Satan's Society

Brethren, as we watch the news every day, the news nowadays are particularly painful to watch. It really is very, very sad to see how people treat people, how people kill people, how people shoot people just indiscriminately. You see, people causing other people to suffer, it's just so terrible. I like to watch, not that I like to watch, but I do. To be aware of what's going on, I watch, besides typical American news broadcasts, I watch German broadcasts in English, news from Germany and one from BBC. So it gives me a little bit of a better perspective, or a more spread out perspective. We see what has been happening, the disaster in Syria, it's really terrible. And now this new group that is only one year old, called ISIS, which is the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and how they are taking over cities in Iraq, and you see how American soldiers have died there, and the pain that it must be for parents and families, that people have died there, gave their lives, and it is all as if it is for wars in Iraq. And it really is so sad and so painful. Then we hear regularly of shootings in schools. Young people go out and take and shoot other people. And then obviously you know, these suicide bombos, they wrap themselves up with things and blow people up. And next one asks a question, how can people hate people so much to kill themselves in the process? And clearly it's not a sound mind. Clearly it's not a sound mind. You and I know how Christ said in the sermon on the Mount, don't have to turn there, but he said, you know, you have heard, I shall not kill. But he said, even more than that, if you hate your brother, if there is a feeling of hatred, if you have words that are derogatory and things like that, be careful. And so he raised up the standard from a physical to a mental and spiritual attitude of mind. And therefore, how can people justify themselves to kill others or kill themselves? When the law is so clear that you are not to kill and Christ is so clear that we are not to hate others. So today, brethren, I want to look at the root of the cause of this problem, at the root of the problem. Because mankind today is just saying, oh well, therefore we mustn't have guns. But that's not the problem. I am not trying to get involved into debate whether you should or should not have guns. That's not the point. That's not the issue. The point is, what is the root of the problem? The root of the problem is that there is an evil spirit out there, inspiring, and people are listening to that broadcast and being affected by it and allowing themselves to be swung by those emotions and feelings and sentiments. So today I want to look, brethren, at how Satan came to have the power he has in society. And therefore I want to look at how you and I can fight that spirit. So for us to look at how Satan came to be and to have the power that he has to be what he is today and to have the power he has, let's look at history from the beginning. And the very beginning in the Bible, the very beginning, let's turn to it. And that is in John chapter 1. Not Genesis chapter 1, but John chapter 1, because the very beginning long before Genesis 1 is John chapter 1. John chapter 1, we'll start reading from verse 1. In the beginning, in the very beginning was the Word. In the words, Logos, who later became Christ, was in the beginning, existed the Word. The Logos, and the Word was with the God, who later became known as the Father.

As in the Greek it's got a little proposition there in the Greek, which is the God. So the Word, which became Christ, was with the God, which became later the Father when Christ was born and when He created mankind. And the Word, that is, who became Christ, was God. And it was the form of God, was of that kind, of that God kind. He, Christ, was in the beginning with the God, who became the Father.

And all things were made through Him, through Jesus Christ. And without Him, that was without Jesus Christ, nothing was made that was made. Nothing, nothing, nothing means nothing. You and I normally, when we think of nothing, we only think of physical things. For when He says nothing, and we'll see in a moment, it also means invisible spiritual things.

Nothing was made without Him. Nothing. Nothing in Him was life. In Christ was life. And the life was the light of man. And the light shines in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend. So there were these two beings. They're both of the God kind. One was the God, and the other was Logos. And they said, how nice would it be, we can presume or assume, how nice it be to have a family, to have children. And like we heard on the sermon, to be father to children. How nice it would be to have and to be able to express that love, and to correct them, and guide them, and teach them, and train them, and have that relationship.

