Love Worth Finding

Guest (Male): Did God create something or someone evil? Here's Adrian Rogers with the answer.

Adrian Rogers: 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. And Lucifer, the son of the morning, became Satan, the father of night. And verse 17 tells us that his wisdom and his beauty are corrupted.

But now listen carefully. Corrupted or not, traces of them still remain.

Guest (Male): Welcome to Love Worth Finding, featuring profound yet practical biblical messages from pastor, teacher, and author Adrian Rogers. As Christians, we know our war is not against flesh and blood. Behind all wickedness and oppression in the world is Satan, beating the drums of diversion to drown the truth. Satan's origin story in Ezekiel 28 is one of riches to rags. It's important to learn about his descent from the palace to the pit because we are pawns in this battle. But never forget, God has done something about the devil. Let's find out about it. If you have your Bible, turn to Ezekiel chapter 28 as Adrian Rogers teaches the lesson, "From the Palace to the Pit."

Adrian Rogers: 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. There are four things out of this passage here in Ezekiel chapter 28 that I want to lay upon your heart—many more things, but four things I want you to see about the devil himself. Now remember, this involves you.

First of all, Satan was created in perfection. People ask this question: why did God ever make the devil to begin with? Friend, 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 unto me saying, 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. Thou hast been in Eden, the garden of God."

Right away, we know he was not talking about the literal 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. 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 wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." Now verse 15 tells us 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. There was a time when this created being dwelt in a place called heaven. 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 is co-equal and co-eternal with God. Satan had a beginning. He was created by Almighty God. God did not create a devil; God created a perfect being, absolutely, totally perfect. So the first thing I want you to learn about this sinister minister of evil is that he was created in perfection.

Here's the second thing. Not only was he created in perfection, but number two, he was corrupted through pride. Now here was this Lucifer, this son of the morning, who is absolutely beautiful, wise, having all of the attributes and accoutrements 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."

Look, if you will, in verse 17: "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." Now 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. And Lucifer, the son of the morning, became Satan, the father of night. And verse 17 tells us that his wisdom and his beauty are corrupted.

Listen carefully. Corrupted or not, traces of them still remain. So when you think of the devil, don't think of some repulsive monster, some scaly beast. The Bible tells us that he is a master of camouflage, and he has been transformed as an angel of light. And so it's no strange thing if his ministers also be that way, be transformed as the ministers of righteousness. You see, the devil's not against religion; the devil is up to his ears in religion. He is the master of camouflage.

Satan works through music. Satan works through art, through literature. He is brilliant, but he's brilliantly stupid. He is beautiful, but he is hideously beautiful. And he has blemished beauty. He has warped wisdom. Satan was created in perfection. Satan was corrupted through pride. By the way, nothing will put you further out of the devil's reach than genuine humility. Now here's the third thing I want to lay upon your heart. Satan continues with power.

God says that "I'm going to cast thee out of this holy place." Look, if you will, in verse 17: "Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom because of thy brightness; I will cast thee to the ground." Satan is cast out of heaven. No sooner had he unsheathed his sword 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.

Even though he's been 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 thou hast sinned; therefore, I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire." That is, you're no longer going to walk up and down here in this holy place.

God is speaking of a process that begins with Satan's being cast out of heaven and finally brought down to hell. But in the meantime, Satan still has power. You see, God gave to Adam and Eve dominion of the earth. Satan, having been cast out of heaven, came as a con artist and conned Adam and Eve out of that dominion. They turned it over to him. They became slaves of Satan. And all of the progeny of Adam and Eve have become slaves to Satan.

The Bible says the whole world lieth in the lap, the bosom, of the wicked one. We are by nature now the children of wrath. Adam and Eve turned over the power and the authority on earth to this one called Satan. You say, "Well, I didn't know that Satan had power and authority on earth." Yes, he does. Put these scriptures down now. John 14: Jesus said, "Hereafter I will not talk much with you, for the prince of this world cometh." The prince of this world—Jesus called him that. "The prince of this world cometh and hath nothing in Me."

