Psalm 82 Explained. Does God charge His angels with folly? Yes. That is what David saw and wrote about in Psalm 82. He saw this in a vision because God allowed him to see the judgment of angels. Eliphaz also mentions God charging His angels with folly in the book of Job: Job 4:18 Behold, He put no trust in His servants; and His angels He charged with folly. God seemed to be unsettled about the complacency of these gods who walked and lived among the sons of men. They had watched the evil deeds of men go unpunished right in front of their eyes. Why I believe that God was rebuking angels and not men is because of Psalm 82: 1. The scene is related to heaven, and not Earth, and Job has revealed to us that the sons of God always go before God to present themselves continually, after a long time sojourning amongst the sons of men. Psalm 82 expressly shows how God is often displeased with the negligence & lack of compassion shown by these angels towards those who face injustice the most - the poor, the widowed, the fatherless, and the afflicted or disease-ridden. 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Angels are not perfect beings from the least to the highest ranking, not even Lucifer, who was the most beautiful and wisest of the angels. Isaiah said Lucifer was the sum of all beauty and wisdom, which means, of all the angels that God had made, he was the wisest and the most beautiful. Ezekiel 28:12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. The gods of Psalm 82: 1. The "gods" in Psalm 82 refers to angels of the lowest hierarchy. They are the sons of God that continually go before God's throne to present themselves after a long time sojourning on Earth. They are the watchers of mankind. These angels are not like the higher-ranking ones such as the Seraphim and Cherubim, who by their proximity to God and the throne of mercy are expected to worship God in the purest form of holiness and perfection, by maintaining the purest thoughts and holiest intentions. This is why the bible said Lucifer was perfect from the day he was created until iniquity was found in him. Iniquity by definition is the manifestation of any thought or intention that falls below the purest & holiest admiration for God and His throne, which is not the same standard for the lowest ranking angels that are farthest away from God and his throne. For the earthly angels, like the gods, as Psalm 82 calls them, God saw the fault in the dispensation of their Earthly duties and judged them for their inability to do rightly by the sons of men. The gods in Psalm 82 are the earthly angels who work closely with the human race. They are not angels of worship like the Seraphim or angels of God’s presence like the Cherubim. In Psalm 82:2-7, God stood among the host and judged between who did wrong and who did right, considering that heaven is a place of perfection, and holiness. No iniquity is allowed in heaven. Any detection of iniquity leads to immediate eviction and judgment, which we read in the case of Lucifer. For a Cherubim like Lucifer, his eviction happened like a flash of lightning due to the thoughts of his heart. It was the first iniquity that was ever recorded in heaven. Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning!... For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will be like the most High. He was evicted while the thoughts were still running through his heart, nowhere does the bible say he led a rebellion afterwards. The Bible says he was perfect from the day he was created till iniquity was found in him. That iniquity was his thoughts, and nowhere did the bible say he ever carried out the desires of his heart. All of heaven’s hosts including the 24 elders worship the Godhead, but Lucifer thought within himself to exalt his throne above every other throne, which means, there are still thrones above his station. Heaven is a place of order, you don't break ranks, and are expected to be faithful in the office that you have been called to serve. As the highest ranking angel, he has a throne, except that he is still outranked by higher levels of authorities that are non-angelic beings, such as the 24 elders. Lucifer was not called before God to be judged for his iniquity, he was evicted from heaven at the instant. The sons of God, however, must go before God to present themselves after they have completed a milestone in their assignment, primarily to watch over the sons of men, and do what is right in God's eyes. These sons of God who sojourned among men were also the class of angels that were ensnared by the beauty of the daughters of men in Genesis 6 and decided to take wives for themselves, which indicates just how closely they interact with the human race. They walk among men, disguised as regular human beings, and some probably become kings, rulers and judges etc like Melchizedek, King of Salem. Hebrews 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. Psalm 82:6-7 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. These are consequences they can relate to. The sons of God share the same fate with mortal men they work closely with. The mighty ones fall and become like territorial princes, like the Prince of Persia that Archangel Michael had to fight to free Gabriel. Daniel 10:13, 20 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me… Then he said, Knowest thou wherefore I come unto thee? and now will I return to fight with the prince of Persia: and when I am gone forth, lo, the prince of Grecia shall come. Mind you, Gabriel mentioned he would return to "fight his way out." Michael is still actively fighting the prince of Persia until Gabriel’s message is delivered to Daniel. Gabriel could not prevail against the Prince of Persia alone because the prince of Persia is a fallen host from the class of the mighty ones — princes of war and deliverance — while Gabriel is a messenger. The prince of Persia is one of the fallen hosts God referenced in Psalm 82:7 when He warned: you shall fall like one of the princes. God was talking to no human rulers. Gabriel is not primarily a warrior, but that doesn’t mean he cannot fight. The prince of Persia was a mighty one who outranked Gabriel, but not Michael. This is like a non-combatant officer trying to break through an enemy’s frontline. They can defend themselves, but lack the expertise. Michael has that expertise. He is the one who broke through the blockade of the Prince of Persia, and the one who fought the dragon and cast him to the earth in Revelation 12. So Gabriel was stranded with the Prince of Persia. He fought well enough to defend himself and hold his ground until Michael came and broke through. Who Are the Mighty and the Gods? Psalm 82:1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; He judgeth among the gods. Who are the mighty? They are the princes - the angels God assigned to war and the deliverance of His people. Isaiah 13:3 I have commanded My sanctified ones, I have also called My mighty ones for Mine anger, even them that rejoice in My highness. God pronounced judgment against Babylon in Isaiah 13 and called His mighty ones to depose the prince over Babylon. This coincided with the Medes overthrowing Babylon in one single night. Joel 3:11 Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, thither cause Thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. This is a prayer request from Joel pleading with God to send His angels of deliverance to deliver Israel from his enemies roundabout. Who were the gods that God was judging amongst in Psalm 82: 1? These are the angels called the sons of God. Their role is to monitor and watch over the sons of men and the Earthly realm, the Earthly angels, who also by appearance can blend perfectly among the sons of men without raising suspicion. Oftentimes, they work their way up among the peoples, nations and kingdoms where they sojourn and become their rulers, judges and nobles. I believe that this is the case of Mechizdek, King of Salem, who met Abraham on his way back from rescuing his household from captivity. The sons of God are the lowest ranking angels in God's kingdom, and are the ones right above mankind in the divine ladder. Just like Adam was called the son of God in Luke 3: 38, these angels are called the sons of God because they were created in the image and likeness of God. They have no father nor mother, and no beginning nor end of days, like Melchizedek. They are the closest beings in resemblance to the image of God before man was created. Luke also refers to Adam as the son of God - made in the image and resemblance of God. Luke 3:38 The son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. The higher you go in the angelic ladder, the lesser angels look in resemblance to God's image. The lowest ranking angels can blend into the human world perfectly while the highest ranking