From the Palace to the Pit | Part 1

Rubble of war fighting Studios in Memphis Tennessee umpiring Tyler here with Carrie Vaughn, the CEO of over finding Gary today. Adrian Rogers brings us a message from the palace to the pit. You know, our war is not against flesh and blood you and I've talked about this before we wage war against the evil force behind it all. Satan absolutely in here in Ezekiel.

This is a different story.

It's one from riches to rags, so God created this beautiful being hand.

He chose not to follow Christ. Yeah, I'm glad you emphasized the fact that God created a beautiful being because you know God didn't create the devil.

It was by choice. The devil decided to rebel against God and he gives us the same choice right of the people today have the same choice whether to call him Savior or to call him Judge. Well, the devil is the chief terrorist who divides he depresses and he destroys I like what Asia Roger says Satan sales a sinking ship. He rules a doomed domain this coming that final glorious day when Jesus will come and put his bruised heel upon Satan's head. Satan's head. He's headed to the pit and so we must be sober we must be vigilant because our adversary who were talk about right now the devil is going around like a roaring lying seeking and looking to whom he may devour right and so we must be on guard for seven that's right we to be on guard. Will we appreciate so much that our listeners all over the world who write lover fighting and let us know what's on your heart how the ministry is touching your life. We have a response from Facebook and that's one way that you can let us know through Facebook, you can go to our website, you go to LWF.org, but this listener says pastor Rogers, one of the greatest teachers and preacher of the word of God, thank you for these faithful messages from a faithful speaker.

They have been very encouraging to my life and strength to me in my weakness. LWF is a blessing, a man we love that we love us and send us more of those type of response unless that's wonderful. But you're right, I think LWF.org.

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And now, from the palace to the pit peers. Adrian Rogers paid God's word apply in the Old Testament the prophet Ezekiel, and when you found that Old Testament passage turn to chapter 28 and verse eight.

They shall bring down to the pit and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the sea.

Now this Scripture that I just read to you was talking about the king of Tyre Lake high, wide and handsome, had a lavish marble Cedar Palace, and yet he went from the palace to the pit and God takes the king of Tyre and uses him as an illustration of Satan himself. Now, ladies and gentlemen, we are at war, and it is a bigger war than we realize how war is not primarily are only against terrorism or is not a political war. War is not a philosophical war I war is not a cultural war. As such there for our great enemy is not terrorism is not pornography, it is not liquor. It is not drug not violence, not sexual perversion.

Not abortion. All of these things are terrible, but it lets you see the power behind them all bind all modern-day terrorism bind all of these cultural and philosophical problems.

You're not going to win the war.

Your intimate lady is not your husband so your enemy is not your boss or your in-laws, not the IRS. There is a king listen carefully. There is a kingdom of evil. It is headed up by Satan, and he is the power behind the throne. Now Satan is not some medieval superstition.

Are you cannot, as a child of God afford ignorance you need to be informed.

There is a kingdom of evil, and we understand that we are citizens of a another kingdom and that we have victory day by day if we will appropriated, but we are living in this day and age.

What the Bible calls Hills headquarters listen to Revelation chapter 2 verse 13 God said to the church at Pergamum. I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat literally where Satan's throne is that we live in a world that is dominated by a kingdom of evil that has a king, Jesus called him in the Bible in John 14 verse 30 the prince of this world. That's what Jesus calls Satan, the Prince of this world there is a kingdom of evil. Now the king of ancient Tyre that we see described here in Ezekiel 28 is used in the Bible as an illustration of Satan himself.

And as you read Ezekiel 28 you find God speaking to the king of ancient Tyre, a wicked malevolent terrorist king, but God goes right on through the king of Tyre and God addresses Satan himself who is the power behind the throne in the Bible you often find God speaking through something or someone to the devil. For example, in the garden of Eden. God spoke to the serpent, but was really speaking to Satan when Simon Peter said to Jesus, you're not going to the cross. Jesus was speaking to Simon but really to Satan when he said get the behind me Satan without savers, not the things that are God. Sometimes God takes an individual or thing and sees the power behind that thing and speaks to Satan himself and that's what God has done here in this 28 chapter of Ezekiel. So what were going to do as we got a look at Satan himself. The power behind that terrorism and really good to see what we are really up against because will never win the war and we see where the true enemy is now there is a system of inequity. The Bible calls it the mystery of iniquity before things out of this passage here in Ezekiel chapter 28 that I want to lay upon your heart.