And so they decided, yeah, let's do that. Let's create beings which will be able to shape and mold. And for us to be able to shape and mold, they need to be physical. So that they are malleable. They can be taught and changed. And when they go wrong, we can grant them repentance, and provided they will truly repent, we can give them that repentance. We can bring them back in the right path. And therefore, the very plan right at the beginning, when these two beings were together, and said, we want to have a family, we want to have children, required therefore a plan of salvation. Required for a plan of salvation, which meant one of them would have to give his life. Because sin, the law says, if you sin, you die. And so one of them had to die to pay for his life. And as we can see, that was decided right from the foundation, as we can see in Revelation 13, at the end of verse 8. Revelation 13, 1-3, at the end of verse 8, it's talking about those names that have not been written in the book of life, of the Lamb, which was slain from the foundation of the wall. The moment they decided, we want to have sons, which are malleable and can be taught, and therefore to be like us, need to go through a certain growing process, and therefore therein there needs to be forgiveness and mercy and kindness and gentleness and all these other attributes. And by then back, the law says, if you sin, you shall die. They'll have to die, but we'll have to buy them back. And therefore Christ was condemned to death at that moment that they fought out that plan. And also, it would have to be one of them, because the one that would do the creating would be the one that would have to do the dying for that creation. And therefore from that moment when we decided we need to create, I, quote unquote, the Creator, I'm going to have to die for my creation. Quite an amazing thing that the world does not understand, but they needed servants to help them doing this. They needed servants to help in the creation of this physical human being. And so they said, well, we're going to create these servants, and these servants are what we call the angels, angelic spiritual beings that will be able to serve these people not only when they were physical, but also when they will become spiritual. You would have to create that. And that's why it says in Colossians chapter 1.

For Colossians chapter 1 verse 16 and 17, it says that Christ, for by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth.

Visible and invisible. In other words, physical and spiritual.

That's what it means. In him, that Christ, he created everything. He's the Creator. In the beginning there were the two.

One of them would be the Creator, and he would have to die for that creation. But he would have to create physical, but also spiritual. So he was the Creator of everything that is in heaven and on earth, visible, that's physical, and invisible, that's spiritual. Whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. So when he created this angelic world, there were thrones, there were dominions, there were powers, there were authorities. In other words, it's the kingdom of God on earth. There was clear, delineated authority and responsibilities with him that created spiritual realm of angels. Verse 17, and he is before all things, and in him all things consist. So he is everything that came through him. So these servants, these angels would serve them mankind. In other words, the future children of God, which were still to be born. So therefore, God created angels and created mankind. But there would be a big difference between the creation of angels and mankind. Mankind would grow through begettle, will develop through begettle. You'd make one, and from that one, you'd make a second one, from the rope of that one, you'd make a second one, and the two then, being one, would beget others, and it would be a whole begettle process of life. And then there will be a process of begetting those people with the power of God's Spirit, which is the seed of God, and so they would become the children of God. So there was a whole begettle process, not a creation process, as the angels were all created like this, but this was a begettle. One would be yet another. And so, looking with me in Hebrews chapter 1, in Hebrews chapter 1, and we're going to see in verse 5, he says, And to which of the angels did he ever say, You are my son, today I have begotten you. No angel has been begotten. They have been created, and they were created...

Bang! They were there, created beings. But we, as human beings, we grow through the begettle process from a tiny little seed, and then we grow in a mother's womb until we're born, and then we talk to tiny little babies. And there's a whole loving, endearing environment there of father, son, mother, child, and husband, wife, and an environment of growing based first on a family, and then extended family, and then the community, and the nation, and the overall world society. Built upon that nuclear family in first place. So, none of the angels did God ever say to them, You are my son, today I have begotten you. But to us, with half God's Holy Spirit, He has begotten us after baptism when we receive the Holy Spirit. And again, I'll be to Him a father, and He shall be to me a son. He doesn't say that to angels. Sure, they're created beings. Sure, at times the Bible uses the term, they are the sons of God, but they are sons of God through creation, not through begettle. There's a big difference there. Big difference. So, they're not really begotten and grown in that family as a son. And then if you look a little further, in verse 13 and 14, He says, But to each of the angels, as He ever said, Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies in foodstools, talking to Christ, yeah. And then in verse 14 is the one I want to emphasize, and they, it was the angels, the angels are not all ministering spirits sent to minister for those who will inherit salvation. That is, put it another way, the job description of the angels. Their reason of being is to minister for those who will inherit salvation. And it was for their purpose of being is to serve mankind, which will then one day will become the sons and daughters of God. And then will still serve them, but that is their purpose, their job description. So therefore, for them to be able to serve mankind, they were created before mankind.

