Hello friends and welcome to
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Three Angels
Broadcasting Network
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from the... as I always say...
the biggest little city in the
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world here in Thompsonville/West
Frankfort, Illinois,
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where we believe that the Lord
is reaching out around the world
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carrying this final message
to a world that really needs
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to know about Jesus.
So thank you for tuning in
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tonight. If you are walking
around in your living room
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or if you're still at
work... whatever you're doing...
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if you have this program in
view, sit down for the next hour
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and wait for the blessing
that God has packaged for you
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tonight. We have a wonderful
series. Tonight is the second
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night of the series
entitled The Greater Controversy
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and our presenter
is Kameron DeVasher.
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And he has blessed already
and I believe that tonight
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the Lord is going
to pour into him again
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to bless your hearts as
you sit down and hear what the
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Spirit has to say to the church.
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The series continues tomorrow
night. Also on Saturday morning
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and Saturday afternoon.
So we have three more parts
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to the series entitled
The Greater Controversy.
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But thank you for tuning in
and thank you for your prayers
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and all you do to
advance the cause of God.
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Tonight before our speaker
comes out we have music also.
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And I'll introduce our musicians
in just a brief moment.
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Actually not just musicians
but ministers of music.
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We are blessed to have
Michael and Celestine Barry
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who are members of
our local congregation.
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Tonight we're going
to share them with you
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and they'll be ministering
a song entitled "Friendship. "
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Michael will be playing
the piano and Celestine will
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be blessing you as she uses the
gift that God has given to her
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in the wonderful voice.
But before we do any of that
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we want to bow our heads and
invite the presence of the Lord
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to be with us tonight
as we wait on the Lord.
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Let's bow our heads.
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Gracious Father in
heaven, we thank you, Lord,
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that You are good all the time.
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In the context of this
world today there is controversy
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about everything. So
many controversies are growing
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in these last days.
Sometimes we look away
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from the One who can
solve all the controversies
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and we get caught up in
the vacuum of our preferences
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and the things that
have come to our hearts...
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whether political or religious.
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But tonight as we consider
the importance of the topic
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tonight we pray that
You will bless our hearts.
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We pray that the message
"The Last Link of Sympathy"
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will be centered on Christ.
So bless our speaker tonight
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and bless the music for
Your glory and for Your honor.
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In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
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I'd like to invite
Michael and Celestine to come
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and minister to us tonight.
And the song is a single word
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to entitle the
song: "Friendship. "
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I know it's about the friend-
ship we can have with Christ.
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Let us wait on the Lord as our
hearts are drawn closer to Him
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through music.
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Friendship is forever.
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It cannot be broken.
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Love is always there
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though not a word is spoken.
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They have something special
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that no one else can share.
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They may hear a voice
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or see a smile as
someone passes by.
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That's when they'll think of you
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and breathe a happy sigh...
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What is a friend?
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What is a friend?
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What is a friend?
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Would you like
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to know?
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Well, He'd go with you anywhere
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when others have said "no. "
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When things you
said or did went wrong
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He'd never say
"I told you so... "
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He'll just keep on loving you
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and on His way He'd go.
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He'd be there to cheer you
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when you were feeling sad.
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He'd know just the
right thing to say...
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things to make you glad.
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And when life is over and done
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and the last mile you have trod
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you'll find you
had a friend all along
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and He's still here
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with you...
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What is a friend?
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Who is your friend?
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God is your
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friend.
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Amen!
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Good evening
everyone. Good evening.
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I could not have picked
a better musical selection.
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What a message! What a
ministry! Thank you so much
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for that message in
song. God is our friend!
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And in fact that's a great
way to wrap up what we've been
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talking about last night
and we're going to be continuing
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to talk about tonight and then
the night and day to follow.
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As we look at The
Greater Controversy
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let's take a minute to review.
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Last night in our opening
discussion about Beyond Ptolemy
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we viewed... and I want to
review several points with you
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here. Number 1: that
there is more involved
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in the conflict
between Christ and Satan
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than merely the
salvation of fallen sinners.
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Now again, that's very important
to me; it's very important
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to you... because
that's what we are.
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But beyond us,
there's a universe out there.
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Number 2:
Lucifer's war in heaven
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was not an
outwardly-violent war of arms
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but a much more subtle, a much
more insidious war of words.
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He was politicking. He
was argumentively attacking
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the government of God.
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And number 3: though God knew
clearly the rebellious intent
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and murderous
motives in Lucifer's heart
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He did not immediately
blot him out of existence...
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instead He cast
him to the earth.
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And the reason given in
scripture is very important.
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"That those who knew
him might gaze at him
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and consider him. " To
watch him and to think about
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what he was doing.
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And finally, we closed with
the illustration of the judge
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who coincidentally presided
over the trial of the man who
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robbed his own house
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while he was home.
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Not the man robbed his own
house but he robbed the judge's
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house. You get what I'm saying.
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And the moral of
the story being that
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both the judge and the accused
when they walked into the
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courtroom and saw
each other knew the truth.
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But the due process
still had to go forward because
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other people needed
to understand the truth.
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There was a broader audience;
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there was a greater
thing to be resolved.
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Similarly, God is not
only interested in being right
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He's concerned
about being seen as right
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by His created beings.
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Thus Satan was cast out
of heaven so that those who
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knew him might gaze
at him and consider him.
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And I love the fact that
we have such a marvelous God
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who cares what we think.
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Who is willing to
go through all of this
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so that we'll be won
back... not temporarily,
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not by force, but
by a draw of love.
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Looking at His character
we'll see the difference
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and we'll choose the right.
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Tonight we're going to
continue our study, but before
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we begin any study of
God's Word we need to begin with
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a word of prayer so that
the inspirer of scripture
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can be our
instructor this evening.
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Let's bow our heads.
Dear heavenly Father,
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Lord, I thank you
again for the opportunity
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of opening Your Word
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and studying these deep things.
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And Lord tonight, help
us to further this theme.
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Help us to see as
the scripture unfolds
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more clearly the character
of Satan, but more importantly
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the character of
our Savior Jesus Christ.
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Help us to see that
truly He is our Friend.
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We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
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Revelation chapter 12.
Again, this is going to be
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a Bible study.
I make no apology;
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I'm just letting you know we're
going to be in the scripture.
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Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 7.
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We saw this scripture
last evening. We're going to
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pick it up this evening again.
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Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 7:
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"And war broke out in heaven.
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Michael and His
angels fought with the dragon
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and the dragon and
his angels fought...
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but they did not prevail
nor was a place found for them
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in heaven any longer. So
the great dragon was cast
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out: that serpent of old
called the devil and Satan
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who deceives the whole
world. He was cast to the earth
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and his angels were
cast out with him. "
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And that's where we
stopped last evening.
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We're going to go one
more verse to verse 10.
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"Then I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven
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'Now salvation and strength
and the kingdom of our God
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and the power of
His Christ have come
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for the accuser of our
brethren who accused them before
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our God day and night
has been cast down. ' "
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Now in this passage of scripture
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it does not refer to the
enemy of Christ as Lucifer,
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that covering cherub,
but now it refers to him with
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several names:
"that serpent of old"
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or "the devil and Satan. "
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Just in case there was
any ambiguity or uncertainty
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this is who we're
talking about. This is Satan.
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But notice that one of
the monikers given him is
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"that serpent of old. "
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"That serpent of old. "
And even a cursory review
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of the Bible scripture...
of scripture... would take you
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back to the very
beginning of the Bible
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in the book of Genesis
with "that serpent of old... "
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that ancient
serpent. So let's go there:
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Genesis chapter 1.
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Genesis chapter 1 describes
the creation of this world.
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It begins with the
phrase "In the beginning... "
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And now we've come
to the beginning of us.
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There was a beginning
before this in the beginning,
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but now we come
to our beginning.
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"In the beginning
God... " verse 1...
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"created the
heavens and the earth. "
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And it proceeds to outline
all the way in which He created
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each day and the
sequence and order.
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And I so love a Lord who
takes the time to create us.
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But look in verse 26.
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It says here when it comes
to the creation of humanity -
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the crowning work
of that creation week -
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"Then God said: 'Let us
make man... ' And this is key:
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'in Our image
according to Our likeness.
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Let them have dominion
over the fish of the sea,
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over the birds of the
air and over the cattle
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and over all the earth
and over every creeping thing
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that creeps on the earth. ' "
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So as if to say that
was God's conversation.
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So as a result of that
conversation He had with Himself
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verse 27: "So God
created man in His own image.
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In the image of
God He created him;
00:12:16.18\00:12:19.46
male and female He created them.
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Then God blessed
them and said to them:
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'Be fruitful and multiply.
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Fill the earth and subdue it.
00:12:27.85\00:12:30.67
Have dominion over
the fish of the sea,
00:12:31.99\00:12:34.60
over the birds of the
air, over every living thing
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that moves on the earth. ' "
00:12:36.87\00:12:38.64
So God formed
man in His own image.
00:12:38.94\00:12:42.05
In His likeness.
Makes them male and female.
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He creates them... for
only a them can represent
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a God who is plural.
00:12:48.32\00:12:49.93
Creates them and then
gives them the command to be
00:12:50.23\00:12:54.15
fruitful and
multiply... and to have dominion
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over everything else
that had been created.
00:12:56.96\00:12:59.74
They were given
dominion over this world.
00:13:00.04\00:13:03.09
So get the picture
from Satan's perspective.
00:13:03.39\00:13:05.95
He's been cast out
of heaven and now God
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through the
agency of His Son Jesus
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who is also known as
Michael - "He who IS like God" -
00:13:10.46\00:13:13.65
has now created new beings
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in the image of God and
has given them dominion.
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Which are not
those the very two things
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that Lucifer himself desired
in the kingdom of heaven?