Many more things before things I want you to see about the devil himself not remember this involves you, you may think that it doesn't involve you, but you are at target of a sinister enemy is your personal enemy and don't think that you can afford neutrality and ignorance is dangerous for things all in your heart. First of all, Satan was created in perfection. Satan was created in perfection. People asked this question, why did God ever make the devil to begin with print, God did not create a devil Satan, who became the devil was created in perfection.

Look, if you will now beginning in verse 11. Moreover the word of the Lord came to me saying Son of Man take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and saying to him, thus says the Lord God, thou see list up the Psalm full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. Today we would say was a perfect 10. He seals up the sum, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty, thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God. Now right away. We know he was not talking about the little king of Tyre because the king of Tyre was not full of wisdom and perfect in beauty the king of Tyre had never been in Eden, the garden of God.

Every precious stone was thy covering the sardius, topaz, and the diamond in the barrel, the Onyx and the Jasper of the Sapphire and the carboxyl and goal. The workmanship of thy tablets and thy pipes was prepared in the from the day thou wast created as tells us that Satan was a created being thou art the anointed cherub that come with and I've sent the so thou wast upon the holy mountain of God, thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. The king of Tyre never did all of that himself so God is speaking through the king of Tyre to someone else. But now notice verse 15 thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou was created to deal iniquity was found in the numbers 15 houses that Satan was the noblest, the most beautiful of angelic creation. Satan was surpassing in beauty. He was superlative in wisdom. Originally, his name was Lucifer, which means light bearer verse 13 teaches that when Satan spoke. It was like music God, his voice was like a great pipe organ. Look in the last part of that verse and I pipes were prepared in the from the day thou was created when he would speak.

He would fill the universe with music. He lived in and it dueled sitting that is adorned with precious Jim out what he's talking about here is heaven, there was a time when this created being dwelt in a place called heaven. Verse 14 tells us he was on the holy mountain of mountain in Bible speaks of God's government.

The mountain of God speaks of the administrative authority that this one had.

He was the chief of the chief he was the prime minister of heaven. Verse 14 tells us that he was a cherub. The cherubim were the highest of the created angels. He was the highest class of angels and verse 14 tells us that he was that she among them. He was the anointed cherub that covers he was the one who was the leader of the leaders he was the highest of the high verse 18. Look in verse 18 it speaks of his sanctuaries, thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of line iniquity are sanctuaries a place of praying this anointed cherub this one the highest of the high this one full of wisdom and beauty was a person who would receive an offer praise to the Almighty. He was like the high priest of heaven and it was his responsibility to orchestrate the worship and the praise to God the father, but remember that he was a created being never get the idea that Satan somehow was coequal and coeternal with God. Satan had a beginning. He was created by Almighty God. God did not create a devil. God created a perfect be absolutely totally perfect. So the first thing I want to learn about this sinister minister of evil is that he was created in perfection. God is the second thing was he created in perfection, but number two he was corrupted through prime he was corrupted through pride now look again in verse 15 thou wast perfect in byways see God did not create imperfection.

Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created to underscore the word tail to eat iniquity was found in the by the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned. Therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God. I will destroy the old covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty that has corrupted thy wisdom because of thy brightness. I will cast it to the ground.

I will lay thee before kings, that they may be holding back here was this Lucifer, the son of the morning, who is absolutely beautiful wise having all of the attributes and accouterments that God could give to him but then he was infected with pride.

He came to believe I'm too good I'm too wise I'm too holy. I'm too great to be anything less than God, the counterpart of this passage is found in Isaiah chapter 14 where the Bible says that he was lifted up with pride and said I will be like the most high. Now look at the word merchandise in verse 16 by the multitude of thy merchandise they feel midst of thee with violence what is merchandise merchandise is that which passes through our hand.

A merchant is something it takes something from somebody and sells it to somebody else's merchandise comes through his hand. Now Satan made merchandise of his office. All this praise that was coming it was coming only to him that it might go through him and up to God himself.

But what he began to do was to put his hands on that merchandise and try to let that merchandise stick to his own fingers and he made merchandise of his office and because of that, he fell from his exalted position. Look, if you will, in verse 17. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty that has corrupted thy wisdom by reason of I brightness I get it down plain because some people stumble over this fact God did not create a devil.

He created a holy angel and he gave that Angel the power of choice between good and evil and this angel chose to do evil. God gives everybody a power of choice. If we had no choice. We can neither be praised for doing good to blame for doing this. Angel had a choice, and because of pride he chose wrong and Lucifer, the son of the morning became Satan the father might and verse 17 tells us that his wisdom and his beauty are corrupted.

