Pride Loves Rebellion | Pastor Romeo Leal

Pride loves rebellion because pride does not want to bow, does not want correction, does not want authority, does not want holiness, and does not want repentance. First Samuel 15 exposes that rebellion can wear religious language and still stink before God. Saul was not denying God or saying he hated God. Saul was claiming to honor God while actively disobeying him.

Partial obedience stands exposed as rebellion. Saul kept the best of the animals and called it sacrifice, but Samuel called it what God called it. Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than the fat of rams. Rebellion with a Bible in the hand is still rebellion.

God’s word becomes the dividing line. Rebellion begins the moment the word of God is no longer the final authority and starts being treated like a suggestion. The serpent’s old question, “Did God really say?” still disciples people away from Jesus. That same question shows up around holiness, marriage, male and female, sexual purity, repentance, authority, and the call to deny self, pick up the cross, and follow Christ.

Culture preaches sermons every day. Schools, entertainment, social media, politicians, and algorithms preach, “Reject authority, redefine truth, celebrate pride, call sin identity, call rebellion liberation, call holiness hate, call conviction trauma, call biblical correction abuse.” Truth is not hate. Truth is freedom, and Jesus said the ones who remain faithful to His teachings will know the truth, and the truth will set them free.

Biblical love never celebrates bondage. Biblical love does not affirm what Jesus died to deliver people from, and it does not remove the cross from Jesus. Jesus loved sinners deeply, touched the broken, ate with sinners, healed the wounded, and delivered the bound, but He never affirmed rebellion. Grace saved the woman caught in adultery from stones, but truth still said, “Go and sin no more.”

Rebellion rejects God-given authority because rebellion wants power outside submission to God. Samuel compares rebellion to witchcraft because witchcraft seeks power without bowing to the King of kings. A person who refuses God’s authority does not become free. That person simply submits to another authority, whether flesh, culture, deception, or a demonic spirit.

Humble repentance becomes the answer to rebellion. The call begins with the heart asking where resistance, delayed obedience, excuses, partial obedience, spiritual language, cultural discipleship, and fear of man have taken root. God burns away impurities as His people pursue His presence and submit to His word. Rebellion may be celebrated in culture, but it is still rejected by God.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Partial obedience is still rebellion Saul’s sacrifice sounded spiritual, but God did not receive disobedience dressed up as worship. The issue was not whether Saul had religious intent, but whether Saul submitted to the command of the Lord. God is not impressed by offerings that protect a rebellious heart. [02:45]
• 2. Truth frees only when submitted to Jesus ties freedom to remaining faithful to His teachings, not to self-expression or personal feelings. Truth does not liberate from a distance, as an idea admired but not obeyed. Truth sets free when the heart bows and says God’s word has final authority. [17:06]
• 3. Biblical love refuses bondage Love that never calls sin by its name is not the love of Jesus. Grace did not stone the woman caught in adultery, but truth did not affirm her adultery either. Biblical love rescues without pretending rebellion is harmless. [21:55]
• 4. Rebellion always changes masters The question is never whether a person will submit, but who that person will submit to. Refusing Christ does not create freedom, it opens the door to flesh, culture, deception, and demonic authority. Rebellion promises liberation while quietly placing the soul under another rule. [28:10]
• 5. Repentance starts in the heart The answer to rebellion is not first pointing at the culture, but letting God search the hidden places. Delayed obedience, spiritual excuses, and fear of man can hide under religious activity. Humility asks God to expose the seed before it grows roots.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:31] - Saul’s Rebellion And Samuel’s Rebuke
• [02:45] - Pride Refuses To Bow
• [05:20] - Religious Language Cannot Cover Disobedience
• [08:31] - When God’s Word Becomes Optional
• [12:34] - The Enemy’s Question Against Scripture
• [14:18] - Culture Is Discipling Rebellion
• [16:34] - Truth Is Freedom, Not Hate
• [17:45] - Rebellion Dressed As Sacrifice
• [21:55] - Biblical Love Calls For Repentance
• [24:23] - Rejecting Sexual Rebellion
• [25:34] - Rebellion As Witchcraft
• [28:10] - Submission To Christ Or Deception
• [31:18] - Humble Repentance Begins Within
• [35:26] - A Call To Reject Pride

1. What two things does Samuel compare to rebellion and stubbornness in 1 Samuel 15:23, and why might this comparison be surprising?
2. According to the sermon, how did Saul try to justify his disobedience to God’s command, and how did Samuel respond? [05:20]
3. What example does Jesus give in John 8:11 that shows both grace and truth working together?
4. How does the sermon describe the cultural messages that oppose biblical authority (e.g., “call sin identity” or “call rebellion liberation”)? [14:59]

1. Why does Samuel equate rebellion with witchcraft (1 Samuel 15:23)? How does this connect to the idea of seeking power outside of God’s authority? [25:34]
2. Jesus says truth sets people free only if they “abide in [His] word” (John 8:31-32). What does it mean to “abide” in truth, and how is this different from merely agreeing with it intellectually?
3. The sermon argues that partial obedience is still rebellion. How might someone today use “religious language” (like Saul’s claim of sacrifice) to justify disobedience? [05:46]
4. Why is humility essential for recognizing and uprooting rebellion in our hearts, according to the sermon? [10:29]

1. Where have you delayed obedience to God’s Word or rationalized partial obedience (e.g., “I’ll forgive later” or “This situation is an exception”)? What step can you take today to align fully with His command? [31:42]
2. The sermon warns that culture disciples us daily through media, schools, and algorithms. What specific cultural messages have you unknowingly accepted that conflict with Scripture (e.g., views on identity, authority, or morality)? How will you combat this? [14:18]
3. Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “Go and sin no more” after showing her grace. Is there an area where you’ve received God’s grace but still need to confront sin boldly? How can you pursue both truth and love in this?
4. Rebellion often starts with questioning God’s Word (“Did God really say?”). What biblical truths do you feel pressured to compromise on, and how will you reaffirm their authority in your life? [09:23]
5. Samuel confronted Saul directly. Who in your life has permission to lovingly point out rebellion or blind spots in your walk with God? If no one, how can you invite this kind of accountability?
6. The sermon urges parents to disciple their children against cultural lies. What practical step will you take this week to teach someone younger (a child, friend, or mentee) about God’s design for holiness? [33:10]