BIBLE MEDITATION:
Isaiah 14:12; “How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations!"
ENCOURAGING WORD:
If there is one thing for certain that is a part of everybody’s life, it is some sort of evil, whether it be in the form of health, emotions, spiritually or financial. Evil has become a part of life ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Nobody really knows what happened before the fall as to how it relates to Satan, but I’m going to go over a scenario that makes a lot of sense as to why Satan was kicked out of Heaven.
I heard a very good scholar put it in a way that would explain why Satan left the dwellings of heaven. We read this interesting verse in Isaiah 14:14; “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.” For those of you that don’t know who said this, it was Satan. Satan was the highest anointed Angel that existed before He fell from heaven. Satan wasn’t satisfied with being the highest-ranking Angel, he wanted to be on the same level as God. Here is God’s reply to Satan’s demand, Isaiah 14:13-15; “ For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Because of Satan’s pride, he will end up in hell for all eternity just like those that reject Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.
Now we get to another very interesting Bible verse that might very well explain why Satan left heaven to bring all his evil into the world. See, Satan hates humanity and when we read the next verse, this could be why Satan contrived a plan to bring all the evil he can into the world with one focus in mind and that is to annihilate humanity from the face of the Earth. 1 Corinthians 6:3; “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life"? Satan apparently wasn’t too happy knowing that man will judge Angels in heaven, since he, himself will be one of those Angels that will be judged. This would certainly give him good enough reason for hating humanity. If Satan can destroy mankind, then He would thwart the plan of God, but that will never happen. A few ways where Satan is very active in our world today to accomplish his agenda is #1. Abortion, #2. Homosexuality, #3. Wars of mass destruction, #4. Certain unprecedented whether events that is killing millions of people and then possibly the most effective way is from all the diseases that have plagued our world from the beginning of time.
When Satan was the anointed Angel that was above all Angels, he must have heard that God was going to create a race of beings called man to inhabit the earth and when he heard that man was going to judge angels, he rebelled against that notion and turned against God and his plan for mankind. This is where pride entered in because Satan was not going to allow himself to be beneath any angel or anything else that God would create, therefore, he fell from heaven taking with him one third of the angels, which I believe are the forces behind all the evil that is in the world today. Listen to the following Bible verse that validates what I just said, Revelation 12:4-9; “His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven (Angels) and threw them to the earth. And the dragon (Satan) stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child (Jesus) was caught up (The Ascension) to God and His throne. Then (during the seven-year tribulation period that is in the near future) the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. (Three- and one-half years) And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So, the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” The last part of these verses I believe took place in heaven just before the fall Satan and his angels. If I am understanding this correctly, the Bible verse that I just read takes us from the beginning of mankind (The Garden of Eden) (Then the birth of Jesus to His death and resurrection) and finally the end where the tribulation period that will bring an end to our world as we know it.
Satan is known as "the accuser of the brethren" Revelation 12:10; “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” He accuses us of our sins before God. Satan doesn't want God to extend grace and forgiveness to us, nor does He want us to receive God's grace. Jesus says of Satan, "He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies" John 8:44; “You (The Religious hierarchy of that day) are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” We need to be wise to Satan's tactics so we will not succumb to his deception and accept the shame he wants us to bear. Initially, Satan was a powerful, beautiful angel in heaven, but he was cast out of heaven due to pride, he wanted to be exalted above God (Ezekiel 28:15, 17-18; Isaiah 14:12–15.) He and his fallen angels (which are now demons) who rebelled with him are now in direct opposition to God and seeking to hinder people from choosing salvation, living for God, and walking in His freedom 1 Peter 5:8;“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” Satan also attempts to slander and discredit believers by making accusations about them before God, which is proof that he still has access to heaven.
