Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Why Suffering???

Another year is coming to a close, which tells us we are getting close to the end of another year of treatment.  However, in this completion there is the shadow of February 10, 2011 that approaches, which is the date of our son’s diagnosis.  Another shadow now looms and creates increased anxiety and fear.  It is our daughter Simone’s third birthday in January.  This month and on for the next few years will have an increased anxiety around always wondering what bruises mean on our daughter’s body as it was when Gabriel was three when he was diagnosed.  This anxiety will continue onto our daughter Yasmine.  We fight each day to remain focused on God so that our fear does not disable us.  During this journey there has been an awareness of anger that surfaces during more anxiety prone times when we look at our son who suffers both physically and mentally with cancer treatments.  This anger needs to find its way out and often it turns to God as a question of “WHY?”  My heart has always cried for others that have suffered and wished that I could do more.  During this journey we have become more and more overly aware of the suffering of others in this world.  We know our son is not the only one suffering.  Many of us have questioned the suffering from starvation of children in underdeveloped countries, rape and abuse, murder, such as the Tori Stafford case, natural disasters that have killed and left people homeless.  We see continued pain by people in Haiti, and now they are trying to cope with cholera.  The people that I counsel are hurting and in pain for reasons from sexual abuse, abandonment, marital discord, depression to even wishing to take their own life.   

In the last six weeks before Christmas we have been looking at suffering in our home church.  A topic that most don’t want to touch as it is one that we all struggle to understand especially when children are involved.  We as Christians trust that God has a bigger plan and purpose.  We also know that the suffering in this world is not greater than the pure joy and happiness that will happen when we go to be with Him in heaven.  However, it is still hard and painful here on earth. I try at times to fight off tears during unexpected environmental triggers that remind me of the life that we travel and the past road that I once traveled.  I am thankful to my Father above how far he has brought me.  

Mike and I may feel pain for others who are suffering, but at this time our journey of suffering touches the very vein of our existence.  Our children!  We weep and cry out to our Father in heaven…”please, prevent this pain to our son”…”please, take this all away,” but this journey continues and we continue to seek our heavenly father for peace and strength. 

One of my first blogs I shared a very short message of the suffering being the fault of Satan, and not God.  In the last six weeks I have come to know this message deeper as I have studied with my home church family on suffering.  I thought I would use this blog as an opportunity to share what I has been reinforced for me through these last six weeks.  Just as the pastor asked those listening to lock this in…I, too, ask you to lock this in when reading.  Remember… “GOD LOOKS LIKE JESUS.”  I have always known that, but don’t always remind myself that God has not caused my son to be sick and he is not causing suffering in this world.  I know when our journey comes to an end as long as we stay focused upon our Heavenly Father that He will use this to His glory and all will be better than before.  Satan does not win in the end.  I have to constantly remind myself of God’s enduring love when I awake at night in tears and feel very alone at times.  I have to remind myself of God’s enduring love when my son is hurting.  I have to remind myself of God’s enduring love when I fear for my daughters.  I have to remind myself of God’s enduring love when people think this journey is easy and think our son has just “caught” something as if it is a cold or flu. I have to remind myself on a daily basis of God's love and faithfulness to His word because when I don’t it is when Satan inserts fear and anxiety.  It is this fear and anxiety that cause a paralysis in seeking God.  I am to “trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).”  This journey would be 100% harder without God’s grace and the continued strength that He provides us.  I do not know how others do this journey or any journey of suffering without Him. 

When all is said and done….God will win this battle. 

Remember the reason for CHRISTmas.  It is truly about Jesus Christ who was born that so He could die for our sins.  God has been suffering alongside us and he suffered when His very own son died on the cross for our sins.  There will come a day when all of this suffering comes to an end.  This is God's plan and He will see it through.  I look forward to the day we can rejoice with Him in heaven and see no more pain and suffering. Look to Jesus to know who God is and forever will be.

