Monday, January 26, 2009
Session 74:The Origin of Satan
Be sober! Be on the alert! Your adversary the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. 1 Peter 5:8 HCSB The DEVIL! Where did he come from? Created by God? Fallen angel? Full of pride? Powerful? Evil spirit? Red with a pitchfork? There are a lot of questions that our students need to know the answer to. They need to know that the devil is very real. He is looking for anyone he can devour. Just think, if he was so courageous to tempt the Lord, how much more would he tempt someone who is a sinner. He had to know that our God was perfect and without sin. Surely he did not expect Him to fall for his evil tricks. What will he do to deceive? Anything! We all need to be on guard, especially you teachers, because that is just what the devil desires is for one of us to fall. We have a circle of influence that is larger than we really know. Your students are watching every move you make and listening to every word you say. Be on guard! Just yesterday I had to counsel one of our faithful students who gave in to the devil. You see, satan takes things that we use for good and he turns them in to things used for evil. This student had used a cell phone to take inappropriate photos and then texted these to another student of the opposite sex. A cell phone! Harmless? Well, even some adults need to be on guard against this one. It would be so easy to send messages to someone in private that we would never say to that person if we were sitting across the table from them. Be on guard! It is the devils desire to destroy your testimony because he is a prideful being. He wants YOU! Don't give in and let's teach our kids that he is real and desires to destroy them as well. Thanks for what each of you do! Heather and Jerry, can you guys do the post next week? Thanks, Billy.
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8 comments:
Sure Billy
Heather
I think, unlike the Carmen video on the main site, Satan is very beautiful. Isn't that the way he is described in the Bible? At least I know his tools that he uses are. Sin is pretty until you try it. I hear people say they wish they had an exciting testimony. Not that mine is, but I wish I did not have one. I wish like anything I would have lead a boring non-testimonial life. There are so many things that are thrown in my path because Satan knows I have tasted this fruit before and remember the smells, taste, sights, and texture of it. A song on the radio, a billboard, magazines in the checkout line, someones voice, all reminders of fruit once eaten. It causes me to constantly be in battle with my thought life. Cause once you allow sin to birth, Satan will feed it until there is no control. So what to do? The same as Jesus, the Word, the Word, the Word. I've notice over the past year in reading my Bible through, I am in a lot better control. That's why I have already started on this year. Remember, this is above and beyond my lesson preparation.
So don't be on the look out for ugly horns and a pitch fork. Satan is more like a dashing Jerry McDaniel than what Hollywood and our imaginations portray him to be.
P.S.
Don't worry Heather you kids Daddy is an angel.
Joyce says...
Satan…the devil…prince of darkness…tempter…Lucifer…he has many names but only one desire. Isn’t it amazing how much we can resemble him? Satan was not always evil. In the beginning, he was an angel created in perfection and beauty. Angels were given a will with a free moral choice and heaven, but “Lucifer” chose to do evil and rebelled against God. Man was created in God’s image and likeness, a will with a free moral choice and given the Garden of Eden. What did man do?? The same thing the devil did….evil and rebelled against God. Our fate will be the same as his, if we don’t make the right choice.
Isaiah 14:12-15 says, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." Satan's sins were pride and covetousness. He desired God's throne and set his will against God's will. Five times he said, "I will" in this portion of Scripture. Now, how often do we say “I will”?? How often do we run off on our own to do “our will” without consulting God of “His will”?? Now we might not be after God’s throne and may not intentionally be against His will, but how can we do His will if we don’t ask Him what His will is?? I think often we don’t ask His will because we are scared that His will; may conflict what “we” have in mind. If we do His will then we will have to give Him the credit and then we’re not in the spotlight getting praise. We forget that ALL PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY ARE HIS!!! We have become a nation of… “What’s in it for me?”…and that’s a major portion of our problems.
Satan caused a third of heaven to fall with him by influencing other angelic beings to make war against God. We are not angels or will never be, but what kind of influence are we having?? Are we influencing others to make war against God…maybe to serve our purpose or to help us get “our will” instead of “God’s will”??
Praise God, we have a choice…..we know the end of the story!!! Jesus defeated satan and we have an opportunity to stand for Him and show others the hope that Jesus gave us by taking on our sin, dying on a cross and arising after 3 days. We that are “born again” and filled with the Spirit of God have no need to fear this antagonist. We know that Jesus defeated him, stripped him of his power over 2,000 years ago and we too can have authority over him through Jesus Christ. "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death" (Revelation 1:18). We need to think of how much we are like satan when we become “holier than thou” and are choosing to do “our will” instead of “God’s will”……….WHAT KIND OF INFLUENCE DO YOU HAVE???
I thought we didn't allow women preachers in the SBC?
Rock on Joyce!
I was thinking about Joyce’s question: What kind of influence are you? I can remember a time where I wasn’t a very good influence at all. I am not proud of those times and I like Paul there is a constant reminder. We have an inmate who works in my office that told me he got saved while he was in prison. He told me the hardest thing was he is getting out this soon and going back to the same environment he left. I encouraged him to find a church and some Christian friends that could help him with the transition. When I think back it is amazing how God can change people. I was a stubborn one who was very hard to get to –but when God came into my life, I was like Lott’s wife –I could not look back. My whole life changed and I am so glad. I gave up many of my old friends that I had since junior high but replaced them with Billy, Trey, Tori, and later (Ella) and all of you guys. I think God blessed me 4 fold for turning toward him and away from Satan. As for Michael (the inmate I mentioned) he gets out tomorrow and we brought him a Bible as a going away gift.
