Tonight is the last night for our Vacation Bible School: Outrigger Island. As usual, it is always a time of ups and downs. First there is the process of recruiting workers. After that, you have to plan the work and work the plan. That includes staying within the budget, placing workers in the right area and with the right people to complement each other. Making sure the week is advertised. Having a great kick-off. Getting kids to actually show up. Working towards family night. Presenting the gospel to kids. Meeting parents. Counting millions (not literally) of pennies and lose change. Filling out registration cards....
I could go on but for the sake of time I won't. There are many ups and downs. Our VBS runs from a Sunday through a Thursday so we get each of the 5 lessons and complete rotations in. Then we have our program on a Friday. I have found this schedule seems to work really well for everyone. Then we schedule the time from 6-9pm. So, it makes for a long and sometimes tiring week.
The benefit, the 'up' to VBS comes in many forms. I get encouraged when I see church members pull together and set aside preferences for the sake of unity and sharing the gospel with kids. This year, we have nearly 50 volunteers working on VBS. This is absolutely amazing. There are mother daughter teams teaching, senior adults leading 6th graders, grandmothers and grandsons, youth volunteers, and everyone in between. I love to see the church come together like this! This has been probably the best year of VBS I have ever led, which is my 8th one.
The other benefit is sharing the gospel and seeing children begin to think about the Bible in a completely different way. They find discover the Bible is true and learn about how God sent Jesus to die for their sins. They learn to admit they are sinners, believe that Jesus is God's Son and died for them, and confess Him before others.
I don't utilize a 'say this sinner's prayer and come forward approach'. I do present the gospel, share a sample prayer, and ask children who prayed that to raise their hands. Then I tell them to let me or their teachers know if they made a commitment to Jesus. At the same time we let the kids know any question they have is important and we want to help them.
Using this approach may not lead to 20 or 30 kids 'making a decision' but it does present the gospel and allow them to begin thinking about salvation. There have been a couple of kids who indicated they made professions of faith, a few others who need to be baptized and countless others that need to be discipled. It is amazing how many kids would come to church if their parents would get up and bring them. Too often they send them on a van, no matter what church it is, and stay home.
I pray that our church implements a better follow-up plan than we have before and the seeds that have been planted this week will grow into a great harvest in time.
To any church member reading this, thank you again for your commitment and sacrifice this week. VBS is what it is because of you! I love and appreciate you all.
Pastor Ricky
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Satan's Attack on the Church
Here are the notes from yesterday's sermon. These are 10 of many ways Satan attacks the church today, so it is not an all inclusive list. It will highlight some of his tactics though...
1. Doubt – God’s word, Salvation: 1 John 5:11-13
Scripture is given to us so that we may know we have eternal life. God’s word provides many passages concerning the absolute security of the believer.
“All Christians are meant to have assurance of salvation. God has not only provided a way whereby we can be saved, and not only saved us, but He lets us know that He had done so. This is a glorious aspect of the Christian life. The Christian is not meant to remain in doubt and uncertainty… the Christian is meant to know joy and peace… from first to last Satan’s aim is to rob Christians of this glorious aspect of salvation. Thank God, sin and failure do not affect the relationship; and when the devil comes and suggests that you are not a Christian because you have sinned answer him by saying, “I agree that I have sinned, but I am still a child of God.” The relationship has not changed. In other words you must never go back to the question of justification because you have sinned. To do so is to fall immediately into the snare of the devil.” - Martyn Lloyd Jones
2. False teachers – 2 Peter 2:1-2
These teachers come in two varieties. The first are self-professed teachers. They bring with them various doctrinal errors. They might begin by attacking individual preferences, but their hearts are only evil, and eventually they work their way into delivering false doctrine.
The second variety are comprised of false believers who, over time, weasel their way into a position of leadership within a congregation. By this time, they have built a following and enjoy the praise they receive.
The end goal of both types is twofold, their pride consumes them and they want a following, a fan base, and supporters. On the other side, they want to teach false doctrine while being seen as ‘wise teachers’, but all the while they only lead people astray.
3. False believers – Matthew 13:36-43
The devil loves it when false believers infiltrate the church. Many times it is difficult to know who they are because they look, act, and talk like true believers. Often, they attempt to get into positions of leadership, making decisions that will lead to conflict in the church.
4. Division – 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
The ancient Greek word for divisions is schismata. Although we derive our English word “schism” from this Greek word, it does not really mean a “party” or a “faction”; it properly means “tear, or rend.” Paul’s plea is that they stop ripping each other apart, tearing up the body of Christ. – David Guzik
The devil desires a broken and fractured church, for when we are broken and fractured, very little ministry, evangelism and obedience take place. How can they? When our divisions cause us to pick and chose sides, defend our positions and attitudes, look down on everyone else who is not in agreement with us, and develop a strategy to ‘get’ the offenders out of our fellowship: it become impossible to worship God.
Too many times churches form divisions and draw battle lines between the pews and dare anyone to cross them. The devil takes great delight when this happens.
There was an old, contentious Quaker who went from one meeting to another, never finding the “true” church. Someone once said to him, “Well, what church are you in now?” He said, “I am in the true church at last.” “How many belong to it?” “Just my wife and myself, and I am not sure about her sometimes.” – David Guzik
We must be willing to look beyond our preferences, the attitudes of others, and see Jesus. When we are able to do this, all the ‘problems’ and ‘issues’ pale in comparison to His glory. It is then, and only then, we are able to find it within ourselves to seek forgiveness and healing, instead of rotting away in bitterness and hatred.
5. Sexual immorality – 1 Corinthians 7:5 (HCSB) Do not deprive one another—except when you agree, for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
God has designed sex to be a beautiful gift, only in the bounds of biblical marriage. If husbands and wives decide to abstain from their sexual relationship for any other reason than a season of prayer, they open themselves up to sexual temptation.
6. Open sin – 1 Corinthians 5:1-8, 11
The Corinthian church, while filled with such sin, was actually puffed up and did not deal with it appropriately. Instead of enacting biblical discipline, they allowed it to continue. And not just sexually immorality, but all kinds of sinful behavior.
The church should have turned the ‘brother’ over to Satan. In other words, let the consequences of his sin play out. When a believer refuses to repent of sin, the church is to disfellowship him.
“Church discipline is not a group of ‘pious policemen’ out to catch a criminal. Rather, it is a group of brokenhearted brothers and sisters seeking to restore and erring member of the family.” (Wiersbe)
Not only does a little leaven leaven the whole lump, it gives off a foul stench to a lost and dying world, looking in from the outside and trying to figure out what makes us in here so different from them out there.