God’s grace is sufficient for us.  He loves me and He loves you.  Life is more difficult without having Jesus Christ in your life. I know…I have lived a life without God during difficult times in my past that no one should ever have to experience.  I have lived both sides and will no longer live without Him.  I hope you find peace, love and laughter in your life during Christmas and throughout 2011.  Remember, when you spend time with your loved ones that for many people Christmas is a time of sadness.  Christmas time represents pain and isolation.  Please pray for all those that struggle that you know and don’t know. 

I am here for those that need a non-judgemental friend to lean on and an ear to listen.  I love you all as Christ loves you.  I will be that person who will walk alongside you as you question and wonder about Jesus Christ without judgement.  I inspire to embody Jesus in ways that I can and pray that God will continue to mould me to be like Jesus Christ. I am not perfect and will continue to make mistakes.  I hope that as God continues to mould me and teach me that I will continue to forgive and to be forgiven when I make mistakes.  I pray that I can exemplify Christ today and forever.    

Click here to listen to messages on understanding suffering in this world  under the series entitled My God Why?

God Bless you all!

I have copied/pasted a summary of scriptures and some brief points from our last message that was provided by Gregory Boyd who provided our final message on suffering.  In addition, some powerful scriptural quotes and quotes from Gregory Boyd’s published books.   I have also added a compilation of scriptures that was completed by our new dear friend and home church family member Bram that is extremely helpful in studying scriptures about this very topic.  Thank you Bram for sharing this with us all!

I hope that you find this information helpful as you question and wonder about this life.  I wanted to provide a more in-depth blog compared to the one I touched on in the beginning of my blog writing. 

Scripture says Satan is…

“the god of this age” (2 Corinthians 4:4)

“the principality and power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2)

“the ruler (archon) of this world” (John 12:31; 14:32; 16:11)

“[the one who] controls the entire world” (1 John 5:19)

“[the one who] leads the whole world astray” (Revelation 12:9; 18:23)

“[the one who] holds the power of death – the devil” (Hebrews 2:14)

Romans 8:20-22
We have to be able to say, “An enemy has done this” and stop blaming God for the stuff Satan and demonic powers do. I’m convinced the greatest and most successful trick of the enemy is this….

 He comes and sows seeds and then gets people to blame the farmer

 He comes and sows hell and gets people to blame heaven

 He comes and screws up creation so that it’s filled with earthquakes, mudslides, hurricanes, malaria, cancer… and then says “Look what the Creator brings!”

An Enemy Has Done This!

He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
~Jesus

Satan masquerades as an angel of light.
~The Apostle Paul

“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”
~The Apostle John

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”
~The Apostle Peter

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
~James, the brother of Jesus

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.
~The Apostle John

“The time of judgment for the world has come, when the prince of this world will be cast out. And when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to myself.”
~Jesus

The ultimate source of all evil is found in the will of free agents rather than in God.
~Greg Boyd, from his book “God of the Possible”

“Jesus never once appealed to a mysterious divine will to explain why a person was sick, maimed or deceased, as many Christians today are inclined to do. Rather, in every instance, he came against such things as being the by-products of a creation gone berserk through the evil influence of this satanic army.”
~Gregory A. Boyd, from God at War

“Jesus devoted his ministry to getting these ‘spiritual rapists’ off their victims. He didn’t waste time searching for a hidden divine will behind evil, asking ‘How could God do this?’ or ‘Why would God allow this?’… Jesus ministry was a ministry not of resignation but of revolt.”
~Gregory A. Boyd, from God at War

