Welcome back to
Secrets Unsealed.
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Here in beautiful Hawaii,
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we're having a series
entitled "Silencing Satan"
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and my name is
Pastor Kameron DeVasher
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from the Michigan Conference
of the Seventh-day Adventist
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way up in the just
South of the Arctic Circle.
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I'm pretty sure, it's
where Michigan is located,
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but it's wonderful to be
in this beautiful location
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and be here with you
beautiful people today.
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We're gonna continue
our series Silencing Satan
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with a next presentation
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entitled
Lucifer's Lemonade Stand,
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Lucifer's Lemonade Stand.
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Now just to briefly review,
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in our last presentation,
we noted that the questions
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that many people
ask in this world
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about how can
there be a good God
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and yet there's
these bad results
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and bad world and
wickedness if He's so powerful
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and so loving and...
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How is that possible?
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Well, the Bible is not
silent on these issues.
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It specifically
addresses the origin of evil
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and God Himself
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through those
texts that we looked at,
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says He was not responsible
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for creating the
devil or creating evil,
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but He is
allowing it to continue
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so that all who
could see what's going on
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could
understand what's going on.
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So that God will
not only be right,
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but He will be seen as right
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when this great
controversy is drawn to a close.
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So it's a powerful thing
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that we're
gonna continue explore
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in a message titled
"Lucifer's Lemonade Stand."
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But of course, before we
do any study of God's Word,
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we always must begin
with a word of prayer.
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So if you please,
bow your heads with me.
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Dear Heavenly Father,
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again, we thank You
for another day of life.
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We thank You not only
for this life, of course,
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but for the
eternal life that is ours
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through faith in Christ Jesus.
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And now, Lord, we
would ask in this time
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that You would
send Your Holy Spirit
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to be here with us,
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not just in a general
way to fill this place,
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but to fill each one of
us with wisdom from on high.
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Lord, let You be
our instructor today
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as we search
Your Word for truth,
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for we pray it all in confidence
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and in Jesus' name, amen.
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We'll continue our study
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and take a look
at the Book of Job.
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Job Chapter 1,
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an Old Testament book
that speaks to the issues
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that we were discussing
in our first presentation.
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Job Chapter 1 and it
begins, of course, with verse 1.
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And the first five
verses of the Book of Job
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describe this individual,
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whom the book
is named after Job,
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as a righteous man.
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In fact, let's just
read it through verses 1-5.
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"There was a man
in the land of Uz,
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whose name was Job,
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and that man was
blameless and upright,
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and one who feared
God, and shunned evil."
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Obviously, he's
living in this world
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after evil has been introduced,
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but he has not bought
into the lives of Satan,
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and he's
remaining faithful to God,
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and that makes him noteworthy.
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It goes on to
describe his family life,
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and his devotion to the
Lord, and to his children,
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and his
graciousness to his employees.
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But he was also a
man of great wealth,
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and it gives us this scenario
in the first five verses of Job
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about the individual Job.
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But then all of a
sudden in verse 6,
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the frame changes very quickly.
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Job 1:6 takes us
away from this earth
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into a special
meeting in heaven.
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Job 1:6, "Now there was a day
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when the sons of God came
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to present
themselves before the Lord,
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and Satan also came among them."
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Now if you recall in
our last presentation,
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we talked about how
Christ's initial response
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to the iniquity in
the heart of Lucifer
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was not to blot
him out of existence
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but to merely
cast him out of heaven.
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He was cast to the earth
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and his angels
were cast out with him.
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And we saw how
the rebel of heaven
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became the ruler of this world.
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But you'll notice now
he is attending a meeting
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among the sons of God.
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What an interesting notion.
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Well, this also takes
the Lord, not by surprise,
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but he notes
this change verse 7,
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"And the Lord said to Satan,
'From where do you come?'"
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There's two implications here.
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First of all, that
he wasn't from there
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'cause he was
coming from somewhere else,
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he's been cast out
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he's not from the
courts of heaven anymore.
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It also implies that
these other sons of God
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are coming from somewhere else.
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And it's almost as if to say,
"Didn't I put you somewhere?
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But how is it that you're here?
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From where do you come?"
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Now let's before
we dive into that,
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let's identify the
sons of God a little bit.
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There's a lot of conjecture
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when the terms
sons of God is used.
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Even in the Christian world
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there's some
confusion about this topics.
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We wanna clarify this
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at the very
beginning of our study.
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Notice that the sons of God,
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this is not
talking about Jesus Christ,
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who is the Son of God
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because that would be
singular capital S, right?
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But this is lowercase, plural.
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These are the sons of God
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came to present
themselves before the Lord,
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and Satan also came among them.
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Who are they?
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Who are these sons of God?
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Well, fascinatingly,
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if you go to the New
Testament, Book of Luke,
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now you can
leave a finger in Job,
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we'll absolutely be
coming back to that book.
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But in Luke Chapter 3,
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we find a genealogy of
Jesus Christ going back,
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not just to Abraham or to David,
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He goes all the way back
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to the very beginning
of humanity's history.
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Luke Chapter 3,
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and we'll start
here in verse 36.
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We don't need to go
all through the lineage
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because it would
take a little too long,
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and I wouldn't pronounce
the names correctly anyway,
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but you'll get the gist
of what we're doing here.
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Luke Chapter 3,
we'll begin with verse 36.
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And you'll probably
recognize some of these names
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as we go backward
in the history of Jesus
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to the beginning.
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The son of Cainan,
the son of Arphaxad,
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the son of
Shem, the son of Noah,
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who of course was
the son of Lamech.
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Verse 37,
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who in turn was
the son of Methuselah,
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the son of
Enoch, the son of Jared,
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the son of
Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,
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the son of
Enosh, the son of Seth.
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Now watch closely.
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The son of Adam,
and Adam in turn,
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it says was the Son of God.
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Now obviously Adam
was not procreated,
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he was created by the
Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
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In the beginning God created
the heavens and the earth.
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And He said, "Let Us
make man in Our image."
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And man was
brought into existence
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by the Word of the Lord,
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and by the power of
His creative ability.
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But in that the
Bible declares him
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to be the son of someone,
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but the son of God.
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Now you recall
that the meeting in Job
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was with the sons of God.
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Now when Adam was brought
forth from the Creator's hand,
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he was given a
particular responsibility,
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as noted in our previous sermon,
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to have
dominion over this world,
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he was the
rightful ruler of this world
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as long as he remained
obedient to God and His commands
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he had dominion over this place.
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And that son of God designation
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seems to be
denoting faithfulness to God,
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right?
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You can see
another example of this
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in the Book of Genesis.
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If you go the
other way in the Bible
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to the very beginning,
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when it talks about the two
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contrasting people groups
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just prior to the
flood in Genesis Chapter 6,
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we see this distinction
where the sons of God
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are those
faithful to God, the loyal.
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It says, Genesis
6:1, "Now it came to pass,
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when men began to multiply
on the face of the earth,
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and daughters were born to them,
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that the sons of God
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saw that the
daughters of men were beautiful,
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and they took
wives for themselves
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of all whom they chose."
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Now that's interesting
where you have the sons of God,
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and what was the result
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of the mingling with
the daughters of men?
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We see in verse 5,
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"And the Lord saw
that the wickedness of man
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was great in the earth,
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and that every intent of
the thoughts of his heart
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was only evil, continually."
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So as the sons
of God, those faith
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will begin to
intermingle and intermarry
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with the wicked descendants,
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then the world was not improved
because of that alliance,
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it was actually...
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Brought down,
brought down so low
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that the Lord
needed to destroy the world
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with the flood.
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But the designation son
of God is a created being
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who is faithful to God.
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And here in Job Chapter 1
we'll began our study today,
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we have a meeting
of the sons of God
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came to present
themselves before the Lord,
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yet it says, and
Satan also came among them.
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So the Lord asked
this logical question,
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and by the way, when
the Lord asks a question,
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is it because He
does not know the answer?
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Of course not.
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The answer to does
God know is always, yes.
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So why does the Lord
ask a question of Satan.
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It's not because He
doesn't understand something,
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it's the other sons of God
need to understand something.
00:10:04.53\00:10:08.14
I'm guessing that
00:10:08.17\00:10:09.50
as the sons of
God come together,
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which apparently
this is a regular activity
00:10:11.07\00:10:13.04
because if you go to
Job Chapter 2, it says,
00:10:13.07\00:10:14.68
"Again, there was a
day when the sons of God
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came to present
themselves before the Lord."
00:10:16.54\00:10:19.65
And I don't know what
your picture of heaven
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has been like,
but for most people,
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I believe they think
that heaven is, you know,
00:10:22.55\00:10:24.55
kind of divine anarchy
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that you're just given
all the powers in the world,
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longevity, and all health,
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and you can goes do
anything that you want.
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There's no
schedules, you just live by...
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No, no, no, no.
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Apparently, there are
schedules and appointed times.
00:10:36.67\00:10:39.10
And apparently, dare I say it,
there are committees in heaven.
00:10:39.13\00:10:44.91
And all right,
somebody of you might be saying,
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"Well, then I
don't even want to go."
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But the Lord works
in an organized manner.
00:10:48.71\00:10:52.21
And He has an appointed time
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when He meets
with these sons of God
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and deliberates with them.
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Now does the Lord
need our counsel for any?
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No.
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But He brings His
creation into His wisdom
00:11:01.36\00:11:04.03
so that they can understand
His mind and His heart.
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What a wonderful thing.
00:11:07.70\00:11:09.40
And here we go back to Job 1:6,
00:11:09.43\00:11:11.33
"Now there was a day
when the sons of God"
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that is those
loyal, created beings
00:11:13.37\00:11:15.90
"came to present
themselves before the Lord."
00:11:15.94\00:11:18.51
And then it adds,
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"And Satan also
came among them."
00:11:19.91\00:11:21.24
Verse 7.
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"And the Lord said to Satan,
'From where do you come?'"
00:11:22.64\00:11:26.75
Which also by the way,
00:11:26.82\00:11:28.88
strongly implies that
these other sons of God
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have had to come from somewhere.
00:11:31.95\00:11:34.89
Notice that they came
00:11:34.92\00:11:36.26
to present
themselves before the Lord,
00:11:36.29\00:11:37.93
they traveled to get there.