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In fact, go back to
Isaiah 14 in your mind
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or in your Bibles... that's
fine if you can do it quickly.
00:13:30.55\00:13:32.37
Isaiah chapter 14 we see
that internal monologue where
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Lucifer said in his heart quote:
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"I will ascend into heaven.
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I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God. "
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Notice he didn't just want
to be above the stars of God
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he wanted to be on
a throne in dominion.
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"I will exalt my
throne above the stars of God.
00:13:49.69\00:13:52.13
I will also sit on the
mount of the congregation
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on the farthest
sides of the north.
00:13:55.69\00:13:57.03
I will ascend above
the heights of the clouds.
00:13:57.33\00:13:59.49
I will be like the Most High. "
00:13:59.69\00:14:02.25
This is what was eating
away in his heart in heaven.
00:14:03.76\00:14:09.57
And now he desires that
same thought process to be
00:14:09.77\00:14:14.36
instilled, to be imbued into
the creatures who genuinely are
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in the image of God.
00:14:19.53\00:14:20.92
So we go to Genesis chapter 3.
00:14:22.43\00:14:24.32
I like to point out to people
that the only perfect pages
00:14:24.72\00:14:28.64
in scripture are the first two.
00:14:28.74\00:14:30.07
Everything else is the sin
problem and the resolution of
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the sin problem.
Everything was good
00:14:32.77\00:14:34.40
for about two chapters, then
we come to Genesis chapter 3:1.
00:14:34.60\00:14:39.99
"Now the serpent... "
Remember, this was where John
00:14:40.29\00:14:43.44
borrows his language
in the book of Revelation:
00:14:43.54\00:14:45.00
"that ancient serpent? "
"Now the serpent was more
00:14:45.10\00:14:48.37
cunning than any beast of
the field which the Lord God
00:14:48.47\00:14:51.06
had made. " And
I'll pause right there.
00:14:51.16\00:14:53.39
It's not because he developed
into this cunning thing.
00:14:53.59\00:14:56.22
There's a power
behind the power.
00:14:56.42\00:14:58.73
You'll see this motif
running all through scripture:
00:14:58.93\00:15:00.98
that any time Satan works he
always goes through a front man,
00:15:01.18\00:15:04.25
a puppet if you will.
00:15:04.45\00:15:05.72
This time he uses the serpent.
00:15:05.93\00:15:07.71
"Now the serpent was
more cunning than any beast
00:15:07.91\00:15:10.76
of the field that
the Lord God had made.
00:15:10.86\00:15:12.37
And he said to the woman... "
00:15:12.58\00:15:14.28
So there's a
conversation between the serpent
00:15:14.58\00:15:17.58
and the woman: "...
'Has God indeed said
00:15:17.78\00:15:20.99
you shall not eat of
every tree of the garden? '
00:15:21.29\00:15:24.12
And the woman
said to the serpent:
00:15:24.32\00:15:26.71
'We may eat of the fruit
of the trees of the garden
00:15:26.91\00:15:28.91
but of the fruit of the tree
which is in the midst of the
00:15:29.01\00:15:31.07
garden God has said
'You shall not eat it
00:15:31.10\00:15:32.93
nor shall you
touch it lest you die. '
00:15:33.13\00:15:35.31
Then the serpent
said to the woman:
00:15:35.51\00:15:37.55
'You will not surely die. ' "
00:15:37.75\00:15:40.19
And of course if we were to
look at the Lord's instructions
00:15:40.39\00:15:42.31
He had said almost the exact
same thing except He had said
00:15:42.51\00:15:45.24
"you SHALL surely die. "
00:15:45.45\00:15:47.07
The serpent takes one
little twist and says:
00:15:48.88\00:15:51.51
"It's actually the exact
opposite of what God said...
00:15:51.71\00:15:54.49
you will NOT surely die. "
00:15:54.79\00:15:57.09
And here's the
reason why in verse 5:
00:15:57.29\00:16:00.22
"For God knows... " Now
let's just pause right there...
00:16:00.42\00:16:05.51
the implication being
"and you don't know. "
00:16:05.71\00:16:08.91
For God knows something
that He has not told you.
00:16:09.21\00:16:12.11
There's some inside information
that you don't have access to.
00:16:12.31\00:16:15.21
"God knows that in
the day you eat of it
00:16:15.41\00:16:18.81
your eyes will be opened... "
Again, what's the implication?
00:16:19.01\00:16:22.86
Your eyes are currently closed.
00:16:22.96\00:16:25.25
There's something you
can't see. There's something
00:16:25.45\00:16:27.23
beyond... something
you've been denied access to.
00:16:27.43\00:16:31.73
"For God knows
the day you eat of it
00:16:32.87\00:16:34.46
your eyes will be
opened and you will be... "
00:16:34.56\00:16:36.56
and here's the
thing... "like God. "
00:16:36.66\00:16:39.82
He takes that same mindset
00:16:40.13\00:16:42.61
that had resulted in his own
expulsion from the kingdom of
00:16:42.81\00:16:45.63
heaven and he tries to
implant it into these creatures
00:16:45.73\00:16:49.50
who have dominion and were
created in the image of God.
00:16:49.70\00:16:53.15
Notice how they would be
like God. This is key as well.
00:16:58.55\00:17:01.25
"For you will be like
God knowing good and evil. "
00:17:01.45\00:17:06.94
Of course, it's the Tree
of Knowledge of Good and Evil
00:17:07.37\00:17:10.22
from where he's setting up
shop and making these arguments.
00:17:10.62\00:17:16.35
Notice verse 6 then:
00:17:17.88\00:17:19.68
"So when the woman saw
that the tree was good for food
00:17:19.89\00:17:22.28
and pleasing to the eye... " -
00:17:22.69\00:17:25.09
as was every other
tree in the Garden of Eden.
00:17:25.39\00:17:27.56
And don't get this idea that the
Tree of the Knowledge of Good
00:17:27.76\00:17:30.31
and Evil was something
like a wicked witch. Dark, ugly.
00:17:30.41\00:17:32.96
No, no, no, no, no.
00:17:33.06\00:17:34.19
It was good for food;
it was pleasing to the eye.
00:17:34.39\00:17:35.99
But that's not what got
her to eat it. Watch this now:
00:17:36.19\00:17:38.32
"and desirable
to make one wise. "
00:17:38.52\00:17:43.24
There was some
information, some access
00:17:43.54\00:17:45.73
to knowledge that
was from her perspective
00:17:45.83\00:17:49.13
now forbidden her, and
she wanted to cross over.
00:17:49.33\00:17:52.31
"She took of its fruit
and ate and she also gave
00:17:54.73\00:17:57.29
to her husband who
was with her and he ate.
00:17:57.39\00:17:59.47
Then the eyes of
both of them WERE opened
00:17:59.77\00:18:02.06
and they knew
that they were naked. "
00:18:04.22\00:18:06.20
They didn't become like
gods... they became exposed.
00:18:06.50\00:18:10.24
Vulnerable. "And
the sewed fig leaves
00:18:10.55\00:18:13.82
together and made
coverings for themselves. "
00:18:13.92\00:18:15.83
And what's fascinating about
this chapter beyond what we've
00:18:16.03\00:18:18.51
already read is how it unfolds.
00:18:18.71\00:18:20.33
And the Lord comes
walking in the garden in the
00:18:20.53\00:18:22.02
cool of the day and He
calls to man and He says:
00:18:22.13\00:18:23.68
"Where are you? "
00:18:23.89\00:18:25.02
As if God ever has to
ask... He already knows
00:18:25.22\00:18:28.64
but He's calling out to the man
because there's a relationship.
00:18:28.84\00:18:30.82
"Where are you? We used
to walk together. Where? "
00:18:31.02\00:18:33.45
And the man says: "We are
hiding because we are afraid
00:18:33.75\00:18:36.32
because we were naked. "
00:18:36.42\00:18:37.44
And I love God's question:
00:18:37.64\00:18:38.97
"WHO told you you were naked? "
00:18:39.17\00:18:41.81
He didn't say: "How
did you discover this? "
00:18:42.11\00:18:43.79
Or "What happened? "
00:18:43.89\00:18:45.18
Or "Where were you? "
Or "What were you doing? "
00:18:45.28\00:18:47.62
He simply said: "WHO told you? "
00:18:47.82\00:18:50.43
The implication being:
"You've been talking to someone.
00:18:50.64\00:18:54.32
A conversation has
happened, has it not?
00:18:54.52\00:18:57.44
Who told you this? "
00:18:57.64\00:18:59.46
And of course, He goes
to the man and the man says:
00:18:59.66\00:19:02.47
"The woman You put here
with me. " The woman said:
00:19:02.58\00:19:03.97
"Well the serpent... "
00:19:04.17\00:19:05.40
And what's fascinating is
when we get to the serpent
00:19:06.82\00:19:08.89
verse 14: "So the Lord
God said to the serpent... "
00:19:11.34\00:19:13.55
To the woman He
had asked a question:
00:19:13.75\00:19:15.61
"What happened? " To the
man He had asked a question:
00:19:15.81\00:19:17.91
"What happened? " But to
the serpent no questions.
00:19:18.12\00:19:20.31
"So the Lord God said to
the serpent: 'Because you have
00:19:20.64\00:19:23.97
done this you are cursed
00:19:24.17\00:19:25.65
more than all the cattle.
More than every beast of the
00:19:27.20\00:19:29.65
field. On your belly you
shall go and you shall eat dust
00:19:29.75\00:19:31.59
all the days of your life. ' "
00:19:31.69\00:19:32.78
It's almost as if He has
dealt with this serpent before.
00:19:33.18\00:19:37.42
He's had his opportunity to have
a question and answer session
00:19:37.62\00:19:41.65
for clarification. But
now there's no opportunity for
00:19:41.85\00:19:45.16
questioning...
it's just sentencing.
