Defiance: It Is Not an Option

When God Speaks, Will Our Answer Be Yes?

By Pastor Eric Schroeder | September 27, 2026

There are times when the Holy Spirit confronts us with a question we cannot ignore:

What happens when God speaks—and we decide we know better?

We are living in a time when it is increasingly important for the people of God to stay focused on the Word rather than the world. We must guard our hearts, pursue righteousness, holiness, and purity, and keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus.

But doing that requires more than knowing what God's Word says. It requires obedience.

And that brings us to a difficult but necessary subject:

Defiance.

Defiance toward God cannot remain an option for someone who has surrendered their life to Jesus Christ. We cannot call Jesus Lord while reserving the right to tell Him no.

If He is truly Lord, our lives must become completely surrendered to Him.

Defiance Says, “I Know, But…”

In 1 Samuel 15, God gave King Saul specific instructions concerning the Amalekites. Saul heard what God said, but instead of completely carrying out God's command, Saul made his own adjustments.

He kept King Agag alive. He spared the best livestock. He did what he thought was best.

That distinction is important.

Saul's problem wasn't that he didn't know what God wanted.

He knew—and chose his own way.

Samuel confronted Saul and declared the powerful truth found in 1 Samuel 15:22–23: obedience is better than sacrifice, and rebellion is compared with the sin of divination.

This reveals something about defiance.

Defiance doesn't always scream:

“NO, GOD!”

Sometimes it sounds much more subtle:

“God, I know what You said, but…”

“I know what Your Word says, but…”

“I know You're telling me to forgive, but…”

“I know You're asking me to step out, but…”

“I know You're asking me to surrender this, but…”

That is where we must examine our hearts.

Defiance begins when our “but” becomes greater than God's Word.

Obedience Is Better Than Sacrifice

Saul attempted to make his actions sound spiritual. But Samuel made something very clear:

Religious activity cannot substitute for obedience.

We cannot knowingly disobey God and then attempt to compensate for it by going to church, giving, worshiping, serving, or making sacrifices.

God wants more than our activity.

God wants our yes.

Not partial obedience.

Not convenient obedience.

Not delayed obedience.

Obedience.

There is a tremendous difference between saying, “Lord, I'll follow You as long as I agree with where You're going,” and saying, “Lord, wherever You lead, I will follow.”

One leaves us in control.

The other requires surrender.

Rebellion Rejects God's Authority

First Samuel 15:23 is sometimes summarized by saying, “rebellion is witchcraft.” The passage actually compares rebellion with the sin of divination.

The issue Samuel exposes is Saul's rejection of God's authority.

God had spoken, yet Saul effectively responded:

“God said this—but I'm choosing that.”

His defiance had serious consequences.

This should cause each of us to ask:

Do I want my way more than I want God's way?

There will be moments when God's instructions conflict with our preferences. Those moments reveal whether we simply want God's blessing or whether we truly want God's will.

Sometimes Our Actions Say No

Defiance is ultimately a heart issue.

Isaiah 1:19–20 presents two different responses to God: willingness and obedience on one side, refusal and rebellion on the other.

James 4:17 also reminds us that when we know the right thing to do and refuse to do it, that itself becomes sin.

This means defiance isn't always something we say.

Sometimes our actions say no.

God says:

Go.

We stay.

God says:

Speak.

We remain silent.

God says:

Forgive.

We hold onto the offense.

God says:

Release it.

We tighten our grip.

God says:

Pray for that person.

We walk past them.

Sometimes the loudest “NO” we give God is our silence and inactivity.

There comes a point when we don't need another revelation about what God wants. We simply need to obey what He has already shown us.

Jesus Showed Us What Surrender Looks Like

If Saul gives us a picture of defiance, Jesus gives us the ultimate picture of surrender.

In Gethsemane, Jesus knew what was ahead.

The cross.

The suffering.

The cup.

Yet in Matthew 26:39, His prayer ultimately came down to this:

Not My will, but Yours.

That is the opposite of defiance.

Defiance says: My will over Yours.

Surrender says: Your will over mine.

Surrender doesn't mean everything God asks us to do will be easy.

It doesn't mean there will never be a struggle.

It means that even when obedience is difficult, our answer is still yes.

Jesus willingly surrendered Himself to the Father's plan.

That must become the posture of our hearts as well.

The Church Is Standing at a Fork in the Road

I believe the Church is standing at a spiritual “Y” in the road.