Compiled by our dear Friend Bram

Characteristics of demons and how Jesus dealt with them
Matthew 12:43-45
“When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then is
says, I will return to the house I left. When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in
order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there.
And the final condition of that man is worse that the first.”
  • demons can talk
  • demons can look and observe
  • communicate to other demons, and satan
  • demons can think, make choices, have feelings (see James 2:19)
  • demons have desires, and their own will
James 2:19
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder
Feelings- such as shiver/shudder
Matthew 28:12
“But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”
Mark 1:21-28
“They came to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by and evil spirit cried out, What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are- the Holy One of God. Be quiet! Said Jesus sternly. Come out of him! The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, What is this? A new teaching- and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him. News about him spread quickly over the while region of Galilee.”
  • demons know who Jesus is and what will happen to them, they have knowledge.
Mark 1:32-34
“That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon possessed. The whole town
gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who He was.”
  • don’t allow a demon to speak
Mark 1:39
“So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.”
Mark 6:13
“They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.”
Luke 8:27-33
“When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house but had lived in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me! For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. Jesus asked him, What is your name? Legion, he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the abyss. A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.”
  • demons come from the abyss and don’t like it there (see revelations 9)
  • demons have self knowledge, they have a name
Luke 13:32
“He replied, Go tell that fox, I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day- for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem.”
Luke 4:40-41
“When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his
hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, You are the Son of God! But He rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.”
Acts 19:11-19
“God did extraordinary miracle through Paul, so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them. Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out. Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. One day, the evil spirit answered them, Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you? Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding. When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed their evil deeds. A number who had  practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the valued of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.” 
  •  Only as believers can we by the authority given by Jesus, drive out demons. (see mark 16:17)
  • Confession, and renouncing of evil deeds
  • Then the footholds, detestable things of the enemy were destroyed (see also Deuteronomy 7:26)
  • Demons left and people were cured of their diseases
  • Sorcery is demonic and evil
Revelation 9:1-11
"The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star (satan) that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star
was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. And out of the smoke locusts came down upon the earth and were given power like that of scorpions (luke 10) of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were not given power to kill them, but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion (luke 10) when it strikes a man. During those days men will seek death, but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. They had tails and stings like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss (satan), whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in Greek, Apollyon (destroyer, satan)."
  • Discription of what a demons looks like
  • satan is king and head off all demons
1 timothy 4 :1
"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things
taught by demons."
  • Demons can “teach” people, deceive them with lies and they will abandon the faith, very important to know who you are in Christ.
  • They will follow false religions and idols for example (see 1 Corinthians 10:19-21)
1 Corinthians 10:19-21
“Do I mean then that a sacrifice offered to an idol is anything, or than an idol is anything? No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God, and I do not want you to be participants with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”
  • Behind every idol is a demon
  • You cannot serve the lord and be participants with demons
  • God wants us to have no part with demons, stay in his will to be protected
1 John 5:5
“they(demons) are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.”
  • Demons speak the things of the world, not of God and the world listens to them
Healing and Deliverance:
Acts 8:6-7
“When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. So there was great joy in that city.”
  • Healing by deliverance of demons (see also acts 19)
Luke 4:39
“So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.”
Acts 10:38
“How God annointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” 

Jesus defeated all of the enemy
Collossians 2 :15
"And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He(Jesus) made a public spectacle of them(demons, satan)
truimphing over them by the cross.
  • Jesus defeated and disarmed them on the cross
  • By the blood of the lamb that was shed on the cross we can overcome them (see revelation 12)
  • Satan and his demons are disarmed and defeated foe’s
Acts 26:18
to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'
1 John 3:8
"He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason
the son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work."

The authority we have been given by Christ:
Luke 10 :17 -21
“The 72 returned with joy and said, Lord even the demons submit to us in your name. He replied, “I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
  • demons will submit to us as disciples of Christ, in Jesus’ name
  • we have been given all authority and will not be harmed, if we stay in God’s will and not give satan a foothold
  • also we can overcome them with the Blood of Jesus (revelation 9)
Mark 16:17
“And these sings will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues.”
  • Only believers can drive out demons in the name of Jesus
1John 4:4
"You dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the
one who is in the world."
Matthew 12 :29
"Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off is possesions unless he first ties up the
strong man? Then he can rob his house."
Bind demons, take back what has been stolen from us (see also Luke 11 :21,22)
Collosians 1 :13,14
"For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, i
whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins"
Romans 16 :20
"The God of peace will soon crush satan under your feet."

