Satan is a Three Time Looser.

Satan is either not too bright or just self-deluded because he thought and still thinks that he can defeat God. But Satan is a three time Looser. In the Scripture we see three major losses for the self-deluded one!

The first time was the fall of Satan and expulsion from Heaven. We learn this in Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28. Satan, originally Lucifer, was a very bright guy. The name means Morning Star or Shining one (see what I did there?) The literal translation in Hebrew means light bearer or light bringer (Funny, now he is called the prince of darkness!) We see that Lucifer was one of the highest created angels and originally created with great beauty and perfection:

“You had the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…” Eke 28:12-13

He had authority, possibly over a third of the angels and the scriptures hint that he may have been the worship leader in Heaven. At any rate, something happened, and he looked in the mirror one too many times and He developed and ego! Now mister Narcissus thought he should be worshipped and so started talking to the other angels behind God’s back (As if that is possible). Ultimately, he led a rebellion, and he and a third of the angels were banished from heaven and fell to the earth…Looser!

The second time Satan lost, was on earth. Satan naturally was mad at God so when he saw God made man he thought he could get even with them by tempting Adam and Eve in the garden. Initially his scheme seemed successful. But God said a great Deliverer would come and redeem man and make a place for him in Heaven. Satan didn’t like the fact that man could ultimately live eternally in heaven but He couldn’t. So, his plan was to kill the redeemer. He waited for thousands of years and when Jesus appeared on earth he knew he was the Son of God and decided he would kill him so that Jesus could not redeem man. Satan would get even with God! Well we know how the story goes.

At first, he thought it was going to be easy, after all he had the oratory skills of Obama! He tried to get Jesus to jump of a cliff saying the angels would catch him! When that didn’t work, He tried to kill him in a storm while he was sleeping in a boat. Finally, Mr. I am a Genius got the religious leaders, false witnesses and an angry mob to crucify him on the cross. Jesus was killed and Satan thought he won. But, three days later, we know how that ended. Satan…again a Looser.

The third time is a charm. They say when your drowning, you might as well give up when you go down the third time! Satan is going down! Satan lost to Jesus but Jesus went away for a while. And you know what they say, When the Master is away the Devil plays. Satan thinks he is going to get even with God by corrupting mankind and he is doing a pretty good job of it. He couldn’t rule heaven so he wants to rule earth. Ultimately, as he took the form of a serpent to beguile our first parents, he will take on the form of man known as the Antichrist and will rule the planet….at least for seven years. After that, Jesus comes back for a thousand years, and Satan is locked up. Now after a thousand years Jesus lets Meathead out. Does he repent? Does he feel sorry for what he did? Has he spent the last thousand years pondering his mistakes. Does he have any regrets and is he now contrite? No! Satan tries to lead one last rebellion. One last ditch to get after Jesus and his heavenly creator. But God has him and his followers thrown into the Lake of fire for eternity. Satan, your such a Looser!

Why do people follow him? When Lucifer fell his name was changed to Satan. Satan means adversary, enemy or one who opposes. He opposes man and God and though he thought he could win in the end, he ultimately will be a three time looser!

 

Should Christians Care about Freedom of Speech?

First Amendment:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

 

“Live like free people. But don’t use your freedom to cover up evil.

Live like people who serve God.” 1 Peter 2:16 (NirV)

It seems like daily out freedoms seem to be eroding. In the name of safety, mask and vaccine mandates are imposed by governments. Big tech censors, blocks, restricts and removes those who do not agree with them because it simply violates their rules of conduct. The main stream media is anti-conservative and anti-Christian and pretty much the arm of the leftist ideology. The Canadian government shut down truckers fighting for freedom of choice and recently passed a law virtually putting all news sources under government control to stop any dissent.

Should Christians care about freedom of speech? They better! The main vehicle for the gospel of Christ is speech! We are told to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every nation, but Satan is using governments and Social media to stop that ability more and more. The great preachers of old preached in outdoor meetings, or in the public square or tents and released some of the greatest Christian revivals in history. Today that is hardly possible. Freedom of assembly? No, you have to have a permit. House church? No, it is not properly zoned. And recently Covid became an excuse to down many churches.

As Christians we are called to speak the truth in love! But many get so-called fact checked and canceled by the social platforms for doing just that! Speak the biblical truth about homosexuality and you are branded a homophobe and blocked. Speak the truth about gender and you are labeled Trans hater and bigoted and suspended or removed.. The sad fact is many Christians give up or worse are pressured and deceived into compromising and accepting what God has forbidden. Satan wants to silent your voice! 

The prophet Jeremiah was told by God to stand in the temple courtyard and speak to the people:

“Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.” Jer. 26:3

It says the priest, the prophets and all the people seized him and said “You Must die”. Jeremiah was simply obeying God and speaking all that the Lord had told him concerning the sins of the nation but it so offended the religious leaders and the people that they wanted to kill him.  Jeremiah’s response:

“The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard. Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right.” Jer. 26:12-14

The king and the people again sought to put him to death but one man persuaded them to put him in prison instead. Nevertheless, the words of Jeremiah came true and Nebuchadnezzar came in and attacked the nation and whom he didn’t kill, he took captive to Babylon!

There are many spiritual principles here that we should consider. First the freedom of speech was removed. The religious system had become corrupt. The king and his government rather than accepting the warning of God sought to kill the voice of the prophet. And Jeremiah was faithful to God and spared, but not so the people.

They did the same thing to Jesus. They arrested him, not for anything he did but for something he said. He was called a blasphemer for saying he would destroy the temple (of his body) and declaring that he was the son of God. False witnesses (fact checkers) were called in to twist his words and persuade the religious leaders and government ruler to crucify him.

We still have some rights left but demonic forces and wicked people are seeking to erode them so that they might set up more government control in order to prepare the way for the anti-Christ. Jesus said that we must work while it is yet day for the night comes when no man can work. As darkness in society increases it is imperative that we let the Light of Christ shine and speak the words of the gospel while there is still opportunity!

Shalom!