They were created before mankind. And therefore, the spiritual world, it was the invisible world existed before the physical, visible world.

It was an organized world. It has a government. It is the kingdom of God in heaven. That's why the Lord's prayer says, let our kingdom come, let thy will be done on earth as if he is in heaven. It was the kingdom of God is today existing in heaven.

And indeed, we can see that the angels existed before the physical creation, because when the physical creation was, the button, well, executed or done of a fold, the angels shouted for joy. So they had to be there to see it. And that is in...

Where is that?

Maybe I've jumped myself ahead here.

Oh, yeah. In Job 38. Job 38. Job 38. Job 38. Job 38, verse 4, in Job 38, God is asking the... to job, you know, where were you when... when I laid the foundations of the earth? You know, Job, illness, where was you when the earth was first created, And then in verse 6 and 7 it says, to what were its foundations fastened? I mean, the wall, the earth, is kind of hanging in the air. So where are you fasting the earth? I mean, that it's there. Where's the foundations? Explain this. Or who laid its cornerstone? And when it was created, you read there in verse 7, where the morning stars, that's the angels.

Because they're supposed to bring us light, to bring us in the morning direction. And as the morning star does, brings direction to be able to guide us as servants to mankind. That was their duty and their job. They sang together, and all the sons of God that was created sons of God, that is angels, shouted for joy. They just went and saw the physical creation. They just shouted for joy. They just rejoiced. So, the angels existed before. And you can read various sections of how the angels look like. You can read in Isaiah 6, verse 2. I'm not going to go through these few ones, but you can just take a note if you want to look at it.

It says that there were certain angels, called the seraphim, that have six wings, Isaiah 6, verse 2. And then you also have in Ezekiel 1, verse 5 and 6, and verse 10. And compare that with Ezekiel 10, verse 14 and 15. And which are the carrops, which have four wings, two that cover their body and two that they use more like the black wings. So, the carrops were four wings and the seraphim was six wings.

And then it even talks about the carrops that had four faces. One was like the face of a man, the other one like the face of a lion. The other one liked the face of an ox. And the other one liked the face of an evil. And then when you compare it to two scriptures, you see in one of them says the face of an ox, instead of using the name face of an ox, says the face of a carob.

So, the face of a carob is the face of an ox by that logical conclusion. And then you start thinking how the pagans worshiped bulls and things like that. Kind of interesting, you know. And when you think about the fallen carob, you know, you make certain conclusions why they do that.

But angels can also appear to human beings. You see in Genesis 18 and 19, the story of Lot, when three beings came to Abraham. And they said, oh, we're going to discuss with you what's going to happen in Sodom and Gomorrah. And they said, yeah. And then one of them was the Lord and the other two were angels. So, if you read Genesis 18 and 19, you can clearly see that angels appeared to man. And they can appear when God so authorizes, because it's the government of God and they all obey God's instructions.

That is it. God's will is done in heaven and they have to obey. So, we've seen that angels existed and then the world was created. And we can see the world was created in Genesis chapter 1. Now, after all this has happened and angels have been created, the world was created, the angels shouted for joy.

And then we see in Genesis chapter 1 verse 1, in the beginning God, that's Elohim, which is plural, which is, as we saw, the God, which became the Father, and the Logos, which is the Word, which became Jesus. So, in the beginning, Elohim, in the words of those two beings, created the heavens and the earth. Interesting. It says the heavens first and then the earth. Not necessarily that we're created in that sequence, but it's interesting that it works in that way, which pretty well implies the heavens were created first, possibly.