How to stay protected, and the things God has given us to fight them.
Ephesians 4:27
“And do not give the devil a foothold.”
  • don’t give satan a chance, stay in God’s will
  • cover yourself daily with the blood of Jesus as a hedge of protection to overcome them (see revelations 12)
2 Thessalonians 3:3
“But the lord is faithful and he will strenghten and protect you from the evil one”
Ephesians 6:10-18
The Armor of God
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your
stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against
the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand
your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."
  • Put on the full armor of God everyday!
  • Need God’s armor to stand against the devils schemes which we are not unaware of. (see 2 corinthians 2 :11)
  • We fight against the rulers, authorities and powers of the dark world, against evil spiritual forcers. Different levels of authority in the demonic realm, some demons are stronger then others and rule over each other having satan as their king. (see revelation 9)
  • Faith is important to stop the enemy’s attacks, use God’s word which is the sword of the spirit. (See Hebrews 4 :12) Fight satan with the truth of God’s word, against all of his lies. (see John 8 :44)
  • Pray hard in the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 10:4
"The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to
demolish strongholds."
The weapons that are given to us have divine power to destroy the devil’s strong holds
2 Corinthians 2:11
"In order that satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."
Deuteronomy 7:26
“Do not bring a detestable thing into your house or you like it, will be set apart for destruction. Utterly abhor
and detest it, for it is set apart for destruction.”
  • Stay protected by not giving satan a foothold or bringing anything into your house that has anything to do with the demonic realm, get rid of it! (see acts 19)

Promises :
2 Thesssalonians 2 :3
"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one."
  • God promises us that he will protect us from the evil one, if we stay in His will
James 4 :7
"Submit yourselves then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

No relationship between God and satan :
2 Corinthians 6 :14b-18
"For what does righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with
darkness ? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (satan, hebrew meaning-destruction, wickedness, ungodly, evil. New testament meaning, of satan, worthlessness.)? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said : "I will live with them and walk among them and I will be their God and they will be my people" Therefore come out of them and be seperate, says the Lord."
John 8:49
"I am not possesed by a demon," said Jesus, "But I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking
glory for my self."
Acts 26 :17b-18
"I(Jesus) am sending you(Paul) to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the
power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me"
James 1 :13
"When Tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he
tempt anyone;"

How do demons enter our lives?
1. Anything to do with the occult or false religions, either by yourself or a family member. Exodus 20:3-5
2 Corinthians 11:3-4
2. Any negative influence before birth, curse, see exodus 20:5
3. Extreme influence during early child hood
4. Emotional reasons- demon of fear, lust, through media for example
5. Sinful habits which become iniquities
6. Laying on of hands 1 timothy 5:22
7. Careless words, Matthew 12:36-37, see also idol words

Idol words and busybodies
1 Timothy 5 :13-15
"Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they
become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to. So I council younger widows
to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow satan. "
  • Idle words open a door for demons
  • Watch out for careless words, see Matthew 12 :36-37
  • No slander, instead, ephesians 4 :29
Jude 9
"But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, the Lord rebuke you!"
  • Don’t slander at the devil
Test the Spirits
1 John 4:2-3
“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in
the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist (satan).”
  • Only the Holy Spirit can acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
1 Thessalonians 5:21
“Test everything Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil”