One road is marked by:

Complacency.Tolerance.Self-will.Fear.Pride.

The other road is marked by:

Faith.Trust.Humility.Sacrifice.Courage.Surrender.

The road of obedience may initially appear more difficult.

Yes, following God may cost us something.

Yes, we may have to surrender relationships that continually pull us backward.

Yes, we may have to change the way we think.

Yes, we will have to put aside pride and fear.

But God is calling us forward.

If you realize you have been walking down the wrong road, there is good news:

You can change directions.

Repentance allows us to turn around and say:

“God, I've been doing this my way. Now I want Yours.”

Obedience Flows From Love

Jesus said in John 14:15 that those who love Him will keep His commandments.

Biblical obedience is not merely compliance.

True obedience flows from our love for Christ.

Jesus also asks a piercing question in Luke 6:46: Why call Him “Lord” while refusing to do what He says?

If He's Lord, He gets the final word.

We cannot declare:

“Jesus is Lord!”

and then reserve certain areas of our lives where we continue to say:

“No.”

Our finances belong to Him.

Our relationships belong to Him.

Our future belongs to Him.

Our plans belong to Him.

Our gifts belong to Him.

Our reputation belongs to Him.

Our entire lives belong to Him.

Don't Just Hear the Word—Do It

James 1:22 challenges believers to become doers of the Word, not merely hearers.

We can shout, “Amen!”

We can highlight the verse.

We can share the Scripture.

We can tell someone how powerful the sermon was.

But eventually God says:

“Now do it.”

What happens when the Holy Spirit tells you to pray for someone?

Immediately, fear can begin asking questions:

What will they think?

What if they reject me?

What if nothing happens?

What if I look foolish?

Defiance says:

“I know what God said, but I'm afraid.”

Obedience says:

“God said it—so I'm going.”

We cannot allow the fear of people to become greater than our reverence for God.

We Need the Fear of God Again

The Church cannot become lazy, tolerant, or complacent.

God has called His people to walk in:

Holiness.Righteousness.Strength.Dignity.Honor.

There should be something burning within God's people—the fire of the Holy Spirit.

Our prayer should become:

“God, burn in me again!”

“Let me encounter somebody who needs You today!”

“Use me, Lord!”

“Let me see Your mighty hand operating through my life!”

Instead of constantly asking, “What will people think?” perhaps we need to return to asking:

“What does God think?”

Surrender Is Daily

Jesus says in Luke 9:23 that anyone who desires to follow Him must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Him.

That word daily matters.

Surrender isn't simply something that happened when we first gave our lives to Jesus.

Yesterday's surrender doesn't automatically become today's surrender.

Every morning is another opportunity to say:

“God, I'm Yours.”

“My plans are Yours.”

“My desires are Yours.”

“My future is Yours.”

“My answer is YES.”

Defiance, Obedience, and Surrender

It really comes down to three statements:

DEFIANCE SAYS:“I know what God said, but I will do what I want.”

OBEDIENCE SAYS:“Because He is Lord, I will do what He says.”

SURRENDER SAYS:“Even when His will costs me something, His will becomes greater than mine.”

That brings us back to the central truth:

We cannot call Jesus Lord while reserving the right to tell Him no.

If He is truly Lord, defiance is not an option.

Give God Your Yes

Take a moment and allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart.

Where have you resisted God?

Where have you delayed obedience?

Where have you partially obeyed?

Where has fear controlled your response?

Where have you said:

“Yes, Lord—but…”?

Maybe there are things from the past you need to release.

Maybe there is something in your present you need to surrender.

Maybe fear concerning your future has caused you to hold tightly to control.

Whatever it is, bring it before Him.

Let your prayer become:

“God, burn in me again.”

“Not my will—Your will.”

“Not my plans—Your plans.”

“My answer is YES!”

Jesus demonstrated complete surrender, and because of His obedience to the Father's redemptive plan, we have been given life through Him.

So let this become more than another message.

Let it become a declaration over your life:

When God says GO—GO.

When God says STOP—STOP.

When God says WAIT—WAIT.

When God says RELEASE IT—RELEASE IT.

When Jesus says FOLLOW ME—FOLLOW HIM.

No more bargaining.

No more excuses.

No more partial obedience.

May this become the cry of our hearts:

Jesus, You are Lord.

My life belongs to You.

Not my will, but Yours be done.

MY ANSWER IS YES!

— Pastor Eric SchroederRadiant New Life Church