angels will be very frightening for humans to behold. The word "gods" has a broad meaning. It can refer to God’s angelic hosts or fallen angels. Psalm 82:1 says God standeth in the congregation of the mighty, He judgeth among the gods, these gods is a reference to God’s angelic host, and not satanic hosts. In Exodus, God said He would execute judgment upon the gods of Egypt: Exodus 12:12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt tonight, and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. Here, God identifies the gods of Egypt as devils: Deuteronomy 32:17 They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not. The witch of Endor saw "gods" ascending out of the underworld: 1 Samuel 28:13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. The gods whom she saw are the satanic hosts and pagan deities which the heathen nations worship and make graven idols & groves to honour and worship. The term “gods” was also used for the Spirit of wisdom in Daniel: Daniel 4:8 In whom is the spirit of the holy gods The term "holy gods" is used four times in Daniel to refer to the Spirit of God. The Judgment in Psalm 82:2-7 In Psalm 82, David sees God standing in the midst of a heavenly host of princes (the mighty ones) and watchers (the gods). God is judging among the sons of God for letting evil go unpunished when they had the opportunity to act, but refused. So, technically, God has two categories of angels assigned to work on Earth, one to preside over nations and kingdoms spiritually, and the other to blend in perfectly among sons of men. If there are fallen princes, then God must surely have his own active host of princes to mark, reclaim and depose fallen princes from spiritual territories as well. I believe this is a constant spiritual war behind the scenes. This would mark the era of angelology, rather than christology where the sons of men have now been given power to become the sons of God. In the era of angelology, God assigned angels to spiritual war and deliverance, and there is war constantly in the heavens, which explains why there was war constantly on the Earth also, among warring factions of fallen princes and between God's host and the fallen hosts categorically. In the book of Daniel, Greece fought against Persia and deposed it, which is reminiscent of the vision of Daniel about the goat with one notable horn that smote the ram with two horns. This also brings to remembrance the spiritual battles of angel Gabriel while in the realms of the kingdom of Persia. Psalm 82:2-7 Psalms 82:2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 82:3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 82:4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 82:5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 82:7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. Who was God addressing? This was never and address to the sons of men nor earthly rulers, judges and princes but the sons of God who that were tasked with watching over the sons of men. Verse 1 had already made it clear that God was judging among the gods. The sons of God are compare to gods among men, because they neither age nor die, they're immortal, divine and angelic compared to humans. Some people would say, angels are not the ones being addressed in verse 2 - 7 because they are perfect and holy. Here's my answer, well, we know from Lucifer's Story that they are not, insomuch as there is present in them the knowledge of good and evil, which God himself admitted to in Genesis 3: 22 Genesis 3:22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: If God were addressing the sons of men, how do we reconcile Psalm 82: 6 where God also called the people he was rebuking “gods” and children of the most high? God would never call wicked earthly rulers "gods" and "children of the Most High" after accusing them of injustice. Psalm 82: 7 But thou shalt die like men. It seems as though God is saying that he is able to subject the sons of God to mortal death. Their nature must be so close to that of humanity, that they can also lose their immortality, just the way Adam lost it. It would seem impossible but seeing Adam also could have lived forever like Melchizedek if he had abstained from eating the forbidden fruit but chose to eat from the tree of the fruit of life instead. These sons of God are also the angels that took wives in Genesis 6 and gathered giants with the daughters of men, indicating that they are not just angelic hosts, but are also biologicals to an extent, which also explains why they are the lowest in the angelic ranking prior to God creating Adam. If Adam had not fallen, and the death that God warned him about never took power from him, Melchizedek would have been the absolute blueprint of God's design for Adam and his race. He would have eaten from the tree of life and lived forever, he and all of his seed. Earth would have been the material replica of God's kingdom in heaven. As angels that live forever to serve and worship God, so would mankind live forever to serve and worship God. Man will be like the angels in heaven, like the sons of God to be precise, except in a lower form, and as biological beings that have a responsibility to marry and reproduce, where angels in heaven cannot. Psalm 82: 7 Thou shall fall as one of the princes. Examples of such fallen princes referenced are the princes over Persia and Greece. The prince of Persia delayed Gabriel for 21 days. He broke through only with Michael’s help. These are examples of fallen hosts previously among the class of the mighty ones. The angels Charged with Folly Job 4:18 Behold, He put no trust in His servants; and His angels He charged with folly. Folly means God expected them to carry the banner of righteousness wherever they went, but they failed to act. They were supposed to supernaturally confront evil doers when they had the chance, but they didn’t. They let evil go unpunished. Their assignment is not to circle the earth like superheroes vanquishing all evil, but to watch the sons of men, as the eyes and ears of God. This doesn't mean they are expected to do nothing, or act as though there is a non-interference policy in their work. It's that when they sojourn in a place, they are expected to flip the tables so that righteousness reigns rather than evil. It doesn't mean all the Earth will be righteous nor does it mean all the Earth will be evil either. It only means that if there are a handful of nations that are righteous in God's eyes, it's most likely because there are righteous men & sons of God present there. An evil nation or kingdom will probably mean there is no son of God or righteous man sojourning in that nation. Let's take a look at the conversation of Abraham with God as he journeyed towards Sodom & Gomorrah. Genesis 18:24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? 18:26 And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. Genesis 18:31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the LORD: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. God said that if he had found twenty righteous people in Sodom, he would have spared it for the sake of the twenty. This doesn't even mean the righteous nations are “righteous” in the real sense, it only means that God won't destroy the wicked with the righteous, so for the sake of the righteous, God would spare those wicked nations. Sodom was just as wicked as every other nation, but there was not within it a single soul or son of God that sojourned there except for Lot, which means one righteous person is not enough to save Sodom, but if God had seen twenty righteous souls, he would have spared it. This is the reason why God came down to see the wicked deeds of Sodom for himself. The same thing goes for Noah, he was the only righteous man on Earth, God decided to save both Noah and Lot alive, while he wiped out everyone else and everything associated with them. The sons of God that were supposed to do righteousness behind the scenes in Genesis 6 decided to take wives instead and somehow, they abandoned their duty post instead of preventing God’s judgment from coming upon the sons of men. They let evil go unchecked and when not so much as one righteous man was left in God's sight, God decided to close that page in human history, visited Noah as a means to rekindle human civilization after the first world has been destroyed. So, this is why God was angrily rebuking the gods in Psalm 82. From what I can discern, they are prone to negligence in their work. Genesis 6 was the worst case scenario where they went too far by taking wives, while abandoning their duties to watch over the sons of men, and in that process men became more and more evil, because there was nobody to do the check and balances. Evil spiralled out of control and God called it. Same pattern, same wickedness.