Can a believer be oppressed by a demon?
  • Realize difference between oppressed and possessed(see Luke 8)
  • Oppressed- Katadunasteno 2616- to exercise dominion against- to oppress
  • Possessed- daimonizomal- to be exercised by a demon- have a demon- to be vexed with or possesed by a demon.
Acts 10:38
"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him."
Acts 10 :38
"And no doubt you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power then Jesus
went around doing good and healing all who wee oppressed by the Devil, for God was with him." (NLT)
Acts 5:3
“Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land.”
  • Ananias was part of a church community(see vs. 11)
  • He was oppressed by satan
Luke 13:11-13,16
“and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” Then He put his hands son her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God. Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
  • She was a daughter of Abraham, oppressed by an evil spirit
  • She was set free from her oppression and her infirmity
Matthew 16:22-23
“Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never Lord! he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”
  • Even the disciple Peter was oppressed by satan, also see Luke 22
Spiritual warfare between the angels of God and demons, and the role of God’s angels for us.
Daniel 10 :13
"But the prince of the Percian kingdom(demon) resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief
princess, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia."
  • Spiritual warfare
  • God’s angels fight against demons
  • This was a strong demon, he ruled over the Percian kingdom
Psalm 92 :11-12
"For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their
hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone"
  • Angels protect us
Hebrews 1 :14
"Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to those who will inherit salvation"
  • Angels minister to us
Origins of satan and who he is now
Satan- opponent, arch enemy of God, adversary, accuser
Devil- slanderer, liar
Ezekiel 28:13-18
“You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald,
chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared. You were anointed as a guardian cherub,
for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones. You were
blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you. Through your
widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of
God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones. Your heart became proud
on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the
earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings. By your many sins and dishonest trade you have desecrated your sanctuaries. So I made a fire come out from you, and it consumed you, and I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.”
  • satan was a cherub (head of music) and arch angel (in command of 1/3 of the angels), he was very important and powerful
  • satan walked before the throne of God
  • satan sinned, and was taken away from the throne of God
Isaiah 14:12-17
"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne
above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred
mountain. will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate:
"Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a desert,
who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?"
  • lucifer (morning star) has been cast to the earth
  • he wanted to be like God
Revelation 12 :3-4,7-9, 10-11, 17
"Then another sign appeared in heaven : an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven
crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars(angels) out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The
dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. And there was a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down- that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say : "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled down. They overcame him by the BLOOD OF THE LAMB and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Then the dragged was enraged at the woman and went off to make war against the rest of her offspring- those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus."
  • there was a war in heaven between Michael and his angels and the satan and his angels.
  • satan was thrown out of heaven and cast down to earth taking 1/3 of all the angels with him.
  • satan leads the whole world astray (see 2 corinthians 4 :4)
  • he accuses us
  • satan has been overcome by the blood of Jesus
  • we can overcome satan with the blood of Jesus
  • satan makes war against us (see peter 5 :8,9)
Luke 4:6
“And he (satan) said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I
can give it to anyone I want to.”
  • We had authority over the earth before the fall but satan stole it from us after he deceived us in the garden. Now however all authority has been given back to us and we need to take back what has been stolen from us. (see Luke 10)
  • satan became the ruler of the earth after the fall instead of us (see 2 Corinthians 4:4)
  • see genesis 1:26 which says we as humans were to rule over the earth
1 Peter 5: 7,8
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like roaring lion looking for someone to
devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith because you know that your brothers throughout the world are
undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
  • Seeks to destroy and make war against us, he knows his time is short
2 Thessalonians 2:9,10
"The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance witht the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of
counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They
perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved."
2 Corinthians 11 :3
"But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ."
  • Satan deceives and tries to lead us astray from our devotion to Jesus
1 Chronicles 21:1
"Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel."
2 Corinthians 4:4
“The god (satan) of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that hey cannot see the light of the gospel
of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”
John 8:44b
“He (satan) was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he
lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
  • satan attacks with lies, we need to know who we are in Christ and fight him with the truth of God’s word
Zechariah 3:1-4, 7
“Then he showed me Joshua the high pries standing before the angel of the Lord, and satan standing at his right to accuse him. The Lord said to satan, “The Lord rebuke you, satan! The lord, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?” Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put rich garments on you.” The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua, “this is what the Lord almighty says: “if you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.”
  • Satan accuses, just like his demons(see revelation 12)
  • Stay in God’s will
Luke 8:12
Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
  • Satan is the sower of doubt

The Culmination of Learning in Wilderness Seasons

        This blog has been left open without an ending until I could share openly with the revelations of my life’s journey thus far.  Tod...