God and Angels vs Satan and Demons (ch 1-2)
No matter how many tears we shed, bodies we bury, elections we hold, wars we wage, taxes we raise, & degrees we earn, all of human potential only increases evil!
Why?
Something has gone terribly wrong in this world, solution not in this world (superheroes)
Anyone can see the problems, only the Bible reveals the Problem behind the problems
To understand God’s world, we need to open God’s Word
God’s families
Job 38:4-7 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
1. God’s Divine Family
Angels are Mainly Worshippers and Messengers
- “stars” – ancient language for angels, between us & heavens
- angels 300X Bible, roughly 90% of the books
- “innumerable angels”, “a thousand thousands and 10k X 10k “
- 3 named angels Michael, Gabriel, Lucifer? (Isaiah 14:12 KJV, NKJV)
- Categories (archangel, commander, cherubim/seraphim, guardian, church Rev 2-3)
Other Divine Beings are Mainly Worshippers and Senior Leaders
- Called “sons of God”, “the gods”
- No human body, gender, physical limitation
- No divine attributes or qualities
2. God’s Human Family
= God’s 2 families not created out of need but out of love
Ministry is going to work with your Dad
The Divine Council
Psalm 82:1 “God [Elohim] has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods [Elohim] he holds judgment.”
- Other titles “the assembly of the holy ones”, “the council of the holy ones”, “hosts”, “the seat of the gods,” “the mount of assembly,” “the court…in judgment,” “the heavenly host.”
- The Divine Council met with Jacob with a ladder at Bethel (house of God).
- Daniel, Isaiah, John and others experienced the Divine Council saw “throne”
The governance war in heaven
Revelation 12:7-9 Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
- Everyone of us was born into a war on the Enemy’s side
- Your battles part of the Great War
- The presence of God does not ensure holiness, it requires obedient heart
The four legs of a Biblical worldview
1. The unseen realm
Ephesians 6:12 we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
- 2 realms 1 reality
- Scripture = supernatural
- Academia = Natural -Rationalism – Scientific Method – Naturalism(Cessationism)
o Luther story
o Walking on water story
- Pent/Charismatic – wild speculation = no teaching or bad Bible teaching
- Your personal relationship w/God includes unseen persons
- XN’s cannot assume God is only at work when we see it
- Non XN’s – fascination w/paranomal & aliens (Int. Space Station)
2. Binary thinking
Evil = privation
God Creates Satan Counterfeits
angels /demons obedience/ rebellion truth/lies Spirit-filled/demon-possessed
cleansing/ defilement humility/pride forgiveness/bitterness
worship/idolatry contentment/coveting peace/fear unity/ division
shepherds/wolves God-esteem/self-esteem covenant with God/inner vow with self
Spirit/flesh freedom/slavery revival/riot life/death church/ world kingdom/hell
= Warfare like gravity, exists whether you believe it or not and affects you
EXODUS
3. Group guilt
- Genesis 3 – 4X God, man, woman, Serpent (passive/omission)
1. The governance war attacks the head (Father, Adam, Jesus, Peter, you)
2. Satan showed up at the place of Divine Council meeting on earth,
o Eve not startled, guardian cheribum angel w/flaming sword on duty of realm
3. Wedding- War; Satan did not even show up until after Adam got a wife
4. Men if you do not lead your family, Satan will
5. You can make excuses on why you lost or make plans on how you win
6. Blameshift Adam (God & woman); Eve (devil)
7. She sinned 1st, he is 1st responsible = Covenant Head (fault vs responsibility)
8. Protoevangelion preached for fallen people, not fallen demons
4. Heaven down or hell up
Matthew 6:10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
James 3:15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.
- Satan attacks relationships 1). God 2). Self 3). Others 4). Church
- All cultures end, and only 2 cultures remain
- Daily decisions invite heaven down or pull hell up.