00:11:37.96\00:11:39.86
So all of them come
00:11:39.89\00:11:41.23
likely representing as
Adam would have the earth,
00:11:41.26\00:11:44.70
other parts of
God's created universe,
00:11:44.73\00:11:47.44
and there they are assembled
for their regular meeting
00:11:47.47\00:11:50.41
and this day, Satan
also came among them.
00:11:50.44\00:11:56.64
"And the Lord said to Satan,
'From where do you come?'"
00:11:56.68\00:12:01.28
So Satan answered the Lord."
00:12:01.32\00:12:03.08
And look
carefully at his response.
00:12:03.12\00:12:06.99
"From going to
and fro on the," what?
00:12:07.06\00:12:11.03
"The earth,
00:12:11.06\00:12:12.93
and from walking
back and forth on it."
00:12:12.96\00:12:16.53
Notice he does not
more moderately say,
00:12:16.56\00:12:19.73
"I'm coming from the earth."
00:12:19.77\00:12:22.34
He says,
00:12:22.37\00:12:23.71
"I'm coming from walking
up and down back and forth."
00:12:23.74\00:12:27.08
He's claiming
rulership of this world,
00:12:27.11\00:12:29.94
does he not?
00:12:29.98\00:12:31.31
He's claiming to
represent all of this planet,
00:12:31.35\00:12:34.25
all of its inhabitants,
00:12:34.32\00:12:36.25
who my friend should
have been at this meeting
00:12:36.28\00:12:38.22
as the son of
God from the earth.
00:12:38.25\00:12:40.66
Adam,
00:12:40.69\00:12:42.02
the Bible says so in Luke
3:38, he was the son of God,
00:12:42.06\00:12:44.76
who was given
dominion over this planet.
00:12:44.79\00:12:46.26
But as we saw in
our previous message,
00:12:46.29\00:12:48.93
through rebellion
00:12:48.96\00:12:51.00
Satan became the
ruler of this world.
00:12:51.03\00:12:53.37
And now at this
meeting of the sons of God,
00:12:53.44\00:12:56.24
Satan comes in
00:12:56.27\00:12:57.61
claiming not only
to be from the earth,
00:12:57.64\00:12:59.34
but from walking back and forth,
00:12:59.37\00:13:01.91
going to and fro on the earth
00:13:01.94\00:13:03.35
and from walking
back and forth on it.
00:13:03.38\00:13:08.85
But then the dialogue continues.
00:13:08.88\00:13:10.62
Verse 8,
00:13:10.69\00:13:12.25
"Then the Lord said to Satan,
00:13:12.29\00:13:16.12
'Have you
considered My servant Job.'"
00:13:16.16\00:13:23.13
Now that's a very
important question.
00:13:23.16\00:13:27.44
He asks him have you considered,
00:13:27.47\00:13:29.77
and again, what is
the synonym for consider?
00:13:29.80\00:13:31.77
Think about, noticed, pondered.
00:13:31.81\00:13:34.88
"Have you mulled over the fact
00:13:34.91\00:13:36.41
that though you claim to
be running the whole earth
00:13:36.44\00:13:40.82
that amongst your
people, there's My Job.
00:13:40.85\00:13:46.45
Have you
considered My servant Job."
00:13:46.49\00:13:50.53
And He goes on to describe Job
00:13:50.56\00:13:51.89
as "That there is none
like him on the earth."
00:13:51.93\00:13:57.80
Apparently there
weren't many loyal
00:13:57.83\00:13:59.27
but there was at
least one, right?
00:13:59.30\00:14:03.64
He goes on to say,
00:14:03.71\00:14:05.67
"That there is none
like him on the earth,
00:14:05.71\00:14:07.31
a blameless and upright man,
00:14:07.38\00:14:09.61
one who fears
God and shuns evil?"
00:14:09.64\00:14:13.45
Now the pulpit is not
for political speeches.
00:14:13.52\00:14:16.22
Amen? Amen.
00:14:16.25\00:14:17.75
So I'm not here to get
into any kind of debates
00:14:17.79\00:14:19.49
about politics or campaigning
or anything like that,
00:14:19.52\00:14:21.62
let me say that very clearly.
00:14:21.66\00:14:22.99
But in our modern society,
00:14:23.02\00:14:26.36
that political
campaigns and political office,
00:14:26.39\00:14:30.07
regardless of what country
or territory you're from,
00:14:30.10\00:14:32.50
are often contentious issues.
00:14:32.53\00:14:35.90
And if someone has
the approval of even say,
00:14:35.94\00:14:38.91
half of the people
in their territory,
00:14:38.94\00:14:41.68
that's pretty strong.
00:14:41.71\00:14:43.55
If you're elected
with 60% approval,
00:14:43.58\00:14:45.55
oh, that's huge.
00:14:45.58\00:14:46.92
It's unthinkable
to have 70% or higher.
00:14:46.95\00:14:49.35
But here, notice that
00:14:49.38\00:14:50.72
apparently Satan claiming
to be the ruler of this world
00:14:50.79\00:14:54.06
has the allegiance
00:14:54.09\00:14:55.42
of almost every
single person on the planet.
00:14:55.46\00:14:58.73
But the Lord doesn't stop there.
00:15:02.93\00:15:04.40
And Satan isn't satisfied either
00:15:04.43\00:15:06.00
he's just saying,
"Well, I've got most people,
00:15:06.03\00:15:07.70
don't worry about that old Job.
00:15:07.74\00:15:09.50
I've got almost everybody."
00:15:09.54\00:15:11.21
No, no, no, no.
00:15:11.24\00:15:12.84
The Lord brings
out this one man.
00:15:12.87\00:15:15.64
So there is none
like him on the earth,
00:15:15.68\00:15:17.78
one who fears God and shuns evil
00:15:17.81\00:15:20.32
though everyone
apparently has turned away.
00:15:20.35\00:15:22.45
Did you know
there's at least one
00:15:22.48\00:15:25.49
who still loves
me more than you?
00:15:25.52\00:15:29.96
Now again, Satan
could have just said,
00:15:30.03\00:15:31.36
"Oh, it's one."
00:15:31.39\00:15:32.73
It's on in the big scheme,
00:15:32.76\00:15:34.10
it's just a statistical anomaly.
00:15:34.13\00:15:35.46
He could round them
off as a decimal point,
00:15:35.50\00:15:36.83
don't worry about it.
00:15:36.87\00:15:38.20
But God knows that
this is a big deal to Satan.
00:15:38.23\00:15:42.37
This is a very big deal.
00:15:42.40\00:15:43.74
It's a very sensitive nerve
00:15:43.81\00:15:46.24
because watch what happens,
look at the devil's response.
00:15:46.27\00:15:49.08
"So Satan
answered the Lord and says,
00:15:49.11\00:15:51.51
'Does Job fear
God for nothing?'"
00:15:51.55\00:15:56.15
Pause right here.
00:15:56.18\00:15:57.82
Does Satan acknowledge or
at least consent to the fact
00:15:57.85\00:16:04.03
that Job is faithful to God?
00:16:04.06\00:16:06.43
Yes, but he gives a
motive for that faithfulness.
00:16:06.46\00:16:10.70
He can't deny
Job's faithfulness.
00:16:10.77\00:16:12.93
Sure, all right,
00:16:12.97\00:16:14.30
he's a
blameless and upright man,
00:16:14.34\00:16:15.67
he fears God, and shuns evil.
00:16:15.70\00:16:17.11
But why does he
fear God and shun evil?
00:16:17.14\00:16:20.38
You don't think he's
doing it for nothing.
00:16:20.41\00:16:23.65
You don't mean he's
gonna do it for free.
00:16:23.68\00:16:28.88
Then he goes on.
00:16:28.92\00:16:32.22
"Have You," verse 10,
00:16:32.25\00:16:34.16
"not made a hedge around
him and around his household
00:16:34.19\00:16:37.56
and around all that
he has on every side?
00:16:37.63\00:16:40.00
You have blessed
the work of his hands,
00:16:40.03\00:16:44.17
and his possessions
have increased in the land."
00:16:44.20\00:16:48.70
Notice what he's saying here,
00:16:48.74\00:16:50.11
"Of course, he
is faithful to You,
00:16:50.14\00:16:51.47
You pay him."
00:16:51.51\00:16:54.08
You know, that's what we
would call bribery or fraud
00:16:54.11\00:16:56.88
or well, in this day and age,
just politics as usual, right?
00:16:56.95\00:17:00.82
But here, this
is a very big deal.
00:17:00.85\00:17:05.99
There's that singular hold
out against the regime of Satan,
00:17:06.02\00:17:10.03
and Satan says, "You
don't think he means it.
00:17:10.06\00:17:14.00
The only reason he's loyal
00:17:14.03\00:17:15.90
is 'cause You're paying him off,
00:17:15.93\00:17:18.50
You bought him."
00:17:18.53\00:17:20.04
So he proposes a deal.
00:17:20.07\00:17:24.91
Verse 11,
00:17:24.94\00:17:26.27
"But now, stretch out Your
hand and touch all that he has,
00:17:26.31\00:17:32.01
and he will surely
00:17:32.05\00:17:33.92
curse You to Your face!"
00:17:33.95\00:17:40.26
So if you take
away all the goodies
00:17:40.29\00:17:42.39
and treats and blessings
as his wealth and his family,
00:17:42.42\00:17:45.39
his reputation, his
health, all of these...
00:17:45.43\00:17:48.50
You take all of that away,
00:17:48.53\00:17:50.90
and You strip it
down to the brass tacks,
00:17:50.97\00:17:52.70
the man-on-man,
bare-bones principles,
00:17:52.73\00:17:55.97
he will curse You to Your face."
00:17:56.00\00:17:57.81
And I imagine he
added, "Just like I do."
00:17:57.84\00:18:01.11
By the way, I'm
guessing that this is where
00:18:05.98\00:18:07.55
things got really
awkward in the meeting.
00:18:07.62\00:18:09.55
As we would say in the South,
"Them's fighting words," right?
00:18:13.36\00:18:19.89
But notice the Lord's
almost unbelievable response
00:18:19.93\00:18:24.90
to these audacious words.