While the church may have ‘acted in love’ by accepting the brother and not confronting his sin, ‘you don’t show love to a body by being kind to a cancer!’ – David Guzik
7. Pride – 1 Timothy 3:7 (HCSB) Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s trap.
Pride comes in many forms. In the verse form, it comes when a young believer is placed in a position of leadership/authority. Satan desires to destroy godly leaders within the church. Someone once said, “When the shepherd is destroyed, the flock scatters.”
1 Timothy 6:3-5
Here we find false teachers being filled with conceit and this leads to disagreement among men and they perceive to have a form of godliness, but they are only interested in material gain. In other words, they are worldly.
8. Worldliness – 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (HCSB) 6 But godliness with contentment is a great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
A desire for riches/money/possessions can have devastating effects on Christians and the church. When we are not content with what we have and only desire more and more, we begin to pursue any means necessary to get what we want, and neglect our pursuit of godliness. Paul tells Timothy it is a trap, and we know that the devil sets many traps for us in his attempt to bring the church down.
9. Laziness – Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
I love this verse because it addresses a major problem within the church today. Where are our church members? What is wrong with the church when we neglect worshiping together? The devil strives to keep us from worshiping, fellowshipping, serving, and praising God together.
We have become very good at making excuses for skipping out on church and when a pattern develops we stick to certain ‘lies’ and the sad reality to this whole mess is this: the devil has us right where he wants us, out of fellowship with each other and with God.
10. Traditionalism – Colossians 2:8-10
The tradition of men here means religious teachings which have been invented by men but which have no true foundation in the Scriptures. (A tradition is a fixation of a custom which began as a convenience, or which suited some particular circumstance.) -MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Col 2:8
Anything other than the gospel of Jesus Christ! The devil loves this! When we focus on our traditions, which have no basis in the scriptures, then we lose our focus. Instead of loving God, loving others and sharing Jesus, the focus becomes preserving our traditions, whatever they may be. That means excluding new believers, because they don’t know our traditions, or protecting ‘sacred cows’ instead of contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
This is but a brief snapshot of some of Satan’s attack on the church. It becomes critical then we are a regenerate, baptized body of believers, striving to maintain the unity of this fellowship, desiring to love God, love others, and share Jesus; all the while making Jesus increase and ourselves decrease. It is not about you or me. It is not about the leadership or the layperson. It is about the one who sent His only Son for you and me. Let’s join together to counter Satan’s attack on the church!
1. Doubt – God’s word, Salvation: 1 John 5:11-13
Scripture is given to us so that we may know we have eternal life. God’s word provides many passages concerning the absolute security of the believer.
“All Christians are meant to have assurance of salvation. God has not only provided a way whereby we can be saved, and not only saved us, but He lets us know that He had done so. This is a glorious aspect of the Christian life. The Christian is not meant to remain in doubt and uncertainty… the Christian is meant to know joy and peace… from first to last Satan’s aim is to rob Christians of this glorious aspect of salvation. Thank God, sin and failure do not affect the relationship; and when the devil comes and suggests that you are not a Christian because you have sinned answer him by saying, “I agree that I have sinned, but I am still a child of God.” The relationship has not changed. In other words you must never go back to the question of justification because you have sinned. To do so is to fall immediately into the snare of the devil.” - Martyn Lloyd Jones
2. False teachers – 2 Peter 2:1-2
These teachers come in two varieties. The first are self-professed teachers. They bring with them various doctrinal errors. They might begin by attacking individual preferences, but their hearts are only evil, and eventually they work their way into delivering false doctrine.
The second variety are comprised of false believers who, over time, weasel their way into a position of leadership within a congregation. By this time, they have built a following and enjoy the praise they receive.
The end goal of both types is twofold, their pride consumes them and they want a following, a fan base, and supporters. On the other side, they want to teach false doctrine while being seen as ‘wise teachers’, but all the while they only lead people astray.
3. False believers – Matthew 13:36-43
The devil loves it when false believers infiltrate the church. Many times it is difficult to know who they are because they look, act, and talk like true believers. Often, they attempt to get into positions of leadership, making decisions that will lead to conflict in the church.
4. Division – 1 Corinthians 1:10-13
The ancient Greek word for divisions is schismata. Although we derive our English word “schism” from this Greek word, it does not really mean a “party” or a “faction”; it properly means “tear, or rend.” Paul’s plea is that they stop ripping each other apart, tearing up the body of Christ. – David Guzik
The devil desires a broken and fractured church, for when we are broken and fractured, very little ministry, evangelism and obedience take place. How can they? When our divisions cause us to pick and chose sides, defend our positions and attitudes, look down on everyone else who is not in agreement with us, and develop a strategy to ‘get’ the offenders out of our fellowship: it become impossible to worship God.
Too many times churches form divisions and draw battle lines between the pews and dare anyone to cross them. The devil takes great delight when this happens.
There was an old, contentious Quaker who went from one meeting to another, never finding the “true” church. Someone once said to him, “Well, what church are you in now?” He said, “I am in the true church at last.” “How many belong to it?” “Just my wife and myself, and I am not sure about her sometimes.” – David Guzik
We must be willing to look beyond our preferences, the attitudes of others, and see Jesus. When we are able to do this, all the ‘problems’ and ‘issues’ pale in comparison to His glory. It is then, and only then, we are able to find it within ourselves to seek forgiveness and healing, instead of rotting away in bitterness and hatred.
5. Sexual immorality – 1 Corinthians 7:5 (HCSB) Do not deprive one another—except when you agree, for a time, to devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again; otherwise, Satan may tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
God has designed sex to be a beautiful gift, only in the bounds of biblical marriage. If husbands and wives decide to abstain from their sexual relationship for any other reason than a season of prayer, they open themselves up to sexual temptation.
6. Open sin – 1 Corinthians 5:1-8, 11
The Corinthian church, while filled with such sin, was actually puffed up and did not deal with it appropriately. Instead of enacting biblical discipline, they allowed it to continue. And not just sexually immorality, but all kinds of sinful behavior.
The church should have turned the ‘brother’ over to Satan. In other words, let the consequences of his sin play out. When a believer refuses to repent of sin, the church is to disfellowship him.
“Church discipline is not a group of ‘pious policemen’ out to catch a criminal. Rather, it is a group of brokenhearted brothers and sisters seeking to restore and erring member of the family.” (Wiersbe)
Not only does a little leaven leaven the whole lump, it gives off a foul stench to a lost and dying world, looking in from the outside and trying to figure out what makes us in here so different from them out there.
