have.

Most are rebelling today simply because of the influence of social media and the internet.

A parent with a rebellious child should not give up or given in. I have often said it and will continue to - but our job is to battle Satan and that rebellion and not give in as long as they are in the home.

So we are going to talk this afternoon about DEALING WITH REBELLION!

Let’s Pray.

As we get started - not everything is rebellion. We have to be careful to know the difference between rebellion and ignorance.

We have to be able to discern rebellion from frustration. We cannot treat those situations the same as we will rebellion.

Let’s talk about 1st of all:

I. How to recognize rebellion

A. Know the difference between rebellion and ignorance

B. When they stop doing what they have previously done

Daniel 9:5 AV

We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments:

C. When they stop doing what they know is right, turned against it

D. By Refusal to hear instruction or correction

Jer

E. Stubbornness

It is evident they are doing it wrong on purpose

Psalm 78:8 AV

And might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright, and whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

F. Pride

They think they are right and you are wrong.

It is dangerous to give in to this.

“Let not the rebellious exalt themselves”

G. Rejecting Biblical Instruction

Isaiah 30:1 AV

Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

H. Refuse to correct wrong thinking

Isaiah 65:2 AV

I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;

II. Results of Rebellion

A. Produces Isolation

Rebellious are out for themselves and end up by themselves.

Psalm 68:6 AV

God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

B. Destruction

Isaiah 1:20 AV

But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

C. Separates relationships

Rebellion always separates people, whether a nation, a work place, or a family, it will separate and divide relationships.

You think about people you know that are rebellious, they hurt, crush, divide, and care more for their rebellion than they do for the feelings and relationships around them.

Rebellion is always a wrong attitude.

III. What to do with Rebellion - Reproof

To blame or sensor, to charge with a result to a face, or to prove it. Exercise a sense of guilt which produces repentance.

-A verbal correction that confronts them with their error.

A. Reproof is needed when counsel is rejected

Proverbs 1:25 AV

But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

B. The Importance of Reproof and Receiving it must be taught

Receiving proof brings honor

Shows caution

Helps aid in wisdom

Proverbs 15:31 AV

The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

Proverbs 29:15 AV

The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

More valuable to the wise

Rejection of reproof brings death.

C. When reproof is hated corporal punishment becomes a necessity

Small children are the product of their parents own discipline of correcting, and administering basic boundaries.

You can’t explain to a toddler the wisdom of obeying parents and God. They follow your example and then what you allow them to do or not to do.

They know through looks, through verbal warnings and through corporal punishment

Proverbs 5:12 AV

And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

Scorners are those who will not hear instruction or correction. They are also in danger of becoming something that they cannot return from.

Proverbs 19:25 AV

Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

IV. Practical Rebellion Prevention

A. Keep your heart soft

Children will pick up our idiosyncrasies and follow our example.

Rather than an example of hard hearts - we need to leave them an example of a soft

B. Never portray an attitude of rebellion

There is an adage we all have heard in several forms - it is

“Children will follow what you do far more than what you say.”

This so true when it comes to mannerisms, character traits, reactions.

It is fun to notice when small children is when they do something like we do.

Sophia already pretends like she is talking on the phone. Not a bid deal, her mom is on the phone and works from home.

But one of the most humbling things is when you see your bad habit in them.

They will pick up your attitude of rebellion, confrontation, they will easily pick up your negative attitudes of frustrations, overreacting, temper, tantrums, and your rebellion.

C. Teach what humility is and practice it

If it is important to not display rebellion and attitude to our children, is just as important to exhibit humility.

1 Peter 5:5 AV

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Kids don’t get to see much humility any more. Growing up - the guys I respected the most were the guys who never cheered, the guys who never flexed, they were the ones who were humble about their talents.

But there is an important Bible verse here to:

Proverbs 15:33 AV

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

D. Keep communication open and active

Deut 6:4-9

To be able to fulfill what this passage teaches us, we must keep the communication lines open and active.

Open means there is nothing between us that would cause us to close off communication.

Active means, I must continually use it and work at it.

This goes back to the ignorance and frustration points we made earlier in the message. We won’t know if those things are going on unless we communicate.

E. Receive repentance

We are not just talking about saying they are sorry - we are talking about them receiving correction; understanding the sin; and changing their mind and actions about it.

F. Take, but Test questionable repentance

G. Depend on God

James 4:6–10 AV

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.