When little children are caught in the cross-fire of a madman, our hearts are crushed and we cry out "Enough!" We've seen too much bloodshed on our streets. We've suffered too much pain and loss. Why should disease and death stalk us at every step? It seems like we're in the middle of a war! Actually, if we could look behind the scenes, we'd discover this is exactly where we are. We're entangled in a cosmic conflict, waged between the greatest superpowers of all time. And we are caught in the middle.
Where did this cosmic conflict get started?
"How are you fallen from _____, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How are you cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!" (Isaiah 14:12)
The greatest mystery of the universe is how could sin begin in a perfect world? In heaven itself? The answer lies at the heart of the cosmic conflict.
Who is responsible for this war?
"You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you...You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, til _____ was found in you" (Ezekiel 28:14,15).
God had poured His richest blessings upon the angel Lucifer. Wisdom, beauty, leadership, everything to make His angel perfect. Of all the angels, no one was closer to God. He stood in God's presence, leader of the heavenly hosts. But somehow this just wasn't enough. He wanted more, and because he couldn't have it, he initiated a rebellion that brought sin and sickness to our world.
How did sin enter heaven?
"You were the seal of perfection, full of _____ and _____" (Ezekiel 28:12,13).
"Your heart was _____ up because of your beauty" (Ezekiel 28:17).
"You said in your heart, _____ will ascend into heaven...I will be like the _____ _____" (Isaiah 14:13,14).
We really can't explain it, but somehow Lucifer's thoughts turned from praising God to dwelling upon himself. Instead of thanking the Lord for His rich blessings, Lucifer thought God had nothing to do with his wisdom and beauty. His pride led to discontent and eventually to lusting for God's power and glory. The more he thought about it, the more he believed he should be in God's place. He should be ruler of heaven and earth.
What impact did Lucifer's sin have in heaven?
"And _____ broke out in heaven" (Revelation 12:7-9).
The seeds of rebellion that surfaced in Lucifer's mind eventually spread throughout heaven. Very deceitfully, he raised questions and doubts that turned 1/3 of the angels against God. At length, there was a show-down between Christ and Lucifer (who had now become "Satan," the enemy of God). The Bible also calls him a dragon. And "the dragon was cast out [of heaven] called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him" (Revelation 12:9).
Why didn't God get rid of the devil and all his angels?
"The Lord is good to _____ and His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:9).
"For My _____ are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8).
God could have ended Satan's life on the spot. But His infinite love and wisdom knew that wasn't the right way. If He'd destroyed Satan right then, too many questions would have remained in the minds of the angels. They didn't fully understand the nature of Satan's rebellion or the extent of his charges against God. They needed more time to see for themselves what the devil was really like. God knew if he got rid of Satan, His angels might continue to serve Him, but it would be from fear rather than from love. So the Lord gave Satan time to reveal himself to all and for everyone to understand the nature of the cosmic conflict. Only then, could we make an intelligent choice in whom we should follow.
How did Satan involve us in the cosmic conflict?
"Then the serpent said to the woman, 'You will _____ surely die!' For God knows in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like _____ , knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:1-6).
Satan brought his rebellion down to this earth. Disguising himself as a talking snake, he tempted Eve at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. Previously, God had given clear instruction that Adam and Eve could eat from any tree in the Garden of Eden, except from this one. He further said, if they ate from this tree, they would die. But one day, Eve wandered from her husband's side and came face to face with the devil (in the form of a snake). He suggested that God was withholding something good from her by not allowing them to eat from this tree. He assured her that they wouldn't 'surely die,' a bold lie, and totally opposite to what God had told them. Whose word would she trust? Unfortunately, both Adam and Eve chose the serpent. Eve was deceived and believed Satan's lies. Adam understood what had happened, but could not bear the thought that he would be separated from his wife. So he too took the fruit and ate. How the devil must have laughed! His plan had worked. He now had this world under his thumb.
How did Adam and Eve's sin change their relationship with God?
"I heard Your voice in the garden and I was _____ because I was naked, and I hid myself" (Genesis 3:8-10).
"And you, who once were alienated and _____ in your mind by wicked works" (Colossians 1:21).
As soon as the guilty pair ate from the forbidden fruit, their hearts and minds were changed. Their eyes were opened, just as the serpent said, and they knew what evil was. For fear and guilt overwhelmed them and they ran from Jesus when they heard His voice in the garden. Immediately, their relationship was damaged. And so was their relationship with one another. When Jesus asked, "Have you eaten from the tree which I commanded you that you should not eat?" (Genesis 3:11), Adam didn't take responsibility for what he'd done. Instead he pointed to his wife and blamed it on her. And ultimately, he blamed God, for He was the One who gave Eve to him as a wife! "The woman," he said, "whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate" (Genesis 3:12). So, even their relationship with God was severed. And ever since that day, we have inherited the same problems. We are alienated from God because of sin. But we aren't abandoned by God. For Jesus "has reconciled [us] in the body of His flesh through death" that He might "present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight" (Colossians 1:22).
How does Jesus warn us about the devil?
"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 _____ and the father of it" (John 8:43,44).
"The _____ of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down" (Revelation 12:10).
The worst thing that can ever happen in a war is to convince the army that the enemy doesn't exist. But Jesus has warned us ahead of time. He has ripped the mask off the devil, the great deceiver, so that you and I will be on guard and not be fooled by any of his traps.
What does Satan use to try and deceive us?
"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders and with all unrighteous _____ among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thessalonians 2:9,10).
Satan fights dirty. He will pull out every stop in order to deceive us and lure us into sin. He will use half-truths, misquoting the Bible, persecution, accusations, even miracles. Whatever it takes to break our hold on God or to mistrust what He says, Satan will do it. And he'll do it so imperceptibly sometimes, that we won't be even aware that we're falling into a trap. So Jesus says, Keep your eyes open. Watch out for his tactics and you will be safe.
BEWARE OF SATAN'S TRAPS
He deceives and persecutes God's people (Revelation 12:9,13)
He falsely accuses us before God (Revelation 12:10)
He is a murderer and a liar (John 8:44)
He misquotes the Bible (Matthew 4:5,6)
He brings disease and trials upon us (Job 2:7)
He makes war with God's people (Revelation 12:17)
He works miracles before our eyes (Revelation 16:13,14)
He will impersonate religious leaders (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
How can we stop from being tricked by the devil?
"To the Law and to the Testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is _____ light in them" (Isaiah 8:20).
Satan wants us to believe what we see, but Jesus wants a relationship built on trust. If we choose to believe His Word and live by that Word, then we'll be able to detect every counterfeit or deception that Satan throws our way. His Word is our assurance that the devil can't break our hold on God!
The sin and death that plagues our world shows what a formidable foe we're up against. How can we possibly overcome him?
"Be sober, be _____, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8).
"Therefore, _____ to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:7,8).
We're no match for the devil. But whenever we turn to Jesus--in tragedy or in trial, He will fight for us. The Bible says, "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Proverbs 18:10). We will find a strong refuge in Jesus when we turn to Him in prayer and in trusting His unfailing promises. There is a battle raging all around us, and every man and woman, every boy and girl, are a part of that great battle. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness" (Ephesians 6:12). The tragedies in this world are the battlefield for this conflict. Christ is fighting for the souls of men and the devil is fighting against Him. Each of them want us on their side--the devil wants us only for destruction. But Jesus wants us because He died to save us. We are His children and He wants to deliver us from the clutches of the devil and to bring us home to heaven. It's our decision today--what leader will we choose? Whose side do we want to be on?
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