Dear Father, There are certain interesting passages in Scripture that seem paradoxical and often leave me with questions. For instance: "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." The idea of seeking is to try to find. If You are not far from every one of us, why then do we need to seek? Perhaps there is more to finding You than just looking for something we seek. Perhaps it is true that proximity does not mean intimacy. In this case, there is more to seeking than the superficial meaning of the word. Because if finding You is the goal, then seeking must be accompanied by intentionality. This is how serious it gets: a man may be married to a woman for as long as they both shall live, yet at some point in their journey, they realize they never truly knew each other. This happens in close friendships as well. Herein lies the possibility that people may be so close, yet so far. When I ponder on what it means to seek You, I think also of the unrelenting devotion of an eager heart that refuses to stop until it finds You. I think of intimacy built through consistency. I think of desire that longs for a deeper experience even after an encounter. I think of passion that remains unwavering despite the challenges it encounters along the way. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu

Dear Father, There are certain interesting passages in Scripture that seem paradoxical and often leave me with questions. For instance: "That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us." The idea of seeking is to try to find. If You are not far from every one of us, why then do we need to seek? Perhaps there is more to finding You than just looking for something we seek. Perhaps it is true that proximity does not mean intimacy. In this case, there is more to seeking than the superficial meaning of the word. Because if finding You is the goal, then seeking must be accompanied by intentionality. This is how serious it gets: a man may be married to a woman for as long as they both shall live, yet at some point in their journey, they realize they never truly knew each other. This happens in close friendships as well. Herein lies the possibility that people may be so close, yet so far. When I ponder on what it means to seek You, I think also of the unrelenting devotion of an eager heart that refuses to stop until it finds You. I think of intimacy built through consistency. I think of desire that longs for a deeper experience even after an encounter. I think of passion that remains unwavering despite the challenges it encounters along the way. Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindi Slide 5: Urdu

Dear Father, It just occurred to me that the story of the woman with the issue of blood, which teaches us about faith, also teaches us about proximity. For she had said, "If I may but touch the hem of His garment, I shall be made whole." In several places around the world, we speak about her remarkable faith, but not as much do we speak about how this miracle took place after a touch. Today, I pondered various scenarios where proximity is an advantage in our dealings with You, and permit me the pleasure of saying that there are no instances where proximity becomes a burden rather than an advantage. In times when we need You and even when we feel self sufficient, in sickness and in health, or when we face the consequences of our sins and it seems as though You are far away, David knew better. After he had sinned greatly, he said, "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD." I think about people who feel self sufficient and disregard the gathering of the brethren: loving You but hating church! I think of situations where our faith to receive from You does not mirror our proximity to You, or moments when the enemy convinces us that our sins are now beyond finding mercy. And I am reminded of how there is not a single case where proximity falls at a disadvantage. And I realized the device of the enemy: to steal the message of proximity and lay emphasis on self sufficiency, hurts, and our shortcomings. How can we enjoy this advantage if we do not leverage the privilege of proximity? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #Proximity #faith #priviledge #advantages

Dear Father, It just occurred to me that the story of the woman with the issue of blood, which teaches us about faith, also teaches us about proximity. For she had said, "If I may but touch the hem of His garment, I shall be made whole." In several places around the world, we speak about her remarkable faith, but not as much do we speak about how this miracle took place after a touch. Today, I pondered various scenarios where proximity is an advantage in our dealings with You, and permit me the pleasure of saying that there are no instances where proximity becomes a burden rather than an advantage. In times when we need You and even when we feel self sufficient, in sickness and in health, or when we face the consequences of our sins and it seems as though You are far away, David knew better. After he had sinned greatly, he said, "I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD." I think about people who feel self sufficient and disregard the gathering of the brethren: loving You but hating church! I think of situations where our faith to receive from You does not mirror our proximity to You, or moments when the enemy convinces us that our sins are now beyond finding mercy. And I am reminded of how there is not a single case where proximity falls at a disadvantage. And I realized the device of the enemy: to steal the message of proximity and lay emphasis on self sufficiency, hurts, and our shortcomings. How can we enjoy this advantage if we do not leverage the privilege of proximity? Translations; Slide 1: English Slide 2: French Slide 3: Bengali Slide 4: Hindu Slide 5: Urdu #LettertoGod #Proximity #faith #priviledge #advantages

📌 Today's Readings are from the Book of 2 Samuel 13–14 | 1 Corinthians 8📌 👇 Overviews Are Below (PLEASE READ YOUR BIBLE: Overviews Do Not Replace Daily Reading) 👇 2 Samuel 13 The Consequences of Sin Within the Kingdom 2 Samuel 13 marks the beginning of a painful season in David’s family. The consequences of David’s sin, foretold in the previous chapter, begin to unfold. This chapter is difficult to read because it reveals the destructive effects of unchecked sin, selfish desires, and failed leadership. The story centers on Amnon, David’s oldest son, whose sinful desires lead him down a path of deception and destruction. Rather than exercising self-control and honoring God, he pursues what he wants regardless of the harm it causes. His actions bring deep pain and shame into the family. What follows is a chain reaction of sorrow, anger, and bitterness. Tamar suffers injustice, Absalom becomes consumed with resentment, and David struggles to respond appropriately. The chapter exposes how one act of sin can create wounds that spread far beyond the original offense. Absalom’s anger eventually grows into revenge. Instead of seeking justice through godly means, he takes matters into his own hands. The result is more tragedy, more loss, and deeper division within the family. Throughout the chapter, there is a noticeable absence of godly leadership and reconciliation. People act according to their emotions, desires, and frustrations rather than seeking the Lord. The family of the king begins to reflect the spiritual disorder that sin always produces. Theologically, 2 Samuel 13 demonstrates that sin never remains isolated. It damages relationships, corrupts judgment, and creates consequences that often extend far beyond what was initially imagined. The chapter reveals humanity’s need for both justice and redemption. This chapter points to Christ by contrast. Where human leaders fail to bring true healing and righteousness, Jesus comes as the perfect King who restores the broken, defends the wounded, and brings justice with mercy. He alone can heal the damage caused by sin. For believers today, 2 Samuel 13 serves as a warning about the destructive power of unchecked desires and unresolved bitterness. It reminds us that sin must be confronted honestly before God. In Christ, we find forgiveness, healing, and the wisdom needed to address brokenness according to God’s truth rather than human emotion. 