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Go To Meeting
Marlin Fannin
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{introduction left out of transcript}
Greetings everyone! This message is kind of a precursor to the Day of Atonement.
Before we were called—God called us—we were in captivity, but we didn't know it. We were actually under slavery, but we didn't know it. We were born into a world where we were actually born in to slavery. Our captor was, and is, the god of this world (2-Cor. 4:4).
John 14—this is where Christ is talking to His disciples not too long before He was to depart, to be taken to become our Passover sacrifice. He says that Satan is the god of this world. Christ said:
John 14:30: "I will not speak with you much longer because the ruler of this world is coming; but he does not have a single thing in Me."
That should be us, as well, as we grow in the knowledge of God our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, striving to overcome this flesh and become like Him in mind and actions. Satan should have less and less of us, we have more and more of God the Father and Jesus Christ in us.
I would like to go into a little bit of the history as we know it of Satan in Isa. 14 and Ezek. 28. and tell about who this being is and how he fell from the position and the grace of God to become who he is.
Isaiah 14:12: "How you are fallen from the heavens, O shining star, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart, 'I will ascend into the heavens, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High'" (vs 12-14).
So, we see the big I here. Many of us in our lives like to talk about what we've done—I've done this and that—and we see this about Satan five times right here in these Scriptures. Satan is saying: I will do this, I will do that, "…I will be like the Most High." We see that he rebelled against his Maker!
Samuel told Saul—when Saul decided to go ahead and offer offerings and not wait for Samuel—that rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft!
We see that there was treason involved here, that Satan was actually going to fight against God and trying to overthrow Him and become like the Most High, as he said. So, we see rebellion and treason! Also one-third of the angels Satan persuaded to follow him!
Ezek. 28 tells us more about this being, the one who became Satan, our adversary against God.
Ezekiel 28:12: "Son of man, lift up a lamentation over the king of Tyre… [there's a king of Tyre and a prince of Tyre] …and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "You seal up the measure of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You have been in Eden the garden of God… [which the prince of Tyre was not, so it's speaking about the one who became Satan] …every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the turquoise, and the emerald, and gold. The workmanship of your settings and of your sockets was prepared in you in the day that you were created"'" (vs 12-13). Satan was also created with a lot of great amusable ability, as well.
Verse 14: "You were the anointed cherub that covers, and I set you so; you were upon the Holy mountain of God; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity… [lawlessness] …was found in you. the multitude of your merchandise they have filled your midst with violence, and you have sinned. Therefore, I will cast you as profane from the mountain of God, and I will destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire. Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have corrupted your wisdom by reason of your brightness. I will cast you to the ground; I will lay you before kings, that they may behold you. By the multitude of your iniquities, by the unrighteousness of your trade, you have profaned your sanctuaries; therefore, I brought forth a fire from your midst; it shall devour you, and I will bring you to ashes upon the earth, before the eyes of all who see you. All who know you among the people shall be astonished at you; you became a terror, and you will not be any more" (vs 14-19).
This is some of the history of the fall of Satan. We see plainly that he sinned, that he became vain because of his beauty. He had a position right there with God as a covering cherub, and was created perfect but then he sinned. He was lifted up because of his brightness. It talks about his being a 'bright star.'
God the Father and Christ glow and there's no light needed because They are the Light of heavenly Jerusalem. Evidently, Satan may have a glow about him, too, and he spread forth a glow of light that come from him. But it plainly says that he sinned!
Then man came upon the scene, and because of this some have said that Satan got mad at God because he knew that God was going to create this being in the flesh that would have the opportunity to become like God and Jesus Christ, Who created all things. The Bible says that 'by Him and through Him all things were created.'
Now we will talk about the fall of man and how that came about, and Satan certainly was the instigator of that.
Genesis 3:1: "Now, the serpent was more cunning than any creature of the field, which the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, 'Is it true that God has said, "You shall not eat of any tree of the garden"?' And the woman said to the serpent, 'We may freely eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has indeed said, "You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die"'" (vs 1-3).
