What Makes One Fall
ICS Daily Devotions
John 10:10 (NKJV) The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
As Christians, we have an unseen enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy us and our families. Therefore, we need to know who He is and his evil ways in order to prempt him.
Ezekial 28:13-15 (NKJV) You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.
His name was Lucifer, better known as Satan now. He was an anointed cherub, well-adorned with precious stones, and a beautiful archangel who likely led worship in heaven. However, the perfection found in him caused him to be proud. Being in the ranks of the angelic host, Lucifer and his demons were in the presence of God, so Lucifer would have known God’s attributes better than any of us, and he would have seen the holiness of God. Lucifer would probably have been in the third heaven where God resides, seen how the entire angelic host in heaven worshipped God, and envied the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient God. Like those who teach the Word, Lucifer will be judged more strictly for his rebellion against God, given his exposure to and full knowledge of God’s holiness (James 3:1).
One lesson we can learn from Lucifer is that pride always precedes a downfall (Proverbs 16:18). It was his heart’s desire to be worshipped like God; he wanted a throne of his own above God. Pride is not of God but the work of the devil in our lives, working to the benefit of our fleshly desires. Neither is “divide and conquer” God’s character, but also the devil’s work because he has divided and stolen from God.
Another lesson for us is that the desire for power and being the centre of attention will always cause us to fall. Satan himself refused to submit to the authority of God when he was an angel. Therefore, the devil’s work will play into the sinful nature and the work of the flesh whenever there is strife and division in any organisation to gain power. Any rebellious behaviour is partly or wholly influenced by the devil or our own selfish desires. Thankfully, in His wisdom, God has established servant leadership in the church to keep us in check and humble.
Sermon Series: The Weapon Of Our Spiritual Warfare