00:18:24.93\00:18:30.01
"And the Lord said
to Satan," verse 12,
00:18:30.04\00:18:33.21
"Behold, all that he
has is in your power,
00:18:33.24\00:18:39.21
only do not lay a
hand on his person."
00:18:39.25\00:18:45.32
So Satan went out from
the presence of the Lord
00:18:45.35\00:18:48.56
and rest of the Chapter 1
00:18:48.59\00:18:50.03
describes how Job
had the single worst day
00:18:50.06\00:18:53.06
of his life.
00:18:53.09\00:18:55.23
Immediately, Satan
takes up God's allowance
00:18:55.26\00:18:59.23
and starts pulling away from him
00:18:59.27\00:19:01.00
his most treasured things.
00:19:01.04\00:19:02.57
Now he is not
allowed to touch his body,
00:19:02.60\00:19:04.21
his health, his person
00:19:04.24\00:19:05.57
but the things
in his possession,
00:19:05.61\00:19:07.38
in his household are given
into Satan's hands to test Job.
00:19:07.41\00:19:12.31
Now could God in this
moment 'cause this is well
00:19:16.99\00:19:22.92
into earth's
history at some point.
00:19:22.96\00:19:24.46
Clearly, there is
righteous and there is wicked
00:19:24.49\00:19:26.06
there are ample people have died
00:19:26.09\00:19:28.30
in earth's
history by this point.
00:19:28.33\00:19:30.07
Could God...
00:19:30.10\00:19:31.53
Could He even have
not pointed to Satan
00:19:31.57\00:19:34.84
and just obliterated
his arguments by saying,
00:19:34.87\00:19:37.21
"Look what you've
done in this world.
00:19:37.24\00:19:39.57
Look at the war
and the disaster,
00:19:39.61\00:19:41.41
the famine, the disease,
00:19:41.44\00:19:43.24
the plague, the
rebellion has wrought."
00:19:43.28\00:19:50.19
But, you know, Satan
could have turned that around.
00:19:50.22\00:19:56.56
Had all humanity
sinned at this point?
00:19:56.59\00:19:59.46
Yes.
00:19:59.49\00:20:00.90
Does the Bible not
say, "All have sinned,
00:20:00.93\00:20:03.16
and come short of
the glory of God"?
00:20:03.20\00:20:05.80
And does the Bible not also say,
00:20:05.83\00:20:07.17
"That the wages of
sin is," what, Death"?
00:20:07.24\00:20:10.61
So when Satan brings
about destruction and disease
00:20:10.64\00:20:13.31
or war or plague or
pestilence or murderous,
00:20:13.38\00:20:16.54
whatever the thing is,
00:20:16.58\00:20:18.01
even just the
ravages of time and age,
00:20:18.05\00:20:20.52
could not Satan say,
"Look, this whole idea
00:20:20.55\00:20:24.12
of obedience versus disobedience
00:20:24.19\00:20:25.72
that was Your
idea to start with.
00:20:25.75\00:20:27.92
And it's Your law that
says the wages of sin is death.
00:20:27.96\00:20:30.63
When I lead these
people to kill each other
00:20:30.66\00:20:32.46
or I sin disease or I harm them,
00:20:32.49\00:20:34.36
I'm just revealing to
the onlooking universe
00:20:34.40\00:20:37.67
Your true character."
00:20:37.70\00:20:39.60
God could of
appointed to Satan's work
00:20:46.68\00:20:48.91
of cruelty and
destruction on the earth
00:20:48.94\00:20:50.98
as evidence that he
wasn't to be trusted.
00:20:51.01\00:20:54.58
But that would not
have been sufficient.
00:20:54.62\00:20:58.55
In fact, as we just noted,
00:20:58.59\00:21:00.36
it could have even
strengthened Satan's case.
00:21:00.39\00:21:03.43
Because all humans of sin,
00:21:06.80\00:21:08.13
Satan who claim
that it is God's law
00:21:08.16\00:21:09.73
that requires
sinners to God to die.
00:21:09.76\00:21:12.37
His killing of people
merely show the universe
00:21:12.40\00:21:15.24
God's law in practice.
00:21:15.27\00:21:18.37
Satan's own evil could be spun
00:21:18.41\00:21:21.34
as a revelation of
God's true character.
00:21:21.38\00:21:24.25
So we need to study this
a little bit more deeply.
00:21:27.95\00:21:29.75
Why would God
allow this contest unfold
00:21:29.78\00:21:32.62
instead of just
stopping it right there?
00:21:32.65\00:21:35.52
And this must be
important because by the way,
00:21:35.56\00:21:38.53
people died as a
result of this test.
00:21:38.56\00:21:42.96
What is God doing?
00:21:47.90\00:21:49.67
How is the
wisdom of God seen here?
00:21:49.70\00:21:51.54
Let's go back
to one of our texts
00:21:51.57\00:21:52.91
from our previous
message Ezekiel Chapter 28
00:21:52.94\00:21:57.55
where it describes the fall
of Lucifer and his expulsion
00:21:57.58\00:22:01.05
from the courts of
Heaven, Ezekiel Chapter 28.
00:22:01.08\00:22:03.25
We'll start with verse 16 again.
00:22:08.86\00:22:12.83
It says, "By the
abundance of your trading
00:22:12.86\00:22:15.00
You became
filled with violence,"
00:22:15.03\00:22:16.77
and notice where,
"within, and you sinned,
00:22:16.80\00:22:22.24
Therefore I cast
you as a profane thing
00:22:22.27\00:22:24.57
out of the mountain of God,
00:22:24.61\00:22:26.04
I destroyed you,
O covering cherub,
00:22:26.07\00:22:27.81
from the midst of
the fiery stones."
00:22:27.84\00:22:31.58
Now it's interesting.
00:22:31.61\00:22:34.32
We talk here,
and we're gonna see
00:22:34.35\00:22:36.99
it talks about
trading and trapping.
00:22:37.02\00:22:39.85
Notice verse 16,
00:22:39.89\00:22:41.22
"By the
abundance of your trading."
00:22:41.26\00:22:45.39
It's almost in commercial terms,
00:22:45.43\00:22:47.30
like he was
bartering, buying, selling,
00:22:47.33\00:22:49.56
trading a
commodity of some sort.
00:22:49.60\00:22:51.77
He was in some
sort of enterprise,
00:22:51.80\00:22:54.57
a commercial thing.
00:22:54.60\00:22:55.94
What is he doing? Trading.
00:22:55.97\00:22:57.31
But you notice in verse 18,
it comes back to the same idea.
00:22:57.34\00:23:00.68
Verse 18, "You
defiled your sanctuaries
00:23:00.71\00:23:03.48
by the multitude
of your iniquities,"
00:23:03.55\00:23:05.15
and what are those iniquities?
00:23:05.18\00:23:06.51
"By the iniquity
of your trading."
00:23:06.55\00:23:09.65
There it is again.
00:23:09.68\00:23:11.62
"Therefore I brought
fire from your midst,
00:23:11.65\00:23:13.66
it devoured you.
00:23:13.69\00:23:15.02
I turned you to
ashes on the earth,
00:23:15.06\00:23:18.39
in the sight of
all who saw you."
00:23:18.43\00:23:22.40
Friends, was
Lucifer cast out of heaven
00:23:22.43\00:23:24.27
for selling something?
00:23:24.30\00:23:28.27
Well, yes, actually, he was.
00:23:28.30\00:23:34.44
He was selling some, you know,
00:23:34.48\00:23:36.48
the word that is there
00:23:36.51\00:23:37.85
translated trading or
in the King James, traffic
00:23:37.88\00:23:42.05
is actually only
used in this way,
00:23:42.08\00:23:44.95
in this passage, okay?
00:23:44.99\00:23:47.59
But the root word,
the Hebrew root word
00:23:47.66\00:23:50.46
of that same word
here translated traffic
00:23:50.53\00:23:52.73
is translated in other terms
00:23:52.76\00:23:55.63
that make it understand us,
00:23:55.66\00:23:57.17
help us understand
what he was trading,
00:23:57.20\00:23:59.57
what was he
peddling, what would...
00:23:59.60\00:24:00.97
Did Satan literally set up
a lemonade stand in heaven?
00:24:01.00\00:24:04.87
Was he involved in some
commercial trade or traffic?
00:24:04.91\00:24:08.58
Let's find out.
00:24:08.61\00:24:09.94
Stay in Ezekiel and
go back to Chapter 22.
00:24:09.98\00:24:12.75
Ezekiel Chapter 22,
00:24:12.78\00:24:16.32
and we'll find the
same root word of trading
00:24:16.35\00:24:20.69
in the Hebrew
translated another way.
00:24:20.76\00:24:25.19
Ezekiel 22:9.
00:24:25.23\00:24:28.86
Notice very carefully, it says,
00:24:28.90\00:24:30.27
"In you are men who
slander to cause bloodshed."
00:24:30.30\00:24:36.17
Slander.
00:24:36.20\00:24:37.84
Now slander means
00:24:37.87\00:24:39.21
to smear someone's good name
with false accusation, correct?
00:24:39.24\00:24:45.08
That's the same
root word as the trading
00:24:45.11\00:24:47.02
or the traffic of Ezekiel 28.
00:24:47.05\00:24:49.98
In fact, let's
find another example.
00:24:50.02\00:24:51.52
Let's go farther back
to the Book of Leviticus.
00:24:51.55\00:24:55.12
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus,
the third book of the Bible.
00:24:55.16\00:24:58.93
Leviticus 19:16,
00:24:58.96\00:25:04.07
finds that same Hebrew root word
00:25:04.10\00:25:07.37
translated into English
00:25:07.44\00:25:09.44
with just a little
bit of a different twist,
00:25:09.47\00:25:11.04
and you can see
what we're talking about.
00:25:11.07\00:25:13.11
Leviticus 19:16, says,
00:25:13.14\00:25:15.38
"You shall not go about
00:25:15.41\00:25:17.25
as a talebearer
among your people,
00:25:17.28\00:25:22.22
nor shall you take a stand
00:25:22.25\00:25:23.59
against the life
of your neighbor,
00:25:23.62\00:25:24.95
I am the Lord."