So, she knew, she was aware that God had instructed them that this tree you do not touch, and you do not eat of it!
Then we see the coming of Satan, v 4: "And the serpent said to the woman, 'In dying, you shall not surely die! For God knows that in the day you eat of it, then your eyes shall be opened, and you shall be like God, deciding good and evil'" (vs 4-5)—to know or ascertain by observing and experimenting!
Verse 6: "And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasing to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…. [and they recognized that it was God] …Then Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden" (vs 6-8)—which they hadn't done before!
Verse 9: "And the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?' And he said, 'I heard You walking in the garden, and I was afraid because I am naked, and so I hid myself.' And He said, 'Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree which I commanded you that you should not eat?' And the man said, 'The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.' And the LORD God said to the woman, 'What is this you have done?' And the woman said, 'The serpent deceived me, and I ate'" (vs 9-13). So, he tricked her!
Verse 14: "And the LORD God said to the serpent, 'Because you have done this you are cursed above all livestock, and above every animal of the field. You shall go upon your belly, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He will bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel'" (vs 14-15)—the prophecy of Christ when He would come in the flesh and die for mankind!!
Verse 16: "To the woman He said, 'I will greatly increase your sorrow and your conception—in sorrow shall you bring forth children. Your desire shall be toward your husband, and he shall rule over you.' And to Adam He said, 'Because you have hearkened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree—of which I commanded you, saying, "You shall not eat of it!"—the ground is cursed for your sake. In sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life. It shall also bring forth thorns and thistles to you, and thus you shall eat the herbs of the field; in the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return'" (vs 16-19).
And Adam did die after living 930 years. And all of mankind since then have died.
We see that Eve were ticked by Satan the devil. And I guess Adam couldn't resist his wife and what she thought, so he took a bite as well. Their decision caused the fall of all mankind. That's why when we were born, we were born into a world of captivity, because Satan is the god of the world, the ruler, dictator and tyrant! That's the world that we were born into!
Romans 5:12: "Therefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and by means of sin came death; and in this way death passed into all mankind; and it is for this reason that all have sinned. (For before the Law, sin was in the world. However, sin is not imputed when law does not exist" (vs 12-13).
We read earlier how Satan has said that He sinned. So, sin was in the world already. When Adam and Eve were created, sin was in the world because of Satan the devil. It says that 'where there is no Law there is no sin.' But there is Law and there is sin, and sin defines the kind of Law, which is God's Law and His commandments. Sin was in the world because of Satan the devil, the Adversary!
I would like to bring out something that I never really thought about before when it talks about God's commandments and talks about sin, and sin being in the world.
Let's look at a few of these commandments that not only Adam and Eve broke, but Satan the devil broke, as well. We've seen that it say that 'he sinned.'
Exodus 20:2: "I am the LORD your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me" (vs 2-3).
We see that God tells them that He is their Lord God! And also that Satan was created, but reveled and wanted to replace God; he want to become God, therefore not worshipping God, but worshipping himself. Satan also calls Adam and Eve to follow him rather than God, looking to him (Satan) instead of God the Creator, so disrespecting God as well.
God says, 'I am your God, your Creator, worship no other god but Me!'
Verse 7:"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain."
The took God's name in vain, as well. Satan said, 'Did God really say that?' putting doubt in Eve's mind! God the Creator whom she should worship and listen to.
Verse 12: "Honor your father and your mother so that your days may be long upon the land, which the LORD your God gives you."
We're told here that we have to honor God as our Father and Creator. But they did not listen! They listened to Satan and obeyed Him rather than God.
Verse 15: "You shall not steal." But Adam and Eve took of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, which they were instructed not to do, so they actually were stealing. Satan also, because he stole their innocence and caused them to turn away from and disobey God.
Verse 13: "You shall not murder." Satan was a murderer from the beginning, and it also says that he was a liar from the beginning.
Verse 16: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." Satan was lying to Eve; he misled her and put doubts in her mind!
We see that where there is no Law there's no sin, but where there's sin there has to be a Law, and there is. God's Laws existed before Adam and Ever were created, because it plainly tells us, as we read in Ezek. and Isa. that he sinned from the beginning. He caused Adam and Eve to fall from God, as well.
