The Spiritual Conflict PT10

INTRODUCTION

As we conclude our consideration of the spiritual conflict that we are engaged in every day…we should never underestimate the battle. Why does it seem that so many church-goers are powerless? It does not matter how much you pray, fast, and go to church…if you are not living right, it is futile. Purity is the missing ingredient today. The plan of Satan is to get us to repeat his patterns in our living. We must understand the war…we must grasp the origins of our spiritual conflict. 

I.         THE CAUSE OF SATAN’S REBELLION

            A.  Lucifer’s Perfections.

                        1.  Originally. Ezekiel 28:12-13 

            B.  Lucifer’s Position.

                        1.  Assigned. Ezekiel 28:14 

            C.  Lucifer’s Pride.

                        1.  Pride. Ezekiel 28:15 & 17  

             D.  Lucifer’s Plan.

                        1.  Strategy. Ezekiel 28:16 

II.        THE CONTENT OF SATAN’S REBELLION

            A.  I Will Ascend Into Heaven.

                        1.  Pride in His Heart. Isaiah 14:13a 

            B.  I Will Raise My Throne.

                        1.  Selfish Ambition. Isaiah 14:13b

            C.  I Will Sit On The Mount.

                        1.  Seeking Authority. Isaiah 14:13c

             D.  I Will Ascend Above The Clouds.

                        1.  Ascending. Isaiah 14:14a 

             E.   I Will Be Like The Most High.

                        1.  Wanted to be God. Isaiah 14:14b

                        2.  Nobody Like Him! Isaiah 44:6, Isaiah 45:5, Genesis 3:5 

III.       THE CURSE OF SATAN’S REBELLION

             A.  The Immediate Sentence.

                        1.  Subdued. Ezekiel 28:15-18 

            B.   The Eternal Sentence.

                        1.  Brought Down. Isaiah 14:15-16 

                        2.  Everlasting Fire. Matthew 25:41-46, Revelation 20:10  

IV.       THE CONNECTION OF SATAN’S REBELLION

            A.   A Demonstration of God’s Glory.

                        1.  His Glory. Satan attacked God’s throne…he messed with His glory. God

                             was going to display that He was not to be messed with. Satan was

                             demoted. The war began.

            B.   A Demonstration of God’s Justice.

1.  Justice. God wanted to show His hatred of sin and His justice. He

     wants us to see that He is a holy and perfect God who judges sin.

            C.   A Demonstration of God’s Grace.

                        1.  Grace. God permitted sin in order that His grace might be shown to be

                              greater (Romans 5:20). He expressed His love while satisfying His

                              justice! 

            D.   A Demonstration of God’s Hope.

                        1.  Hope. Because of His demonstration of extreme love…every mother’s

                              child can have hope of eternal life!            

V.        THE CORRECTION OF SATAN’S REBELLION

            A.   Protect God’s Glory.

                        1.   Don’t mess with it!

                                    a.   Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 4:28-37 

b.  The Serpent. Genesis 3:14             

c.  King Herod Agrippa I. Acts 12:20-23

B.   Prioritize Pure Living.

                        1.   Purity. The missing ingredient today. Psalm 24:3-6, I Timothy 5:22,    

      I John 3:3, Matthew 5:8 

                        2.   Purity. It can be recognized by…

                                    a.  Right Words. Proverbs 15:26b

                                    b.  Right Behavior. Proverbs 21:8b

                                    c.  Right Relationships. I Peter 1:22 

                        3.   Purity. Remember, it is through Him! Proverbs 30:12  

            C.   Practice Humility.

                        1.  Humble Yourself. James 4:10, I Peter 5:5-7

                        2.   Sin is “falling short” of the standard…the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

CONCLUSION

            Every day we live …we will decide who gets the glory. It belongs to God alone.