“But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. They do not say to themselves, Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvests. Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.” Jeremiah 5:23-25
God has been speaking to me about people with a “recalcitrant spirit”. This character trait exists in believers as well as the unsaved. In fact, this Bible verse in Jeremiah is addressing the Israelites, God’s chosen people.
The Israelites were very stubborn and refused to follow any kind of instruction. They wanted to live their way and were not open to correction. They were in rebellion against the laws of God. They believed they knew what was best for them and were not open to change. They did not fear God.
If you have a recalcitrant spirit, you are shutting God out of part or all of your life. You are holding on to personal emotions, thoughts, desires and habits and refuse to give these over to God.
God wants all of you-heart, soul, and spirit. Your old self died with Jesus on the cross. He wants to build a completely new person. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature and old things have passed away and all things are new.
God desires for you to give up the right to yourself and become willing to let Him change you into a new person. This will begin the process of transforming you into the personality of Jesus.
If you follow the pattern of the Israelites in the example above, you will face destruction and misery. This is the reality of God and no one is immune from His judgment. God destroyed the nation of Israel, the people suffered greatly, and most were dispersed to other countries. This is the same God that has power and dominion over the world today and God never changes.
The calling from God is to recognize who He is and to have a deep respect and fear of Him. You must submit yourself completely to God and be open to His correction.
Ask God to identify any recalcitrant spirit within you and to purify you with His nature. This will create a powerful oneness with God and you will see His glory at work in your life.
Hal Hollister Ministry 