2 Samuel 14 The Longing for Reconciliation and the Limits of Human Solutions 2 Samuel 14 continues the story of David’s fractured family. Absalom remains separated from his father after fleeing following Amnon’s death. Time passes, but the relationship remains unresolved. The chapter focuses on efforts to restore peace, yet it also reveals the complexity of reconciliation when deeper issues remain unaddressed. Joab recognizes David’s desire to see Absalom again and arranges a plan to persuade the king. Through a carefully crafted story, David is encouraged to consider reconciliation. Eventually, Absalom is allowed to return to Jerusalem. While this appears to be progress, the restoration is incomplete. Absalom is physically brought back, but true reconciliation does not immediately occur. Distance remains between father and son, and unresolved issues continue beneath the surface. The chapter provides insight into Absalom’s growing influence and popularity. He is described as impressive in appearance and admired by many. Yet the emphasis on outward qualities serves as a warning. External attractiveness and charisma are not substitutes for inward character and submission to God. David’s desire for reconciliation is understandable and compassionate. Yet the chapter shows that human efforts alone cannot fully heal what sin has broken. Real restoration requires more than proximity—it requires truth, repentance, and transformed hearts. Theologically, 2 Samuel 14 highlights humanity’s deep longing for reconciliation while also exposing the limitations of merely human solutions. Relationships can be restored externally while deeper spiritual issues remain unresolved. The chapter reminds us that true reconciliation requires both grace and truth. This chapter points forward to Christ, who brings genuine reconciliation between God and humanity. Through His sacrifice, broken relationships can be restored on a foundation of forgiveness, repentance, and truth. He does not merely bring people near; He transforms hearts. For believers today, 2 Samuel 14 reminds us that reconciliation is a worthy goal, but lasting restoration requires more than outward peace. In Christ, we are called to pursue relationships marked by both grace and truth. God’s desire is not merely the appearance of harmony but genuine healing that flows from transformed hearts and restored fellowship with Him. 1 Corinthians 8 — Knowledge Guided by Love in the Christ 1 Corinthians chapter 8 addresses the relationship between knowledge, freedom, and love within the redemptive plan of the Christ, the Son of God. The believers in Corinth faced questions about practices that were common in their culture, and while some understood their freedom in the Christ, others were still growing in their understanding. The chapter reveals that Christian living is not merely about what is permissible, but about what builds up others and honors the Christ. The chapter begins by contrasting knowledge and love. Knowledge can provide understanding, but if it is not guided by love, it can lead to pride. Love, however, seeks the good of others and reflects the character of the Christ. This establishes a foundational principle for Christian living: truth and love must work together. The redemptive plan is not only about possessing correct information, but about being transformed into the likeness of the Son of God. The discussion then moves to the reality that believers know there is only one true God and that the Christ, the Son of God, is Lord over all. This understanding brings freedom from fear and confusion regarding false worship. The redemptive plan has revealed the truth, and believers are called to live in that truth. Yet the chapter also acknowledges that not everyone has the same level of understanding. Some believers, because of their past experiences or spiritual immaturity, may struggle with issues that others see differently. This creates an opportunity to demonstrate Christlike love. Christian living is not centered on insisting upon personal rights, but on considering how our actions affect others. The emphasis shifts from what a believer can do to what a believer should do. Freedom in the Christ is a gift, but it is never intended to become a stumbling block for another person. The Son of God calls His people to use their freedom wisely and lovingly. The redemptive plan values people more than personal preference. A powerful reminder is given that the Christ died for every believer. This means that fellow believers are not simply individuals with differing opinions—they are people for whom the Son of God gave His life. This perspective changes how Christians interact with one another. Love becomes more important than personal liberty. The chapter ultimately teaches that mature Christian living is marked by a willingness to limit personal freedom when necessary for the spiritual well-being of others. This is not weakness, but strength. It reflects the example of the Christ, who consistently put the needs of others before His own rights. 1 Corinthians 8 emphasizes that knowledge must be guided by love, freedom must be exercised with wisdom, and every decision should be evaluated through the lens of the Christ and His redemptive plan. For believers today, this chapter calls us to live with both conviction and compassion. Christian living is not simply asking, “What am I free to do?” but also, “How will this affect others?” We are reminded that the Son of God calls us to love one another deeply and to place spiritual growth above personal preference. As we walk in humility and consideration, we reflect the heart of the Christ and participate in His redemptive plan by building up, rather than tearing down, those around us. #DailyBibleReading #OpenYourBible #StudyTheWord #ScriptureForToday #FaithJourney #GodsWord #BibleTime #WalkWithGod

Kora Obidi, Pastor Kumuyi and Her Deeper Life Roots: How One Shakira Clip at 13 Turned a Holiness Girl Into an Adult Performer I saw an interview recently. It came to my feed because it contained content related to Pastor Kumuyi and Deeper Life, and the algorithm knows I watch holiness‑based content. And in that interview, Kora Obidi openly mentioned Deeper Life Church. She said she grew up in a Deeper Life home where TV was completely forbidden. She said she didn’t watch TV for the first 13 years of her life. And the very first day she finally watched TV… she saw Shakira dancing. According to her, that sudden exposure — after 13 years of total denial — made her “vulnerable,” and Shakira’s performance immediately influenced her to start dancing. Not just dancing, but eventually becoming an adult performer. Her story is not simply unfortunate. It is a case study in what happens when holiness is present, but conviction is absent. WHAT HER STORY REVEALS 1. Rules cannot replace regeneration She lived under holiness but never met the God behind it. That is why one Shakira clip could overthrow 13 years of doctrine. “God looks at the heart.” — 1 Samuel 16:7 2. Sudden exposure destroys unrooted children She said she became “vulnerable” because she had never seen anything like Shakira before. This is exactly why Kumuyi and Deeper Life restricted TV, not to punish, but to protect. “Guard your heart.” — Proverbs 4:23 3. Trauma without discipleship becomes rebellion She lost her mother early. Her father left the church. Her emotional foundation collapsed. Pain + exposure + no discipleship = predictable derailment. “A broken spirit dries the bones.” — Proverbs 17:22 4. Talent without guidance becomes a weapon for the world Her gift made room for her but because she lacked discipleship, the room she entered was the world, not the kingdom. “A gift makes room.” — Proverbs 18:16 5. Church culture cannot replace personal salvation She grew up in church, not in Christ. “Be rooted in Him.” — Colossians 2:7 LESSONS FOR THE CHURCH, PARENTS AND CHILDREN For the Church Stop assuming children raised in holiness are automatically saved. They need encounters, not just outlines. For Parents Your child can obey your rules and still be spiritually empty. Your child can avoid TV and still be unrooted. Your child can dress holy and still be vulnerable. Holiness must be explained, not just enforced. For Children/Teenagers Growing up in church is not salvation. Your parents’ convictions cannot become yours by inheritance. You must meet Christ personally. MY PERSONAL CONCLUSION When I was in Deeper Life in the 90s, I saw this pattern clearly. Most of the people who carried real fire were those who came into the church seeking God, not those who were born into the system. I saw chronic unbelievers who mastered the routines but never felt the fire. Even Jerry Kumuyi, raised in holiness, didn’t become born again until his mid‑thirties. His friend, who claimed he was an ex‑cultist in that popular video clip, was also the son of a big pastor. This reinforces one truth: salvation is personal. “Work out your salvation.” — Philippians 2:12 Holiness is not inherited. It is not absorbed by proximity. It is birthed by conviction. This is why Pastor Kumuyi or Deeper Life should not be blamed for how Kora turned out. Many grew up under the same strict environment — no TV, no worldly exposure — and turned out strong, stable, and deeply rooted in Christ. The issue is not Deeper Life. The issue is not the no‑TV doctrine. The issue is not Pastor Kumuyi. The issue is personal surrender. HOW TO HELP CHILDREN BORN INTO CHURCH CULTURE (WHO DON’T BELIEVE) • Teach identity, not just morality • Give encounters, not just restrictions • Disciple their gifts early • Heal wounds before the world exploits them • Let them ask questions without fear • Show them Christ, not just church culture If we fail here, the world will disciple them the moment they step outside. And the first Shakira they see at 13 will still be powerful enough to redirect their destiny. - shared by Dae Jumong 12/7/26 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Here is my opinion … This conversation goes beyond Kora Obidi, Deeper Life, Pastor Kumuyi, or even the question of whether a particular church standard was right or wrong. The deeper parenting lesson is that child can be protected from the world and still not be prepared for the world. Rules are important. Boundaries are important. Values are important. But boundaries without understanding can create children who know what they are not allowed to do, but do not understand why they believe what they believe. A child who has never been taught how to process temptation may not know what to do when temptation eventually arrives. This is why parenting cannot only be about restriction. It must also be about formation. You cannot simply say: “Don’t watch this.” “Don’t listen to that.” “Don’t