Romans 1:21: "Because when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but they became vain in their own reasonings, and their foolish hearts were darkened. While professing themselves to be the wise ones, they became fools and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed creatures, and creeping things" (vs 21-23).
People just began to worship anything and everything and later on, as mankind developed and spread throughout the earth.
Verse 25: "Who exchanged the Truth of God for the lie…" Satan persuaded Eve; he changed God's Truth. God told them specifically that you don't eat of this tree and you don't touch it, but they did.
"…and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the One Who is Creator, Who is blessed into the ages. Amen" (v 25).
From that time, from the fall of Adam and Eve, they began to worship the created in all different kinds and forms. You can read through the Old Testament how Israel did. They began to worship the created things, the things that God had created, rather than God the Creator! Satan certainly was the founder of this that caused them to fall.
From that time forward, they caused bondage and slavery to be upon all of mankind. That's why I say that when we were born into this world, we were born into slavery and captivity under 'the god of this world' Satan the devil!
Ephesians 5:6: "Do not let anyone deceive you with vain words… [from Satan the devil] …for because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience."
Because of their disobedience, women were to bring forth children with a lot of pain. And Adam, now the earth was cursed and he had to really sweat and work hard to grub out a living and provide food that things that they needed. So, the curse was brought upon himself because of disobedience.
Gal. 5—here are the fruits of God's Spirit, and also the fruits of human nature, and the evil that came down through Satan the devil.
Galatians 5:19: "Now, the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, licentiousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, strifes, jealousies, indignations, contentions, divisions, sects, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such things as these; concerning which I am telling you beforehand, even as I have also said in the past, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God" (vs 19-21).
We can recognize all of these things as the fruits of human nature. That's how we are, and are the things that we were born into when we came to life and breathed our first breath. These things are of Satan and not of God. Those are his chrematistics!
But here Paul tells us the things of God's Spirit and are the fruits that we should bear:
Verse 22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control; against such things there is no law. But those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts" (vs 22-24).
That's a lifetime job of crucifying this flesh with the help of God's Holy Spirit, which we received upon our calling, repentance, baptism, forgiveness of sins and the laying on of hands to receive that Spirit, and to start building these fruits of God's Holy Spirit.
Verse 25: "If we live by the Spirit, we should also be walking by the Spirit. We should not become vainglorious, provoking one another and envying one another" (vs 25-26).
We shouldn't be trying to glorifying ourselves, or using the big I: 'I did this and that.' I'm guilty of that and thankfully God has let me live long enough, and with His help to overcome I have overcome some of these things. I still might say the big I, but hopefully with God's help crushing that part of this human nature that we have, that we have to fight to overturn.
The fruits of human nature are really of Satan the devil. Then we see the fruits of God's Holy Spirit and how to become like God.
- Did Satan win when he caused Adam and Eve to fall?
- Did he thwart God's plan?
Well, a big NO to that, because we see now that there was a plan that was from the foundation of the earth that God the Father and Jesus Christ had already said, 'here is the plan if Adam and Eve hadn't fallen, We've got it covered.' And They certainly did. That we know is through the blood of the Son Jesus Christ.
The plan was to redeem mankind back from the bondage and slavery under the rule of Satan the devil, the 'god of this world' in which we live.
John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and not even one thing that was created came into being without Him. In Him was life, and the Life was the Light of men" (vs 1-4).
Verse 14: "And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us (and we ourselves beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten with the Father), full of grace and truth."
Verse 29: "On the next day, John… [the Baptist, who had been baptizing there in the Jordan River] …sees Jesus coming to him, and he says, 'Behold the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.'" John knew the purpose of Christ, and he knew his own purpose! He knew the purpose of One to come Who was the Messiah Jesus Christ.
Verse 35: "On the next day, John was again standing there, and two of his disciples with him. And as he gazed upon Jesus walking, he said, 'Behold the Lamb of God!'" (vs 35-36). He knew Who Christ was and the purpose of His coming!