But it's just a possibility. And now we have a very interesting point. The God created physical things. How? With what? And our answer is in Hebrews 11 verse 3. Hebrews 11 verse 3. By faith we understand that the walls were framed by the Word of God so that the things which are seen, and it was physical things, as things that are seen, were not made of things that are visible.

In other words, physical things were not made of physical things. In other words, physical things were made of spiritual things. If you look at it in the Revised Standard Version, it words it, so that what is seen was made out of things which could not appear. And what is seen, that is what's visible, what is physical, was made out of things which are invisible, in the words of spiritual things. So God created the spiritual things, created angels, and then using those spiritual things, He created matter. That's what the Bible says. He created matter. And the angels, when they saw that creation, they were excited and rejoiced.

Now look at Romans chapter 1 verse 20. Very interesting Scripture. Romans chapter 1 verse 20. Romans chapter 1 verse 20. For since the creation of the world, since God created the physical world, His invisible attributes are clearly seen. In other words, the spiritual attributes of God and of the spiritual world are clearly understood.

They are understood by the things that are made. In other words, the physical things were made in a way to shadow the spiritual. Like man was made after the God kind, animals are made after their own kind, and we've just seen that some of the angels looked like lions and eagles. So some of the animals were made after the spiritual kind. So it all starts kind of jelling. He says, so basically what we have, physical things were made after the likeness of spiritual things.

It is so true. You look even at the physical temple that was made. You look through those instructions that Moses received to make the temple and the tabernacle. They were so specific and so detailed. Why? Because they represented spiritual things in heaven.

A lot of those things we don't even begin to understand, but in the world tomorrow when the temple will be rebuilt, and we'll be able to look at those things, and mankind will be able to understand the spiritual things with us as teachers explaining those things to help them understand the spiritual things that mankind will be able to inherit one day.

Let me show you one example. In Exodus 25.

Now brethren, I'm going through this. Remember to try to explain to you how Satan came to be. So I'm going through a long route, but giving you a little bit of history because sometimes, you know, life is like watching a movie. You know, if you've ever gone to a movie to watch a movie, but you arrive late and already halfway through it and you start seeing this, you don't understand the story because you haven't heard the beginning. Well, that's what life is all about. So I'm trying to give you a little bit of history from the beginning, very generic, so that we can understand where Satan came from. So the example I was talking about is that physical things represent spiritual things. Now look at this example here in Exodus 25, starting from verse 17.

Now you shall make a mercy seat. Now what is a mercy seat? It represents God's throne, right? A mercy seat. You shall make a mercy seat, verse 17, of pure gold. Then it gives the dimensions. And you shall make two carobim of gold. In other words, bim, I am, represents plural, like Elohim, which represents plural, so it's two carobs. So carobim is, instead of two carobs in Hebrew, instead of an S, you put in, so it's the plural. Two carobim, two carobs, of gold, of hammer, of work, at the ends of the mercy seat. So there's God's throne. Remember this represents the spiritual, so there's God's throne, and it is two carobs, covering the throne of God. And this is verse 19. Make one carob at one end, and the other carob at the other end, and you shall make the carobs at the ends of it, of one piece with the mercy seat, and the carobim, the carob, shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings. And they shall face one another. So there is the carobs, like this, one facing towards the mercy seat, and the other one on the other side of the mercy seat facing, the mercy seat, so they're facing one another.

The faces of the carobim shall be towards the mercy seat. So remember, they had faces of carob, faces of man, a face of lion, a face of eagle. So the carob faces were facing one another.

You know, it's just analogy of spiritual things.

