Power and Loyalty
The world trades power for loyalty. This is the way the kingdom of darkness works: "Do what I want, and I will give you more of what you want." This is what led to satan's fall, and his character, and all those who agree with him, have reflected that same sentiment ever since:
Ezekiel 28:13-18 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone — red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald— all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. “You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings. You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire out from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.
Satan traded...sold...engaged in the commerce of..what belonged to God. He promised the other angels power in his shadow kingdom if they would give their loyalty to him. One third of the angels bought into his plan!
Revelation 12:3-4 Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.
Many of these angels were given principalities, dominions, and seats of power....not because satan enjoyed them, created them for the perfect spot, or wanted to see them develop into the fullest expression of his own love. No! Satan appointed the fallen angels to positions only to consolidate his own power. He simply wanted them to legitimize his own weak false kingdom. He assigned seats to make himself a ruler:
Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
But this is the most tragic irony in satan's whole plan: satan risked it all to get what God gives freely: a perfect position that you and I were perfectly created to fill. IF we will resist the pull of darkness and TRUST that God is, in fact a good and wise Father. Satan decided to believe there was more available to him than he had been given. This pride...which is really the root cause of disagreement with God...is what led to satan's fall. That is what led to the delusion that he could re-distribute God's very authority to God's created angels, and somehow steal God's kingdom. But pride led satan to forget the one constant thread of truth woven throughout creation's story: there is only one I AM! There is only one uncreated One! He is God the Father, Son, and Spirit. The difference in power between a created satan and the uncreated God is infinite! There has never been a chance that satan will win!
There are only two kingdoms to give your loyalty to: the kingdom of light, or the kingdom of darkness. If you aren't giving your loyalty to the good Father who gives freely to all those who trust Him, then you are, in fact, giving your loyalty to darkness. No one on earth can give you the perfect position, purpose, or plan, no matter what they promise you. Only God knows the fullness of what He created you for. Remain in Him...talk to Him and trust Him for direction, provision, and identity...and He will remain in you. He desires a relationship from the bottom up, not a top down arrangement. If you give your loyalty to God, no one can keep you from what He has for you, and no one can move you from where He establishes you.
Many "leaders" who claim to work for God actually operate in satan's methods. The way to guard against falling into this trap is to have the same attitude of Daniel, who said "keep your gifts" to men, but still operated in love and obedience to God. Daniel knew there was only one who could elevate him to the place he was made for!
Daniel 5:13-17 So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. My wise men and enchanters have tried to read the words on the wall and tell me their meaning, but they cannot do it. I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means.
Ezekiel 28:13-18 You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious stone — red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx, green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald— all beautifully crafted for you and set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created. I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire. “You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you. Your rich commerce led you to violence, and you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian, from your place among the stones of fire. Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground and exposed you to the curious gaze of kings. You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire out from within you, and it consumed you. I reduced you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were watching.
Satan traded...sold...engaged in the commerce of..what belonged to God. He promised the other angels power in his shadow kingdom if they would give their loyalty to him. One third of the angels bought into his plan!
Revelation 12:3-4 Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept away one-third of the stars in the sky, and he threw them to the earth. He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.
Many of these angels were given principalities, dominions, and seats of power....not because satan enjoyed them, created them for the perfect spot, or wanted to see them develop into the fullest expression of his own love. No! Satan appointed the fallen angels to positions only to consolidate his own power. He simply wanted them to legitimize his own weak false kingdom. He assigned seats to make himself a ruler:
Ephesians 6:11-13 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
But this is the most tragic irony in satan's whole plan: satan risked it all to get what God gives freely: a perfect position that you and I were perfectly created to fill. IF we will resist the pull of darkness and TRUST that God is, in fact a good and wise Father. Satan decided to believe there was more available to him than he had been given. This pride...which is really the root cause of disagreement with God...is what led to satan's fall. That is what led to the delusion that he could re-distribute God's very authority to God's created angels, and somehow steal God's kingdom. But pride led satan to forget the one constant thread of truth woven throughout creation's story: there is only one I AM! There is only one uncreated One! He is God the Father, Son, and Spirit. The difference in power between a created satan and the uncreated God is infinite! There has never been a chance that satan will win!
There are only two kingdoms to give your loyalty to: the kingdom of light, or the kingdom of darkness. If you aren't giving your loyalty to the good Father who gives freely to all those who trust Him, then you are, in fact, giving your loyalty to darkness. No one on earth can give you the perfect position, purpose, or plan, no matter what they promise you. Only God knows the fullness of what He created you for. Remain in Him...talk to Him and trust Him for direction, provision, and identity...and He will remain in you. He desires a relationship from the bottom up, not a top down arrangement. If you give your loyalty to God, no one can keep you from what He has for you, and no one can move you from where He establishes you.
Many "leaders" who claim to work for God actually operate in satan's methods. The way to guard against falling into this trap is to have the same attitude of Daniel, who said "keep your gifts" to men, but still operated in love and obedience to God. Daniel knew there was only one who could elevate him to the place he was made for!
Daniel 5:13-17 So Daniel was brought in before the king. The king asked him, “Are you Daniel, one of the exiles brought from Judah by my predecessor, King Nebuchadnezzar? I have heard that you have the spirit of the gods within you and that you are filled with insight, understanding, and wisdom. My wise men and enchanters have tried to read the words on the wall and tell me their meaning, but they cannot do it. I am told that you can give interpretations and solve difficult problems. If you can read these words and tell me their meaning, you will be clothed in purple robes of royal honor, and you will have a gold chain placed around your neck. You will become the third highest ruler in the kingdom.” Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means.
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