2018-04-27
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Last week, the Holy Spirit had me writing about forgiveness. His provision for our spiritual maturation continues to be generous. Today, He commands me to write about Christ’s relationship with the angels, even Satan. However, before I can begin, it’s helpful for us to be reminded that we can thank Him for His kindness by keeping our thoughts and actions Christ-like.
Let me begin by citing COL 1: 16 and18, referring to Christ. “For through Him God created all things in heaven and on earth, the seen and unseen things, including spiritual powers, lords, rulers, and authorities…He is the head of the body, the church; He is the Source of the body’s life. He is the first-born Son, Who was raised from death, in order that He alone might have the first place in all things.” For a better understanding of what follows, it helps to look into what the Lord tells us about the background of who Satan was and how he came to embody evil. Anyone who has studied the Bible in depth knows that GN 11 is about how the tower of Babel came to be built. It resembled a ziggurat, something like the Mayan ruins still left in Mexico and Guatemala, a building with steps supposedly leading to heaven. Because this displeased God so much, He spread people all over the earth and confused their language, so they could no longer understand each other [GN 11: 4-9]. The place was called Babylon.
In EZK 28: 1-19, we are given background on Satan that is surprising the first time one is exposed to it. Ezekiel was a prophet who lived in exile with other Jews taken captive by the soldiers of Babylon. These Jews lived on the banks of the Chabar river, a canal off the Euphrates river. Originally, Lucifer was God’s favored and hansom angel in charge of worship, who lived in heaven among sparking gold, silver, and precious gems. His voice sounded like music. However, he became puffed up with pride from the profits he made doing business. He claimed to be God when those he cheated came after him. This angered God so much that He had Lucifer thrown down to earth and made him mortal. It was then, that he became Satan, the serpent found in the Garden of Eden. In the larger context of the book, Satan was called the King of Tyre [see also Angels, by Billy Graham]. We should also look at IS 14: 9-15. Further comments are made in this passage about how Lucifer bragged about being “higher than the stars and like the Almighty.” And, with one third of the heavenly host (evil angels), he was thrown down to earth, to the wormwood to wallow with maggots. [In this passage, Satan is called the “king of Babylon”].
“Angels are ministering spirits, sent forth to minister to those who shall be heirs to salvation” [HE 2: 5-7]. God has made man “a little lower than the angels”; however, he will eventually be higher through redemption. Angels are also at the beck and call of the Divine. The good angels, who weren’t cast out of heaven with Satan, are guardians and protectors of mankind. They fight battles, which we humans can’t see, with the forces of evil. Our clearest glimpse of this comes in DN 10: 11-11: 1. This is when Daniel was praying for 24 days while on the shore of the Tigris River for the people. Michael, the Archangel (chief angel and Israel’s guardian), had been fighting with the evil angel prince of the kingdom of Persia for 21 days and was thus, delayed from answering Daniel’s prayerful pleas. He explains himself in a vision Daniel has and tells Daniel he is esteemed by God. His prophecy follows concerning Egypt and Syria in DN 11. The Scriptures tell us that God’s plan ranks angels by His own criteria, not man’s. Suffice it to say that angels are not God’s heirs; they can’t testify experientially to salvation through grace from faith. They don’t experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, nor to they marry or procreate. 2 SAM 14: 20 tells us Angels have wisdom given to them to carry out what they are to do. “My Lord is wise, according to the wisdom of an angel of God, to know all things that are in earth.” Angels are not omniscient, but they know more than mankind. They have more power than men but are not omnipotent. We do know that they worship God and the book of Revelation demonstrates that music-the universal language- is part of that. We know that the angel Gabriel is a messenger of important and divine things. [Angels, Billy Graham, Word Publishing, 1994, ISBN SWC 526212, chs 4 and 5].
PRAYER: O Lord, there is much for us to learn from You. We are grateful for Your generosity and willingness to not only give us Your word, but to intervene in answer to our prayers when we seek You. Our worship of You is not mindless or by rote. It is genuine and from our hearts, knowing full well that the Holy Spirit, Your Spirit, guides us and “transforms us inwardly by the complete change of our mind” [RO 12: 2]. This gives us a different perspective on the challenges we face, one that is closer to Yours. Such a transformation is huge and a positive motivation for our altered thinking, decisions, and behavior. Are we perfect? Of course not, but we can take comfort that as we participate in sanctification, we are made increasingly ready to be glorified (taken up to heaven in God’s time and way for eternal life and fellowship with Him). 1 COR 10: 13 gives us comfort in the face of our challenges. “Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But, God keeps His promise and will not let you be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, He will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.” Repeatedly Lord, You have shown us the power of prayer. We thank and praise You for all You do for us, in the holy/mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: It’s common for me to run out of space for all the Holy Spirit is giving me to write. So, to rectify this problem this morning, I will continue on the subject of Christ’s relationship with angels and how that impacts us next week. With further citations from Rev. Billy Graham’s scholarly book, Angels and the Bible, I will discuss God’s ranking of angels etc. God’s system and His plan are orderly, and I’m left with the message that He wishes our lives would be as orderly as we can make them. Of course, we can’t control surprises and unexpected challenges, losses, and disappointments. God knows this, but I truly believe He gives us our talents and wants us to use them for His purposes. God loves each and every one of us, which means He is vulnerable to disappointment from us when we are rebellious. However, RO 8: 38-39 tells us that “nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God.” This amazing and quite undeserved blessing has meant that God has a reasonable amount of patience while we are being taught His way of living. We must understand that this patience does have limits, or else we wouldn’t see God’s power in action in our lives. He has been the best Friend I’ve personally ever had. It took me a long time to recognize His existence, to fully accept the love He shows me, and to overcome my difficult past. Today, my life is very different and better than it was in my youth. God wants to do this for all of us, and all we should begin by reading and learning from His word, understanding we can go to Him at any time of day or night in prayer, and believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. Once we have done those things, then we must cooperate with Him as He sanctifies us. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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