So, faces of the faces of the carob shall be towards the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark. So there's the ark, ark of the covenant, which has got the law, and in ark you shall put the testimony that I'll give you. And there I will meet with you, and I'll speak with you, from above the mercy seat. In other words, God will speak to Moses from the mercy seat, from his throne. Between the two carob, which are on the ark of the testimony, about everything which I'll give you in commandment of the children of Israel. And so, think about this physical thing is the knowledge of the spiritual. There's God's throne, there's God, there's the two carobs that cover. And God is then speaking to the other angels, or the two beings talking about themselves, about what they're doing. And the two carobs are listening to every bit of conversation. Like, you know, the NSA, you know. They're listening to everything. So, they know everything. So, they were discussing their plans. They created the world, and now they had certain jobs, and they had to get these creative beings to rehearse some of their responsibilities on earth. And then, for maybe, there were certain things that they had to rehearse, and coach them, and train them, on whatever it is. I don't know.

And one of them had a responsibility as a ruler. Because, you know, this old structure, this old government, and he would be the one that would be bringing the instruction of the right way. The light instruction, the light bringer, to help mankind to become like God.

But, you know, he started thinking, hmm, you know, I'm such a beautiful angel. I mean, none of you are just as beautiful as me. And I'm so intelligent. I mean, I'm smart. I know everything. I'm super intelligent. And now, God is creating these things of mud. And he's gonna, out of this mud, he's gonna make them beans, and we're gonna teach these pieces of flesh to be better. And then, they're gonna be over me, and they're gonna box me around. That's not fair. That's not fair. And so, he either became envious or self-seeking, and he says, I should be above them, not tell you about me. After all, I'm so bright. I know all these things, and I'm so beautiful. I mean, everybody's just gonna love me. I'm just so charming. And this plan of salvation, this is ridiculous. I mean, he's gonna die. Oh, it's not gonna do that.

And I'm gonna take a back seat. I'm gonna go and sit in the back of the bus. I don't know what that is. So, you can imagine that thinking as it's described in James chapter 3. James chapter 3. And we're gonna start reading in verse 14. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom, this type of great knowledge that you think that you're better and you're envious and you want to be above others, envy and self-seeking, does not descend from above. That is earthly, sensual, demonic. That was this angel's thinking that later became Satan, diversity. For where envy and self-seeking exists, confusion and every evil thing are there. You see, so we started developing this sort of scheme. I'm gonna convince this I don't like. So we've got to make an alternative plan out here. Now, I'm gonna do this. Well, I could do this, I could do that. But then I've got to convince him, I'm gonna convince him. But then he might not go. So I'm gonna say, well, I'm gonna do something for him. And then he's gonna say, well, you owe me one. You owe me one. I'll do this for you. You owe me one. He's gonna start negotiating. He's gonna trade these favors and things like that. And he says, well, you know, but you're gonna be here and look how this is unfair, but I can give you this, you know, whatever. He's negotiating. He's kind of cutting a deal, you know? These things take time, you know? You're a salesman. You know, it takes time. You're trading these things and you're working out things out. You know what I'm talking about. So let's look at that in Ezekiel 28. Ezekiel 28.

Ezekiel 28. Ezekiel 28.

And this is talking about the king of Tyre. But understand that Satan has organized himself with the government, with dominions, with power, which has therefore angels over groups of nations, over nations, etc. So they have their own little, in other words, rebellious kingdom. Rebellious form of government structure, very organized, in competition to God's kingdom.

And therefore, and he's not talking about here in verse 12, the Son of Man, the capital of temptation for the king of Tyre.