Revelation 1:5: "And from Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him Who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood."
That was the purpose of Him coming as a sacrificial lamb, to give His life and blood so that we can be forgiven and brought back to God and redeemed! What a great plan and we're thankful for that plan!
Revelation 13:8: "And all who dwell on the earth will worship him…" Talking about the beast and the people were deceived; they worshipped the created thing rather than the Creator.
"…whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (v 8).
This was the plan that God had! That One would come to the earth and become flesh and die for the sins of man, to reconcile us back and to bring us out of the captivity under Satan the devil.
1-Peter 1:15: "But according as He Who has called you is Holy, you yourselves also be Holy in all your conduct; for it is written, 'You be Holy because I am Holy'" (vs 15-16).
That's why Christ is Holy and God the Father, and They want us to become like Them by building the fruits of God's Holy Spirit.
Verse 17: "And if you call upon the Father, Who judges according to each man's work without respect of persons, pass the time of your life's journey in the fear of God; knowing that you were not redeemed by corruptible things, by silver or gold, from your futile way of living, inherited by tradition from your forefathers; but by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; Who truly was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but was manifested in these last times for your sakes" (vs 17-20).
We see that again, from the foundation of the world, it was planned that God the Father, and the One Who was the Word and became flesh and dwelt among us for that purpose.
Galatians 5:13: "For you have been called unto freedom, brethren…"—by God, out of this world where we don't have to be as slaves or under Satan or to this human nature. We can become obedient to God the Father and Jesus Christ, and Their laws, love and commandments.
"…only do not use this freedom for an occasion to the flesh; rather, serve one another with love" (v 13).
It's not a matter of as the world teaches—once saved always saved—and then you can go out and do anything you want to do. James tells us that you have to have works and faith, and he said, 'I'll show you my faith by my works.'
Works is overcoming the flesh by and through the help of God's Holy Spirit and Them living in us so that we can become more like God the Father and our resurrection, and truly be God and be with Them forever. All the other brethren who going to be resurrected, either changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, or at the resurrection.
I think about those I've known in the Church that God has allowed to go to sleep, and that's what it is. I have fond memories of them and look forward to being able to see them again; not in the flesh, but as God-beings, all being children of God. What a wonderful thing that is going to be!
Romans 6:16: "Don't you realize that to whom you yield yourselves as servants to obey, you are servants of the one you obey, whether it is of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
We want to be obedient to righteousness, not to sin anymore as we were before God called us and had mercy on us and brought us to repentance and to walk toward eternal life! So, we are to be obedient to righteousness, not to sin any longer.
Verse 17: "But thanks be to God, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered to you." So, we were once slaves, but not we are to follow the doctrines and have a new heart, to follow God!
Verse 18: "And having been delivered from sin… [through Jesus Christ and His offering] …you became the servants of righteousness." To serve right things! God's laws, commandments and love, peace, joy, longsuffering, faith, gentleness and meekness!
Verse 19: "I speak from a human point of view because of the weakness of your flesh; for just as you once yielded your members in bondage to uncleanness, and to lawlessness unto lawlessness, so now yield your members in bondage to righteousness unto sanctification."
That's the kind of bondage we should be under, not under human nature, which is the nature of Satan the worship of him instead of God, the Creator and our Father!
Verse 20: "For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. Therefore, what fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed?…." (vs 20-21).
And we should be ashamed of those things! That's what repentance is all about. Repentance is a daily thing, as we know. Daily we have to fight our flesh and the things of sin.
Verse 22: "But now that you have been delivered from sin… [though Christ] …and have become servants of God, you have your fruit unto sanctification, and the end result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord" (vs 22-23).
Verse 6: "Knowing this, that our old man was co-crucified with Him…[Christ] …in order that the body of sin might be destroyed, so that we might no longer be enslaved to sin."
Verse 12: "Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal body by obeying it in the lusts thereof." That's what God told Cain when he killed his brother, that he should rule over his nature and not let his nature control him!
The same thing is said to us, we are to control our human nature, and not let our human nature control us.