Ephesians chapter 6, verse 12 speaks of the rulers of darkness. That means that Satan is the commander-in-chief of a vast number of spirit beings, angels who rebelled with him and are in full sympathy with him and do his bidding. And now Satan has this reign of terror over the earth. You want to know what's wrong with the world today? There is a reign of terror, and Satan is the master and chief. He has principalities and powers. When Satan said to Jesus, "Fall down and worship me because all these kingdoms have been given to me," Jesus did not argue with him.

Martin Luther, with that great hymn, which is one of my favorite hymns, "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," said of Satan, "His power and craft are great, and armed with cruel hate, on earth is not his equal." And he is known now for a multitude of iniquities. Notice in verse 18, the multitude of iniquities. What's wrong with the world today? Jot these scriptures down. Acts chapter 10, verse 38 speaks of those oppressed of the devil. Luke 13 spoke of one whom Satan has bound. 2 Corinthians 12:7, the messenger of Satan.

Satan has today a reign of terror. He's the chief terrorist. Subversion, perversion, diversion. He wants to divide, he wants to depress, he wants to destroy. Depression, oppression, these things come from the devil. Have you ever wondered why there's such a war on little babies? Friend, just open a Bible. Read the ancient god Molech. Molech, who had a fire in his belly with open arms, and in order to please this pagan deity, mothers would take their newborn babes and roll them screaming into the fire to please Molech.

Baal, the fertility god, the god of sex. How did they worship the god of sex, Baal? By the sacrifice of their little babies. Satan has always hated children. Think of Pharaoh. What did Pharaoh do? He killed the babies. What did Herod do? He killed the babies. What does Planned Parenthood do? It kills the babies. Abortion is a blood sacrifice to Satan. Satan has a war against the unborn, against the innocents. You see, they're just old gods with new names. Well, you say, "Pastor, is it hopeless and helpless?" Of course not. That's why Jesus came.

Jesus became flesh and blood. Why? "That through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, the devil." Jesus came to this earth to die in my place, in your place, and through His death destroy him who had the power of death, the devil. The word "destroy," *katargeo*, does not mean to obliterate. It means to make of none effect. Jesus does not obliterate the devil, but Jesus has taken away the authority of the devil. What Adam gave to Satan legally, what was legally lost, Jesus has legally taken back by His death, burial, and resurrection.

Hell had a holiday. They said, "He is finished." But He wasn't finished. Satan was finished. The power of Satan was finished. Now notice, put down Colossians chapter 2 and verse 15. It speaks of Jesus and His death, and it says, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." In what? In His death. Jesus spoiled principalities and powers.

The Bible says we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. But those principalities and powers, headed up by the devil, have been decimated by the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has been stripped. That is, all of his accoutrements are taken from him. Not only was he stripped, but the Bible teaches that he is shamed. His authority has been taken from him. Jesus has spoiled principalities and powers. The Christian, therefore, in your life and in my life, Satan has been defeated.

Satan has no power over you. He doesn't want you to understand that. You are not a victim. His back was broken at Calvary. He sails a sinking ship, he rules a doomed domain. And Jesus said, "I give you authority over all the power of the enemy." You need to understand that. Our Lord said, "In nothing be terrified by your adversaries." You say, "Does that mean that I can't be put to death for Christ?" If you get put to death, it'll be Satan's biggest mistake.

Jesus said, "I give you authority over all the power of the enemy." You're not bigger, stronger, wiser, greater than Satan, but Jesus is. And the Bible says, "Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world." Fourth and final thing I want to lay on your heart today: Satan is consigned to the pit. Satan is consigned to the pit. Look in verse 8: "They shall bring thee down to the pit." Look in verses 18 and 19: "Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities."