And this represents now, as you read, a spirit king of Tyre. Not the physical king of Tyre, but the spiritual demon behind that power. And cited probably as demons over Brazil and over Portugal and over the United States. And that is, he's got this structure and different people over different groups of people and things like that. He's organized, but he's not talking to this king of Tyre, the spirit being. You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. There was this being that was the seal of perfection, of wisdom and perfect beauty. You were in Eden, the Garden of God. Every precious stone was your covering, the sword, the top, the barrel, etc. The workmen of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you. And it was probably, he was very capable in making music and beautiful music. He was really skilled with, as a musician and things like that. All this was beautiful on the day you were created. He was created, this carob was created as the creme de la creme, as they say it. As really the best of those carob, the wisest of them. And as you can see in verse 14, you were the anointed carob who covers, covers what? The throne of God was one of those two carob that was covering the throne of God. I established you. You were on the holy mountain of God. And it was you were in the very kingdom of God. You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways. God created in perfect. From the day you were created. Till iniquity was found in you. Till he became envious. Till he became jealous. Till he became proud and thinking about his beauty and his wisdom. And then that jealousy made him scheme this plan and start negotiating to try and get into power. That's why it says in verse 16, find the abundance of your trading. You start to negotiating things around with other angels. You became filled with violence within and you sinned. Therefore I cost you as a profane thing out of the kingdom of God, out of the mountain of God. And I destroyed you, O covering carob, from the midst of the fiery stones. Your heart was lifted up. You became proud because of your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom. And I cost you to the ground. I laid you before kings. So he was thrown to the ground. He was thrown to the ground. And Christ said, I'm not going to go there, but you can make a note. In Luke 10 verse 18, Jesus Christ said, I saw Satan cast to the earth like lightning.

This was before mankind even was created. And look at how Isaiah 14 further describes this. Isaiah 14.

Isaiah 14.

Verse 12. 12.

How you are fallen from heaven.

How are you fallen from heaven? Oh, Lucifer, you know, was a bright star or that morning star or that one that was supposed to bring light in the early morning. Like Venus, you know, it's like the morning star that brings the light in early morning, which is a reflection, not a real star reflection. How are you cut down to the ground? You weakened the nations. You have said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. In other words, above all the other angels. I will also sit on the mountain of the congregation on the far north side of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. I will be like the most high, maybe as a competitive government. Well, competition is good, you know. Competition is good. That's what we're told today. You know, if you have competition, you have better prices and things like that, competition is good.

I don't know what was said. I'm just saying some possibilities here. But you can see that he became proud. He then was thrown to earth. And then the earth became to you and over you. Genesis chapter 1 verse 2. Genesis chapter 1 verse 2.

And the earth was without form and void, you know, it was to you and bow you. And darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And it just became darkness, like a big, dark cloud or disaster, or like a big atomic explosion or whatever it is. Things just blew up and just became completely. No light could get onto planet earth. And then over a period of a number of days, he started cleaning it up and he says it was day and night. First day and then day and night. Or night and day, as the brother had said. So that means that the earth was rotating around its axis and there was a sun, otherwise it wouldn't have been night and day. And then later on, he cleaned it up. On the fourth day that he actually there, you could actually light could shine through. And you could see the stars and things like that. So basically God renewed the face of the earth. Psalm 104 verse 30. Psalm 104 verse 30.

Psalm 104 verse 30. Psalm 105 verse 30.

You sent forth your spirit, they are created. You renew the face of the earth. He renewed the face of the earth. But Satan was still around. Satan was on the earth. And God started creating things after their own time.

Created animals, then he created mankind, as we know. Created male and female in God's image. And then at the end of that, you and I can see in Genesis 1 verse 31. Genesis 1 verse 31. Genesis 1 verse 31. After God created man, created the animals, created earth. At the end of the sixth day, Genesis 1 verse 31.

Then God saw everything that he had made. The earth, he had a refashion, cleaned up, he created animals, he created man and woman. And he saw everything that he made.

And he says, and indeed it was very good.

You know, when you and I create things, they're not very good.

You know, think about Microsoft Windows version 1. And they let me prove to version 2 and then 1.3 and then version 2 and then 3 and 4 and 5 and 7. Now Windows 8, it's the best. And one of these days it'll be Windows 9, you know? Well, God does not have mankind version 1 and version 2 and 1.3 and 1.7 and whatever it is. And it needs an upgrade and a software upgrade. It was just very good from the beginning. I'll make it better. It's just perfect. But a little later we read that Adam and Eve were out in the garden. Somebody that was very shrewd, very intelligent, came up and said, Hey! Because remember Christ said, He's a liar from the beginning, right? And He's a murderer from the beginning. And so in Genesis chapter 3, He says, Yeah, you know, God said, Oh, shall we not eat of every tree of the garden?