00:25:24.99\00:25:26.79
Going about as a talebearer.
00:25:26.86\00:25:30.63
Someone who tells
tall tales, does that imply
00:25:30.66\00:25:34.30
that they're going
around telling the truth?
00:25:34.33\00:25:36.36
No, it means
they're telling things
00:25:36.40\00:25:37.73
that are not true.
00:25:37.77\00:25:39.10
They're falsehoods,
they are lies, basically.
00:25:39.13\00:25:42.84
And if someone is
slandering someone,
00:25:42.87\00:25:45.31
they're not promoting them,
they're not endorsing them,
00:25:45.34\00:25:47.48
they're knocking them down
by saying things about them
00:25:47.51\00:25:50.38
that are not factually accurate.
00:25:50.45\00:25:55.05
This is the trading and traffic
00:25:55.08\00:25:57.19
in which Lucifer was
engaged in the courts of heaven.
00:25:57.22\00:26:03.02
Go to the New
Testament, John Chapter 8.
00:26:03.06\00:26:05.99
Jesus has an interaction
00:26:06.03\00:26:07.66
with the
religious leaders of His day
00:26:07.70\00:26:10.00
those who though
claiming to be of God
00:26:10.07\00:26:12.63
were aiming to put
the Son of God to death.
00:26:12.67\00:26:15.67
John Chapter 8.
00:26:15.70\00:26:17.04
If you start in verse 37,
00:26:23.28\00:26:24.81
we'll give it a
little bit of context.
00:26:24.85\00:26:26.18
John 8:37,
00:26:26.21\00:26:29.02
Jesus is speaking again
to these religious leaders
00:26:29.05\00:26:31.32
who are not
following the will of God
00:26:31.35\00:26:34.06
and He says to them,
00:26:34.09\00:26:36.26
"I know that you are
Abraham's descendants,
00:26:36.29\00:26:39.53
but you seek to kill Me,
00:26:39.56\00:26:40.90
because My word
has no place in you.
00:26:40.93\00:26:43.57
I speak what I have
seen with My Father,
00:26:43.60\00:26:46.17
and you do what you
have seen with your father."
00:26:46.20\00:26:49.64
Now He already acknowledged
the people He's speaking to
00:26:49.67\00:26:52.77
are biologically the
descendants of Abraham,
00:26:52.81\00:26:55.81
right?
00:26:55.84\00:26:57.18
They're children of Abraham,
00:26:57.25\00:26:58.58
but spiritually speaking
00:26:58.61\00:27:00.72
they take after
a different father.
00:27:00.75\00:27:04.42
Verse 38, they
didn't like the implication.
00:27:04.45\00:27:06.09
"They answered and said to
Him, 'Abraham is our father.'"
00:27:06.12\00:27:10.23
And then Jesus said
to them very plainly,
00:27:10.26\00:27:11.59
"Jesus said to them,
00:27:11.63\00:27:12.96
'If you were Abraham's children,
00:27:12.99\00:27:14.56
you would do the
works of Abraham.'"
00:27:14.60\00:27:16.97
So notice, He's talking about
in the way that you do things,
00:27:17.00\00:27:20.74
you might have
the DNA of Abraham,
00:27:20.77\00:27:22.87
but you have the character
of a different father, right?
00:27:22.90\00:27:27.31
He goes on to
explain in verse 40,
00:27:27.38\00:27:29.21
"But now you seek to kill
Me, a Man who told you the truth
00:27:29.24\00:27:33.15
which I heard from God.
00:27:33.18\00:27:34.68
Abraham did not do this."
00:27:34.72\00:27:37.69
I love that implication.
00:27:37.72\00:27:39.05
"Every time I
spoke with Abraham,
00:27:39.09\00:27:40.59
never once, did
he try to kill Me?
00:27:40.66\00:27:43.09
But every time I talk to
you, you seek to kill Me."
00:27:43.12\00:27:46.70
He goes on verse 41,
00:27:46.73\00:27:48.26
"'You do the
deeds of your father.'
00:27:48.30\00:27:52.17
They said to Him,
00:27:52.20\00:27:53.54
'We were not
born of fornication,
00:27:53.57\00:27:54.90
we have one Father, God.'"
00:27:54.94\00:27:56.54
Now they're
taking it beyond Abraham.
00:27:56.57\00:27:57.91
They're saying we claim to
be the spiritual inheritors
00:27:57.94\00:28:01.01
of the legacy of God,
00:28:01.04\00:28:02.38
we are His children.
00:28:02.41\00:28:03.88
"Jesus said to them," verse 42,
00:28:03.95\00:28:05.55
'If God were your
Father, you would love Me,
00:28:05.58\00:28:08.15
for I proceeded
forth and came from God,
00:28:08.18\00:28:11.35
nor have I come of
Myself, but He sent Me."
00:28:11.39\00:28:15.29
Then He breaks down
what's really going on?
00:28:15.32\00:28:17.33
"Why do you not
understand my speech?
00:28:17.36\00:28:19.63
Because you're not
able to listen to My word.
00:28:19.66\00:28:21.73
You are of your
father," the whom, "the devil.
00:28:21.76\00:28:26.94
And the desires of
your father you want to do."
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Now what are those desires?
00:28:31.94\00:28:34.18
"He was a murderer
from the beginning."
00:28:34.21\00:28:38.58
Let's pause right there.
00:28:38.61\00:28:40.02
Does that mean
in the war in heaven
00:28:40.05\00:28:41.48
that we looked at
before in Revelation 12:7-9,
00:28:41.52\00:28:45.59
where it says, "And
there was war in heaven,
00:28:45.62\00:28:46.96
Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon,
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and the dragon
and angels fought..."
00:28:48.59\00:28:50.53
Does that mean
that there was murder
00:28:50.56\00:28:52.06
and slaying of angelic
hosts in the courts of heaven?
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No.
00:28:56.70\00:28:58.13
But remember what
Isaiah and Ezekiel talked about
00:28:58.17\00:29:00.24
all of the
rebellion and even violence
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it was within him.
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How does that make
you a murderer by the way?
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Well, Jesus Himself explained
what murder is, did He not?
00:29:10.78\00:29:15.58
In Matthew Chapter 5,
in the Sermon on the Mount,
00:29:15.62\00:29:18.39
He said, "You
have heard it said,
00:29:18.42\00:29:20.09
'You shall not
murder,' but I say to you."
00:29:20.16\00:29:23.26
And He talks about how
murder actually begins, where?
00:29:23.29\00:29:26.70
In the heart, in the motive.
00:29:26.73\00:29:28.43
If you have anger
00:29:28.46\00:29:29.80
against your
brother without cause,
00:29:29.83\00:29:31.50
you're stirring up
that fomenting in yourself,
00:29:31.53\00:29:35.27
that's murder.
00:29:35.30\00:29:36.94
And Christ says
from the very beginning,
00:29:37.01\00:29:38.51
Satan was a
murder, and then He goes on
00:29:38.54\00:29:41.24
"And does not stand in the truth
00:29:41.28\00:29:42.74
because there
is no truth in him.
00:29:42.78\00:29:44.78
When he speaks a lie,
00:29:44.81\00:29:47.32
he speaks from
his own resources,
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for he is a liar
and the father of it."
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What is it?
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Lying, right?
00:29:57.43\00:29:59.66
Satan not only tells
lies, he's the father of lies,
00:29:59.69\00:30:03.47
he's the one who
invented the whole notion
00:30:03.50\00:30:05.87
of not telling the truth.
00:30:05.90\00:30:08.40
Now think about what a
radical concept that is,
00:30:08.44\00:30:10.64
all throughout the
history of the universe
00:30:10.71\00:30:13.11
until Satan's rebellion
00:30:13.14\00:30:14.48
and no one had
ever not told the truth.
00:30:14.51\00:30:18.65
When someone was talking,
00:30:18.68\00:30:20.22
they were always
saying what was true.
00:30:20.25\00:30:22.72
Now could Satan in
the courts of heaven
00:30:22.75\00:30:24.65
have gone up
against God and said,
00:30:24.69\00:30:26.02
"I put up your dukes, let
me unleash this violence."
00:30:26.05\00:30:29.29
No, what would have happened?
00:30:29.32\00:30:31.36
That was easy flick.
00:30:31.39\00:30:36.40
The Bible says
there's only one thing
00:30:36.43\00:30:38.03
that we know that God cannot do.
00:30:38.07\00:30:41.37
The Bible explicitly
tells us there's one thing God,
00:30:41.40\00:30:44.01
not just does
not do but cannot do.
00:30:44.04\00:30:46.68
And that is lie.
00:30:46.71\00:30:50.85
Satan had one
advantage or one tool
00:30:50.88\00:30:55.62
that could be possibly effective
00:30:55.65\00:30:58.32
in his war against God.
00:30:58.35\00:31:01.39
It was words.
00:31:01.42\00:31:06.43
And he could tell
lies, and he could slander,
00:31:06.46\00:31:10.77
and he could
talebear, and he could peddle,
00:31:10.80\00:31:13.67
sell, trade around
the courts of heaven
00:31:13.74\00:31:18.64
falsehoods about God
and His law, His character.
00:31:18.67\00:31:25.18
Fascinating.
00:31:25.21\00:31:26.82
Now I'm not gonna say
00:31:26.85\00:31:29.85
when you're
accused of being a liar,
00:31:29.88\00:31:31.69
because I don't want to assume
any negative things about you,
00:31:31.72\00:31:33.86
but if let's say you were
ever accused of being a liar.
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If someone ever
came up to you said,
00:31:39.13\00:31:41.50
"You are a liar, my friend."
00:31:41.53\00:31:44.43
You know what you can't say
in response to that accusation?
00:31:44.47\00:31:48.97
The one thing that
definitively will not work
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in response to the
accusation, you are a liar.
00:31:51.94\00:31:56.24
Is the simple phrase.
00:31:56.28\00:31:58.08
No, I'm not.
00:31:58.11\00:32:00.62
You know why?
00:32:00.65\00:32:03.39
Because that is
what a liar would say.
00:32:03.42\00:32:07.69
Is it true? Yeah.
00:32:07.72\00:32:09.16
So if someone
says you're a liar,
00:32:09.19\00:32:10.53
you're gonna say, "No, I'm not."