00:19:45.26\00:19:47.31
This is that ancient serpent
called the devil or Satan.
00:19:48.80\00:19:52.03
And I also think
it's fascinating that
00:19:52.43\00:19:54.32
though the serpent was cursed
00:19:54.35\00:19:55.60
the man and the
woman only had consequences
00:19:55.70\00:19:57.56
of their sin, both of
which tied them more intimately
00:19:57.66\00:20:00.82
to that from
which they were created.
00:20:01.02\00:20:03.34
To the man it was to
the ground and to the woman
00:20:03.74\00:20:06.16
it was to the man... a
reminder that you are indeed
00:20:06.36\00:20:09.22
NOT like God. In fact
God even says to the man:
00:20:09.32\00:20:12.77
"For dust you are and
to dust you shall return. "
00:20:12.91\00:20:16.19
You are not gods... you
are indeed created beings
00:20:16.59\00:20:19.81
and now fallen created beings.
00:20:19.91\00:20:22.32
Basically Satan was
allowed to set up shop in the
00:20:22.52\00:20:24.65
Garden of Eden and
from the Tree of Knowledge
00:20:24.68\00:20:26.78
of Good and Evil he peddled
the same rebellious merchandise
00:20:26.88\00:20:30.76
of envy and distrust for which
he had been cast out of heaven.
00:20:30.96\00:20:36.14
Romans 6:16. There's
a very simple principle,
00:20:37.10\00:20:40.01
very simple principle.
Romans 6 verse 16 says:
00:20:41.17\00:20:46.25
"Do you not know? " As if to say
00:20:46.35\00:20:48.32
"This is common sense. "
00:20:48.52\00:20:51.24
"This is not deep theology, this
is just regular understanding. "
00:20:51.44\00:20:54.44
"Do you not know that to
whom you present yourselves
00:20:54.64\00:20:57.20
slaves to obey you are
that one's slave whom you obey?
00:20:57.40\00:21:02.09
Whether of sin leading to death
00:21:04.61\00:21:07.48
or of obedience
leading to righteousness. "
00:21:07.68\00:21:11.21
Basically Paul lays out
a very simple principle:
00:21:11.41\00:21:13.60
whoever you obey is your master.
00:21:13.90\00:21:16.47
You surrender the high
ground when you obey to them.
00:21:16.87\00:21:20.39
Adam and Eve were
the rulers of this world
00:21:20.69\00:21:22.64
only obedient to the
Lord of Hosts. That was it.
00:21:22.84\00:21:25.04
But now Satan has come in
and they have become obedient
00:21:25.24\00:21:27.94
to him and
therefore they are his slaves.
00:21:28.14\00:21:31.17
In a very real sense Satan
became the ruler of this world.
00:21:31.57\00:21:35.12
The Bible makes
this unmistakably clear.
00:21:35.32\00:21:37.36
In Ephesians chapter
2 verse 2 he is called
00:21:37.56\00:21:39.79
"the prince of the
power of the air. "
00:21:39.99\00:21:41.80
In II Corinthians chapter 4
and verse 4 he is referred to
00:21:42.00\00:21:44.89
as "the god of this world. "
00:21:44.92\00:21:46.77
That's a big statement to make
about someone who is not God.
00:21:46.97\00:21:49.83
But Bible
writers have no problem.
00:21:50.04\00:21:51.73
This being is the
"god of this world. "
00:21:51.93\00:21:54.77
In fact, in Matthew chapter 4
00:21:55.07\00:21:56.40
in verses 8 and 9 in the
temptation of Jesus in the
00:21:56.60\00:21:59.26
wilderness the
scripture says that Satan quote:
00:21:59.36\00:22:04.18
"took Him up on an
exceedingly high mountain
00:22:04.38\00:22:06.42
and showed Him all
the kingdoms of the world
00:22:06.62\00:22:08.22
and their glory
and he said to Him:
00:22:08.42\00:22:10.27
"all these
things I will... " What?
00:22:10.47\00:22:12.81
"give You. "
What's the implication?
00:22:13.01\00:22:16.65
I own it; it's mine to give!
00:22:16.85\00:22:19.67
"All these
things I will give You
00:22:19.87\00:22:22.61
IF You worship me. "
00:22:22.81\00:22:26.80
"All of these things I
will give You if You bow down
00:22:27.10\00:22:30.10
and worship me. "
And in a very real sense
00:22:30.20\00:22:33.42
that was a
legitimate claim of dominion.
00:22:33.62\00:22:36.53
Satan knew that Jesus had
come to win this place back
00:22:37.03\00:22:40.43
and he says: "Look, I
already own the place.
00:22:40.63\00:22:42.28
I'll just give it to You...
well, not quite give it to You.
00:22:42.48\00:22:44.67
There's only one little price:
one time bow down and worship.
00:22:44.78\00:22:47.50
This is the shortcut...
this is the easy way.
00:22:47.53\00:22:49.38
It's mine to give
and I'll let You have it
00:22:49.68\00:22:52.23
almost free of charge. "
00:22:52.53\00:22:54.97
And you think this is an
audacious claim, but Jesus
00:22:56.70\00:22:59.48
Himself... Three different times
in the book of John we find
00:22:59.58\00:23:02.85
Jesus referring to Satan
as "the ruler of this world. "
00:23:02.96\00:23:06.36
You'll find it in John
chapter 12; John chapter 14;
00:23:06.56\00:23:09.20
and John chapter 16:
00:23:09.40\00:23:10.49
Jesus Himself calling Satan
"the ruler of this world. "
00:23:10.69\00:23:13.13
Turn with me to John chapter 12.
00:23:13.33\00:23:15.10
Let's look at that
last one in particularly.
00:23:15.30\00:23:17.32
John chapter 12.
00:23:17.72\00:23:19.49
I'm sorry, the first
one that we mentioned.
00:23:19.69\00:23:21.51
John chapter 12. Go to verse 31.
00:23:21.61\00:23:23.53
John chapter 12.
00:23:23.93\00:23:26.21
These are the words of Jesus.
00:23:30.56\00:23:32.01
"Now is the
judgment of this world.
00:23:33.64\00:23:36.10
Now the ruler of
this world will be... "
00:23:36.30\00:23:39.25
What are the next two words?
00:23:39.35\00:23:40.43
"cast out. "
00:23:40.63\00:23:42.45
Well let's keep going
to verse 32, see if we can
00:23:45.81\00:23:47.62
sort out what He's saying.
"And I, if I am lifted up
00:23:47.72\00:23:50.05
from the earth will
draw all people to Myself. "
00:23:50.15\00:23:52.29
Wait a minute! Jesus
admits that Satan is the ruler
00:23:53.90\00:23:57.51
of this world but that
now he will be cast out.
00:23:57.62\00:24:00.76
But based on our
presentation all of last evening
00:24:01.16\00:24:04.63
shouldn't this raise
a question in your mind?
00:24:04.83\00:24:06.73
I thought he had
already been cast out.
00:24:07.90\00:24:10.12
What is He talking
"he will be cast out? "
00:24:11.68\00:24:13.94
Is it possible that
there's two different?
00:24:14.24\00:24:17.24
Well let's just keep reading.
00:24:17.44\00:24:18.96
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 7...
00:24:21.54\00:24:23.45
starting with verse 7.
I'm going to read this again
00:24:23.65\00:24:25.60
but I want you to see if
perhaps there is an allusion
00:24:25.70\00:24:28.01
to two castings out
in Revelation chapter 12.
00:24:28.21\00:24:32.63
Again, verse 7:
00:24:32.93\00:24:33.97
"And war broke out in heaven.
00:24:34.17\00:24:36.02
Michael and His
angels fought with the dragon
00:24:36.22\00:24:38.47
and the dragon and his angels
fought, but they did not prevail
00:24:38.57\00:24:40.75
nor was a place found for
them in heaven any longer. "
00:24:40.95\00:24:42.81
Verse 9:
00:24:43.11\00:24:44.39
"So the great
dragon was cast out... "
00:24:44.59\00:24:46.59
there's our first one...
00:24:46.80\00:24:48.08
"The great dragon was
cast out, that serpent of old
00:24:48.28\00:24:51.92
called the devil and Satan
who deceives the whole world.
00:24:52.12\00:24:53.99
He was cast to the earth
and his angels were cast out
00:24:54.20\00:24:56.58
with him. " Now
we've included verse 10:
00:24:56.68\00:24:59.73
"Then I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven:
00:24:59.93\00:25:02.45
'Now salvation and strength
and the kingdom of our God
00:25:02.65\00:25:05.28
and the power of
His Christ have come.
00:25:05.38\00:25:07.09
For the accuser of our brethren
who accused them before our God
00:25:07.29\00:25:09.84
day and night has
been cast down. ' "
00:25:09.94\00:25:12.66
You read those all
quickly in a blur and you think
00:25:13.06\00:25:15.37
that all these
casting outs and casting downs
00:25:15.57\00:25:17.20
are the same thing.
But apparently Christ can
00:25:17.30\00:25:19.78
cast Satan out of heaven
and then when He gets here
00:25:19.98\00:25:21.99
on the earth 4,000 years later
00:25:22.19\00:25:23.85
say he's about to be cast out.
00:25:24.05\00:25:26.27
How does this resolve?
00:25:26.67\00:25:28.86
Well either way, Adam
and Eve by obeying Satan
00:25:30.17\00:25:33.17
and disobeying God have
effectively relinquished their
00:25:33.27\00:25:36.15
ruler... the rule of the earth
00:25:36.26\00:25:38.36
to their Creator's
adversary... Satan.
00:25:38.56\00:25:41.30
Which of course that's
what the name Satan means:
00:25:41.50\00:25:43.13
your enemy, your
opposer, your adversary.