While the church may have ‘acted in love’ by accepting the brother and not confronting his sin, ‘you don’t show love to a body by being kind to a cancer!’ – David Guzik
7. Pride – 1 Timothy 3:7 (HCSB) Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the Devil’s trap.
Pride comes in many forms. In the verse form, it comes when a young believer is placed in a position of leadership/authority. Satan desires to destroy godly leaders within the church. Someone once said, “When the shepherd is destroyed, the flock scatters.”
1 Timothy 6:3-5
Here we find false teachers being filled with conceit and this leads to disagreement among men and they perceive to have a form of godliness, but they are only interested in material gain. In other words, they are worldly.
8. Worldliness – 1 Timothy 6:6-10 (HCSB) 6 But godliness with contentment is a great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation, a trap, and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and by craving it, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.
A desire for riches/money/possessions can have devastating effects on Christians and the church. When we are not content with what we have and only desire more and more, we begin to pursue any means necessary to get what we want, and neglect our pursuit of godliness. Paul tells Timothy it is a trap, and we know that the devil sets many traps for us in his attempt to bring the church down.
9. Laziness – Hebrews 10:25 (KJV) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
I love this verse because it addresses a major problem within the church today. Where are our church members? What is wrong with the church when we neglect worshiping together? The devil strives to keep us from worshiping, fellowshipping, serving, and praising God together.
We have become very good at making excuses for skipping out on church and when a pattern develops we stick to certain ‘lies’ and the sad reality to this whole mess is this: the devil has us right where he wants us, out of fellowship with each other and with God.
10. Traditionalism – Colossians 2:8-10
The tradition of men here means religious teachings which have been invented by men but which have no true foundation in the Scriptures. (A tradition is a fixation of a custom which began as a convenience, or which suited some particular circumstance.) -MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S. Col 2:8
Anything other than the gospel of Jesus Christ! The devil loves this! When we focus on our traditions, which have no basis in the scriptures, then we lose our focus. Instead of loving God, loving others and sharing Jesus, the focus becomes preserving our traditions, whatever they may be. That means excluding new believers, because they don’t know our traditions, or protecting ‘sacred cows’ instead of contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints.
This is but a brief snapshot of some of Satan’s attack on the church. It becomes critical then we are a regenerate, baptized body of believers, striving to maintain the unity of this fellowship, desiring to love God, love others, and share Jesus; all the while making Jesus increase and ourselves decrease. It is not about you or me. It is not about the leadership or the layperson. It is about the one who sent His only Son for you and me. Let’s join together to counter Satan’s attack on the church!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Angels, Satan and Demons Oh My! Satan's attack on the family
Here are my notes from the sermon this morning. Please feel free to comment me with any questions you might have...
Satan’s attack on the family…
Destroy marriages and families – all divorce, abuse, neglect, crimes within families is a result of Satan’s attack on the family
Before the fall, marriage was perfect and I believe families would have followed that same pattern…but
Genesis 3 – Eve is deceived and sins, then man follows suit.
The man did not protect his wife.
I believe he witnessed Eve’s deception and then he willingly disobeyed God rather than be obedient.
Eve sinned not only in disobeying God’s specific command but also in acting independently of her husband by failing to consult him about the serpent’s temptation. Adam sinned not only by disobeying God’s command but also by succumbing to Eve’s usurpation of his leadership, thus failing to exercise his God-given authority. Both the man and the woman twisted God’s plan for their relationship, reversing their roles – and marriage has not been the same since. (MacArthur, John: Different by Design. Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub, 1994.)
Cain then follows in the pattern of sin and murders his brother in Gen 4. Once mankind was infected with sin, the breakdown of the family began. It is one of Satan’s strategies to get at God.
If Satan can’t have the esteemed position he desires, he will make a mockery of God’s creatures and attempt to thwart God’s plan.
The first book of the Bible is filled with accounts of the breakdown of the family and marriage.
John MacArthur summarizes the defilement of marriage like this…
· Polygamy – Gen 4:23
· Impure Sexual thoughts – Gen 9:20-27
· Adultery – Gen 16:2
· Homosexuality – Gen 19:4-5
· Fornication/rape – Gen 34:1-2
· Incest/prostitution – Gen 38:13-18
That is just the first book. Throughout the OT and the NT we find examples of gross immorality and sin affecting the family. Sin originated with Satan and he will do everything possible to tempt us in those same patterns.
Now, lest we fall into the lame excuse of “the devil made me do it”, let’s understand this: Satan can’t read our minds, however he is very cunning and sly. He has the advantage of millennia of learned experiences with mankind and can almost with 99% accuracy predict what will cause us to stumble.
As father’s, the burden falls on our shoulders to protect our families. Adam failed and since that time we follow in those footsteps. Being a godly father, or godly husband or even a godly man is a difficult challenge in today’s world.
· Satan can’t stand to see us grow into God-fearing, Jesus-loving men who make our families a priority.
· Satan doesn’t want to see fathers training up children in the way they should grow.
· Satan doesn’t want to see husbands loving their wives they way Christ loves the church.
· Satan doesn’t want us living out our covenants between our spouses and Christ because he hates everything that has to do with our King.
· Satan doesn’t want to see husbands leading their families spiritually.
· Satan doesn’t want to see a family building on the foundation of Christ because they have access to great power in prayer (1 Peter 3:7 (HCSB) Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as co-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.)
· Satan doesn’t want fathers preparing the soil of their children’s heart to receive the word of God leading them to repent of their sin and accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
· Satan can’t stand it when we act like real God-fearing, Jesus-loving men who make our families a priority.
So men, what is our answer? How can we become God-fearing, Jesus-loving men? How do we overcome all the baggage, the immorality, and the bad examples throughout history of those who failed? We have to stop making excuses and blame shifting and look to Jesus.
· We change only after we understand we are hopelessly lost in sin and the reality of sin is death.
· We change only after we understand God doesn’t excuse our sin, yet He will forgive our sin.
· We change only after we understand God doesn’t divide our families to make knew ones because it makes us happier.
· We change only after we understand God’s word is truth and we must obey it.
· We change only after we repent of our hardheaded attitude of selfishness and pride and begin loving our children and our spouse as Jesus loves the church.
Why does all this fall to men?