00:32:10.56\00:32:11.89
They're gonna
say, "Yes, you are."
00:32:11.93\00:32:13.80
And, you know,
you're gonna come back with,
00:32:13.83\00:32:15.63
"No, I'm not."
00:32:15.66\00:32:18.10
And they're gonna try to...
00:32:18.13\00:32:19.47
You're gonna hype up,
00:32:19.50\00:32:20.84
you're gonna get upset about it.
00:32:20.87\00:32:22.20
You'd say, "I
really, really I'm not,
00:32:22.24\00:32:23.61
I promise, I double
promise, I super-duper promise
00:32:23.64\00:32:25.57
that I am not telling a lie."
00:32:25.61\00:32:26.98
And they're gonna
say, "Yes, you are liar."
00:32:27.01\00:32:30.35
And they're gonna say,
00:32:30.38\00:32:31.71
"Oh, you're just digging
a deeper hole for yourself."
00:32:31.75\00:32:34.82
And you could be
telling the truth,
00:32:34.85\00:32:37.59
but because of the
nature of the accusation,
00:32:37.62\00:32:40.69
telling the truth
is not sufficient.
00:32:40.76\00:32:43.29
This is the predicament
that God found Himself in
00:32:47.90\00:32:51.30
when dealing with His adversary,
00:32:51.33\00:32:53.57
the devil, who is
the father of lies.
00:32:53.64\00:32:59.74
That a proclamation of
the truth was insufficient,
00:32:59.77\00:33:06.25
what was necessary to
combat the accusations of Satan
00:33:06.28\00:33:11.25
was not just a
proclamation of the truth,
00:33:11.29\00:33:14.72
he needed a
demonstration of the truth,
00:33:14.76\00:33:18.63
he needed everyone to
see what truth really is...
00:33:18.66\00:33:23.67
Which is exactly
what the Bible says
00:33:27.64\00:33:29.30
that's why Jesus
came to this earth.
00:33:29.34\00:33:31.57
Go to 1 John Chapter 3.
00:33:31.61\00:33:35.31
1 John Chapter 3.
00:33:35.34\00:33:36.88
There in this pastoral letter,
00:33:40.52\00:33:41.95
the Apostle Paul, I mean,
the Apostle John, I'm sorry,
00:33:41.98\00:33:46.45
explains one of
the primary reasons
00:33:46.49\00:33:51.13
for Christ's incarnation.
00:33:51.16\00:33:55.70
Verse 8, he explains,
00:33:55.73\00:33:57.57
"He who sins is
of the devil," right?
00:33:57.60\00:34:00.74
This is exactly what Jesus
was saying in John Chapter 8,
00:34:00.77\00:34:03.44
"You are of your
father the devil," right?
00:34:03.51\00:34:05.44
"He who sins is of the devil,
00:34:05.47\00:34:07.78
for the devil has
sinned from" when?
00:34:07.81\00:34:11.05
"From the beginning."
00:34:11.08\00:34:12.41
Now we think of
typically, in the beginning,
00:34:12.45\00:34:14.58
we're talking about
the beginning of our world
00:34:14.62\00:34:16.42
or the creation of this planet.
00:34:16.45\00:34:18.82
But what we're
talking about here
00:34:18.85\00:34:20.19
is not the beginning of us,
00:34:20.26\00:34:21.59
but the beginning of sin itself.
00:34:21.62\00:34:23.53
And from the very beginning,
00:34:23.56\00:34:25.39
Satan has sin, he in
fact, is the beginning of sin.
00:34:25.43\00:34:28.96
He has sin from the beginning
and then it adds this sentence,
00:34:29.00\00:34:33.10
"For this purpose
00:34:33.13\00:34:36.94
the Son of God was manifested,
00:34:37.01\00:34:40.31
that He might destroy
the works of the devil."
00:34:40.38\00:34:46.15
It was for this
purpose, that beginning of sin,
00:34:46.18\00:34:50.29
the father of lies,
it was for that purpose,
00:34:50.32\00:34:54.26
that the Son of
God was manifested,
00:34:54.29\00:34:56.42
that He might destroy
the works of the devil.
00:34:56.46\00:34:59.69
How do you destroy
a railing accusation
00:34:59.73\00:35:03.57
against your authenticity,
00:35:03.60\00:35:05.33
your credibility,
your very character?
00:35:05.37\00:35:09.00
You can't just
proclaim the truth.
00:35:09.04\00:35:10.61
God could stand on
a mountaintop and say,
00:35:10.64\00:35:12.74
"I am true, I am
self-sacrificing,
00:35:12.77\00:35:16.28
I am love."
00:35:16.31\00:35:19.81
And Satan would say,
00:35:19.85\00:35:22.12
"No, you're not, no, you're not,
00:35:22.15\00:35:26.35
no, you're not."
00:35:26.39\00:35:29.32
Now I don't like the
phrase devil's advocates,
00:35:29.36\00:35:31.09
I don't think he
needs any advocates.
00:35:31.13\00:35:32.49
But from Satan's perspective,
00:35:32.53\00:35:36.67
you could almost imagine
his line of argumentation
00:35:36.70\00:35:40.24
in trafficking
the slanderous lies
00:35:40.27\00:35:42.40
around the courts of heaven.
00:35:42.44\00:35:47.08
You can imagine that
maybe in conversation
00:35:47.11\00:35:52.18
with one of so many
million loyal angels,
00:35:52.21\00:35:56.35
he joins and, oh, yeah,
it was a wonderful day today.
00:35:56.38\00:35:58.39
Have you ever noticed
every day is great here?
00:35:58.42\00:36:00.96
It's like living in Hawaii,
every day is perfect, right?
00:36:00.99\00:36:02.92
Every day is paradise.
00:36:02.96\00:36:04.36
Everyone is harmonious and happy
00:36:04.39\00:36:05.73
and all those songs,
00:36:05.76\00:36:07.10
everything this
morning was wonderful
00:36:07.13\00:36:08.46
and then he might just interject
00:36:08.50\00:36:09.83
this slowest
little thing like...
00:36:09.86\00:36:12.50
You know, I was
thinking about it.
00:36:12.53\00:36:13.87
Did you ever notice
that every single...
00:36:13.94\00:36:15.50
Without deviation
every single song we sing
00:36:15.54\00:36:18.41
is in honor to God.
00:36:18.44\00:36:21.98
Ain't that weird?
00:36:22.01\00:36:24.05
Anyway neither here know that...
00:36:24.08\00:36:25.81
And he slides
little thought in there.
00:36:25.85\00:36:27.42
May be on another
occasion he is like,
00:36:30.82\00:36:32.95
"Have you ever noticed
that all of the rules here
00:36:32.99\00:36:35.19
are made by one.
00:36:35.22\00:36:37.76
Just, I mean,
this is a great place,
00:36:37.79\00:36:39.76
don't get me wrong but,
00:36:39.79\00:36:41.13
I mean, everything seems
to really revolve around one.
00:36:41.16\00:36:43.57
It's like the whole
thing exists for His...
00:36:43.60\00:36:45.50
Well, what about you?
00:36:48.94\00:36:50.41
And I mean, what
about little old me?"
00:36:50.44\00:36:52.44
And he takes the character,
00:36:56.75\00:36:59.21
the name of God and
begins to slanderously smear it.
00:36:59.25\00:37:03.89
By the way, the pen of
inspiration also tells us
00:37:07.29\00:37:09.12
how his conversation went,
00:37:09.16\00:37:10.53
he would plant
those seeds of doubt
00:37:10.56\00:37:12.26
into some people's
minds, some angel minds,
00:37:12.29\00:37:14.73
then he would leave,
00:37:14.76\00:37:16.23
come back later and
find those same people
00:37:16.26\00:37:19.20
discussing what he had
implanted in their minds.
00:37:19.23\00:37:22.50
And he would say, "Oh,
that's a really neat idea."
00:37:22.54\00:37:25.04
And he would build up
on it and then say, like,
00:37:25.07\00:37:26.88
"I heard it from
this guy, and I heard..."
00:37:26.91\00:37:28.54
Taking himself out of the mix.
00:37:28.58\00:37:29.91
So he would start
it and watch it go
00:37:29.94\00:37:31.28
and then come back
around and be like,
00:37:31.31\00:37:32.65
"Oh, what a cool thing.
00:37:32.68\00:37:34.02
Oh, yeah."
00:37:34.05\00:37:35.38
And he can say, "Look,
everybody's talking about it."
00:37:35.42\00:37:36.79
And at some point,
00:37:47.00\00:37:49.03
a proclamation even of the truth
00:37:49.06\00:37:51.17
is insufficient.
00:37:51.20\00:37:53.10
What is required
is a demonstration.
00:37:53.13\00:37:58.17
Notice the Prophet Isaiah
00:37:58.21\00:38:00.11
in speaking of
the coming of Jesus.
00:38:00.18\00:38:03.65
Isaiah Chapter 56
00:38:03.68\00:38:05.98
pointing forward to
the coming of the Messiah.
00:38:06.01\00:38:12.29
He uses interesting
language here in verse 1.
00:38:12.32\00:38:14.42
Isaiah 56:1,
00:38:14.46\00:38:18.33
"Thus says the Lord,
00:38:18.36\00:38:19.69
'Keep justice,
and do righteousness,
00:38:19.73\00:38:22.13
for My salvation
is about to come,
00:38:22.16\00:38:25.37
and My
righteousness to be," what?
00:38:25.40\00:38:29.37
"Revealed."
00:38:29.40\00:38:31.24
What does it mean
to reveal something?
00:38:31.27\00:38:35.54
It means to expose something.
00:38:35.58\00:38:37.18
Does it mean
that my righteousness
00:38:37.25\00:38:38.58
is going to be
created or brought forth?
00:38:38.61\00:38:41.55
No.
00:38:41.58\00:38:43.42
Was God righteous
before Jesus Christ came
00:38:43.49\00:38:46.25
in the flesh and
died as our sacrificer?
00:38:46.29\00:38:48.82
Of course, He was righteous.
00:38:48.86\00:38:50.23
He's been righteous all along.