In Jesus, we have conquered. "Thanks be unto God, who causeth us always to triumph in Christ Jesus." You're not a helpless victim. And quit saying, "The devil made me do it." He hasn't; he can't. Now you can fail to use the authority that God has given you, and if you do, then you've got a big problem. But friend, our Lord says, "Behold, I give you authority over all the power of the enemy." You're not bigger, stronger, wiser, greater than Satan, but Jesus is. And the Bible says, "Greater is He that's in you than he that's in the world."

Fourth and final thing I want to lay on your heart today: Satan is consigned to the pit. Satan is consigned to the pit. Look in verse 8: "They shall bring thee down to the pit." Look in verses 18 and 19: "Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic; therefore, will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, and it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. And all they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee; thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be anymore."

There's coming a time, there's coming a time when we see Satan, and we'll say, "That worm? That's the one that made the nations to tremble?" What's it all about? You choose sides carefully because if you follow Satan, you're going to end up with him. The Bible says that hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. It wasn't prepared for you. If you go to hell, you'll be an intruder. But all who follow Satan will end up with him.

Number two, don't you be terrified by Satan. I don't mean to swagger; I don't mean to be careless. The Bible says, "Be sober, be vigilant; your adversary the devil goeth about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." But remember that in Jesus you have authority if you will use it. Understand where the real war is. Our battle is not with flesh and blood; our battle is with principalities and powers. And many times we lose the war because we don't show up for the battle.

Are you saved? Do you know the Lord Jesus Christ? If not, Satan has you like a plaything, like a puppet on a string now, and one of these days, you'll join him in hell. Pastor, when's the devil going to rule in hell? Never. The devil doesn't rule in hell. The devil is going to hell to suffer. Don't get the idea that somehow Satan rules hell; he doesn't rule hell. For a while he's a usurper here on earth, but his back has been broken, and he has no power over you if you'll trust Jesus.

The devil doesn't rule in hell. The devil is going to hell to suffer. Don't get the idea that somehow Satan rules hell; he doesn't rule hell. For a while he's a usurper here on earth, but his back has been broken, and he has no power over you if you'll trust Jesus. Now Jesus came to destroy the power of Satan. Jesus came to deliver you. Jesus came to set you free. He came to give you peace and power, forgiveness of sin, and a home in heaven.

Choose you this day whom you will serve. If you'd like to be saved, would you pray a prayer like this: Dear God, I'm a sinner, I need to be saved, I want to be saved. Jesus, You died to save me. You promised to save me if I would trust You. I do trust You, Jesus. I believe You're the Son of God. I believe You paid my sin debt with Your blood on the cross. I believe that God raised You from the dead, and I receive You into my life as my Lord and Savior.

Jesus, You died to save me. You promised to save me if I would trust You. I do trust You, Jesus. I believe You're the Son of God. I believe You paid my sin debt with Your blood on the cross. I believe that God raised You from the dead, and I receive You into my life as my Lord and Savior. And I give my life to You to live it out for You till You take me to heaven. I give You my life and I receive You as my Lord and Savior. Save me, Jesus. Pray it and mean it. Save me, Lord Jesus. Give me the courage to make it public. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Guest (Male): If you prayed to receive the forgiveness that Jesus has offered you, would you let us celebrate with you? Go to our website, lwf.org/radio, and click the tab that says Discover Jesus. There you'll find some answers you might need about your faith as well as a response section. We'd love to hear how this message has affected your life. Welcome to the family of God. Let us hear from you today. Again, go to lwf.org/radio and click Discover Jesus.

Hi, this is Cary Vaughn, and this program has been brought to you by Love Worth Finding, a nonprofit ministry showcasing the powerful preaching and teaching of Pastor Adrian Rogers. We operate solely through the generous gifts of individual supporters just like you. To give a gift today, call 1-877-LOVEGOD, that's 1-877-LOVEGOD, or write to us at Love Worth Finding, Box 38-600, Memphis, Tennessee 38183. You can also connect with us online by going to lwf.org/radio.

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