…Adam’s guilt was greater, not less, than Eve’s. And throughout Scripture, Adam is the one who is indicted for the fall (cf. Romans 5:12–19; 1 Corinthians 15:22). Eve was immensely guilty, of course. But she was deceived; Adam disobeyed deliberately (1 Timothy 2:14). As the representative head of the human race, he bore the ultimate responsibility for the fall, and his actions were determinative for all his offspring. (MacArthur, John: The Battle for the Beginning : The Bible on Creation and the Fall of Adam. Nashville, TN : W Pub. Group, 2001, S. 210)
Turn back to Gen 3 for a moment and look at God’s curse on Satan.
Now let’s look at Romans 5:12-19.
When we looked at what the Bible teaches about angels, we learned they celebrate when one lost person is saved. I just wonder if Satan and his demons have the opposite reaction. I believe one of the things Satan hates more than anything else is when a lost person is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
The other thing he hates just as much is a God-fearing, Jesus-loving man obeying God. He will do everything he can to trip us up, to place doubt before us, to lead us into temptation, to cause the joy of our salvation to grow dim, to cause our witness to be tarnished… and on and on.
Here are two things we need to do men:
1. Know Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.
2. Live our lives to bring honor to Jesus Christ.
If we commit to do those two things, we will be headed in the right direction to overcome temptation and lead our families well.
Let's commit to be God-fearing, Jesus-loving men who make our families and our faith a priority!
Satan’s attack on the family…
Destroy marriages and families – all divorce, abuse, neglect, crimes within families is a result of Satan’s attack on the family
Before the fall, marriage was perfect and I believe families would have followed that same pattern…but
Genesis 3 – Eve is deceived and sins, then man follows suit.
The man did not protect his wife.
I believe he witnessed Eve’s deception and then he willingly disobeyed God rather than be obedient.
Eve sinned not only in disobeying God’s specific command but also in acting independently of her husband by failing to consult him about the serpent’s temptation. Adam sinned not only by disobeying God’s command but also by succumbing to Eve’s usurpation of his leadership, thus failing to exercise his God-given authority. Both the man and the woman twisted God’s plan for their relationship, reversing their roles – and marriage has not been the same since. (MacArthur, John: Different by Design. Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub, 1994.)
Cain then follows in the pattern of sin and murders his brother in Gen 4. Once mankind was infected with sin, the breakdown of the family began. It is one of Satan’s strategies to get at God.
If Satan can’t have the esteemed position he desires, he will make a mockery of God’s creatures and attempt to thwart God’s plan.
The first book of the Bible is filled with accounts of the breakdown of the family and marriage.
John MacArthur summarizes the defilement of marriage like this…
· Polygamy – Gen 4:23
· Impure Sexual thoughts – Gen 9:20-27
· Adultery – Gen 16:2
· Homosexuality – Gen 19:4-5
· Fornication/rape – Gen 34:1-2
· Incest/prostitution – Gen 38:13-18
That is just the first book. Throughout the OT and the NT we find examples of gross immorality and sin affecting the family. Sin originated with Satan and he will do everything possible to tempt us in those same patterns.
Now, lest we fall into the lame excuse of “the devil made me do it”, let’s understand this: Satan can’t read our minds, however he is very cunning and sly. He has the advantage of millennia of learned experiences with mankind and can almost with 99% accuracy predict what will cause us to stumble.
As father’s, the burden falls on our shoulders to protect our families. Adam failed and since that time we follow in those footsteps. Being a godly father, or godly husband or even a godly man is a difficult challenge in today’s world.
· Satan can’t stand to see us grow into God-fearing, Jesus-loving men who make our families a priority.
· Satan doesn’t want to see fathers training up children in the way they should grow.
· Satan doesn’t want to see husbands loving their wives they way Christ loves the church.
· Satan doesn’t want us living out our covenants between our spouses and Christ because he hates everything that has to do with our King.
· Satan doesn’t want to see husbands leading their families spiritually.
· Satan doesn’t want to see a family building on the foundation of Christ because they have access to great power in prayer (1 Peter 3:7 (HCSB) Husbands, in the same way, live with your wives with understanding of their weaker nature yet showing them honor as co-heirs of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.)
· Satan doesn’t want fathers preparing the soil of their children’s heart to receive the word of God leading them to repent of their sin and accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
· Satan can’t stand it when we act like real God-fearing, Jesus-loving men who make our families a priority.
So men, what is our answer? How can we become God-fearing, Jesus-loving men? How do we overcome all the baggage, the immorality, and the bad examples throughout history of those who failed? We have to stop making excuses and blame shifting and look to Jesus.
· We change only after we understand we are hopelessly lost in sin and the reality of sin is death.
· We change only after we understand God doesn’t excuse our sin, yet He will forgive our sin.
· We change only after we understand God doesn’t divide our families to make knew ones because it makes us happier.
· We change only after we understand God’s word is truth and we must obey it.
· We change only after we repent of our hardheaded attitude of selfishness and pride and begin loving our children and our spouse as Jesus loves the church.
Why does all this fall to men?
…Adam’s guilt was greater, not less, than Eve’s. And throughout Scripture, Adam is the one who is indicted for the fall (cf. Romans 5:12–19; 1 Corinthians 15:22). Eve was immensely guilty, of course. But she was deceived; Adam disobeyed deliberately (1 Timothy 2:14). As the representative head of the human race, he bore the ultimate responsibility for the fall, and his actions were determinative for all his offspring. (MacArthur, John: The Battle for the Beginning : The Bible on Creation and the Fall of Adam. Nashville, TN : W Pub. Group, 2001, S. 210)
Turn back to Gen 3 for a moment and look at God’s curse on Satan.
Now let’s look at Romans 5:12-19.
When we looked at what the Bible teaches about angels, we learned they celebrate when one lost person is saved. I just wonder if Satan and his demons have the opposite reaction. I believe one of the things Satan hates more than anything else is when a lost person is saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
The other thing he hates just as much is a God-fearing, Jesus-loving man obeying God. He will do everything he can to trip us up, to place doubt before us, to lead us into temptation, to cause the joy of our salvation to grow dim, to cause our witness to be tarnished… and on and on.
Here are two things we need to do men:
1. Know Jesus Christ as personal Lord and Savior.
2. Live our lives to bring honor to Jesus Christ.
If we commit to do those two things, we will be headed in the right direction to overcome temptation and lead our families well.
Let's commit to be God-fearing, Jesus-loving men who make our families and our faith a priority!