go there.” You must also teach: “Here is why we choose differently.” “Here is who you are.” “Here is what God says about your identity.” “Here is how to make wise decisions when nobody is watching.” The goal of parenting is not to raise children who can survive only inside our fence. The goal is to raise children who carry conviction even when they leave the fence. A child who has been trained only by external control may look obedient while supervised but collapse when freedom comes. A child who has been discipled has an internal compass. That is why parents must move from control to conviction, from rules to relationship, from behavior management to heart transformation. Jesus did not just give people rules; He transformed hearts. The question every Christian parent should ask is: “Have I only taught my child how to behave, or have I helped my child understand why they believe?” Because one day every child will encounter their own “Shakira moment” an unexpected exposure, a new environment, a new friend, a new temptation. The preparation is not pretending the world does not exist. The preparation is raising children who know who they are before the world tells them who they should become. Holiness must move from the family handbook into the child’s heart. That is the work of intentional parenting. This is exactly why parenting cannot be accidental. The world is discipling children every day through entertainment, friendships, social media, and culture. The question is not whether your child will be influenced. The question is: Who will have the strongest voice in your child’s life before the world begins speaking? Inside our Inner Circle Program for Parents, we help intentional parents move beyond just controlling behavior and start building children with: ✅ Strong identity ✅ Biblical values ✅ Emotional intelligence ✅ Critical thinking skills ✅ Healthy boundaries ✅ The confidence to stand when nobody is watching Because the goal is not to raise children who only do right when parents are around. The goal is to raise children who carry conviction when they are alone. Registration for our next Inner Circle is open. If you desire to raise children who are rooted, resilient, and prepared for the real world, comment INNER CIRCLE or send us a message to secure your place. Your child’s future cannot be left to chance. ❤️ Copied

Jesus now begins teaching in parables. OK, so what is a parable? It is a spiritual Truth illustrated using practical means where the spiritual message is ‘hidden’ within. It is a comparison to physical ideas they all understand teaching spiritual truths few do understand. Why would Jesus teach this way? Because He was already being persecuted and the leaders still were seeking to destroy him but He wanted the entirety of the lesson told before the leaders in the crowd could attempt to kill Him early. And that's the way parables worked. The entirety of the lesson is fully taught to its conclusion but those who listened didn't completely understand what Jesus meant. Only those who studied further would understand the spiritual truth behind His words. By the time His enemies figured out the lesson, He was preaching elsewhere. So here, his disciples ask him what He meant so he explains the parable to them. The sower going out to sow is something they would all relate to. Before He tells them the explanation He says something that sounds a little unfair at first. He says, ‘For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.’ Human nature tells us that giving someone who already has plenty, even more is unfair. And then to take from someone who has little seems even more unfair but look at what's going on. The Jews had been given status as God's chosen people. He gave them the Law, He provided for them and chose them to be the source of blessing the world, they were given everything but now that Jesus was here, all they had been given would be taken due to their unbelief. But the Jews who did believe were given so much more than had already been given. These are those to whom much had been given and they will receive so much more. And the Gentiles and Samaritans had none of that. Paganism ruled over 90% of the world at this time and the very concept of a loving God just didn't exist. The idea of Law governing behavior didn't exist either. In other cultures, laws were changed to benefit the whims of their king. Those who became believers from paganism were given the structure paganism doesn't have through Christ. They experienced love from God for the first time. But the ones who did not believe, whatever benefit they obtained from their close proximity to Jesus or other believers, a peaceful nation, a legal system, etc., will be taken from them. Jesus tells the disciples that they are blessed because the prophets, including Isaiah, wished to witness these things but could not. They wished to hear these words being preached, but did not. Therefore, the disciples should consider themselves doubly blessed because they get to see and hear things great men wished to. We will cover His explanation of the parable in a later lesson. Don't miss it. 13:1-17 [1] On that day Jesus had gone out of the house and was sitting by the sea. [2] And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd was standing on the beach. [3] And He told them many things in parables, saying, “Behold, the sower went out to sow; [4] and as he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and ate them up. [5] Others fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and they sprang up immediately, because they had no depth of soil. [6] But after the sun rose, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. [7] Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns came up and choked them out. [8] But others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much. [9] The one who has ears, let him hear.” [10] And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” [11] And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. [12] For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. [13] Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. [14] And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘ You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand; And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive; [15] For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they might see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, Understand with their heart, and return, And I would heal them.’ [16] But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. [17] For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

# DAILY LIGHT When Prayer Becomes a Waste: The Idol in Your Heart Gives the Answer Text: Ezekiel 14:1-4 "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them? ...I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols." Welcome back to the threshing floor of premium apostolic discipleship. Thus far in our journey, we have seen how unrepentant sin and sovereignly closed doors render intercession a waste of time. But today, we plunge into a dimension of spiritual warfare that is absolutely terrifying. We are dealing with a scenario where prayer is not just a waste of time—it becomes a lethal trap of self-deception. When you approach the throne of grace while secretly harboring a supreme idol in your soul, heaven’s response changes from revelation to judgment. If you have been praying for direction, seeking prophetic words, and fasting for clarity, yet you are hiding a secret ambition, a toxic relationship, or an unholy desire, brace yourself. You are about to discover the terrifying reality of the Divine Echo. The Illusion of Proximity: Elders in the Prophetic Presence Notice who came to sit before the prophet Ezekiel. These were not the pagan Babylonians; these were the elders of Israel. These were men with titles, ecclesiastical standing, and religious resumes. They knew how to dress, how to speak the vocabulary of Zion, and how to position themselves in the presence of a genuine prophet. To the natural eye, this looked like a powerful prayer meeting. But God bypassed their physical posture and scanned their internal architecture. He said to Ezekiel, "These men have set up their idols in their heart." The Discipleship Truth: Physical proximity to the prophetic does not equal spiritual alignment with the Divine. You can sit in the front row of a revival hub, listen to hours of apostolic teaching, and possess a prayer language that sounds like rushing water, while your heart is entirely colonized by Babylon. God does not look at where your body is sitting; He looks at what your heart is worshipping. The Architecture of Internal Idolatry When we hear the word "idol," we imagine wooden statues or golden calves. But the Holy Ghost is dealing with a far more sophisticated form of treason: the idol of the heart. An idol in the heart is anything that has bypassed the Lordship of Jesus Christ to sit on the throne of your affections and decision-making. It is the relationship you have secretly decided to keep, regardless of what God says. It is the ministry ambition fueled by a desperate need for public validation rather than divine obedience. It is the love of money that dictates your career choices while you ask God to "bless your steps." God calls this the "stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face." When an idol is set before your face, you cannot see Jesus clearly. Every scripture you read, every sermon you hear, and every prayer you pray is filtered