00:38:50.26\00:38:52.53
But apparently
that righteousness
00:38:52.56\00:38:54.00
needed to be revealed as
though it had been obscured
00:38:54.03\00:38:56.97
by something
that there was a mist,
00:38:57.00\00:38:59.20
there was a fog,
00:38:59.23\00:39:00.57
there was a lack
of clarity there,
00:39:00.64\00:39:02.64
and God needed
to sweep that away
00:39:02.67\00:39:04.21
and show His righteousness
00:39:04.24\00:39:08.61
though He had been
righteous all along.
00:39:08.64\00:39:11.18
In fact, go to
the New Testament,
00:39:11.21\00:39:12.55
the Apostle Paul
concurs completely.
00:39:12.58\00:39:14.15
Go to Romans Chapter 1.
00:39:14.22\00:39:17.49
Romans Chapter 1...
00:39:17.52\00:39:18.85
Starting with verse 16.
00:39:23.26\00:39:25.46
This seems to be
the theme passage
00:39:25.49\00:39:27.03
of the Book of Romans.
00:39:27.10\00:39:29.10
And the Apostle
Paul says it this way,
00:39:29.13\00:39:30.97
Romans 1:16,
00:39:31.00\00:39:32.33
"For I am not ashamed
of the gospel of Christ,
00:39:32.37\00:39:35.54
for it is the power of God
00:39:35.57\00:39:37.31
to salvation for
everyone who believes,
00:39:37.34\00:39:39.54
for the Jew first
and also for the Greek.
00:39:39.57\00:39:41.81
For in it..."
00:39:41.84\00:39:43.21
Now pause right there.
00:39:43.24\00:39:44.58
What is it?
00:39:44.61\00:39:46.58
It is a modifier
00:39:46.61\00:39:49.02
or it's referring
to it's a preposition
00:39:49.05\00:39:51.52
for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
00:39:51.55\00:39:54.42
The gospel of Jesus Christ,
by the way, is Jesus Christ.
00:39:54.46\00:39:57.99
He is the good
news, He is the message,
00:39:58.03\00:40:00.23
He is the word, right?
00:40:00.30\00:40:01.76
But in Jesus Christ, the
good news of Jesus Christ,
00:40:01.80\00:40:05.80
in it the
righteousness of God is what?
00:40:05.83\00:40:10.41
Revealed.
00:40:10.44\00:40:12.67
In Christ we see
God's righteousness
00:40:12.71\00:40:17.55
on full display.
00:40:17.58\00:40:19.51
Amen.
00:40:19.55\00:40:21.72
"For in it the
righteousness of God
00:40:21.75\00:40:23.89
is revealed from faith to faith,
00:40:23.92\00:40:26.45
as it is written,
00:40:26.49\00:40:27.82
'The just shall live by faith.'"
00:40:27.86\00:40:31.76
So Paul understood
that the ministry of Jesus
00:40:31.79\00:40:34.70
was a revelation
of God's character,
00:40:34.73\00:40:38.67
His righteousness.
00:40:38.70\00:40:40.44
That's what exactly Isaiah
anticipated the Messiah to do
00:40:40.47\00:40:44.11
what would reveal
the righteousness of God.
00:40:44.14\00:40:47.88
As though it had been
obscured by something,
00:40:47.91\00:40:50.95
which of course it
had by the trading,
00:40:50.98\00:40:52.88
the traffic, the
pedaling, the lemonade
00:40:52.91\00:40:56.28
if you will that Satan
was having everyone's sip.
00:40:56.32\00:41:01.19
Let's say in
the New Testament...
00:41:01.22\00:41:02.56
Let's go to the Book of Hebrews.
00:41:02.59\00:41:04.89
Hebrews Chapter 4.
00:41:04.93\00:41:06.26
Notice what it says
about the Jesus Christ.
00:41:11.47\00:41:14.04
Verse 14,
00:41:18.04\00:41:19.37
"Seeing then that we
have a great high priest,
00:41:19.41\00:41:21.51
who has passed
through the heavens,
00:41:21.54\00:41:22.91
Jesus the Son of God,
00:41:22.94\00:41:24.28
let us hold
fast our confession."
00:41:24.31\00:41:25.78
Verse 15,
00:41:25.81\00:41:27.15
"For we do not
have a High Priest
00:41:27.22\00:41:29.08
who cannot
sympathize with our weaknesses,
00:41:29.12\00:41:31.29
but was in all
points tempted as we are,
00:41:31.32\00:41:34.49
yet without," what?
00:41:34.52\00:41:37.03
"Sin."
00:41:37.06\00:41:39.16
What made Christ apart
00:41:39.19\00:41:40.93
from the great
Creator creation gulf
00:41:40.96\00:41:43.90
that is inestimable
aside from that gulf
00:41:43.97\00:41:46.84
what made Christ
different than us?
00:41:46.87\00:41:52.34
It wasn't that He
didn't face temptation,
00:41:52.37\00:41:54.08
He didn't live in
some holy insulated bubble
00:41:54.11\00:41:56.21
where He was immune
from all the, you know,
00:41:56.24\00:42:00.02
vicissitudes of
this earthly existence.
00:42:00.05\00:42:02.15
No, He had all of that.
00:42:02.18\00:42:03.52
But what did He do different?
00:42:03.59\00:42:05.72
He never once sinned.
00:42:05.75\00:42:08.46
He never once gave into
the temptations of Satan,
00:42:08.49\00:42:11.03
the discouragements of Satan,
the distractions of Satan.
00:42:11.06\00:42:13.80
He always held fast
His loyalty to the Father.
00:42:13.83\00:42:17.37
And friends, loyalty is
always expressed in obedience.
00:42:17.40\00:42:22.84
Never wants to deviate
from that straight line
00:42:22.87\00:42:26.07
of allegiance,
loyalty, fidelity to God.
00:42:26.11\00:42:32.68
Therefore, by the way,
that helps us, verse 16,
00:42:32.71\00:42:35.22
"Let us therefore come
boldly to the throne of grace,
00:42:35.25\00:42:38.39
that we may obtain mercy,
00:42:38.42\00:42:39.75
and find grace to
help in time of need."
00:42:39.79\00:42:41.92
Isn't it a powerful
promise that we have one
00:42:41.96\00:42:44.79
in the very
throne room of heaven
00:42:44.83\00:42:46.53
who has been where we've been,
00:42:46.56\00:42:48.43
who has felt what we felt,
00:42:48.46\00:42:50.10
who has walked
where we've walked?
00:42:50.17\00:42:51.77
He's faced discouragement,
00:42:51.80\00:42:53.67
deprivation,
distraction, temptation,
00:42:53.74\00:42:56.57
yet has overcome it all
00:42:56.60\00:42:58.24
and never one time gave
in to the lies of Satan.
00:42:58.27\00:43:01.31
He wasn't buying
what Satan was selling.
00:43:01.34\00:43:04.31
And as a result, friends,
00:43:04.35\00:43:05.68
we have a friend in high places.
00:43:05.71\00:43:08.48
What a wonderful thing.
00:43:08.52\00:43:10.09
Go back in the
same book Hebrews.
00:43:10.12\00:43:11.45
Let's go back to
Chapter 2, Hebrews Chapter 2.
00:43:11.49\00:43:17.13
Speaking of this ministry
00:43:17.16\00:43:18.59
that Christ has
unique from all others,
00:43:18.63\00:43:22.20
distinct from the angels,
00:43:22.23\00:43:23.67
distinct from every
other power in the universe,
00:43:23.70\00:43:26.03
Christ has a ministry.
00:43:26.07\00:43:28.24
And it says in verse
14 of Hebrews Chapter 2
00:43:28.27\00:43:30.61
"Inasmuch then as the children
00:43:30.64\00:43:32.71
have partaken
of flesh and blood,
00:43:32.74\00:43:34.51
He Himself
likewise shared in," what?
00:43:34.54\00:43:37.55
"in the same."
00:43:37.58\00:43:38.91
He came here to be with us. Why?
00:43:38.95\00:43:41.45
"That through death
He might destroy him
00:43:41.48\00:43:43.62
who had the power of
death, that is, the devil."
00:43:43.69\00:43:46.42
Notice that is through
the death of Jesus Christ
00:43:46.45\00:43:48.79
that the devil was destroyed.
00:43:48.82\00:43:51.13
1 John 3:8,
remember what it said?
00:43:51.16\00:43:53.83
"For this purpose,
00:43:53.90\00:43:55.70
the Son of God was manifested,
00:43:55.73\00:43:57.17
that He might destroy
the works of the devil."
00:43:57.20\00:43:59.03
And how was it?
00:43:59.07\00:44:00.44
It was through a
life of obedience
00:44:00.47\00:44:01.87
and self-sacrificing,
00:44:01.90\00:44:04.61
substitutionary death.
00:44:04.64\00:44:07.58
It goes on,
00:44:07.61\00:44:08.94
"He might destroy him
who had the power of death,
00:44:08.98\00:44:10.75
that is, the
devil, and release those
00:44:10.78\00:44:13.52
who through fear of death
00:44:13.55\00:44:14.88
were all their
lifetime subject to bondage.
00:44:14.92\00:44:18.32
For indeed He does
not give aid to angels,
00:44:18.35\00:44:21.06
but He gives aid to
the seed of Abraham.
00:44:21.09\00:44:24.16
Therefore, in all things
00:44:24.23\00:44:25.56
He had to be made
like His brethren,
00:44:25.59\00:44:26.93
that He might be a merciful
and faithful High Priest
00:44:26.96\00:44:29.56
in things pertaining to God,
00:44:29.60\00:44:31.30
to make propitiation
for the sins of the people.
00:44:31.33\00:44:34.24
For in that He
Himself has suffered,
00:44:34.27\00:44:36.81
being tempted,
00:44:36.84\00:44:38.17
He is able to aid
those who are tempted."
00:44:38.21\00:44:42.28
Praise the Lord for Jesus Christ
00:44:42.31\00:44:44.65
as our intercessor
in the courts of heaven.
00:44:44.68\00:44:47.02
Amen.
00:44:47.05\00:44:48.38
It's a wonderful ministry,
it's a unique ministry.
00:44:48.42\00:44:51.35
Christ is all in all.
00:44:51.39\00:44:53.66
Now if you go
to John Chapter 12.
