The devil – Part 1

March 23, 2015

What’s God saying to me? John 8:44, You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

What it means – research:

• The Dictionary of Bible Literacy:
  • Literally, “accuser.” This is the main title for the fallen angelic being who is the supreme enemy of God and man. Satan is his name, and the devil is what he is – the accuser or deceiver. The title “devil” appears 35 times in the NKJV. In every case it is preceded by the article “the,” indicating a title rather than a name. The term comes from a Greek word that means “a false witness” or “malicious accuser.”
• GotQuestions.com: “Who is Satan? Who is the devil?”
  • Put simply, the Bible defines Satan as an angelic being who fell from his position in heaven due to sin and is now completely opposed to God, doing all in his power to thwart God’s purposes.
  • Satan was created as a holy angel. Isaiah 14:12 possibly gives Satan’s pre-fall name as Lucifer.
    • Isaiah 14:12, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!
  • Ezekiel 28:12-14 describes Satan as having been created a cherub, apparently the highest created angel.
    • Ezekiel 28:12-14, “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. ¹³ You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes as prepared for you own the day you were created. ¹⁴ “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
  • He became arrogant in his beauty and status and decided he wanted to sit on a throne above that of God (Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:15; 1 Timothy 3:6).
    • Isaiah 14:13-14, For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; ¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
    • Ezekiel 28:15, You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.
    • 1 Timothy 3:6, not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
  • Satan’s pride led to his fall. Notice the many “I will” statements in Isaiah 14:12-15. Because of his sin, God permanently removed Satan from his exalted position and role.
    • Isaiah 14:12-15, “How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! ¹³ For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; ¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ ¹⁵ Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.

I am He

March 11, 2015

What’s God saying to me? John 8:24, Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

What it means to me?

• I heard a pastor say, everything in the Old Testament points to Christ. “I am” is a very good example of this.
  • Exodus 3:14, And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
    • David Guzik, BlueLetterBible.org:
      • I AM has sent me to you: God tells Moses His name is I AM because God simply is; there was never a time when He did not exist, or a time when He will cease to exist.
        • The name I AM has within it the idea of aseity – that God is completely independent; that He relies on nothing for life or existence (Isaiah 40:28-29; John 5:26). God doesn’t need anybody or anything – life is in Himself.
        • Also inherent in the idea behind the name I AM is the sense that God is “the becoming one”; God becomes whatever is lacking in our time of need. The name I AM invites us to fill in the blank to meet our need – when we are in darkness, Jesus says I am the light; when we are hungry, He says I am the bread of life, when we are defenseless, He says I am the Good Shepherd. God is the becoming one, becoming what we need.
      • I AM: This is a divine title that Jesus took upon Himself often, clearly identifying Himself with the voice from the burning bush.
        • Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I AM [He], you will die in your sins. (John 8:24)
        • Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM [He], and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.” (John 8:28)
        • Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (John 8:58)
        • Now I tell you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe that I AM (John 13:19)
        • Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, “Whom are you seeking?” They answered Him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I AM [He].” And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, “I am [He],” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:4-6)
  • Other “I am” verses:
    • John 6:35, And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
    • John 8:12, Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
    • John 10:9, I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
    • John 10:11, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
    • John 11:25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
    • John 14:6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
    • John 15:1, I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

What have I learned about God?

That God has always existed. I can fully trust Him. He “becomes” who I need Him to be. Although He isn’t a candy store, He is the great I am to be what I need Him to be in this life and my life to come.  He is my sustenance, my protector, my strength, my guide here and now, and is my way into eternity.

What’s the application?

Realize that I am loved so much that before I even existed, God made provisions for me through Christ. I need to turn to Him more and ask for help.