Friday, June 13, 2008
On Regenerate Church Membership and Church Member Restoration
At this week's Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, several resolutions were passed. The one on regenerate church membership is the one I am considering a monumental resolution in recent decades. This has been attempted on several occasions over the years but has failed. This year it was brought to the floor and with several amendments, passed. I think this is an amazing feat and work of God. Now it will be up to local congregations and pastors to share this with there churches and begin, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, to go through a restorative process of church membership and discipline. I have included the resolution in its entirety for you to read and comment on. Enjoy!
6. On Regenerate Church Membership And Church Member Restoration
June 2008
WHEREAS, The ideal of a regenerate church membership has long been and remains a cherished Baptist principle, with Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message describing the church as a “local congregation of baptized believers”; and
WHEREAS, A New Testament church is composed only of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the local church’s only Lord, by grace through faith (John 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9), which church practices believers’ only baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:16-20), and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-30); and
WHEREAS, Local associations, state conventions, and the Southern Baptist Convention compile statistics reported by the churches to make decisions for the future; and
WHEREAS, The 2007 Southern Baptist Convention annual Church Profiles indicate that there are 16,266,920 members in Southern Baptist churches; and
WHEREAS, Those same profiles indicate that only 6,148,868 of those members attend a primary worship service of their church in a typical week; and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures admonish us to exercise church discipline as we seek to restore any professed brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from the truth and is in sin (Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 6:1); and now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to maintain a regenerate membership by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ’s lordship for all members; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to maintain accurate membership rolls for the purpose of fostering ministry and accountability among all members of the congregation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of the failure among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement our Savior’s teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those churches, and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to implement a plan to minister to, counsel, and restore wayward church members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).
Indianapolis, IN
6. On Regenerate Church Membership And Church Member Restoration
June 2008
WHEREAS, The ideal of a regenerate church membership has long been and remains a cherished Baptist principle, with Article VI of the Baptist Faith and Message describing the church as a “local congregation of baptized believers”; and
WHEREAS, A New Testament church is composed only of those who have been born again by the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, the local church’s only Lord, by grace through faith (John 3:5; Ephesians 2:8-9), which church practices believers’ only baptism by immersion (Matthew 28:16-20), and the Lord’s supper (Matthew 26:26-30); and
WHEREAS, Local associations, state conventions, and the Southern Baptist Convention compile statistics reported by the churches to make decisions for the future; and
WHEREAS, The 2007 Southern Baptist Convention annual Church Profiles indicate that there are 16,266,920 members in Southern Baptist churches; and
WHEREAS, Those same profiles indicate that only 6,148,868 of those members attend a primary worship service of their church in a typical week; and
WHEREAS, The Scriptures admonish us to exercise church discipline as we seek to restore any professed brother or sister in Christ who has strayed from the truth and is in sin (Matthew 18:15-35; Galatians 6:1); and now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, June 10-11, 2008, urge churches to maintain a regenerate membership by acknowledging the necessity of spiritual regeneration and Christ’s lordship for all members; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we humbly urge our churches to maintain accurate membership rolls for the purpose of fostering ministry and accountability among all members of the congregation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That we urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention to repent of the failure among us to live up to our professed commitment to regenerate church membership and any failure to obey Jesus Christ in the practice of lovingly correcting wayward church members (Matthew 18:15-18); and be it further
RESOLVED, That we humbly encourage denominational servants to support and encourage churches that seek to recover and implement our Savior’s teachings on church discipline, even if such efforts result in the reduction in the number of members that are reported in those churches, and be it finally
RESOLVED, That we humbly urge the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention and their pastors to implement a plan to minister to, counsel, and restore wayward church members based upon the commands and principles given in Scripture (Matthew 18:15-35; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15; Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20).
Indianapolis, IN
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Of the Mortification of Sin in Believers, Chap. 9
Today we take a look at chapter 9: Particular Directions for Mortification. While the chapter is a bit longer than previous ones and pretty heavy at times, I hope everyone is beginning to understand how he writes and is following along better. Don't worry about grasping everything, because if that was the main concern, I probably would have given up at chapter 1. While there are passages hard to understand, there is also a freshness that comes out of his writings and helps us gain insight into our souls, temptations, and how we deal with the sin in our lives.
Summary
Consider whether your lust has these dangerous symptoms accompanying it. This is the subheading of chap 9 and Owen will then give us two areas to examine.
1. Inveterateness. Defined as 'the state of being hardened, habitual, deep-rooted'.
2. Secret pleas of the heart for the countenancing. Or approving secret sins of the heart.
Personal Thoughts
I will try to be brief here, listing a couple of points.
Point 1: Habitual Sin. Here is what Owen writes about this, "If it has lain long corrupting in your heart, if you have suffered it to abide in power and prevalency, without attempting vigorously the killing of it and the healing of the wounds you have received by it for some long season, your distemper is dangerous... When a lust has lain long in the heart, corrupting, festering, cankering, it brings the soul to a woeful condition."
This shows itself in this way. We have a heart in love with sin. Why else would we hold onto certain sins, never mortifying them, and only allowing the shame and guilt of our conscience bother us. While that may deter us for a season, the hidden sin our heart will rear its ugly head and we naturally give in, it is something we love.
So, when sins are brought to our minds, it is necessary to mortify them yielding ourselves completely to God who forgives us through Jesus. Owen uses the example of the Jews in Jesus' day who would cling to their ancestry, being "children of Abraham" as the link to God, at the same time living lives of disobedience and sin before God. Relying on anything other than Jesus to put to death sin in our lives will leave us empty.
Point 2: Under Grace. I love this one, because it is so common place in the church today. Owen says this, "By applying grace and mercy to an unmortified sin, or one not sincerely endeavored to be mortified, is this deceit carried on... to indulge a man's self in any sin on the account of mercy, seems to be, and doubtless in any course is, altogether inconsistent with Christian sincerity, and is a badge of a hypocrite, and is the "turning of the grace of God into wantonness."
We tend to use grace as a license to sin. While we categorize sin, that which is deplorable; the sexual sins like homosexuality, pre-marital sex, adultery, etc. we will attempt to justify lust and gloss over it. We are under grace. We don't DO those other things. But listen to the words of Jesus, "if any man looks at a woman and lusts after her in his mind, he as committed adultery (paraphrased)."
There is an attempt to use grace and mercy to cover over a multitude of our 'secret sins we love in our hearts' and even when confronted with God's word regarding them, we continue in those very sins. Why do we do this? Because we like them, they don't hurt anyone else, who will know I am doing this, everyone else does it... and our justification of sin continues.