00:44:53.69\00:44:56.06
Jesus Himself would
speak about this fact,
00:44:56.09\00:45:03.00
His purpose, His
aim and objective.
00:45:03.03\00:45:05.97
John Chapter 12.
00:45:06.00\00:45:09.57
As we mentioned earlier,
there are 3 different occasions
00:45:09.60\00:45:11.97
John Chapter
12, John Chapter 14,
00:45:12.01\00:45:13.98
and John Chapter 16
00:45:14.01\00:45:15.34
where Jesus Christ
Himself acknowledges
00:45:15.38\00:45:20.92
and refers to Satan as
the ruler of this world.
00:45:20.95\00:45:26.32
But he isn't ruler by creation,
00:45:26.35\00:45:28.29
and he wasn't
established by God,
00:45:28.32\00:45:29.86
but he usurped the
power, it was delivered to him.
00:45:29.89\00:45:32.93
And now he runs
this place as his own.
00:45:32.96\00:45:36.23
But notice how
Jesus was going to combat
00:45:36.26\00:45:40.04
that rulership of Satan.
00:45:40.07\00:45:42.67
John 12:31,
00:45:42.70\00:45:46.17
Jesus coming to the
end of His ministry,
00:45:46.21\00:45:47.81
looks forward to His death
on the cross with these words,
00:45:47.84\00:45:50.55
"Now is the
judgment of this world,
00:45:50.58\00:45:54.85
now the ruler of this
world will be cast out."
00:45:54.88\00:46:00.76
Let's break down
what we've just read here.
00:46:00.79\00:46:02.22
First of all, it says,
00:46:02.26\00:46:03.63
"Now is the
judgment of this world."
00:46:03.66\00:46:05.66
Does that mean that
there is no end time judgment
00:46:05.69\00:46:08.73
that the judgment
occurred at the cross?
00:46:08.76\00:46:11.80
No, how do we know that for sure
00:46:11.83\00:46:14.24
because Christ clarifies it
00:46:14.27\00:46:16.34
in the statement
right next to it.
00:46:16.37\00:46:18.64
He says, "Now is the
judgment of the world,"
00:46:18.67\00:46:20.31
and what He means by that
is now the ruler of this world.
00:46:20.38\00:46:23.95
Specifically targeting Satan,
will be, what are two words?
00:46:23.98\00:46:29.08
Cast out.
00:46:29.12\00:46:31.32
Now that should give you pause.
00:46:31.35\00:46:32.79
Hasn't Satan
been cast out already?
00:46:36.42\00:46:39.73
Long before this.
00:46:39.76\00:46:42.03
Didn't we read in
Revelation 12:7-9,
00:46:42.06\00:46:45.10
that there was war in heaven
00:46:45.13\00:46:46.77
and how that serpent of
old, called the devil and Satan
00:46:46.84\00:46:50.54
was cast to the earth?
00:46:50.61\00:46:52.07
He was cast out and he is...
00:46:52.11\00:46:54.11
Did not Isaiah 14
say the same thing?
00:46:54.18\00:46:56.28
Did not Ezekiel 28
tell us the same thing
00:46:56.31\00:46:58.65
that he was cast out?
00:46:58.68\00:47:00.02
For our perspective,
some 6,000 years ago,
00:47:00.05\00:47:03.12
4,000 years before
Jesus would die on the cross.
00:47:03.15\00:47:06.12
So what does Jesus mean?
00:47:06.15\00:47:07.79
Now is the
judgment of this world,
00:47:07.82\00:47:09.79
now the ruler of this
world will be cast out.
00:47:09.82\00:47:14.43
What does He mean?
00:47:14.46\00:47:17.63
What is the now
that He's referring to?
00:47:17.67\00:47:19.23
Let's keep reading
00:47:19.27\00:47:21.10
"And I, if I am
lifted up from the earth,
00:47:21.14\00:47:23.81
will draw all
peoples to Myself."
00:47:23.84\00:47:27.58
This He said, signifying
by what death He would die.
00:47:27.61\00:47:32.95
Somehow the death of Jesus
00:47:32.98\00:47:38.89
cast Satan out again.
00:47:38.92\00:47:45.69
Clearly, he had been cast out
00:47:45.73\00:47:47.96
from his position of leadership,
00:47:48.00\00:47:49.40
he was cast out of
the courts of heaven,
00:47:49.43\00:47:50.97
he was removed from that place.
00:47:51.00\00:47:53.94
But even 4,000 years later,
00:47:53.97\00:47:55.74
there was still a
casting out to do.
00:47:55.77\00:48:02.41
You can imagine,
00:48:02.44\00:48:03.85
after all the lies
and all the slander,
00:48:03.88\00:48:06.51
after all the blasphemous,
heretical, denunciation
00:48:06.55\00:48:09.72
of the name and
character of God,
00:48:09.75\00:48:13.46
both in heaven and on the earth.
00:48:13.49\00:48:16.73
And how we've studied
00:48:16.76\00:48:18.09
the proclamation of
the truth was insufficient.
00:48:18.13\00:48:20.33
What was needed was a
demonstration of righteousness.
00:48:20.40\00:48:24.47
Christ said,
"That's going to happen
00:48:24.50\00:48:27.77
when I go to Calvary."
00:48:27.80\00:48:30.51
And when Jesus took the sin
00:48:30.54\00:48:32.04
of the world
upon Him in Gethsemane
00:48:32.07\00:48:34.51
and marched by force up
those steps to Golgotha,
00:48:34.54\00:48:38.21
to the hill of Calvary,
00:48:38.25\00:48:39.88
and He was
sinless 'cause remember,
00:48:39.91\00:48:43.39
with all the other deaths
00:48:43.42\00:48:44.75
that have ever
occurred in the world,
00:48:44.79\00:48:46.12
couldn't Satan say,
"Look, the wages of sin is death
00:48:46.15\00:48:47.89
but how is that
different for Christ?
00:48:47.92\00:48:51.33
He never sinned once.
00:48:51.36\00:48:53.33
There was no even a
hint of a possibility,
00:48:53.40\00:48:57.00
a rationalization,
or a justification
00:48:57.07\00:48:59.77
for the death of Jesus.
00:48:59.80\00:49:01.27
There's nothing Satan could
say if he were to kill Christ
00:49:01.30\00:49:04.51
that would win
over any sympathy.
00:49:04.54\00:49:07.98
When Jesus went
to Calvary sinless,
00:49:08.01\00:49:12.71
there was no reason
whatsoever that He should die.
00:49:12.75\00:49:19.55
Yeah, He went,
00:49:19.59\00:49:21.59
and He submitted
Himself to the torture
00:49:21.62\00:49:23.63
and ridicule and
humiliation of those sinful men
00:49:23.66\00:49:26.70
who were those
sons of their father.
00:49:26.73\00:49:30.07
And all of that envy
and jealousy and violence
00:49:30.10\00:49:34.47
that had been pent up
in the heart of Lucifer
00:49:34.50\00:49:37.44
was finally unleashed
upon the sinless Son of God.
00:49:37.51\00:49:43.35
And friends, when
Christ stretched out His hands
00:49:47.05\00:49:50.49
and laid down His life,
00:49:50.52\00:49:52.85
and proclaimed,
"It is finished."
00:49:52.89\00:49:59.46
The onlooking
universe saw two things
00:49:59.49\00:50:03.77
for the very first time.
00:50:03.80\00:50:06.94
One,
00:50:06.97\00:50:08.84
they saw the true
character of the enemy of God.
00:50:08.87\00:50:15.14
They saw Satan's heart revealed.
00:50:15.18\00:50:18.78
There was no possible reason
that this was a good idea.
00:50:18.81\00:50:23.05
There was nothing you could say
that would justify that action.
00:50:23.08\00:50:27.26
He had murdered
the very Son of God
00:50:27.29\00:50:30.73
that, in fact, he was
the one who was selfish,
00:50:30.76\00:50:33.26
he would take for
himself everything,
00:50:33.29\00:50:35.23
including the very life
of God were it possible.
00:50:35.26\00:50:40.04
But on the other hand,
00:50:40.07\00:50:41.70
for the very first time,
00:50:41.74\00:50:44.34
the universe got to
see on full display,
00:50:44.37\00:50:48.01
not just in theory,
00:50:48.04\00:50:49.38
but in practice
that God is love.
00:50:49.41\00:50:55.65
That self-sacrificing,
self-less condescension
00:50:55.68\00:51:00.56
to man and his weakness,
00:51:00.59\00:51:03.29
and giving of Himself for
their redemption was seen.
00:51:03.32\00:51:09.06
In the Desire of Ages, page 761,
00:51:13.74\00:51:16.00
we read these powerful words,
00:51:16.04\00:51:17.77
speaking about the moment
that Jesus died on the cross.
00:51:17.81\00:51:22.01
She writes,
00:51:22.04\00:51:23.38
"Could one sin have
been found in Christ,
00:51:23.45\00:51:26.15
had He in one
particular yielded to Satan
00:51:26.18\00:51:28.92
to escape the terrible torture,
00:51:28.95\00:51:30.79
the enemy of God and
man would have triumphed."
00:51:30.82\00:51:34.42
So even in the last moment
00:51:34.46\00:51:35.79
if Christ would have
uttered one disparaging word,
00:51:35.82\00:51:38.56
uttered one doubt,
one break of the temper,
00:51:38.59\00:51:42.06
one...
00:51:42.10\00:51:43.47
Nothing.
00:51:43.50\00:51:45.67
It would have been over
and Satan would have won.
00:51:45.70\00:51:50.61
She goes on
00:51:50.64\00:51:51.97
"Christ bowed His head and died,
00:51:52.01\00:51:54.18
but He held fast His faith
and His submission to God."
00:51:54.21\00:51:58.55
Now interestingly,
00:51:58.58\00:52:01.85
if you were to
describe the death of Jesus
00:52:01.88\00:52:06.25
and give a biblical verse
00:52:06.29\00:52:07.92
that could go along
with that description,
00:52:07.96\00:52:10.23
you might be tempted
to go to, I don't know,
00:52:10.26\00:52:13.73
one of the four gospels,
00:52:13.80\00:52:15.16
Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John
00:52:15.20\00:52:16.53
or maybe something
from the writing of Paul
00:52:16.56\00:52:18.83
who determined to know nothing
00:52:18.87\00:52:20.34
but Christ and him crucified.