through the lens of that idol. The Terrifying Judgment: Answered According to the Idol Here is the most sobering reality in the entire text (verse 4): "I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols." If you approach God to ask for His will, when you have already made up your mind to serve your idol, God will not fight you. He will step back and allow the idol to answer you. He will permit a strong delusion. This is why people can fast and pray, and then confidently declare, "God told me to marry this unbeliever," or "God told me to split this church," or "God told me to engage in this unethical business." God did not tell them that. Their idol gave them the answer, and because they refused to lay the idol on the altar, God authenticated the delusion. The Discipleship Truth: God will not share His throne with your ambition. If you use prayer as a manipulative tool to get God to endorse your fleshly desires, He will allow you to hear a "Yes" that will lead directly to your destruction. This is exactly what happened to Balaam. He kept asking God to curse Israel because he wanted the money (the idol), and eventually, God told him to go—a "Yes" that led to a sword. The Call to Total Surrender You cannot inquire of the Lord with a divided heart. Before you ask God for your next step, you must ask the Holy Ghost to search your temple. What have you already decided you are going to do, regardless of what the Word says? What is the secret obsession you refuse to surrender? It is time to smash the idols. You must come to a place in your discipleship where the absolute, unfiltered will of Jesus Christ is more important to you than your comfort, your reputation, and your deepest desires. Stop asking for a prophetic word until you have restored prophetic purity to your heart. 🔥 Prophetic Prayer of Activation "Lord God of Israel, Searcher of the Reins and the Heart! I fall before the terrifying purity of Your throne today. I repent for treating Your presence casually while harboring secret idols in my soul. Holy Ghost, shine Your blinding light into the deep caverns of my heart! Expose every hidden ambition, every toxic attachment, and every stumbling block of iniquity that I have set before my face. I refuse the judgment of deception! I drag every idol of pride, lust, money, and self-will to the altar and I smash it by the blood of Jesus Christ! Purify my hearing, realign my desires, and let my heart be a throne for Christ alone. In the holy, unmatched name of Jesus Christ." # THE SON OF LIGHT

❤️DEMONISM IN THE LIGHT OF SCRIPTURE. Part 1 of 2. Having established the widespread influence and effects of the occult in the world today, we now want to show the Scriptural evidence concerning the evil power behind the occult. After establishing this on Scriptural grounds, our next study will deal with the basic strategy of Satan, the arch deceiver. We will show how the first step in his scheme to gain control of the minds and lives of men and women everywhere is to ensnare them somewhere in his demonic web of occultism. The Bible clearly reveals the existence of an unseen kingdom of darkness. It consists of a complex hierarchy of evil forces, together with an invisible host of malevolent spirits, all actively engaged in an insidious plot to deceive, control, oppress, and eventually destroy the human race. The reality of the existence of these demonic powers is clearly affirmed by the Old Testament itself, as seen in the stringent legislation against any traffic in the occult by the Israelites. Such involvement was punishable by death (Exodus 22:18; Leviticus 20:27). The satanic confederacy and its warfare against the whole creation, beginning with the manifestation of Satan himself at the very inception of the human race (Genesis 3), can be traced throughout the Old and New Testaments. With the Advent of Christ and the establishment of the church, the conflict between the forces of righteousness and the powers of darkness for control of the created order breaks forth on a scale hitherto unknown. It is exceeded only by the present demonic flood of wickedness being unleashed against the world now at the consummation of the ages. This is precisely what the Scriptures predict (II Thessalonians 2:1-12; I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 3:1-5; Matthew 24:11; cf. Ephesians 6:10-13; I John 4:1-3; II John 7-11; II Corinthians 11:13-15; Revelation 13). Apart from the testimony of the Scriptures, there is no satisfactory explanation for the present-day revival of witchcraft, spiritism, and occultism in all forms, nor the alarming increase in war, crimes, suicide, racial strife, social unrest, mental illness, disease, divorce, juvenile delinquency, sexual perversion, adultery, and revolt against law and order. The contemporary church, to a great extent, lives in a world of make-believe with regard to recognition of the extensive influence of deceiving and malevolent spirits working against the human race. It is deluded by the unscriptural idea that Satan presents no serious threat to the Christian today. The popular notion is that Satan was defeated by Christ at Calvary; therefore, his present work is largely limited to blinding the eyes of the lost to the truth of the Gospel and harassing Christians by tempting them with worldly allurements or sinful pleasures. Such a naive attitude has no basis whatever in Scripture. It is significant that the apostle Paul still calls Satan "the prince of the power of the air" and "the god of this world" after Calvary (Ephesians 2:2; II Corinthians 4:4)! The Scriptures warn believers that they should "be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith"(I Peter 5:8-9; cf. Ephesians 6:10-13). Satan's invisible hosts are engaged in a ceaseless warfare against believers in an effort to hinder, deceive, discourage, defeat, oppress, maim, and destroy. Moreover, much of the church today denies any need for the charismatic gifts (I Corinthians 12). They contend that these supernatural manifestations were merely a temporary foundation in the erection of the first century church. But in abandoning the charismatic gifts, they have surrendered the very weapons God placed in the church to cope effectively with the forces of darkness. The church was called and invested with sufficient power and authority to conduct an effective warfare against the powers of darkness. Casting out demons, binding the forces of evil, and loosing victims from the oppression and bondage of Satan are still as much the duty of the church as the proclamation of salvation in Christ. In fact, these are a vital and inseparable part of the Gospel itself which Christ commissioned His church to preach (Mark 16:15-20). Another result of this surrender of the charismatic power to heal and deliver from satanic oppression is that the pastoral ministry today is largely limited to "soul-care." Consequently, persons suffering mental, physical, or psychic disorders are referred to other professionals for medical or psychotherapeutic treatment. The typical pastor may try to cope with the effects of these insidious powers in the lives of men and women through counseling and prayer; but he often fails to deal with their cause-Satan. When the church dissected the Great Commission, separating the Word from the signs given to confirm it, it lost the power to convince the unbelieving world. Thus, after three centuries of turning the world upside down, the church began to waver and then steadily to lose ground to the powers of darkness. But in these closing days of history we are seeing a fresh enduement of power from on high, a restoration of charismatic ministry, in which the church is once again arising victorious to meet and overcome the flood of demonic wickedness sweeping across the earth. A. Existence and Reality of the Kingdom of Darkness. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. -Ephesians 6:12. The Scriptures inform us that God created not only a material or physical world but also an invisible, spiritual realm consisting of angels and other spiritual intelligences, such as cherubim (Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 28:14-15), seraphim (Isaiah 6:1,6), living creatures (Revelation 4-5), and other unnamed hosts and ministers of God (Psalms 84:1; 103:20-21; 148:2-5). The creation and existence of an invisible, spiritual realm, as well as the visible, is shown by the apostle Paul in Colossians 1:16: "For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him" (cf. Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 148:2-5). The Invisible hosts, dwelling either in the presence of God or in heavenly regions in close proximity to the earth, are of two orders: the good and the evil. The Scriptures further divide these two orders into a hierarchy consisting of thrones, dominions, principalities, authorities, powers, world rulers, spirit-forces in the heavenlies, angels, archangels, princes, cherubim, seraphim, and other spiritual hosts. Some of the designations refer to holy angelic authority, others denote evil supernatural forces, while some may refer to either, depending on the context. Certainly, the powers of darkness and the satanic confederacy are under consideration in such passages as Romans 8:38-39, Ephesians 6:12, Matthew 12:24-26, Ephesians 1:20-21, and perhaps also in Colossians 1:16; 2:10. In Isaiah 14:13, Satan refers to the reality of his kingdom, saying, "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God." Christ Himself acknowledges its existence in Matthew 12:26 saying, "If Satan cast out Satan ... how shall then his kingdom stand?" The apostle Paul speaks of him as "the prince of the power of the air" (literally, "the ruler of the authority of the air," or the regions in proximity to the earth) and as "the god of this age." When Satan offered Christ the kingdoms of this world in return for His acknowledgment of Satan as god, Jesus did not challenge his right to offer them. In fact, Christ Himself referred to Satan three times as "the ruler of this world." John designates him as the head of the present world-system (I John 5:19). He rules in world affairs and directs them from his throne in the heavenlies. Men and governments, as well as educational, social, economic, financial, political, and in some cases, religious institutions, are under Satan's power to whatever extent they yield to his influence. B. Origin of Evil: Satan and the Demonic Powers. There is no simple answer to the perplexing question of the origin of Satan and his host of demonic spirits. God is not the Author of evil, for the Scriptures show that He created all things good in the beginning (Genesis 1:31). But how could sin originate in a perfect universe, or holy angels and spirits fall in the first place into the sin of rebellion against God? In order to shed light on this mystery, we must first examine what God has revealed in His Word concerning Satan, whom the Scriptures designate as the father and source of all that is evil. 1. Satan. First of all, the Scriptures clearly show that Satan is not merely an impersonal evil "power" or "influence," the "negation of good"; but he is an intelligent, spiritual personality, ruler of a vast kingdom, and god of this world. The Scriptures contain many references showing that Satan is a personality. 1. Personal pronouns are used in reference to him (Job 1:8; 2:1-2; Matthew 12:26). 2. He possesses intelligence and cunning (Genesis 3; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:11); memory (Matthew 4:6); knowledge and emotions (Revelation 12:12); will (Isaiah 14:12-15); speech faculties (Job 1-2; Matthew 4). 3. He will be punished as a moral, responsible being (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:10). What do the Scriptures reveal as to the origin of Satan, the source of evil? From the fact that the Bible shows that God is the Creator of all things, both visible and, whether they be thrones, dominions, principalities or powers (Colossians 1:16; John 1:1-3), and that He created all things good (Genesis 1:31), we may conclude that the spiritual being designated Satan in the Scriptures was not originally a fallen creature. Do the Scriptures shed any light on this? We believe that they do. It is highly improbable that this archenemy of God and man, the source and cause of all the evil and misfortune in the universe, would be unceremoniously introduced into Scripture (Genesis 3) without some revelation in the Word of God as to his origin and subsequent apostasy, as well as some insight into the nature of his kingdom. There are several passages of Scripture which refer to Satan's creation, apostasy, and fall from his original exalted position in heaven. Two of these deserve special consideration, namely, Isaiah 14:1-20 and Ezekiel 28:1-19. What is the true identity of the person described in these passages? A careful study will reveal that the description in these passages cannot be limited to the historic kings of Babylon and Tyre. The language, although addressed to them, clearly goes beyond these kings and characterizes Satan himself. In the first place, the scope of Isaiah's prophecy is future, looking even beyond Israel's return from the Babylonian exile. Chapter 14:1-3 introduces the time of Israel's millennial blessings when she is restored to the land of Israel (14:1), ruling over her oppressors (14:2), and has been granted rest in her own land (14:3). The language in verse 12, which is addressed to the king of Babylon, is also used of Satan (Luke 10:18; Revelation 12:7-10), who, as the prince of this world, was the directing spiritual influence and power behind the king. Moreover, the language in verses 13-14 is inappropriate if limited to that earthly monarch. There are five "I wills" of Satan in this passage which cannot be applied to the king of Babylon. Satan boasted: "I will ascend into heaven." "I will exalt my throne above the stars of God." "I will sit upon the mount of the congregation." "I will ascend above the heights of the clouds." "I will make myself like the Most High." The language, like that in Ezekiel 28:11-19, clearly goes beyond application to the historical king, and is directed to Satan. Ezekiel 28 describes the original, unfallen state of Satan and his apostasy, whereas Isaiah 14 records his fall and ultimate destruction. Why then are these two prophecies addressed to the historical kings of Babylon and Tyre, if they describe Satan and his career? It is a characteristic of divine prophecy, and not uncommon in Scripture, for a message clearly to refer to or be directed to someone other than the individual named. Other passages where Satan is addressed indirectly through another are Genesis 3:14-15, Matthew 16:23, and John 13:27. In the Messianic psalms, while David apparently speaks of himself, he is actually describing Christ (cf. Psalms 16:10; 22, etc.). Thus, we find that the kings of Babylon and Tyre are addressed in language which, by its very nature, describes someone other than themselves, because: (1) in the characters and careers of these earthly monarchs, the wicked character and career of Satan is seen; (2) Satan fulfills himself and his evil administration in and through these earthly kings who rule over his earthly dominions (Luke 4:5-6); and (3) these rulers, like Satan, arrogated to themselves divine honor and prerogatives (Isaiah 14:13-14; Ezekiel 28:2). Next, observe the extraordinary nature of the description in Ezekiel 28:11-19, and the inappropriateness of limiting it to the historic king of Tyre: "Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty" (28:12). He was complete and perfect before God. "Thou wast in Eden, the garden of God" (v. 13). This is not the Eden of Genesis 3, but the paradise of God (v. 14, "the holy mountain of God") where he was arrayed with all imaginable splendor: "every precious stone was thy covering." "In the day that thou wast created" (v. 13). Twice his "creation" is mentioned (cf. v. 15), which is inappropriate if applied to the king of Tyre. Of the human race, only Adam is said to have been "created"; his descendants are always said to be "born." "Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth" (v. 14). No satisfactory explanation of the designation "cherub" has ever been offered when applied to the king of Tyre. The cherubim in Scripture are spiritual beings who always appear in the closest relationship to God (Genesis 3:24; Exodus 25:20; I Chronicles 28:18; Psalm 18:11; Ezekiel 1:9-11). "I set thee, so that thou wast upon the holy mountain of God" (v. 14). He was appointed by God Himself to an exalted position. "Thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire" (v. 14). Doubtless this signifies the divine presence of God and His glory (cf. Ezekiel 1:13. Exodus 24:10,17). "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till unrighteousness was found in thee" (v. 15). Certainly this is unsuitable and inappropriate when applied to the king of Tyre, who was not "created," never "perfect," so did not later fall into a state of unrighteousness. This is, however, an accurate description of the career of Satan. Compare Colossians 1:16 with Ephesians 6:12, and John 1:3 with John 8:44, which suggest the fall of Satan from an original state of righteousness. Satan, we are told, "abode not in the truth." "Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness" (v. 17). The Scriptures always designate pride as the cause for Satan's fall and condemnation (I Timothy 3:6; Isaiah 14:13-14). "Therefore have I cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I have destroyed thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire ... I have cast thee to the ground ... I have turned thee to ashes ... and thou shalt nevermore have any being" (verses 16-19). This is the exact fate predicted for Satan in Scripture (Revelation 12:7-9; 20:10; Isaiah 14:12, 15-20). Satan was not alone in his apostasy and fall, for the Scriptures indicate that he was able to persuade numerous angels, and perhaps other spirit beings, to join in his rebellion and attempt to usurp the throne of God. Apparently the angels, possessing moral freedom, underwent a period of probation and testing just as Adam, for we read that some "sinned," and "kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation" (II Peter 2:4; Jude 6). The angels of the devil are referred to in Revelation 12:7. Others who kept their integrity are designated as "holy angels" (Mark 8:38) and "elect angels" (I Timothy 5:21). As a result of Satan's rebellion and fall, sin entered and polluted the universe which God had created good, and Satan became the source of all evil and misfortune (John 8:44). His character and purpose are now given over entirely unto evil. He is called a "murderer," "the father of lies" (John 8:44), and an incorrigible sinner (1 John 3:8). He became the adversary of man, deceiving, oppressing, accusing, and seeking to destroy all that God has created (Genesis 3; Job 1-2; Acts 10:38; Revelation 12:9-10). The present realm and sphere of this evil one and his hierarchy of wicked powers is