Galatians 1:3: "Grace and peace be to you from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins, in order that He might deliver us from the present evil world, according to the will of our God and Father" (vs 3-4)—which They had instituted and had ready from the foundation of the earth!
What a wonderful plan and what a great thing it is to know that, and have that plan enacted when Christ came and gave Himself as the Passover lamb to reconcile us back to God. Then to receive back the glory and power that He had before the world was, and He sits at God's right hand as They plan out our birth into Their Family through the Millennium and down through the ages of eternity.
Ephesians 5:8: "For you were once darkness; but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of Light."
God has revealed that from our mind, the covering that was up over our mind (Isa. 25), to call us out of the darkness—which is Satan—into the Light, which is Christ and God the Father. What a wonderful thing that is, and we are then to walk—not in darkness—as children of Light.
Verse 11: "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them"—because the works of darkness is sin, but the works of Light is leading toward righteous living:
- God's laws and commandments
- loving Him
- striving to love one another
Ephesians 2:8: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this especially is not of your own selves; it is the gift of God."
It's not something we've done by works, because the works of man is evil! So, it's through the very gift and the works God helps us perform through Jesus Christ.
Verse 9: "Not of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, being created in Christ Jesus unto the good works that God ordained beforehand in order that we might walk in them" (vs 9-10).
God set up His laws and commandments, which Satan didn't keep. At one point he may have, but then he rebelled against God. He let his knowledge, brightness, good looks and talents make him think that he was greater than God. He wanted to become like God, and cast God down and he become the ruler.
But Satan didn't realize how powerful and great that God was. He had seen only the good side, the love and mercy of God, and didn't understand how power God was when He cast Satan down to this earth to who him Who was in charge.
We are to be having only good works, and that's only through God's help and His Holy Spirit, and Them living in us.
Ephesians 1:2: "Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ; according as He has personally chosen us for Himself before the foundation of the world in order that we might be Holy and blameless before Him in love; having predestinated us for sonship to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son; in Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the remission of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (vs 2-7).
Verse 11: "Yes, in Him, in Whom we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestinated according to His purpose, Who is working out all things according to the counsel of His own will."
Predestination has been covered many times. God was going to choose so many. We should be very happy to be a part of the ones whom God has called and chosen. Not everyone has followed that call: many are called but few are chosen!
Congratulations to all of those who have stuck in there all these years, whether it be many years or just a few years. Thankfully, God has helped us to stick in there and brought us through all the many trials and troubles. That's good and we give the credit to God the Father and Christ Who have helped to keep us there and not to go back into the world, as we have seen some have done.
2-Corinthians 9:10: "Now, may He Who supplies seed to the sower, and bread to eat, supply your seed and multiply your sowing; and may He increase the fruits of your righteousness."
That's God's desire for us to grow in grace and knowledge, and righteousness, becoming more like Him every day that He gives us to live.
Here are some things that we need to do to help us to walk in righteousness:
Proverbs 4:23: "Above all guard the door of your mind with diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."
So, as thoughts come in we need to selectively cast out the bad ones immediately and not dwell on them, not let them take hold and set roots to grow.
Verse 24: "Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and devious lips put far from you. Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet… [Where are we going? Where is this taking us?] …and all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right hand nor to the left; remove your foot from evil" (v 24-27). Good instructions!
- guard our mind
- guard our mouth
- guard our feet
- guard our attitudes
We fight every day and our enemy is our adversary, our accuser, and we have to fight that battle every day that we wake up!
2-Corinthians 4:4: "In whom the god of this age… [that people worship unknowingly; maybe some knowingly] …has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, lest the Light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
Unless that darkness has lifted and Light comes in, the world is going to continue to get worse and worse each and every day.
It is unbelievable how things are getting and continue to get worse and worse. The end is not yet, as we know.
Ephesians 6:12: "Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual power of wickednessin high places."
It shows what we're fighting against; that we're wrestling against great powers, spiritual power, demonic powers; greater than any human power that we have.