00:25:43.33\00:25:45.42
Christ, however, with His
death on the cross intended to
00:25:46.88\00:25:51.17
cast out the devil - and I
propose - for the second time.
00:25:51.38\00:25:54.85
Go to the book of Job.
00:25:55.25\00:25:57.31
The book of Job is fascinating.
00:25:57.61\00:26:00.28
It's perhaps one of the
most overlooked Bible books.
00:26:00.58\00:26:03.54
And when people do talk about
it maybe they might mention
00:26:03.84\00:26:06.90
the patience of Job
or the sufferings of Job
00:26:07.10\00:26:09.39
and the endurance with which
and the patience he put up with
00:26:09.59\00:26:12.52
these difficult trials.
But let's see the deeper
00:26:12.62\00:26:15.97
meaning of the book of Job.
00:26:16.07\00:26:17.19
Job chapter 1
starting with verse 6.
00:26:17.59\00:26:20.76
"Now there was a
day when the sons of God
00:26:22.50\00:26:24.46
came to present
themselves before the Lord
00:26:24.66\00:26:26.42
and Satan also
came among them. "
00:26:26.63\00:26:29.42
Now I like to talk to
uh... Any time I pastor a church
00:26:30.67\00:26:33.44
I like to talk in committee
meetings... whether it's
00:26:33.64\00:26:35.95
nominating
committee, finance committee, or
00:26:36.05\00:26:37.36
board or church
business meeting.
00:26:37.46\00:26:38.86
And people say: "Why do we have
so many committee meetings? "
00:26:39.06\00:26:41.05
I say: "Well this is
the design of the Lord!
00:26:41.25\00:26:43.03
He operates by committees!
00:26:43.23\00:26:45.12
He calls a
meeting; He has a council.
00:26:45.32\00:26:47.53
He likes to think things
through in group settings. "
00:26:47.83\00:26:50.99
So here we have the sons of God.
00:26:51.29\00:26:54.73
There was a day like
there was a calendar in heaven.
00:26:54.93\00:26:57.71
"There was a day when the
sons of God came to present
00:26:57.91\00:27:00.52
themselves before the Lord. "
00:27:00.62\00:27:01.84
It was a regularly-scheduled
meeting, and they came
00:27:02.04\00:27:03.81
into the presence of the
Lord. But what was different
00:27:03.91\00:27:05.66
about this day? "And
Satan also came among them. "
00:27:05.76\00:27:09.25
Verse 7:
00:27:09.66\00:27:11.22
"And the Lord said to Satan:
'From where do you come? ' "
00:27:11.42\00:27:15.56
It's almost as if as to say
00:27:15.96\00:27:17.77
"Didn't I put you somewhere?
00:27:18.07\00:27:20.38
Where? Why are you?
From where do you come? "
00:27:20.58\00:27:25.16
Now, let's take
a moment and pause.
00:27:26.97\00:27:30.02
Who are these "sons of God? "
00:27:30.32\00:27:32.90
Well, they are not
sons of God in the way that
00:27:34.43\00:27:37.10
Jesus Christ is the
only begotten Son of God.
00:27:38.17\00:27:41.75
First of all, that's
singular and only begotten is...
00:27:42.15\00:27:44.89
the Greek word is
monogenes... one of a kind.
00:27:45.09\00:27:48.30
Unique... there can be no other.
00:27:48.60\00:27:51.33
So this is not the sons of
God in the sense that these are
00:27:51.53\00:27:54.58
multiple Christs or
Sons of God in that sense.
00:27:54.78\00:27:57.51
Nor is this referring to the
sons of God in a general sense
00:27:58.75\00:28:02.21
in that all of His
creatures are sons of God.
00:28:02.41\00:28:04.41
For Job was not at this meeting,
neither his wife nor his friends
00:28:04.61\00:28:07.84
nor his children nor
anyone else in the story.
00:28:08.04\00:28:09.55
Only these
select few sons of God
00:28:09.79\00:28:13.66
came to present
themselves before the Lord.
00:28:13.87\00:28:15.72
It seems to indicate that
these are ruling representatives
00:28:16.12\00:28:20.91
from various parts of
God's created universe.
00:28:21.11\00:28:23.43
And let's look for
other Biblical data to back up
00:28:23.73\00:28:26.66
this assertion. First of
all, go to Luke chapter 3.
00:28:26.77\00:28:30.84
Let me show you
something fascinating.
00:28:30.94\00:28:32.03
In the book of Luke we get
a clue as to who these sons
00:28:32.23\00:28:34.96
of God might be. Luke chapter 3.
00:28:35.06\00:28:37.45
And it's a
genealogy of all things.
00:28:37.65\00:28:39.66
But Luke chapter 3,
recounting the lineage of Jesus,
00:28:40.06\00:28:46.03
we'll just pick
up at the very end.
00:28:49.49\00:28:50.73
We're not going to go
through the whole thing,
00:28:50.83\00:28:51.92
but the faithful line of
Jesus - those who preceded Him.
00:28:52.02\00:28:55.33
It says in verse 38,
going all the way to the deepest
00:28:55.53\00:28:58.48
history of Jesus' lineage,
00:28:58.58\00:29:00.43
it starts with the son of Enosh,
00:29:00.63\00:29:02.69
who is the son of Seth,
00:29:02.89\00:29:04.90
who is the son of Adam,
00:29:05.20\00:29:07.12
who was the son of God.
00:29:07.32\00:29:11.51
Not the son of dirt nor the
son of some other evolutionary
00:29:11.82\00:29:15.19
process that came
before but God made Adam...
00:29:15.30\00:29:19.34
thus he was the son of God.
00:29:19.54\00:29:22.64
You ever think about
that? Adam was referred to as
00:29:22.84\00:29:24.95
the son of God. But of
course, Adam was given dominion
00:29:25.16\00:29:28.92
over this planet. But
through his transgression
00:29:29.12\00:29:31.66
he relinquished that control
and became slave to the one
00:29:31.86\00:29:35.61
whom he obeyed...
which of course was Satan.
00:29:35.71\00:29:38.76
I would like to imagine
that Adam was supposed to be
00:29:40.01\00:29:42.85
representing our
world there that day.
00:29:42.95\00:29:44.60
But Satan came
among them... Also
00:29:44.80\00:29:48.80
in Job chapter 38 when discuss-
ing the creation of the world
00:29:49.00\00:29:52.09
the Lord describes it as
the time when "the morning stars
00:29:52.29\00:29:56.78
sang together... " which is
always a reference to angels...
00:29:56.98\00:29:59.74
AND the sons of
God shouted for joy.
00:30:00.04\00:30:05.50
So the "stars" and
the "sons of God. "
00:30:05.90\00:30:09.40
The angels and these
other created heavenly beings.
00:30:09.60\00:30:13.40
Interesting. And obviously
according to Christ's question
00:30:14.82\00:30:19.35
to Satan: "From
where do you come? "
00:30:19.55\00:30:21.39
it implies that the other
representatives are from other
00:30:21.69\00:30:25.24
places. These other sons of
God are coming from other parts
00:30:25.44\00:30:27.96
of the created
universe and there on this day
00:30:28.16\00:30:30.58
representing their location.
00:30:30.78\00:30:32.79
So Satan comes among
them and look at his answer
00:30:35.67\00:30:37.89
in verse 8. Going
back to the book of Job
00:30:37.92\00:30:39.84
chapter 1 and
verse 8 notice that Satan
00:30:40.04\00:30:44.62
does not give the simple answer.
00:30:44.82\00:30:47.05
He almost gives a -
well how should we say it? -
00:30:47.35\00:30:51.03
a sassy answer
or a snotty answer.
00:30:51.23\00:30:54.44
Job chapter 1 verse
8. Notice what he says:
00:30:54.74\00:30:57.66
I'm sorry... verse 7 still.
"And the Lord said to Satan:
00:30:59.43\00:31:01.61
'From where do you come?
' So Satan answered the Lord
00:31:01.81\00:31:04.63
and said: 'From going
to and fro on the earth
00:31:04.83\00:31:09.33
and from walking
back and forth on it. ' "
00:31:09.53\00:31:12.76
He didn't just
say: "I'm from the earth
00:31:13.06\00:31:15.07
or from the tree where
I was... " No, no, no, no.
00:31:15.27\00:31:17.97
He's like: "I'm from the earth
00:31:18.17\00:31:19.71
and I go wherever I want on it.
00:31:19.91\00:31:22.30
I walk this
way; I walk that way.
00:31:22.50\00:31:24.78
Everywhere I step
my foot is my dominion.
00:31:24.98\00:31:27.55
I'm representing them now.
00:31:27.75\00:31:29.89
They gave me the
keys... " if you will.
00:31:30.09\00:31:33.12
And this has to be an
interesting, tense meeting:
00:31:36.20\00:31:39.34
Christ and His adversary having
an open dialogue like this.
00:31:40.79\00:31:44.76
So verse 8:
00:31:44.96\00:31:45.97
"Then the Lord said to Satan:
'Have you considered... ' -
00:31:46.27\00:31:52.21
I love this
phrase - 'My servant Job?
00:31:52.41\00:31:56.26
That there is none
like him on the earth?
00:31:57.91\00:31:59.77
A blameless and
upright man; one who fears God
00:31:59.98\00:32:02.65
and shuns evil. ' "
00:32:02.85\00:32:05.33
Like interesting. "You
claim to have the whole world
00:32:05.64\00:32:08.36
yet I'm looking
down and I see Job.
00:32:08.56\00:32:09.90
Have you thought about him?
Have you considered him? ' "
00:32:10.10\00:32:13.64
Notice that the Lord likes His
creatures to consider things.
00:32:13.88\00:32:17.28
"Have you
considered My servant Job? "
00:32:17.48\00:32:19.42
Hmmm. And, um, hmmm.