not in "hell" (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 12:7-9); but the seat of his kingdom is in the heavenly regions, doubtless in close proximity to the earth (Revelation 12:7-12; Ephesians 2:2; 6:12. "High places" in 6:12 literally means "heavens" or "heavenly regions"). He walks up and down in the earth at will (Job 1:7; I Peter 5:8), and has access to heaven's throne as the "accuser" of believers (Job 1-2; Zechariah 3; Revelation 12:10). His present position is one of royal dignity and authority, so much so that even the archangel Michael "durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, 'The Lord rebuke thee"" (Jude 8-9). His present dominion is that of king and ruler over a vast kingdom and hierarchy of dark powers (Matthew 12:26,29; 25:41; Ephesians 6:12), being designated as "ruler of this world," "ruler of the power of the air," and having the whole world under his power and influence (John 14:30; Ephesians 2:2; I John 5:19). As prince of this world, he rules over the godless political systems, in world affairs, in the realm of agnostic science and philosophy, and in the social and economic orders. His designation as "the god of this world" (II Corinthians 4:4) signifies his present spiritual and religious power and influence. His influence and control in religion are to be found in various forms, ranging from subtle perversions of doctrine, including Liberalism, Modernism, Neo-orthodoxy, and New Age, to the revival of witchcraft, false cults, and devil worship. The worship of Satan and demons is not unknown in Scripture (Leviticus 17:7; Deuteronomy 32:16-17; Psalm 106:37; I Corinthians 10:20; I Timothy 4:1-3). Satanic churches exist today; and covenants with the devil, as well as prayers to him for assistance, have occasionally been disclosed by the oppressed in counseling with them. Thus, Scripture actually sheds much light on the origin of evil in the universe and the present extent and work of the kingdom of Satan. However, a perplexing question yet remains: "How could sin originate in a perfect universe, or holy angels and spirits fall into the sin of apostasy and rebellion against God apart from outside influence?" Adam transgressed and fell from his state of innocence through the temptations of an outside influence, Satan. But in the transgression of Satan, the "anointed cherub" himself (as well as the holy angels who sinned), there was no one to influence nor tempt him. Sin actually had its origin in him: Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee" (Ezekiel 28:15). While Scripture does not give a direct solution, it does offer some help in solving this mystery. We offer two suggestions. 1. Free moral agency. Satan, angels, and other spirit beings, like man, were created as free moral agents. That is, they were created intelligent, rational, and spiritual, with the power of free moral choice. By God's divine intention, they were given the power of self-determination with respect to their obedience to God. Obviously, before sin entered the universe, Satan was still the anointed cherub. He and the angels who later sinned did not have a choice between good and evil as realities, inasmuch as evil did not yet exist. But the potential for evil existed, in that God had created other free moral beings and had given them the power to say "no" to Him and to rebel against His will. Before sin entered the universe, only one form of transgression was possible: disobedience to God's revealed will and commands. Satan's only choice initially was to obey or to disobey, as it was later in the case of Adam, whose transgression introduced sin into the world (Genesis 2:16-17; 3:1-6). Irrational beasts do not have this power of choice, nor the right of self-determination; but neither can they, for that matter, worship God and by their own volition serve, honor, and obey Him. Free response based on love, not forced obedience, would alone satisfy and glorify God, the Father of all creatures, in exactly the same way a parent is honored and pleased by the loving, willful response and obedience of a child. The initial choice was God's. Irrational beasts or sub-human robots without the ability of moral choice would present no threat to sanctity of the universe; but God wished to bring into existence beings who could freely worship, honor, and glorify Him. As God certainly knew of beforehand, this would require giving them the right of self-determination and the potential power of disobeying Him and His will. A creature who could not willfully say "no" to God, likewise could not willfully say "yes" to Him. So evil did not exist from the beginning as a reality but as a potentiality. God created a free, moral universe and it is for this reason that Satan could choose not to abide "in the truth" (John 8:44). We may certainly infer from this that at one time he walked before God in truth and perfection, as Ezekiel 28:15 also indicates But, by an act of his own will, he chose not to abide any longer therein. So also, many of the angels, having the power of self-determination, "sinned" and "kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation" (II Peter 2:4; Jude 6). 2. Finiteness. Satan, angels, and other spirit beings were, like man, created finite. To be "finite" means to be subject to limitations. It is a state of not being perfected (in the absolute sense); it is to be incomplete. Finiteness stems from the fact of creation. It is impossible to create an infinite creature-this would be a contradiction. Only God, as uncreated Spirit, without beginning or end, is infinite: that is, He is without limitation; He is perfect in righteousness, power, wisdom, holiness, and love. Finiteness is inherent in creation. Satan's finiteness was the door to his fall, as it was with Adam. If one is finite in his essential nature, then his character, actions, motives, conformity to God's will, power to obey and not to sin-in a word, all that he is and does-will also be subject to this limitation or finiteness. Finiteness itself does not imply imperfection or defectiveness, but it implies limitation and susceptibility to failure or defeat under certain conditions. Satan, as the anointed cherub, was preeminent in beauty and wisdom, possessing many other glorious attributes (Ezekiel 28:14). But being finite, he allowed pride to enter his heart because of his beauty ("Thy heart was lifted up because of thy beauty," Ezekiel 28:17; I Timothy 3:6), and sinful ambition, because of his great position ("I will exalt my throne above the stars of God... I will be like the Most High," Isaiah 14:13-14). Due to his incomparable beauty and wisdom, and because of his exalted position, his finiteness caused him to look away from the truth unto himself. The result was catastrophic: "he abode not in the truth" (John 8:44). 2. Demons. We turn next to the hosts who comprise Satan's kingdom: demons and fallen angels. Satan, as god of this world, rules over a vast host of demonic spirits and directs an extensive kingdom and hierarchy, consisting of principalities, powers, world rulers of darkness, and spirits of wickedness in the heavenly regions (Ephesians 6:12). Demons and fallen angels are never equated nor used interchangeably in Scripture. No angel is said to be "in" a person as in the case of the demon possessed. We do not read of a person who was possessed by an "unclean angel" (cf. Luke 4:33-36). Angels and other spirits are distinguished in Acts 23:9. The Scriptures speak of many kinds of spiritual creatures. In our modern age of science and technology, with advancements in medical knowledge and psychiatry, and as a result of the rise of critical Biblical scholarship, it has become popular to deny the reality and existence of such personal entities as Satan, demons, and evil spirits, dismissing such beliefs as unenlightened superstition. Several theories have been proposed by the skeptics in an unsuccessful attempt to explain rationally the manifestation of demonic powers. One such theory contends that the Bible, when it speaks of the presence and activity of demons, merely reflects prescientific superstition. From ancient times, we are told, every culture has held to the superstitious belief that the world is inhabited by unseen forces or spirits, some having good intentions toward man and some evil. In this way they were able to explain the mysteries of life and death, accident and disease, prosperity or famine, plagues, floods, storms, and so on. With our present day knowledge of science and the operation of physical laws, it is no longer necessary to resort to unrealistic explanations based upon unseen spirit forces. Within Christendom some rationalistic theologians propose the theory of accommodation in an attempt to explain Jesus' references to demons and His exorcism of the spirits which in some instances possessed those to whom He ministered. Jesus, we are told, was actually aware that such personal intelligences as demonic spirits did not really exist, but inasmuch as the people to whom He ministered held to these superstitions, He merely accommodated Himself to their unenlightened views concerning the cause of physical and mental illness. His purpose, we are told, was not to teach science, but religion. Hence, He did not attempt to correct their unscientific beliefs. To say the least, such preposterous theory is ethically out of harmony with the moral life and teaching of Jesus Himself as set forth in the New Testament. Edited. Shared. To be Continued. ❤️ God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.