Crystal
P.S. Good Sermon Rev. Joyce
Stephen says,
Satan is a created being (an angel) who gave up heaven because he wanted to be God. (see Joyce's sermon [LOL] for the verses!) Satan is such a "smooth talker" that he convinced 1/3 of all the angels to join him and his cause. I wonder if the angels realized that following Satan would cost them heaven. Of course, the cost for following Satan is still the same today.
Satan is a "fisher of men" too. The problem is he gives eternal death, not eternal life. Satan knows our weaknesses as well, if not better, than we do. He uses our weaknesses against us by making the temptation look oh so good. Sometimes we're like the fish that ends up on the end of a hook...he sees the lure...it triggers a response that makes him think he needs to eat it...he takes a bite...the hook sinks deep into his jaw...and before he knows what hit him he's somebody's dinner. We see the temptation...we know it's wrong but we want to do it anyway...we then justify our wanting it...then it's all we can think about...we make plans to do the very thing we know we shouldn't...and before you know it we're caught...just like the fish.
A fishing lure is a perfect example of how Satan uses a temptation. A lure is made to look like the real thing...if it didn't the fish wouldn't bite it. The lure is attractive to the fish and the fish wants it. The lure causes the fish to chase after it. Once the fish has gets a hold of the lure the lure won't let go of the fish. What looked so good at the outset has become a source of pain, and in many cases, a source of death. Romans 6:23 tells us, "The cost of sin is death..." and that is just as true for us as it is for the fish. When we "take the bait" it's too late. He's got us, and usually keeps us for a very long time. As the old Southern Gospel song says, "Sin will take you farther than you want to go. Keep you longer than you want to stay. Cost you more than you want to pay."
Satan is the "Father of Lies" and the lie he tells us alot is that we can't stop giving in to a temptation. We say we won't fall for that lie but we all do from time to time. We must know the Word inside and out in order to fight against the "darts and arrows" that Satan launches at us every day.
God grant us the wisdom and discernment to see through Satan's lies and to submit to God and His perfect will for our life. I am never attacked by Satan as often or as hard as when I am getting closer to God. It's during these times I have to cling to God's hand and trust His heart for my life because many times I can't see a way out or through a situation. When I fully trust in God and His strength and stop listening to Satan and his lies, it is then, and only then, that I can have victory over a temptation. Hallelujah!
In His Love,
Stephen Bene'
...from Paula....
As I continue to do battle each and every day, I am reminded that Satan is very much alive and waiting for me and others who fall victim to his prey. I have had the (not) privelge of seeing one of his own, face to face, at a childrens' camp, which I was the director for the association and had to let our "preacher" go.
Interesting story for teens because some of the strongest teens, whom I had worked with, fell victim as "he" drew them to him. God was so powerful, that He (God) allerted the adults immediately and Satan and his cohorts were interupted.
The teens (which had been recommended by their church as youth leaders), had many emmotional problems following this incident.
The best part about that years' Associaional Childrens' Camp was that God reigned and overcame all the confusion Satan intended. The parents sent many letters concerning that camp, praising God for the positive change in their family.
What MUST BE nailed down to our youth and all of God's people, is that Satan was created, NOT "THE CREATOR".
So many Christians fear Satan when they need to remind themselves that God is THE MOST POWERFUL of all. The CREATOR! Not a being who was created!
Again, "I" do battle on a daily basis, and the only way to fight,and remain alert and strong, is through my quiet time and bible reading.
Great comments this week guys! I’m like to start by saying we really missed you teachers at Conclave this week. We had a great time, and not only were reminded of things we already knew, but also learned a lot of new things. I left feeling challenged, refreshed, and excited. I would encourage everyone to make arrangements to attend next year, if at all possible.
Ok now, this week the lesson is on the origin of Satan. I think we all know that Satan is an angel, and was created (by God) before the world was. Satan was created as a leading angel, known as a cherub. If we were to think of the angels as an army, Satan would be a general. His name is also called Lucifer, which means bright one, or shining one. The book of Ezekiel tells us that he was wise and beautiful. He lived in the heavenly paradise called Eden, and served in the very presence of God. If anyone was close to God, it was Lucifer.
Now, despite his closeness with God, he became proud of his own beauty, wisdom, and power. Lucifer never said it aloud, but God discovered it in his heart. He had a pride problem. Note that “I” is in the center of pride. Lucifer’s sin began much the same as our sin does. He had and “I” problem. He said to himself……………………
“I” will occupy Heaven. “P”osition
“I” will exercise authority. “R”ule
“I” will have all subjection to me. “I”dolized
“I” will possess all glory. “D”azzling
“I” will be as God. “E”quality
Interestingly enough, this is the very origin of sin. Sin did not begin with Adam, nor Eve. The origin of sin had nothing to do with fruit. Sin just wasn’t a problem, for man, until Adam and Eve and the Serpent, and the fruit. Listed below, are a few things I’ve noted from this study.
1. People close to God are subject to fall into sin.
2. People that are wise are subject to fall into sin.
3. People that are beautiful are subject to fall into sin.
4. People that are powerful are subject to fall into sin.
5. People that are leaders are subject to fall into sin.
6. People don’t have to express they’re pride outwardly for God to recognize it.
7. The first sin started with pride.
Listed below are a few things, I’ve pondered regarding this study.
1. Satan convinced one third of the angels to rebel against God, and follow him. I wonder what made his case look so good to the others, that they would follow?
2. I wonder why we admire self esteem, when it’s so closely related to pride.
3. Lucifer was closer to God than the others, yet he fell first. (just a thought)
4. I wonder if Satan has regrets.
5. Could it be that the bright light, at the end of the tunnel that so many people see during the near death experiences, is Satan?
Your comments are always invited. Good night and God Bless!
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