00:32:20.87\00:32:23.85
You know, we live
in a society where...
00:32:24.15\00:32:26.14
OK, let's say that Satan
was the ruler of the world.
00:32:26.44\00:32:28.79
We're... you're used
to a society in this world
00:32:28.99\00:32:30.81
where not everyone who's under
the control of a government
00:32:31.01\00:32:33.75
appreciates their leaders.
00:32:33.95\00:32:35.48
Let's just be honest about that.
00:32:35.58\00:32:36.70
And so to say: "Do you
not like the president? "
00:32:36.90\00:32:39.17
Or "Do you not like the
leader? " or "Do you not like
00:32:39.37\00:32:40.70
the prime minister? "
That wouldn't be a big deal
00:32:40.80\00:32:42.59
in our society. But that's a
devastating argument to Satan
00:32:42.79\00:32:46.38
who just said: "I'm
running the whole place. "
00:32:46.48\00:32:47.94
And God said: "Yeah, but there's
one who still likes Me. "
00:32:48.04\00:32:50.33
"It's interesting. You
claim to have the whole thing
00:32:51.70\00:32:53.63
but there's one left.
At least one... we'll just
00:32:53.73\00:32:56.67
pick on this
one for right now. "
00:32:56.77\00:32:58.17
And so what does
Satan do? Look at verse 9:
00:32:59.68\00:33:01.43
he comes back with the
only argument possible.
00:33:01.73\00:33:05.83
"So Satan
answered the Lord and said:
00:33:05.93\00:33:08.35
"Does Job fear
God for nothing? "
00:33:08.45\00:33:11.06
"Huh, you don't think he's
doing it for free, do You? "
00:33:11.26\00:33:13.41
And again, we live in a society
where people are paid by the
00:33:13.81\00:33:16.72
government all the time,
00:33:16.82\00:33:18.17
so of course
they're going to be loyal.
00:33:18.37\00:33:19.68
But God's government works
on a whole different system.
00:33:19.78\00:33:22.06
He doesn't want to
work by force or enticement.
00:33:22.16\00:33:24.06
He just wants
people to be drawn by love.
00:33:24.16\00:33:25.89
The service of love is the
only thing that's acceptable.
00:33:26.09\00:33:28.32
And Satan comes back and
says: "Yeah, but you're paying
00:33:28.62\00:33:31.91
him off. Of course he
likes You, You're bribing him.
00:33:32.11\00:33:35.86
If given a clear choice,
he would obviously choose
00:33:36.16\00:33:41.05
the government of freedom
00:33:41.25\00:33:43.01
instead of the
government of law. "
00:33:43.21\00:33:45.03
So he proposes a test:
00:33:47.15\00:33:50.90
touch all that he has.
00:33:51.11\00:33:53.48
And the Lord allows him to
do this, and this closes with:
00:33:53.68\00:33:56.08
"So Satan went out from
the presence of the Lord. "
00:33:56.18\00:33:57.93
And the rest of the book of Job
00:33:59.19\00:34:01.46
is the outplaying of this.
And we think it's all about Job.
00:34:01.66\00:34:04.23
No, no, no, no, no.
00:34:04.43\00:34:05.73
Job's simply the tug of war
00:34:05.94\00:34:07.49
in this conflict
between Christ and Satan.
00:34:07.59\00:34:10.43
He's exhibit A in the
courtroom drama of the universe.
00:34:10.63\00:34:14.89
It's an interesting idea.
00:34:16.01\00:34:17.58
And of course Job goes
through some horrible hardships.
00:34:19.11\00:34:23.43
His family is ruined;
his finances are devastated.
00:34:23.63\00:34:25.62
His friends are awful.
Yet in the midst of all that
00:34:25.73\00:34:29.36
beautifully in Job
chapter 13 verse 5 he says:
00:34:29.56\00:34:32.38
"Though He slay me
yet will I trust Him... "
00:34:32.58\00:34:35.86
decisively ending the argument
of Satan on this point that day.
00:34:36.83\00:34:41.70
What a beautiful thing.
And I love that story that
00:34:41.90\00:34:44.19
even through this the
Lord can sustain this man
00:34:44.39\00:34:46.79
that though - and
notice it doesn't even say it,
00:34:46.99\00:34:48.66
this takes it
to a deeper level -
00:34:48.86\00:34:50.03
he doesn't say: "Though I die
because of whatever's going on"
00:34:50.24\00:34:52.77
he says "Though He
slay me" speaking of God.
00:34:52.97\00:34:56.13
"Even if He were to
slay me yet will I trust Him.
00:34:56.33\00:34:59.67
I trust Him even unto death. "
00:34:59.87\00:35:02.94
Hmmm. Now, what I particularly
find interesting in the story
00:35:03.90\00:35:09.44
is not actually what Satan
said or even what the Lord said
00:35:09.57\00:35:12.16
and especially not what Job said
00:35:12.37\00:35:14.01
but what I do find interesting
is what these sons of God say
00:35:14.21\00:35:17.77
or more accurately
what they don't say.
00:35:17.97\00:35:20.04
They don't say a word.
00:35:20.24\00:35:23.16
Here's Satan in their
midst... here's Christ.
00:35:23.26\00:35:25.08
And it's like
they're at a tennis match
00:35:25.28\00:35:26.56
or some sort of thing.
They're just watching: "Whoo,
00:35:26.76\00:35:28.09
that was a good
point. Ah... next point. "
00:35:28.19\00:35:29.70
"Oooh, oh. " They're just
watching this back and forth,
00:35:29.90\00:35:32.58
back and forth,
not saying a word.
00:35:32.78\00:35:34.08
I mean, aren't they supposed
to be on the Lord's side?
00:35:34.58\00:35:37.07
Shouldn't they step in and
say: "Hey, get out of here.
00:35:37.37\00:35:39.59
We don't tr... "
00:35:39.79\00:35:41.04
But they don't.
00:35:41.24\00:35:42.63
You know, I mean...
even impetuous, crazy Peter
00:35:44.50\00:35:47.33
when Jesus was being arrested
in the Garden of Gethsemane
00:35:48.88\00:35:51.22
what does he do? He
reaches for his sword to chop...
00:35:51.42\00:35:53.80
And he's got bad aim,
but he cuts off Malchus' ear.
00:35:54.00\00:35:55.98
I mean, at least the
spirit was in the right place
00:35:56.38\00:35:59.41
if his head wasn't, you know?
00:35:59.51\00:36:00.89
Jesus heals the ear,
but at least Peter knew.
00:36:01.09\00:36:03.13
I mean, "My Redeemer,
my Lord is being attacked
00:36:03.33\00:36:07.10
and I need to defend
Him. " But these sons of God
00:36:07.40\00:36:10.59
do nothing.
00:36:10.79\00:36:13.21
It's as if they're like:
"Look, we're loyal to You, Lord.
00:36:14.66\00:36:17.00
Of course, we're
still in Your council... but
00:36:17.10\00:36:18.96
let's at least hear him out. "
00:36:19.17\00:36:20.75
It's as though they
needed to more fully understand
00:36:22.30\00:36:26.55
the ultimate end of
Satan's proposed government.
00:36:26.75\00:36:30.94
They didn't quite get it yet.
00:36:31.14\00:36:33.77
Hmmm. There's
something important about the
00:36:34.37\00:36:38.12
demonstration. And
speaking of the ultimate end,
00:36:38.32\00:36:41.86
let me... let me bring this in.
00:36:42.06\00:36:44.01
As inspiring as
Job's faithfulness is
00:36:44.31\00:36:49.73
and as wonderful as it
is that the Lord once again
00:36:49.83\00:36:53.55
blessed him abundantly...
because you go to the end
00:36:53.75\00:36:55.16
of the book of Job...
And there's so many things
00:36:55.26\00:36:57.53
I love in Job... Job is
there for 37-some odd chapters
00:36:57.63\00:37:00.49
just railing: "Woe is me...
" "Why has this happened? "
00:37:00.69\00:37:03.08
And the Lord comes
and answers him. He says:
00:37:03.29\00:37:05.00
"Brace yourself like a man.
00:37:05.20\00:37:06.47
I will ask you questions
and you will give Me answers. "
00:37:06.67\00:37:09.47
And God just rolls up His
sleeve and you'd think He would
00:37:09.67\00:37:12.08
come to the aid of Job
and comfort him. And He says:
00:37:12.28\00:37:14.21
"What are you talking
about? Who is this that darkens
00:37:14.42\00:37:16.78
My doorstep with
words without knowledge? "
00:37:16.98\00:37:18.81
And He says: "Were you there
when I made the foundations
00:37:19.11\00:37:22.25
of the earth? Oh
surely you know... "
00:37:22.45\00:37:24.62
God was even
sarcastic to poor suffering Job.
00:37:24.82\00:37:29.46
And Job finally has to
say "I have put my hand over
00:37:29.69\00:37:32.51
my mouth. I will not
speak again. My bad. "
00:37:32.61\00:37:35.84
And it's not like even
then the Lord said: "Oh,
00:37:38.48\00:37:40.65
all right. Now I've broken
your pride. Let Me explain
00:37:40.85\00:37:42.96
what was going on. " He
never gave him an answer.
00:37:43.06\00:37:45.48
He blessed him abundantly.
And we look at the end of that
00:37:45.78\00:37:48.19
and say: "See, patience pays
off. The Lord will double your
00:37:48.39\00:37:51.46
blessings. " But let
me tell you something.
00:37:51.56\00:37:53.72
We can sometimes leave the book
of Job with the impression that
00:37:53.92\00:37:56.09
"and then he lived
happily ever after. " Right?