One thing that everybody needs to know right up front without argument. God is not responsible for any evil that is in this world that may come upon you in whatever form it may be. The reason I say this is, so everybody knows that when something bad happens to you, it is not of God, it is always of Satan. But, with this being said, I hear so often, when something bad happens to someone, right away they want to blame God. People that do not believe nor accept Jesus as Lord will always blame God for everything bad that happens in their life. Let me explain this the best that I can. When you become born-again, you are in the will of God for your life, sure, you will still experience trials in your life, but they will be Father filtered and working out for good whether it may seem that way or not. We read this truth in Romans 8:28; a verse that I refer to often, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Notice it says, (And we know, we don’t think, and all things are working out for the good, not some things, everything.) If you are a believer and something comes into your life that isn’t very pleasant, it is because God is allowing Satan to test you to see how much faith you really have. This is where our faith is really tested and believe me, it is not at all very pleasant. We read this word James, 1:2-4; where it explains how we are to feel, “Count it all joy, my brothers when you fall into various temptations, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. Let endurance have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” So, when something does come into your life that is not very pleasant, just remember this verse, I personally must remind myself of this often.
Now let’s look at the other side of evil that comes into our lives. If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are not under the protective care of the Holy Spirit, therefor you are extremely vulnerable to the attacks of Satan and since Satan hates everybody, whether you are a Christian or not, he will bring as much evil as he can into the lives of those that are vulnerable to his attacks. (The unbelievers) If you have not accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, Gods hand of protection is not over you. John, 3:3; “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Unless you are born-again, you are not a child of God, you are a child of the world. In Romans 12:2; we read, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” If you are in Christ, you are born-again, you should see yourself transforming into the image of God, if you are conforming to the world, then you are considered an earth dweller. Remember, if you are a true believer, this is not your home, you are just passing through and this is as bad as it will get, and if you are of the world, then this is as good as it will get. Let that sink in, if you think what we are experiencing in our world today is bad, just wait, you haven’t seen anything yet. I also need to explain something that is very misunderstood, just because you attend a so-called Christian church, that doesn’t make you a Christian. Religion does not save you, only when you submit your life to Jesus Christ and accept the Holy Spirit into your heart, does one become saved. Going to church does not save you any more than walking into a doctor’s office makes you doctor. Don’t get me wrong, if you are a believer, you need to fellowship with likeminded believers and of course the best place to do that is in a church environment. Remember, the church in and of itself is not a building made with hands, the church are those that have given their life over to the one that created them in the first place. Acts 2:47 tells us who builds the church, “praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” Jesus builds the church, nobody else can save you from what is coming. If you trust in any other way for your salvation other than through Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone, you will not enter the kingdom of God, as I mentioned in John 3:3. Listen to what Jesus said in the following verse, John 14:6; “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” Either you believe the Bible is the true and inherent word of God or you don’t. If not, then you are already lost, if you do, then don’t you think it is a good idea to hear what the Bible, (The true Word of God) has to say? Don’t assume that you are going to heaven because you attend a certain church every Sunday or only on Christmas and Easter, because that is the furthest from the truth, another huge lie from the pit of hell, concocted by Satan, our advisory.
Let me end this message by saying, Satan is more real than anything that has ever existed, so if you are of the belief that Satan just stands for evil and he doesn’t really exist, then you are under the hallucination of Satan’s power. Satan does not want us to know he exist; he just wants to stand behind the scenes and do what ever damage that he can and then have everybody blame it of God. If you don’t believe that Satan exists, try to oppose (resist) him. My friends, you have a choice to make, you either serves Jesus Christ or you serve Satan, you can’t be on the fence. Hear what Jesus has to say about what I just said. Matthew 12:30; “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” You may say, I don’t serve Satan, I just don’t believe in God. Satan wants everybody to reject God, so if you reject God, you are serving Satan, there are no if, and or buts about it. You believe or you don’t, you believe in God and His propitiation for your sins through the life, death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, or you don’t. The road is very narrow that leads to life as the scriptures plainly teach. So, ask yourself this last question, are you following the path that leads to destruction which is wide or are you on the narrow path that leads to everlasting life. The answer is easy, do you follow all the lies that are being spread throughout our world or are you in the minority that is stranding for the truths of the scriptures. You are responsible for what lies ahead for you, will you choose live everlasting with God, or death which will lead to everlasting torment and suffering in the Lake of Burning Fire? Only you can make that choice.
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