Memory Verse: Ecclesiastes 10:4 – “If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.”
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| The Bible (Word of God) teaches us to be loyal to God |
Texts: Matthew 24:10 – “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.”
1 Corinthians 4:2 – “Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
Introduction: Loyalty is about staying committed to those God has brought into our lives and has called us to serve, even when it is difficult. It is building respect and allegiance to each other, and not trying to find a way to control the other person.
Our commitment to Christ is shown by being loyal.
Disloyalty
Disloyalty, unfaithfulness, betrayal, distrust and such like are the opposite of loyalty. Disloyalty is permitting our corrupt nature to define our desires, thereby manipulating others instead of strengthening them.
It also means ignoring God’s authority and Love for others – this kind of mindset converts into contempt which leads to disrespecting one another and eventually committing sin against God.
Disloyalty is a stage-by-stage thing, it does not just happen overnight.
Here are eight (8) stages of disloyalty:
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| “Rebellion is as sin of witchcraft” |
- First Stage (Independent Spirit): Rules and Regulations no longer matter when a person develops an independent behaviour. The person wants to become self-governing, do whatever pleases him – this is a cunning form of disloyalty.
- Second Stage (Offense): Matthew 24:10 – “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” Here Jesus Christ talks about betrayal and hatred immediately there is an offense between individuals – this is disloyalty (unforgiving spirit).
- Third Stage (Passivity): At this stage, a person is subjected to an action without a reaction. It can also be called the Submissive stage. The person can move from passivity to become a murderer, just like Absalom. Read about Absalom in 2 Samuel 13:22-28. This stage is characterized by false statements, disjointed utterances etc
- Fourth Stage (Critical): This is a stage of observing and glorifying faults. Numbers 12:1 – “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” Here, Miriam and Aaron were critical of Moses and that brought God’s anger upon them. If you down the scripture, you will see how God struck Miriam with leprosy. When friends/associates find and magnify the faults of their leaders, this is disloyalty.
- Fifth Stage (Political): Politicians hardly spe asak the truth because they want to please the people. They act on the power of people’s opinion. When someone is disloyal, he tries to involve people in his ideas and thoughts.
- Sixth Stage (Deception): Those who rebel are highly deceived, this leads to their destruction. They think they are greater than their heads in the Ministry; despise their teachers because they have acquired some knowledge or have an understanding. John 13:16 – “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his Lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.” Be very watchful, disloyalty is deception and it goes ahead to give the deceiver a feeling of obvious success.
- Seventh Stage (Open Rebellion): At this stage, the person goes ahead to slug it out openly against the Church or constituted authority. Big and popular example is the devil, in Revelation 12:7 – “And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels”; Judas openly betraying Jesus Christ, Read Matthew 26:47-48. These are open forms of disloyalty.
- Eighth Stage (Execution): All those that rebelled in the Bible never finished well. Blessings are very far from a disloyal person. The Bible rates rebellion same with witchcraft. 1 Samuel 15:23 – “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft…” See the execution of the disloyal devil in Revelation 12:9. You will see for yourself the judgement of God on the devil for his disloyalty.