00:52:20.37\00:52:22.07
But, you know,
where Sister White goes,
00:52:22.10\00:52:25.44
she goes to the
Book of Revelation
00:52:25.47\00:52:27.51
12:10.
00:52:27.58\00:52:33.01
Now look again,
Revelation chapter 12.
00:52:33.05\00:52:35.72
We've already read 12:7-9,
00:52:35.75\00:52:37.49
but I wanna draw your
attention to that context again,
00:52:37.52\00:52:40.06
Revelation 12:7,
00:52:40.09\00:52:45.06
the first casting out of Satan.
00:52:45.09\00:52:46.80
"And the war
broke out in heaven,
00:52:46.83\00:52:48.23
Michael and his angels
fought with the dragon,
00:52:48.26\00:52:50.07
and the dragon
and his angels fought,
00:52:50.10\00:52:51.47
but they did not prevail,
00:52:51.50\00:52:52.83
nor was a place found for
them in heaven any longer.
00:52:52.87\00:52:54.87
So the great
dragon was cast out,
00:52:54.90\00:52:57.11
that serpent of old,
called the devil and Satan,
00:52:57.14\00:52:59.11
who deceives the whole world,
00:52:59.14\00:53:00.58
he was cast to the earth,
00:53:00.61\00:53:01.94
and his angels
were cast out with him."
00:53:01.98\00:53:03.65
Then look at verse 10,
00:53:03.68\00:53:05.08
"Then I heard a loud
voice saying in heaven,
00:53:05.11\00:53:08.38
'Now salvation and strength,
and the kingdom of our God,
00:53:08.42\00:53:12.52
and the power of
His Christ have come,
00:53:12.55\00:53:14.62
for the accuser of our brethren,
00:53:14.66\00:53:16.83
who accused them
before our God day and night,
00:53:16.86\00:53:19.66
has been cast down.'"
00:53:19.69\00:53:22.56
And it would be easy
to read that and think,
00:53:22.60\00:53:24.07
"Oh, that's just
another poetic way
00:53:24.10\00:53:25.53
of saying he was
cast out of heaven."
00:53:25.57\00:53:27.17
But, no friends,
there is a 4,000 year gap
00:53:27.24\00:53:30.24
between verse 9 and verse 10.
00:53:30.31\00:53:33.58
In verse 9,
00:53:33.61\00:53:34.94
Satan is cast out of
the courts of heaven,
00:53:34.98\00:53:36.44
but what was he
cast out of in verse 10?
00:53:36.48\00:53:40.05
Sister White
applies Revelation 12:10
00:53:40.12\00:53:43.59
to Jesus death on the cross.
00:53:43.62\00:53:46.12
"Now," she writes,
00:53:46.15\00:53:50.26
"is come salvation and strength,
00:53:50.33\00:53:51.79
and the kingdom of our God,
and the power of His Christ,
00:53:51.83\00:53:53.90
for the accuser of
our brethren is cast down
00:53:53.93\00:53:56.33
which you accused them
before our God day and night."
00:53:56.36\00:53:58.57
What does she mean by this,
00:53:58.60\00:54:00.34
applying Revelation 12:10
to Jesus death on the cross?
00:54:00.37\00:54:02.94
Well, listen carefully.
00:54:02.97\00:54:06.37
"Satan saw that his
disguise was torn away.
00:54:06.41\00:54:12.48
His administration was laid open
00:54:12.51\00:54:14.82
before the unfallen angels
00:54:14.85\00:54:16.45
and before the
heavenly universe.
00:54:16.48\00:54:19.42
He had revealed
himself as a murderer.
00:54:19.45\00:54:25.56
By shedding the
blood of the Son of God,
00:54:25.59\00:54:28.53
he had uprooted himself
00:54:28.56\00:54:30.47
from the sympathies
of the heavenly beings."
00:54:30.50\00:54:35.77
When I first read that
I was kind of taken aback,
00:54:35.80\00:54:38.51
"You mean to tell me that
there were heavenly beings
00:54:38.54\00:54:41.11
who had some level
of sympathy for Satan,
00:54:41.14\00:54:44.98
even 4,000 years
after he was cast out?"
00:54:45.01\00:54:47.85
Yes.
00:54:47.88\00:54:49.22
Why?
00:54:49.25\00:54:50.59
Because he's a very good liar.
00:54:50.62\00:54:54.96
And they remain loyal to God,
00:54:54.99\00:54:56.73
but they still
have some questions.
00:54:56.76\00:54:58.23
Remember back
in that Book of Job
00:54:58.26\00:54:59.66
we studied
earlier in this message?
00:54:59.69\00:55:02.03
When God was
saying this one thing
00:55:02.06\00:55:03.90
and Satan would answer back.
00:55:03.97\00:55:05.30
You know what's fascinating
is what the sons of God say,
00:55:05.33\00:55:08.67
not one word.
00:55:08.70\00:55:12.04
Now they're still
loyal, they're still faithful,
00:55:12.07\00:55:14.21
they're still the sons of God,
but it's like they're saying,
00:55:14.28\00:55:16.75
"Lord, we're with you,
00:55:16.78\00:55:18.11
but he's making some
very compelling points
00:55:18.15\00:55:20.32
let's at least hear him out."
00:55:20.35\00:55:22.15
And what if Christ
were to strike him dead
00:55:22.18\00:55:24.19
in that moment?
00:55:24.22\00:55:26.02
It would seem like a cover up,
00:55:26.05\00:55:27.86
it would actually
validate and verify
00:55:27.89\00:55:31.33
the very
argument Satan was making
00:55:31.36\00:55:33.26
so He had to let it play out
00:55:33.29\00:55:34.80
and instead of a
mere proclamation,
00:55:34.83\00:55:36.43
Christ came to be the revelation
00:55:36.46\00:55:38.57
of the character of God.
00:55:38.60\00:55:42.57
"By shedding the
blood of the Son of God
00:55:42.60\00:55:44.21
he had uprooted himself
00:55:44.24\00:55:45.57
from the sympathies
of heavenly beings."
00:55:45.61\00:55:46.98
Watch this and
think about Job Chapter 1.
00:55:47.01\00:55:49.21
"Henceforth his
work was restricted.
00:55:49.24\00:55:53.21
Whatever
attitude he might assume,
00:55:53.25\00:55:55.05
he could no
longer await the angels
00:55:55.08\00:55:57.39
as they came from
the heavenly courts,
00:55:57.42\00:55:59.52
and before them
accuse Christ's brethren
00:55:59.55\00:56:01.46
of being clothed with
the garments of blackness
00:56:01.49\00:56:03.26
and the defilement of sin.
00:56:03.29\00:56:05.66
The last link of sympathy
00:56:05.69\00:56:07.53
between Satan and
the heavenly world
00:56:07.60\00:56:10.07
was broken."
00:56:10.10\00:56:13.17
Now notice why he
can't come there anymore,
00:56:13.20\00:56:15.44
is it because God
now forces him out?
00:56:15.47\00:56:19.41
Nope.
00:56:19.44\00:56:20.88
His work was restricted
00:56:20.91\00:56:22.24
because no one was listening
to his arguments anymore.
00:56:22.28\00:56:25.68
They weren't buying
what he was selling.
00:56:25.71\00:56:29.68
Christ didn't have
to put a flaming sword
00:56:29.72\00:56:31.05
or build a wall,
00:56:31.09\00:56:32.42
the other sons of God,
00:56:32.45\00:56:33.79
the inhabitants,
the heavenly realms,
00:56:33.86\00:56:35.19
those angels of glory
00:56:35.22\00:56:36.56
were no longer
interested in even hearing
00:56:36.59\00:56:39.23
whatever lies he might
spew because they've seen Jesus.
00:56:39.26\00:56:43.67
They've seen Jesus.
00:56:43.70\00:56:47.04
Signs of the
Times, December 30, 1889.
00:56:47.07\00:56:49.40
Listen to this
powerful statement.
00:56:49.44\00:56:50.84
"The angels ascribe
honor and glory to Christ,
00:56:50.91\00:56:53.68
for even they are not secure
00:56:53.71\00:56:55.11
except by
looking to the sufferings
00:56:55.14\00:56:56.54
of the Son of God.
00:56:56.58\00:56:57.91
It was through the
efficacy of the cross
00:56:57.95\00:57:01.08
that the angels of heaven
are guarded from apostasy.
00:57:01.12\00:57:04.82
Without the cross
00:57:04.85\00:57:06.39
they would be no
more secure against evil
00:57:06.42\00:57:08.26
than were the angels
before the fall of Satan.
00:57:08.29\00:57:10.93
Angelic
perfection failed in heaven.
00:57:10.96\00:57:13.09
Human perfection failed in Eden,
00:57:13.13\00:57:15.16
the paradise of bliss.
00:57:15.20\00:57:16.53
All who wish for
security in earth and heaven
00:57:16.56\00:57:19.23
must look to the Lamb of God.
00:57:19.27\00:57:22.60
The plan of salvation,
00:57:22.64\00:57:24.01
making manifest the
justice and love of God,
00:57:24.04\00:57:26.57
provides an eternal safeguard
00:57:26.61\00:57:28.24
against defection
in unfallen worlds,
00:57:28.28\00:57:32.38
as well as among
those who shall be redeemed
00:57:32.41\00:57:34.38
by the blood of the Lamb.
00:57:34.42\00:57:35.75
Our only hope is perfect trust
00:57:35.78\00:57:37.65
in the blood of Him who
can save to the uttermost
00:57:37.69\00:57:40.06
all that come unto God by Him."
00:57:40.09\00:57:43.96
The angels need
the sacrifice of Jesus
00:57:44.03\00:57:47.70
to not to redeem them from
sin but to keep them from sin.
00:57:47.73\00:57:54.24
What a powerful God we serve
00:57:54.27\00:57:55.90
that He would
reveal His own character
00:57:55.94\00:57:59.24
in the sinless
sacrifice of Jesus.
00:57:59.27\00:58:02.04
Amen.
00:58:02.08\00:58:03.55