Tim Challies says it this way, "We would rather go through life refusing to put these (small and respectable sins; foul language or bad tempers, copying DVD's or music...)to death and allowing them free reign in our lives than allowing God to deal with them. When we do this, we apply God's mercy to these sins, knowing that Jesus died to forgive even these. And yet we are unrepentant for them and are unwilling to let go of them."
Might it be that we indulge in sin we love while pointing out the sin in others to make us feel better about ourselves, yet at the same time both of us are holding on to sins of the heart we love. We both may cling to God's grace and mercy in Jesus and ask His forgiveness; yet refuse to mortify it, put it to death, repent and turn from it.
Our relationship with Christ and each other might be better, more biblical, if we would allow the Holy Spirit to examine our own lives, revealing sin and then confessing said sin, repenting of it, and encouraging each other rather than judge each other. It might even reveal within us a greater testimony and witness to a lost and dying world that needs to hear about the love of Jesus, not the sins of others. Just a thought...
Your Turn
Again, thanks for your comments. Please feel free to share what you gained from this chapter or any questions you might have... next week chapter 10.
Summary
Consider whether your lust has these dangerous symptoms accompanying it. This is the subheading of chap 9 and Owen will then give us two areas to examine.
1. Inveterateness. Defined as 'the state of being hardened, habitual, deep-rooted'.
2. Secret pleas of the heart for the countenancing. Or approving secret sins of the heart.
Personal Thoughts
I will try to be brief here, listing a couple of points.
Point 1: Habitual Sin. Here is what Owen writes about this, "If it has lain long corrupting in your heart, if you have suffered it to abide in power and prevalency, without attempting vigorously the killing of it and the healing of the wounds you have received by it for some long season, your distemper is dangerous... When a lust has lain long in the heart, corrupting, festering, cankering, it brings the soul to a woeful condition."
This shows itself in this way. We have a heart in love with sin. Why else would we hold onto certain sins, never mortifying them, and only allowing the shame and guilt of our conscience bother us. While that may deter us for a season, the hidden sin our heart will rear its ugly head and we naturally give in, it is something we love.
So, when sins are brought to our minds, it is necessary to mortify them yielding ourselves completely to God who forgives us through Jesus. Owen uses the example of the Jews in Jesus' day who would cling to their ancestry, being "children of Abraham" as the link to God, at the same time living lives of disobedience and sin before God. Relying on anything other than Jesus to put to death sin in our lives will leave us empty.
Point 2: Under Grace. I love this one, because it is so common place in the church today. Owen says this, "By applying grace and mercy to an unmortified sin, or one not sincerely endeavored to be mortified, is this deceit carried on... to indulge a man's self in any sin on the account of mercy, seems to be, and doubtless in any course is, altogether inconsistent with Christian sincerity, and is a badge of a hypocrite, and is the "turning of the grace of God into wantonness."
We tend to use grace as a license to sin. While we categorize sin, that which is deplorable; the sexual sins like homosexuality, pre-marital sex, adultery, etc. we will attempt to justify lust and gloss over it. We are under grace. We don't DO those other things. But listen to the words of Jesus, "if any man looks at a woman and lusts after her in his mind, he as committed adultery (paraphrased)."
There is an attempt to use grace and mercy to cover over a multitude of our 'secret sins we love in our hearts' and even when confronted with God's word regarding them, we continue in those very sins. Why do we do this? Because we like them, they don't hurt anyone else, who will know I am doing this, everyone else does it... and our justification of sin continues.
Tim Challies says it this way, "We would rather go through life refusing to put these (small and respectable sins; foul language or bad tempers, copying DVD's or music...)to death and allowing them free reign in our lives than allowing God to deal with them. When we do this, we apply God's mercy to these sins, knowing that Jesus died to forgive even these. And yet we are unrepentant for them and are unwilling to let go of them."
Might it be that we indulge in sin we love while pointing out the sin in others to make us feel better about ourselves, yet at the same time both of us are holding on to sins of the heart we love. We both may cling to God's grace and mercy in Jesus and ask His forgiveness; yet refuse to mortify it, put it to death, repent and turn from it.
Our relationship with Christ and each other might be better, more biblical, if we would allow the Holy Spirit to examine our own lives, revealing sin and then confessing said sin, repenting of it, and encouraging each other rather than judge each other. It might even reveal within us a greater testimony and witness to a lost and dying world that needs to hear about the love of Jesus, not the sins of others. Just a thought...
Your Turn
Again, thanks for your comments. Please feel free to share what you gained from this chapter or any questions you might have... next week chapter 10.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Angels, Satan and Demons Oh My! Satan Pt 1
Here are the notes from the sermon this morning. Hope they are helpful. If you have questions or anything, please let me know...
Part 1 – The creation and origin of Satan
The Scriptures declare that all things were created by God through Jesus Christ, and there is nothing that was not made by Him.
John 1:3 (HCSB) All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.
Colossians 1:16-17 (HCSB) 16 because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
Ezekiel 28:11-19
This passage, while referring to the King of Tyre, contains too many descriptive characteristics to refer to a man. Many believe, as do I, that it also refers to Satan. The historic king of Tyre was simply a tool of Satan, possibly indwelt by him. And in describing this king, Ezekiel also gives us glimpses of the superhuman creature, Satan, who was using, if not indwelling, him.
This passage gives us a clear description of the mightiest of the angels – most significant indeed is the fact that more is said of this one angel than any other and more than is said of all other angels together.
5 Characteristics of Satan at his creation (Ryrie and others)
1. Satan had unparalleled wisdom and beauty (v. 12) Satan stood at the zenith of God’s creatures, filled with wisdom and perfect in beauty.
2. Satan had an unparalleled habitation (v. 13) This may refer to a heavenly Eden, or to the earthly Eden. In either case, it was, before sin entered, a unique place.
3. Satan had an unparalleled covering (v. 13) The dazzling description of his dress or robe indicates something of the glory bestowed on him. These precious stones are displayed but three times as recorded in the Bible: 1) in the high priest’s breastplate, and were a manifestation of divine grace; 2) in the New Jerusalem, which reflects the glory of God; 3) as the covering of this great angel, which signalizes the highest in creation.
4. Satan had an unparalleled function (v. 14) He belonged to the order of angelic creature designated cherubim. They are associated with guarding the holiness of God (Gen. 3:24), with the throne of God (Ezek. 1:5), and here apparently with the actual presence of God. Satan was on the holy mountain of God and he walked in the midst of the stones of fire, likely references to the presence of God Himself. Apparently Satan was the chief guardian of God’s holiness and majesty.