00:37:56.29\00:38:00.64
Let me tell you, the story
of Job does not end happily,
00:38:00.87\00:38:03.08
and here's the
bare basic reason why:
00:38:03.28\00:38:05.34
because it ends.
00:38:05.54\00:38:07.65
The very last verse
in the book of Job...
00:38:07.95\00:38:11.19
the very last verse -
Job chapter 42 verse 17-
00:38:11.39\00:38:15.76
these are the last
words of the book of Job:
00:38:15.96\00:38:17.46
"so Job died being
old and full of days. "
00:38:17.76\00:38:23.43
And we look at that and
say: "But he was old and
00:38:23.66\00:38:26.00
full of days.
That's a good death. "
00:38:26.10\00:38:27.69
Right? That's a
blessing... we think.
00:38:27.89\00:38:32.02
Huh, sometimes we
recount the story and we think
00:38:32.32\00:38:34.62
"Oh, he lived happily
ever... " No, he died!
00:38:34.72\00:38:36.38
At the end of the
story it's a death.
00:38:36.68\00:38:38.51
With no explanation...
Just think about this.
00:38:39.65\00:38:42.36
We have become so accustomed
to the condition of things here
00:38:42.56\00:38:46.24
on this earth that we actually
celebrate when someone has
00:38:46.34\00:38:48.72
lived what we
consider to be a long life
00:38:48.92\00:38:50.74
and we'll say: "Well at
least they didn't die young. "
00:38:50.94\00:38:54.08
Right? You've heard
those phrases before.
00:38:54.11\00:38:55.98
But let me tell you
how ridiculous that is
00:38:57.22\00:39:01.51
in the eyes of this Council...
the perspective of heaven.
00:39:01.81\00:39:06.00
When we celebrate the
death of a 90 or 100-year-old,
00:39:06.21\00:39:08.77
110... "My word! 100 years? "
00:39:08.97\00:39:12.85
Really? I mean,
think of Adam's long life.
00:39:13.05\00:39:16.84
How long ago? 930 years?
00:39:18.01\00:39:20.68
We can't even wrap our minds...
00:39:21.08\00:39:22.99
If we were here today
instead of for this event
00:39:23.19\00:39:24.78
we were actually here
commemorating the life
00:39:24.98\00:39:26.50
because he had just died
last week of a man who lived
00:39:26.60\00:39:29.12
the same
lifespan as that of Adam.
00:39:29.22\00:39:31.47
His life would
have ended at 2012
00:39:31.67\00:39:34.73
but it would have begun
way back in the 11th century
00:39:34.93\00:39:39.60
in the year 1082.
00:39:39.91\00:39:42.97
Right? You're not boggled
enough because you're still...
00:39:44.10\00:39:47.42
you haven't passed out.
00:39:47.62\00:39:48.69
In his midlife
crisis at the age of 410
00:39:51.02\00:39:54.72
Columbus set sail for America.
00:39:54.92\00:39:56.85
410 years old
00:39:57.25\00:40:00.09
he sees the
discovery of the New World.
00:40:00.29\00:40:02.17
When he's 700... almost
700, just a few years shy
00:40:03.52\00:40:06.30
of 700 years old... the
Declaration of Independence
00:40:06.40\00:40:09.53
is signed.
00:40:09.63\00:40:10.70
And we are today
memorializing his great life.
00:40:11.69\00:40:16.06
And we look at like 80,
90, 100 and think that's old.
00:40:16.36\00:40:19.18
Come on! From the
perspective of heaven
00:40:19.28\00:40:22.34
everybody dies young because
no one is supposed to die.
00:40:22.54\00:40:27.59
And this whole Council
is watching that happen too.
00:40:29.94\00:40:33.14
And in fact, they've watch every
death that's ever occurred.
00:40:33.24\00:40:35.33
You know, with only just
a couple of very, very rare
00:40:35.64\00:40:38.70
exceptions everyone
who's ever lived has died.
00:40:38.80\00:40:43.65
And the Council is
watching and wondering
00:40:45.17\00:40:49.55
and trying to examine
and explain all of this.
00:40:49.75\00:40:52.08
You know, and although Satan
has had a great deal to play
00:40:52.58\00:40:55.46
in all of those countless deaths
00:40:55.66\00:40:57.31
in each case he could still
make a very persuasive argument.
00:40:57.51\00:41:00.28
Catch this now: "But hey, hey!
00:41:00.38\00:41:02.87
It was their own sin
that landed them into the
00:41:03.07\00:41:06.54
condemnation of the law.
And by the way, it was God's law
00:41:06.64\00:41:10.06
who said that 'the soul
that sinneth it shall die. '
00:41:10.26\00:41:12.71
That's not me... that's
on them and that's on God.
00:41:13.11\00:41:17.47
He set up this place; I'm
just playing by His rules.
00:41:19.34\00:41:22.34
I'm not a murderer; I'm
just executing His judgments. "
00:41:25.35\00:41:28.41
Hmmm. But getting back
to Job, my point is that
00:41:31.39\00:41:35.84
no matter how convincing
Job's witness was during that
00:41:35.94\00:41:39.01
particular time of trial or
no matter what he demonstrated
00:41:39.11\00:41:43.15
at that point, he was
still a fallen human being
00:41:43.26\00:41:46.18
and as such at some point
he had yielded his allegiance
00:41:46.28\00:41:48.93
to another king and
therefore was subject to death.
00:41:49.03\00:41:52.51
He was not a perfect man in the
sense that Christ was perfect
00:41:52.82\00:41:56.18
without sin. He just
stood up under the trial
00:41:56.21\00:41:58.77
through God's strength.
00:41:58.87\00:42:00.23
By the way, this
leads me to three reasons
00:42:01.66\00:42:03.61
why even a faithful man
like Job was insufficient...
00:42:03.91\00:42:08.71
we still needed a Savior
even after that demonstration.
00:42:08.91\00:42:11.58
First of all as we just
said regardless of a person's
00:42:11.78\00:42:14.68
temporary faithfulness
in a particular trial
00:42:14.88\00:42:17.53
or even their victorious life
in Christ after their conversion
00:42:17.73\00:42:20.93
their entire life's
record is still tainted
00:42:21.13\00:42:23.61
with rebellion and sin. Right?
00:42:23.91\00:42:26.90
Even in the Old Testament
symbols always the sacrifice
00:42:27.03\00:42:29.64
had to be without blemish
00:42:29.74\00:42:31.32
representing that
entirely pure life.
00:42:31.62\00:42:34.21
And no one here has
that. The Bible is very clear.
00:42:34.41\00:42:36.39
"All have sinned and
come short of the... " What?
00:42:36.59\00:42:39.47
"the glory of God. "
00:42:39.77\00:42:41.00
Which by the way, there
is always an equivalence
00:42:41.20\00:42:42.71
in scripture between the
glory of God and the character
00:42:42.81\00:42:45.77
of God. All of us have
fallen short of that standard.
00:42:45.87\00:42:49.79
Sinners cannot be a
substitute for other sinners.
00:42:49.99\00:42:52.48
That's one reason we needed
something even better than
00:42:53.95\00:42:56.34
a faithful Job.
How about number 2?
00:42:56.44\00:42:58.20
Even if... Now we're going
to... Each step is a little bit
00:42:58.40\00:43:00.81
deeper, OK? We're taking
our floaties off and diving into
00:43:00.91\00:43:03.18
the deep end one step at a time.
00:43:03.28\00:43:04.69
Number 2: even if a
sinless being could be found
00:43:05.09\00:43:10.09
who would be willing to
step in and take the penalty
00:43:10.20\00:43:12.17
for man's sin... and there
are plenty of sinless beings
00:43:12.27\00:43:15.47
still in the
universe who are not God...
00:43:15.58\00:43:17.25
Angels. Perhaps the
members of this Council.
00:43:17.65\00:43:20.51
You see what I'm saying?
00:43:20.61\00:43:21.67
And if they volunteered to
come in and take the penalty
00:43:21.87\00:43:24.12
for our sins, no matter
how spotless their record was
00:43:24.22\00:43:28.43
they could not accomplish
all that needed to be done
00:43:28.63\00:43:31.12
because there was
something more even than
00:43:31.32\00:43:33.07
a sinless
sacrifice that was required.
00:43:33.17\00:43:36.61
For only an infinite sacrifice
could atone for the violation
00:43:36.81\00:43:41.20
of God's infinite law.
00:43:41.30\00:43:42.67
The law is the
transcript of His character.
00:43:42.88\00:43:45.35
It's equivalent
with God Himself...
00:43:45.45\00:43:46.97
and it was that
law that was broken!
00:43:47.17\00:43:48.61
It needed an equivalent sacri-
fice to make that atonement.
00:43:48.81\00:43:52.96
But even deeper still...
00:43:53.26\00:43:54.95
and this is where we get
to the greater controversy...
00:43:55.05\00:43:57.18
Even deeper still...
even beyond making atonement
00:43:57.38\00:43:59.71
for a broken law... there
was more to Christ's sacrificial
00:43:59.81\00:44:04.62
death than merely
being a suitable substitute
00:44:04.72\00:44:08.14
for sinful people.
00:44:08.24\00:44:09.88
Watch this now: "Payment
for man's penalty of sin
00:44:10.18\00:44:14.10
was not the only thing Christ
accomplished on the cross.
00:44:14.21\00:44:17.91
Christ's selfless
life and sacrificial death
00:44:18.99\00:44:22.07
was the ultimate
rebuttal to Satan's accusations
00:44:22.27\00:44:26.15
against the character of God. "
00:44:26.35\00:44:29.00
Even if it didn't
win back a single soul
00:44:30.59\00:44:33.88
it would have still
answered Satan's charges.
00:44:34.08\00:44:36.92
There's something beyond
just the salvation of man.