But I listen carefully corrupted or not traces of them still remain. So when you think of the devil.

Don't think of summer pulse of monster some scaly beast the Bible tells us that he is a master camouflage and he is been transformed as an angel of light. Put this verse in your margin.

Second Corinthians 11 verses 14 and 15 here is what the apostle Paul says he's warning them about false prophets, and here's what he says and no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to the work. Now Satan is like an angel, an angel of light. If Satan were up to appear in this building is an angel of light. You would be tempted to fall down and worship him. And Satan has his emissaries his ministers. When you look for the devil never fail to look in the pulpit. Paul says he's talking about false prophets and he says he transformed himself is as an angel of light is also strange thing if his ministers also be that way, be transformed as the ministers of righteousness that was not against religion but that was up to the ears and religion is the master of camouflage and Satan works through music. Satan works through our through literature. He is brilliant but brilliantly stupid is beautiful, but he is hideously beautiful and he has blemished beauty is warped wisdom, let me tell you some of the attributes of the devil. With this blemished beauty in this war. Wisdom, the Bible describes him. In Genesis as more sellable than any beast of the field.

The apostle Paul called him an angel of light.

The apostle Paul spoke of his wiles and his snares and his devices. Sometimes a person may be very religious and very iniquitous at the same time being what the first temptation was in the garden of the devil in the form of a serpent tempted Eve to sin. But what was the crux of the temptation. What was underneath the temptation he knew this and you be like so you be like you be like sounds pretty good doesn't it wasn't a temptation to fall down the temptation to rise up to be like God just do it my way. Forsake what God the father has said and listen to me you have your own home made religion to the devil's into this thing of worship the devil even wanted the Lord Jesus to worship him. That's the unmitigated gall and audacity that the devil has he said to Jesus, when he showed them the kingdom of this world is that all this I'll give you if you will bow down and worship me.

Jesus knew the Scripture Jesus said Scripture says, thou shalt worship the Lord God and him only.

This world is full of religious deception is a pastor than that proves the Bible not to be true. No, it proves the Bible to be true.

First Timothy chapter 4 verse one now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall the part from the fate, giving heed to what seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils doctrines of being the devil transforms himself as an angel of light. Satan was created in perfection. Satan was corrupted through prime byway, nothing will put you further out of the devil's recent genuine humility in the Bible tells us when we ordain the new minister. Be careful that is not an office lest he be lifted up with pride and fall into the condemnation of the devil, nothing will put a preacher more out of the reach of Satan genuine humility. Sometimes we pray Lord make me humble friend of your wise you will humble yourself before Almighty God got as ways of making you humble and you probably will not looking you humble and you probably think only upon your heart. Satan continues with power. Now God says that I'm good at cast you out of this holy place. Looking you in verse 17. Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty that is corrupted by wisdom because of I brightness I will cast the to the ground.

Satan is cast out of heaven.

No sooner had he unsheathed this sort of rebellion than the power of Almighty God cast him from his holy place, from the holy mountain.

Jesus said, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Jesus was there when it happened. This was eons before Bethlehem when Satan fell. But even those men cast out of heaven by the express permission of God. Satan continues with power. Look, if you will, in verses 16 through 18. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence and I send therefore I will cast is profane out of the mountain of God, and will destroy the O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. That is, you no longer going to walk up and down here in this holy place thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty that has corrupted thy wisdom because of thy brightness. I will cast it to the ground.

I will lately before kings, that they may behold be that has defiled my sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, and by the iniquity of thy traffic therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of the and it shall devour the and I will bring the to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that beholding now. Here God is speaking of a process that begins with Satan's being cast out of heaven and finally brought down the hill, but in the meanwhile, Satan still has you want to know what's wrong with the world today there is a reign of terror and Satan is the master gene will hear the conclusion of this message coming up tomorrow on the program.

I hope you can join us then. Do you have a prayer request you like to share that love worth finding. It's one of our greatest honors to come alongside you, and pray with you if you can go to our website homepage@lwf.org and scroll down to find our prayer wall. There you'll find the option to either submit a prayer request or pray for others.

This resource is one of our favorite ways to keep the ministry in the community praying continually for one another's needs. We can't wait to hear from you today. First Peter 58 says, be sober, be vigilant. Your adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Members Adrian Rogers warns us the devil's wisdom is correct his beauty blemished consumer conviction. Join us next time for the powerful conclusion from the palace to the online worth