5. Satan had unparalleled perfection (v. 15) He was perfect in the sense of being completely sound and of having total moral integrity. Here as well as in verse 13 we are reminded that Satan was created, and as a creature, he must someday answer to his Creator.
In every way Satan was the epitome of God’s Creation. “He awoke in the first moment of his existence in the full-orbed beauty and power of his exalted position; surrounded by all the magnificence which God gave him. He saw himself as above all the hosts in power, wisdom, and beauty. Only at the throne of God itself did he see more than he himself possessed, and it is possible that even that was in some sense not fully visible to the eyes of the creature.… Before his fall he may be said to have occupied the role of prime minister for God, ruling possibly over the universe but certainly over this world” (Donald Grey Barnhouse, The Invisible War [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1965], pp. 26-7).
Part 2 – The sin of Satan
Thus, Satan sinned and was driven out in disgrace, expelled from his high position (Ezek. 28:15-17). Sin, then, was found in this perfect creature who was created blameless. Was God the blameworthy cause of sin?
This sin must have been included in the eternal plan of God. Yet God never assumes the responsibility for the commission of any sin, including Satan’s. J.O. Buswell steers a careful course in this matter. “According to the Bible, then, sin originated in an act of free will in which the creature deliberately, responsibly, and with adequate understanding of the issues chose to corrupt the holy character of godliness with which God had endowed His creation.… Satan sinned necessarily. God is rightly angry with all sin.… The denial of free will seems to be purely arbitrary philosophical dogmatism, contrary to the biblical view. If God is rightly angry with sin, then it follows that the sinner is blameworthy—cosmically, ultimately, absolutely.… Sin must be within God’s eternal decrees in some sense in which He is not the author of it.… Within the decrees of God, there are decrees of the permission of those things of which God Himself is not the author. This is not mere permission of the unavoidable” (“The Origin and Nature of Sin,” Basic Christian Doctrines, Carl F.H. Henry, ed. [New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1962], pp. 107-9).
The NT pinpoints Satan’s particular sin as arrogance, conceit, or being puffed up (1 Tim 3:6).
Isaiah 14:12-17
5 “I will” phrases of Satan revealing his arrogance
1. I will ascend to heaven (v. 13). As used in Scripture, there are three different spheres of heaven: (1) the atmospheric heaven around the earth, (2) the stellar heavens, and (3) heaven of heavens, which represents God’s abode, God’s throne or the seat of God’s sovereign authority, the place of God’s rule. As the “anointed cherub” and the guardian of God’s holiness, Satan had access to this third heaven, so his desire here was not simply to be able to visit there like a tourist, but to occupy heaven as one who was equal with God. The creature wanted to expel the Creator. The servant wanted to become the served.
2. I will raise my throne above the stars of God (v. 13). From Job 38:7 we have a clue to the meaning of the phrase, “the stars of God.” While this could refer to the heavenly bodies that illuminate the night, this mostly likely refers to Satan’s desire to exalt himself to rule over the angelic kingdom as God.
3. I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north (v. 13). This describes Satan’s ambition to control all the affairs of the universe as the assembly of Babylonian gods supposedly did. Often in Scripture, mountain and hills refer to authority or the right to rule. Isaiah 2:2 reads, “Now it will come about that in the last days, the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it.” This anticipates Messiah’s rule or kingdom, called here “the mountain of the house of the Lord,” and all the other kingdoms, mountains and hills, will be under His kingdom (see also Ps. 48:2). So this third “I will” of Satan expressed his determination to rule over the affairs of the entire created universe.
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds (v. 14). According to Exodus 16:10 and Revelation 19:1, clouds are often associated with God’s glory and presence. This “I will” expressed Satan’s desire to usurp the glory that belonged to God. Pentecost writes: When Lucifer said, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,” he was saying, “I will take to myself a greater glory than belongs to God Himself.”
5. I will make myself like the Most High (v. 14). That was to be totally and completely independent of any authority outside of himself. He could be like God only in being responsible to no one but himself. The desire of Satan was to move in and occupy the throne of God, exercise absolute independent authority over the angelic creation, bring the earth and all the universe under his authority, cover himself with the glory that belongs to God alone, and then be responsible to no one but himself.
Satan is called the morning star in Isaiah 14:12. The Latin equivalent is Lucifer, which, on the basis of this passage, became a name for Satan. However, the use of morning star with reference to Satan gives us an indication of the basic character of his plot against God. Since the same title is used in Revelation 22:16 of Christ, we are alerted to the fact that Satan’s plan was to counterfeit the plan of God, and indeed it was and is.
A lesson in contrast emerges from our study of Satan. What Satan is, Jesus Christ is not. What Jesus is, Satan is not. Consider these contrasts:
SATAN
Everyone’s Adversary
Exalted himself, resulting in man’s ruin
Accuses us before God
Followers share in his ruin
Men become like him
A liar and deceiver
Promises freedom, but makes men slaves
Turns men from the Father
Produces death
Resists the will of God
Cruel and sadistic
JESUS CHRIST
The sinner’s Advocate
Humbled Himself, resulting in redemption
Intercedes for us with God
Followers share in His reign
Men become like Christ
He is the truth
Takes slaves and gives them freedom
He is the only way to the Father
Delivers from death
Submits Himself to the will of God
Gracious and compassionate
Mark Twain once said, and it was great wisdom, he said, “It isn’t things I don’t understand that bother me. It’s the things I do understand.” And, if we’ll major on the things we do understand, then we’ll have enough to keep us busy ‘till we do understand what we don’t understand.
Amen and Amen!
Part 1 – The creation and origin of Satan
The Scriptures declare that all things were created by God through Jesus Christ, and there is nothing that was not made by Him.
John 1:3 (HCSB) All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.
Colossians 1:16-17 (HCSB) 16 because by Him everything was created, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together.
Ezekiel 28:11-19
This passage, while referring to the King of Tyre, contains too many descriptive characteristics to refer to a man. Many believe, as do I, that it also refers to Satan. The historic king of Tyre was simply a tool of Satan, possibly indwelt by him. And in describing this king, Ezekiel also gives us glimpses of the superhuman creature, Satan, who was using, if not indwelling, him.
This passage gives us a clear description of the mightiest of the angels – most significant indeed is the fact that more is said of this one angel than any other and more than is said of all other angels together.
5 Characteristics of Satan at his creation (Ryrie and others)
1. Satan had unparalleled wisdom and beauty (v. 12) Satan stood at the zenith of God’s creatures, filled with wisdom and perfect in beauty.