00:44:37.22\00:44:40.31
"The cold-blooded
murder of not merely a man who
00:44:40.71\00:44:44.23
was godly but
THE MAN who was God
00:44:44.33\00:44:47.55
forever answered
any lingering questions
00:44:47.75\00:44:51.48
as to Satan's true intent in the
eyes of that heavenly Council. "
00:44:51.68\00:44:55.42
"Christ bowed His
head... " Well, we'll get there
00:45:00.04\00:45:02.71
in a moment. When
Christ died on the cross
00:45:02.81\00:45:06.78
that violence that you
recall was bound up within him -
00:45:06.98\00:45:10.59
speaking of Satan
now... was bound up in Satan -
00:45:10.79\00:45:13.99
was unleashed on
the very Son of God.
00:45:14.19\00:45:19.09
Think about the
magnitude of that.
00:45:19.29\00:45:22.86
You know, ending the
life of a sinner who's already
00:45:23.16\00:45:27.19
doomed to die
anyway... The Council's like:
00:45:27.59\00:45:30.91
"Well I mean he has a
point. They're slotted for death
00:45:31.11\00:45:33.94
anyway but this One...
there was no fault in Him.
00:45:34.04\00:45:37.15
This One was not even a sinless
being; this was God Himself. "
00:45:38.49\00:45:41.55
And finally all of that violence
that was pent up within Lucifer
00:45:43.16\00:45:46.32
was unleashed on
the very Son of God.
00:45:46.52\00:45:49.19
"In that moment, all
the onlooking universe
00:45:49.49\00:45:53.19
recognized unmistakably
00:45:53.39\00:45:55.30
the contrast between
the character of Christ
00:45:55.50\00:45:58.16
and the character of Satan
00:45:58.36\00:46:00.52
which before they
could not see so clearly. "
00:46:00.72\00:46:04.03
In Desire of Ages page 761
00:46:05.96\00:46:08.41
Mrs. White describes the
scene with these words...
00:46:08.61\00:46:11.99
notice very closely
00:46:12.19\00:46:13.99
speaking of the death
of Christ on the cross:
00:46:15.15\00:46:17.69
"Could one sin have
been found in Christ,
00:46:19.08\00:46:21.65
had He in one
particular yielded to Satan
00:46:21.95\00:46:25.31
to escape the terrible torture,
00:46:25.51\00:46:27.34
the enemy of God and
man would have triumphed.
00:46:27.54\00:46:30.28
But Christ bowed
His head and died
00:46:31.54\00:46:34.27
but He held fast His faith
and His submission to God. "
00:46:34.47\00:46:37.23
Now pause right here. If
you were writing these words
00:46:37.43\00:46:41.33
describing the
crucifixion and death of Jesus,
00:46:41.53\00:46:44.32
His sacrificial,
substitutionary death,
00:46:44.42\00:46:47.50
His sinless life that
culminated in that execution,
00:46:47.70\00:46:50.57
are there not a myriad
of passages in the Bible
00:46:50.87\00:46:55.12
that you could
support that idea?
00:46:55.22\00:46:57.46
For instance, couldn't you
pick a text from say Matthew,
00:46:57.66\00:46:59.88
Mark, Luke, or John...
one of the four gospels?
00:46:59.98\00:47:01.60
Or maybe something
from the apostle Paul.
00:47:01.80\00:47:04.55
He wrote most of the New
Testament and he's determined
00:47:04.75\00:47:06.95
to preach only
Christ and Him crucified.
00:47:07.15\00:47:09.41
So if you wanted to support
this idea that Christ died
00:47:09.61\00:47:12.33
for our sins there's a plethora
of texts you could choose
00:47:12.37\00:47:15.06
to support that. But
notice the text that Mrs. White
00:47:15.26\00:47:19.77
references to support the idea
00:47:19.97\00:47:21.69
that Christ died
a faithful death.
00:47:21.89\00:47:24.95
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 10.
00:47:25.35\00:47:30.77
Go to it again if you
forget. We've been referencing
00:47:32.12\00:47:34.69
it all night to
come to this point.
00:47:34.80\00:47:35.92
Revelation
chapter 12 and verse 10.
00:47:36.12\00:47:39.27
Scripture reads: "And I heard
a loud voice in heaven saying:
00:47:44.87\00:47:50.31
'Now is come
salvation and strength
00:47:50.51\00:47:54.80
and the kingdom of our God
and the power of His Christ
00:47:55.00\00:47:58.38
for the accuser of
our brethren is... ' What?
00:47:58.58\00:48:02.08
'cast down
00:48:02.28\00:48:04.67
which accused them before
our God day and night. ' "
00:48:06.39\00:48:09.65
Think of the
significance of this.
00:48:10.05\00:48:11.83
Revelation
chapter 12 7 through 9:
00:48:12.03\00:48:14.00
all about the war in heaven
some nearly 6,000 years ago now,
00:48:14.20\00:48:18.24
right? All about
that war in heaven.
00:48:18.34\00:48:20.55
And that the great
dragon - verse 9- was cast out.
00:48:20.75\00:48:23.57
"That serpent of old, the
devil and Satan, who deceives
00:48:23.77\00:48:26.35
the whole world, he
was cast to the earth
00:48:26.55\00:48:27.80
and his angels were
cast out with him. "
00:48:28.00\00:48:29.57
Speaking of something that
happened literally thousands
00:48:29.77\00:48:32.28
of years ago. But
then in verse 10: "Now
00:48:32.38\00:48:36.08
salvation and strength
and the kingdom of our God
00:48:37.87\00:48:40.95
and the power of
His Christ have come
00:48:41.15\00:48:42.24
for the accuser of our brethren
who accused them before our God
00:48:42.44\00:48:44.66
day and night
has been cast down. "
00:48:44.76\00:48:47.58
Mrs. White lists verse
10 and applies it directly
00:48:47.78\00:48:50.90
to Christ dying on the cross:
00:48:51.00\00:48:52.79
the second casting out of Satan.
00:48:53.09\00:48:56.42
In fact, she makes
that... in other writings.
00:48:56.72\00:48:59.20
These are a little
bit more rare to find, but
00:48:59.40\00:49:02.29
in Manuscript
release volume 12 page 411
00:49:02.39\00:49:05.19
you find this
interesting statement...
00:49:05.39\00:49:07.20
again speaking of the
crucifixion and death of Christ.
00:49:07.40\00:49:09.48
"Satan saw that his
disguise was torn away.
00:49:09.78\00:49:12.56
That the character he
had tried to fasten on Christ
00:49:12.76\00:49:15.72
was fastened on himself. "
00:49:15.92\00:49:17.69
You know we talked about
how it was a polemic war?
00:49:17.99\00:49:21.06
It was a war of ideas.
00:49:21.26\00:49:23.05
Satan saying: "No, no, no,
no. I'm not the one to blame.
00:49:23.25\00:49:25.33
God has a problem.
His law is unkeepable;
00:49:25.53\00:49:27.97
His character is tainted.
00:49:28.17\00:49:29.25
He's actually a control
freak; He actually wants to...
00:49:29.45\00:49:32.28
I'm offering you freedom! "
00:49:32.48\00:49:34.54
That's what he tried
to paint and put on God
00:49:37.95\00:49:39.95
and put on Christ.
00:49:40.05\00:49:41.12
But it says here that Satan
when the cross event happened,
00:49:42.70\00:49:45.68
when the
crucifixion of Christ occurred,
00:49:45.88\00:49:47.57
saw that his
disguise was torn away.
00:49:47.77\00:49:50.17
That the character he
had tried to fasten on Christ
00:49:50.57\00:49:53.61
was fastened on himself.
00:49:53.72\00:49:54.85
All that stuff he'd
been saying against God
00:49:55.05\00:49:57.07
was seen to be true about him.
00:49:57.28\00:49:59.99
And then she writes these words:
00:50:00.19\00:50:02.21
"It was as if he had the second
time fallen from heaven. "
00:50:02.41\00:50:07.59
How about this one
from the Youth's Instructor,
00:50:09.60\00:50:11.35
June 21, 1900.
00:50:11.55\00:50:13.22
Again speaking now of God
looking upon the crucifixion
00:50:13.42\00:50:16.51
scene... God the Father:
00:50:16.71\00:50:18.04
"He looked upon the
victim expiring on the cross
00:50:18.25\00:50:21.20
and said: 'It is finished!
00:50:21.41\00:50:22.73
The human race
shall have another trial.
00:50:22.93\00:50:25.76
The redemption
price was paid... '
00:50:25.96\00:50:27.79
And watch this now:
00:50:27.89\00:50:28.97
'and Satan fell like
lightning from heaven. ' "
00:50:29.18\00:50:32.46
We often think the
only casting out of Satan
00:50:32.76\00:50:35.37
was at the original...
in the war in heaven.
00:50:35.47\00:50:39.41
But no, no, no, no, no.
00:50:39.62\00:50:40.99
Watch what I'm saying here:
00:50:41.19\00:50:42.92
he was physically
cast out of heaven.
00:50:43.12\00:50:45.51
He was cast out of the courts
of heaven some 6,000 years ago.
00:50:45.72\00:50:50.08
But only when Jesus died
on the cross was he cast out
00:50:50.38\00:50:53.66
of the sympathies
of heavenly beings.
00:50:53.86\00:50:56.63
Now that's a tough concept
to wrap your mind around.
00:50:57.03\00:50:59.70
That perhaps even for
4,000 years of death and
00:50:59.80\00:51:02.48
destruction and
decay and degeneracy
00:51:02.58\00:51:04.82
that even through all of that
Satan's arguments were so subtle
00:51:05.02\00:51:09.21
and so intriguing that
even those angels loyal to God
00:51:09.51\00:51:14.38
needed to see clearer evidence
before they saw his true
00:51:15.75\00:51:18.80
character revealed.
