Pastor’s Pen Pulpit Series: Spiritual Warfare

September 19, 2004

THE ORIGIN

In our last pen pulpit we discussed the Hub of Spiritual Warfare – namely, the world system. Let’s review that definition once more.

“The world system is an ordered system of evil which was begun by Lucifer and introduced into the human race at the time of the fall of Adam and Eve. It includes all of the fallen Adamic progeny (descendants) and the system of morals, ethics, pleasures, philosophies, value systems and priorities that they have established apart from God and under the direction of the prince of this world -Satan. This evil world, and all that is involved in it, is under Divine condemnation and is being caused to pass away.”

The Beginning of This Evil System - Isaiah 14:12-14

Note five statements made by Lucifer:

1. I will ascend into heaven. This indicates a desire for more power - a desire to move his sphere into God’s sphere of rule.

2. I will exalt my throne above the stars - a desire to rule over the angelic realm.

3. I will sit upon the mount of the assembly in the recesses of the north - a desire to usurp God’s government. The “mount of the assembly” refers to the angelic host (Psalm 82:1) and is where God governs the angels.

4. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds - a desire to climb above the glory of God. Clouds are the environment of deity (Exodus 14:20; 16:10; Acts 1:9-11; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7).

5. I will be like the most high – a declaration of his independence from God. A characteristic of human sin is to be independent of God. This statement indicates the supreme motive that guides the activities of Satan, as well as man, following the fall.

This desire originated in Satan and was echoed in the Garden of Eden. It characterizes man throughout history and culminates among men in the Anti-Christ (Genesis 3; Isaiah 14; Daniel 11:36; II Thessalonians 2:4).

In rebelling against God, Satan declared his independence of God and substituted his plan, his project and his system, which is anti-God in all of its aspects. In the Garden of Eden he presented this system to Adam and Eve. The temptation was the door through which they entered a downward spiral into the sphere of sin. Out of Adam’s fallen offspring, apart from God, there began to develop and take form a philosophy of life, a philosophy of morals and ethics, priorities, life-styles and value systems, which formed and shaped society. This is the world system. Man is locked into a sphere of sin and he cannot operate outside that realm.

How can believers relate to this truth about the world system? The answer is found in I John 2:15-17, “Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.”

John tells us that if a person loves the world system – that is to say if he embraces it – putting it first in his or her life, the love of the Father is not in him. People, this warning should cause us to evaluate our relation to this world and its values. Note what Jesus said in John 15:19, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

Beloved, focus your attention on the Lord Jesus Christ – for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). God bless,

Love to you all,