2-Corinthians 11:14: "And it is no marvel, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his servants also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness…[wickedness] …whose end shall be according to their works" (vs 14-15).
Ephesians 2:4[transcriber's correction]: "But God, Who is rich in mercy because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, has made us alive together with Christ. (For you have been saved by grace.)" (vs 4-5).
It also says in Galatians about false brethren who come in and want to—like Satan did with Eve—cause them to have doubt. To doubt God and fall back into the wrong way of living, which we were called out of.
Galatians 4:8: "Now on the one hand, when you did not know God, you were in bondage to those who are not gods by nature." We were serving other gods, not the true God, when we didn't know God!
Verse 9: "But on the other hand, after having known God—rather, after having been known by God—… [God knew us first; He called us] …how is it that you are turning again to the weak and impotent elements, to which you again desire to be in bondage?"
Going back to the old way of life, just like the sow going back to the mud and the dog to the vomit. Why have some people have gone back? They think they're free! 'We're going back to freedom. We're free now. We have so much love among us' as some I have talked to have said. But they don't understand that they have gone right back into the same captivity and bondage that God called them out of.
The end result is death! Hopefully, through God's mercy that it won't be eternal death, but that there would be some hope for them. God can work that out, it's all in His hands. It is through God that we must overcome this flesh!
2-Corinthians 10:3: "For although we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the overthrowing of strongholds, casting down vain imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ" (vs 3-5).
We need to guard the door of our mind! We need to guard how we speak and what we speak! And for our feet that they walk in the path of Light.
As we approach the Day of Atonement, it pictures our coming out of bondage under Satan the devil and his world government. There will be release from sin, from that bondage. We are to become servants of righteousness, not servants of sin.
Isaiah 14:1: "For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob… [talking about the time when Israel will be coming out of captivity] …and will yet choose Israel and set them in their own land; and the stranger shall be joined with them, and they shall cling to the house of Jacob. And the people shall take them and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids. And they will take them captive whose captives they were, and rule over their oppressors" (vs 1-2).
During the time of Great Tribulation and captivity, now some of their captors will actually be servants to them.
Verse 3: "And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your fear, and from the hard bondage, which was imposed on you. You shall take up this song against the king of Babylon and say, 'How the oppressor has ceased! How his fury has ceased!'" (vs 3-4). In Revelation it talks about Babylon being destroyed!
Verse 5: "The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers who struck people in wrath, with unceasing blows, ruling the nations in anger, with an unrelenting persecution" (vs 5-6). That is from Satan the devil, and the governments of this world under him!
Verse 7: "All the earth is at rest and is quiet; they break out into singing."
Isa. 58 calls for a fast, a call for freedom and not to be under bondage.
Isaiah 58:6: "Is not this, rather, the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed ones go free, and that you break every yoke?"
The time is coming when there certainly will be freedom from Satan the devil and his government and minions and be under their bondage no longer. But be able to serve God the Father and Jesus Christ and freedom!
Satan the captor will become the captive! Rev. 20 tells us that he will be locked away for a thousand years!
Scriptural References:
- John 14:30
- Isaiah 14:12-14
- Ezekiel 28:12-19
- Genesis 3:1-19
- Romans 5:12
- Exodus 20:2-3, 7, 12, 15, 13, 16
- Romans 1:21-23, 25
- Ephesians 5:6
- Galatians 5:19-26
- John 1:1-4, 14, 29, 35
- Revelation 1:5
- Revelation 13:8
- 1 Peter 1:15-20
- Galatians 5:13
- Romans 6:16-23, 6, 12
- Galatians 1:3-4
- Ephesians 5:8, 11
- Ephesians 2:8-10
- Ephesians 1:2-7, 11
- 2 Corinthians 9:10
- Proverbs 4:23-27
- 2 Corinthians 4:4
- Ephesians 6:12
- 2 Corinthians 11:14-15
- Ephesians 2:4
- Galatians 4:8-9
- 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
- Isaiah 14:1-7
- Isaiah 58:6
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Isaiah 25
- Revelation 20
MF:bo
Transcribed: 4/10/20
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