00:51:18.90\00:51:20.39
And only when
Jesus died on the cross
00:51:20.59\00:51:23.23
did they see in one event
00:51:23.43\00:51:25.54
the character of Christ
who would give everything
00:51:25.74\00:51:29.37
in contrast with
the character of Satan
00:51:29.68\00:51:31.91
who would take everything...
even if it took the very life
00:51:32.11\00:51:35.31
of God to get what he wanted.
00:51:35.41\00:51:36.88
Hmmm. Again, continuing in
the Desire of Ages page 761:
00:51:37.09\00:51:42.24
"Satan saw that his
disguise was torn away.
00:51:42.44\00:51:46.79
His administration was laid
open before the unfallen angels
00:51:48.01\00:51:51.02
and before the
heavenly universe. "
00:51:51.22\00:51:53.23
Notice: no mention of
like Jesus died on the cross
00:51:53.63\00:51:57.81
and now sinners can get
into heaven... which of course
00:51:58.02\00:52:00.17
that was part of it.
00:52:00.27\00:52:01.46
But the emphasis is
on what it did up there!
00:52:01.66\00:52:05.15
On the greater controversy.
Not just the redemption
00:52:05.35\00:52:07.74
of fallen humanity
but the demonstration
00:52:07.84\00:52:10.73
to unfallen worlds.
00:52:10.83\00:52:13.15
Again, "Satan saw that
his disguise was torn away.
00:52:13.35\00:52:15.73
His administration was laid
open before the unfallen angels
00:52:15.93\00:52:19.10
and before the
heavenly universe.
00:52:19.30\00:52:20.62
He had revealed
himself as a murderer. "
00:52:20.65\00:52:25.07
What did Jesus
say? He was a "murderer
00:52:25.27\00:52:27.93
from the beginning. "
00:52:28.03\00:52:29.71
But the violence was within.
00:52:29.91\00:52:31.43
They couldn't see it.
00:52:31.63\00:52:33.12
But when Jesus'
sacrifice was complete,
00:52:33.42\00:52:36.84
when Satan
finished that horrible task,
00:52:37.04\00:52:40.46
they saw the deceiver unmasked.
00:52:41.88\00:52:44.49
And then they saw.
"Ah hah! We see now
00:52:44.70\00:52:48.32
what Christ has seen in his
heart from the very beginning...
00:52:48.52\00:52:50.76
he truly is a murderer. "
00:52:50.96\00:52:52.94
"He had revealed
himself as a murderer.
00:52:54.63\00:52:57.88
By shedding the
blood of the Son of God
00:52:58.09\00:53:00.72
he had uprooted
himself from the sympathies
00:53:02.49\00:53:05.87
of the heavenly
beings. " Think about that...
00:53:05.97\00:53:10.09
the weight of that.
There were angelic hosts,
00:53:10.29\00:53:14.83
other beings in
God's heavenly universe,
00:53:15.13\00:53:18.63
perhaps these sons of God
who were in Council in the book
00:53:18.73\00:53:22.97
of Job, who - while
they remained loyal to God -
00:53:23.07\00:53:27.07
still had some level
of... and that's her word...
00:53:27.27\00:53:30.67
"sympathy" for Satan.
00:53:30.87\00:53:32.19
Ah hum... my
friends, think of...
00:53:35.50\00:53:39.57
Whenever Satan comes
knocking on your door
00:53:39.87\00:53:42.33
don't try to talk with him.
00:53:42.53\00:53:44.47
Don't banter about. Don't
think: "Ah, I've got this. "
00:53:44.77\00:53:46.92
He will win... right?
00:53:47.13\00:53:51.36
But praise God
"greater is He that is in you
00:53:51.66\00:53:54.11
than he that is in the world. "
00:53:54.32\00:53:55.65
But don't ever underestimate.
00:53:56.05\00:53:58.17
He is subtle. He's
more crafty, more cunning
00:53:58.37\00:54:00.66
than any of the
beasts the Lord God had made.
00:54:00.86\00:54:02.70
And even to those angelic hosts
00:54:03.99\00:54:06.09
who loved the Lord,
who were loyal to Him,
00:54:06.29\00:54:08.34
who chose to be on His side,
00:54:08.54\00:54:10.02
they wanted to
see clearer evidence.
00:54:11.30\00:54:13.10
They needed a
demonstration of character
00:54:13.31\00:54:16.07
so that they would be
forever placed beyond the idea
00:54:17.29\00:54:19.77
of having sympathy for Satan.
00:54:19.87\00:54:21.46
Again it says here:
00:54:22.92\00:54:24.76
"By the shedding of
the blood of the Son of God
00:54:25.85\00:54:27.51
he had uprooted himself
from the sympathies of the
00:54:27.71\00:54:29.24
heavenly beings. "
And I love this part:
00:54:29.44\00:54:30.80
"Henceforth his
work was restricted. "
00:54:31.00\00:54:33.64
Now watch this carefully.
00:54:33.94\00:54:35.34
"Henceforth his
work was restricted.
00:54:35.54\00:54:36.96
Whatever attitude
he might assume... "
00:54:37.16\00:54:39.21
So he might come in with a smile
"Hey guys, how you doing? "
00:54:39.41\00:54:42.04
Or "Hey, let me in. "
"Whatever attitude he might
00:54:42.24\00:54:44.91
assume, he could no
longer await the angels
00:54:45.01\00:54:48.70
as they came from
the heavenly courts
00:54:48.73\00:54:50.52
and before them accuse
Christ's brethren of being
00:54:50.72\00:54:53.52
clothed with the
garments of blackness
00:54:53.62\00:54:55.56
and the defilement of sin. "
00:54:55.76\00:54:56.93
And you would think:
"Ah hah! So then is when
00:54:57.23\00:54:59.45
God really kicked him
out. He closed the door.
00:54:59.55\00:55:01.54
He locked the gate; he put
up a flashing, flaming sword
00:55:01.74\00:55:04.11
and he wouldn't
let him in any more. "
00:55:04.31\00:55:05.81
No, no, no, no. Why
was his work restricted
00:55:06.01\00:55:09.09
after the death of Jesus?
00:55:09.29\00:55:11.09
It wasn't because
God just sealed the gate.
00:55:11.40\00:55:13.72
I believe God left
the door wide open...
00:55:15.03\00:55:17.20
but no one was
listening any more.
00:55:17.40\00:55:21.29
Watch this now:
"Henceforth his work was
00:55:21.49\00:55:23.88
restricted. Whatever
attitude he might assume
00:55:23.98\00:55:25.45
he could no longer await
the angels when they came
00:55:25.55\00:55:27.24
from the heavenly
courts and before them accuse
00:55:27.34\00:55:28.88
Christ's brethren of being
clothed with the garments of
00:55:29.08\00:55:30.58
blackness of the
defilement of sin. "
00:55:30.68\00:55:32.18
Here's the very last sentence
00:55:32.39\00:55:33.61
and the title of
tonight's message:
00:55:33.71\00:55:35.02
"The last link of sympathy
00:55:35.22\00:55:38.59
between Satan and the
heavenly world was broken. "
00:55:38.79\00:55:43.12
God didn't have
to force him out...
00:55:44.43\00:55:46.86
they chose to
just stop listening.
00:55:47.07\00:55:50.33
They were no longer sympathetic
with the cause of Satan.
00:55:50.73\00:55:54.90
They were no longer
intrigued by his subtlety.
00:55:55.03\00:55:56.94
They were no longer
listening to his arguments.
00:55:57.04\00:55:59.43
They just said: "We're done...
00:55:59.73\00:56:01.57
you can't come
in here any more. "
00:56:01.87\00:56:04.44
Hmmm.
00:56:06.23\00:56:08.34
Tomorrow night we're going to
pick up on: "Now what happens? "
00:56:09.42\00:56:12.59
But now we've seen
the first two stages.
00:56:13.09\00:56:15.27
Stage 1: God saw right
through Satan's rebellious...
00:56:15.37\00:56:19.26
right into his rebellious
intent, the murderous intents
00:56:19.36\00:56:22.46
of his heart and He physically
removed him from heaven...
00:56:22.56\00:56:26.95
the courts of heaven.
00:56:27.15\00:56:28.66
But He allowed the process
to go on because there were
00:56:28.86\00:56:30.93
other beings up there
who needed for themselves
00:56:31.03\00:56:33.51
to see what God
had seen in the heart.
00:56:33.71\00:56:35.15
Exposed, revealed.
00:56:35.35\00:56:38.32
And the death of
Christ did that very thing.
00:56:38.62\00:56:41.32
They saw the contrast
and they said: "Satan,
00:56:41.53\00:56:44.44
we're done. You
don't come here any more. "
00:56:44.64\00:56:47.36
Now my friends, the question
is: will we answer the same way?
00:56:47.77\00:56:52.29
Do we still have
sympathy with Satan?
00:56:52.59\00:56:54.86
Or are we going to say:
"Satan, for me and my house
00:56:55.06\00:56:58.66
we will serve the Lord. "
00:56:58.96\00:57:00.84
Let's bow our heads
for a word of prayer.
00:57:00.94\00:57:02.84
Dear heavenly
Father, thank you so much
00:57:03.04\00:57:04.65
for being a God of due process.
00:57:04.75\00:57:07.56
A God who takes His
time and gets it right...
00:57:07.76\00:57:10.96
even if that means the
sacrifice of an infinite self.
00:57:11.16\00:57:15.06
Lord, we love You.
00:57:15.36\00:57:17.57
Help us to understand the
consequences of our choices.
00:57:17.87\00:57:21.52
Help us to make
better choices. And, Lord,
00:57:21.83\00:57:23.89
by Your grace make
us heavenly even now.
00:57:24.09\00:57:28.23
We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:57:28.37\00:57:31.46