2. Satan had an unparalleled habitation (v. 13) This may refer to a heavenly Eden, or to the earthly Eden. In either case, it was, before sin entered, a unique place.
3. Satan had an unparalleled covering (v. 13) The dazzling description of his dress or robe indicates something of the glory bestowed on him. These precious stones are displayed but three times as recorded in the Bible: 1) in the high priest’s breastplate, and were a manifestation of divine grace; 2) in the New Jerusalem, which reflects the glory of God; 3) as the covering of this great angel, which signalizes the highest in creation.
4. Satan had an unparalleled function (v. 14) He belonged to the order of angelic creature designated cherubim. They are associated with guarding the holiness of God (Gen. 3:24), with the throne of God (Ezek. 1:5), and here apparently with the actual presence of God. Satan was on the holy mountain of God and he walked in the midst of the stones of fire, likely references to the presence of God Himself. Apparently Satan was the chief guardian of God’s holiness and majesty.
5. Satan had unparalleled perfection (v. 15) He was perfect in the sense of being completely sound and of having total moral integrity. Here as well as in verse 13 we are reminded that Satan was created, and as a creature, he must someday answer to his Creator.
In every way Satan was the epitome of God’s Creation. “He awoke in the first moment of his existence in the full-orbed beauty and power of his exalted position; surrounded by all the magnificence which God gave him. He saw himself as above all the hosts in power, wisdom, and beauty. Only at the throne of God itself did he see more than he himself possessed, and it is possible that even that was in some sense not fully visible to the eyes of the creature.… Before his fall he may be said to have occupied the role of prime minister for God, ruling possibly over the universe but certainly over this world” (Donald Grey Barnhouse, The Invisible War [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1965], pp. 26-7).
Part 2 – The sin of Satan
Thus, Satan sinned and was driven out in disgrace, expelled from his high position (Ezek. 28:15-17). Sin, then, was found in this perfect creature who was created blameless. Was God the blameworthy cause of sin?
This sin must have been included in the eternal plan of God. Yet God never assumes the responsibility for the commission of any sin, including Satan’s. J.O. Buswell steers a careful course in this matter. “According to the Bible, then, sin originated in an act of free will in which the creature deliberately, responsibly, and with adequate understanding of the issues chose to corrupt the holy character of godliness with which God had endowed His creation.… Satan sinned necessarily. God is rightly angry with all sin.… The denial of free will seems to be purely arbitrary philosophical dogmatism, contrary to the biblical view. If God is rightly angry with sin, then it follows that the sinner is blameworthy—cosmically, ultimately, absolutely.… Sin must be within God’s eternal decrees in some sense in which He is not the author of it.… Within the decrees of God, there are decrees of the permission of those things of which God Himself is not the author. This is not mere permission of the unavoidable” (“The Origin and Nature of Sin,” Basic Christian Doctrines, Carl F.H. Henry, ed. [New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1962], pp. 107-9).
The NT pinpoints Satan’s particular sin as arrogance, conceit, or being puffed up (1 Tim 3:6).
Isaiah 14:12-17
5 “I will” phrases of Satan revealing his arrogance
1. I will ascend to heaven (v. 13). As used in Scripture, there are three different spheres of heaven: (1) the atmospheric heaven around the earth, (2) the stellar heavens, and (3) heaven of heavens, which represents God’s abode, God’s throne or the seat of God’s sovereign authority, the place of God’s rule. As the “anointed cherub” and the guardian of God’s holiness, Satan had access to this third heaven, so his desire here was not simply to be able to visit there like a tourist, but to occupy heaven as one who was equal with God. The creature wanted to expel the Creator. The servant wanted to become the served.
2. I will raise my throne above the stars of God (v. 13). From Job 38:7 we have a clue to the meaning of the phrase, “the stars of God.” While this could refer to the heavenly bodies that illuminate the night, this mostly likely refers to Satan’s desire to exalt himself to rule over the angelic kingdom as God.
3. I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north (v. 13). This describes Satan’s ambition to control all the affairs of the universe as the assembly of Babylonian gods supposedly did. Often in Scripture, mountain and hills refer to authority or the right to rule. Isaiah 2:2 reads, “Now it will come about that in the last days, the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it.” This anticipates Messiah’s rule or kingdom, called here “the mountain of the house of the Lord,” and all the other kingdoms, mountains and hills, will be under His kingdom (see also Ps. 48:2). So this third “I will” of Satan expressed his determination to rule over the affairs of the entire created universe.
4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds (v. 14). According to Exodus 16:10 and Revelation 19:1, clouds are often associated with God’s glory and presence. This “I will” expressed Satan’s desire to usurp the glory that belonged to God. Pentecost writes: When Lucifer said, “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,” he was saying, “I will take to myself a greater glory than belongs to God Himself.”
5. I will make myself like the Most High (v. 14). That was to be totally and completely independent of any authority outside of himself. He could be like God only in being responsible to no one but himself. The desire of Satan was to move in and occupy the throne of God, exercise absolute independent authority over the angelic creation, bring the earth and all the universe under his authority, cover himself with the glory that belongs to God alone, and then be responsible to no one but himself.
Satan is called the morning star in Isaiah 14:12. The Latin equivalent is Lucifer, which, on the basis of this passage, became a name for Satan. However, the use of morning star with reference to Satan gives us an indication of the basic character of his plot against God. Since the same title is used in Revelation 22:16 of Christ, we are alerted to the fact that Satan’s plan was to counterfeit the plan of God, and indeed it was and is.
A lesson in contrast emerges from our study of Satan. What Satan is, Jesus Christ is not. What Jesus is, Satan is not. Consider these contrasts:
SATAN
Everyone’s Adversary
Exalted himself, resulting in man’s ruin
Accuses us before God
Followers share in his ruin
Men become like him
A liar and deceiver
Promises freedom, but makes men slaves
Turns men from the Father
Produces death
Resists the will of God
Cruel and sadistic
JESUS CHRIST
The sinner’s Advocate
Humbled Himself, resulting in redemption
Intercedes for us with God
Followers share in His reign
Men become like Christ
He is the truth
Takes slaves and gives them freedom
He is the only way to the Father
Delivers from death
Submits Himself to the will of God
Gracious and compassionate
Mark Twain once said, and it was great wisdom, he said, “It isn’t things I don’t understand that bother me. It’s the things I do understand.” And, if we’ll major on the things we do understand, then we’ll have enough to keep us busy ‘till we do understand what we don’t understand.
Amen and Amen!
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