And then in verse 2, but the woman said, Yeah, we'll eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, and the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God said, You don't eat unless you die. And the serpent said, You will not die. You have an immortal soul.

You have an immortal soul. You're not going to die. You see? And that was still after that.

So Eve was deceived. Adam, he knew better. But he said, Oh, well, I'll just do it. I'll just listen to my wife.

You know, the point is, when the wife tells us the right thing, we must listen to it. When the wife says something which is against God, God is first. And that's what he made a mistake. Sort of question of listen to the wife. He's listening to somebody else when you know better that it's wrong, which is not against. We know it was which is against God's rule. That's the problem.

And so, he's been deceiving. That's how he came to be where he is. And so, Stan has been there very actively deceiving and causing people to worship idols. But today, we live in a modern world. Things are a lot more sophisticated. You don't need to have a statue and this is idol. Okay, even though some people still have it. But typically, people don't need that. They're more sophisticated. The idols are more eye-ticked or whatever.

And so, what do we have? Today, we have a world where it's more difficult to recognize some of those idols.

It's more difficult to recognize. And we've got a lot of people that are influenced by Satan and by demons. And what do we do? Oh, well, he's got a mental illness. I'm not saying that some people do not have mental illness. Please don't misinterpret me. But we might be too easily saying there's a mental illness when maybe there might be something else. Or we might say, oh, well, it's the environment. It's the environment. You know? Look at that background of that person, the environment they had. And, you know, we should have looked at those signs of that person before he started shooting. We should have looked at that. But they don't get to the root cause of the problem, which is a demon world out there inspiring and motivating people. With the wrong wavelengths. And you and I know scriptures like Satan is the god of the sword. You know scriptures like, he's the prince of the power of the air. That is in Ephesians chapter 2, right at the beginning there is the prince of the power of the air. It's like, yeah, yeah, it's the air. So if you bring a radio, yeah, you can turn it on and you can switch on to different radio stations. AM, FM, I mean, all bunch of different radio stations. Where does it pick it up? From the air.

He's the prince of the power of the air. Our minds have a spiritual component, spirit of man in man, and therefore it's got an aerial. And you and I have to control our minds to make sure we're not listening to the wrong broadcasts, which are there.

And so today people are worshipping different things and wrong things. So Satan has therefore created different ways to control you and I. How? Through society. The society is controlled by what? By government. So Satan's got his little fingers into making sure the government goes his way, whichever government, whichever nation. I'm not talking about political parties because whether it's A, B, left, right, front, Satan has his fingers in the pie, whatever it is. Whichever country. But society is all controlled by economy. And the way economy is structured is not God's way today.

He's got his little dirty fingers in there. Society, another point of control of society is what? Media, radio, TV, news, entertainment. Well, you just listen to some of the stuff and you say, there's nothing to listen to. I can't listen to. I've got to change the channel. Because he's got these points of society that he controls. Government, the economy, the media. And then you look at others. Social institutions. Especially education. Or, because he had his fingers in education, making sure that we all come to level the playing field. And you know what it is? You level it to always the lowest common denominator. When you level something, you level it to the lowest common denominator. Why? To destroy mankind. Because he's got one objective. He's got one objective. He hates you and I.

Because he knows you and I are going to be over him. So he wants to destroy and he wants to frustrate or thwart, damage God's plan so that as few people can make it as possible.

That's his objective. And so he controls all these institutions. Whether it is government, economy, media, education, or even religion. Oh, doesn't he control religion in this world? Doesn't he control religion in this world? Doesn't matter whether it's this one or that one. You can have a manual ala carte of religions. But he's got his fingers in their board.

Well, because what is the core of society?

The family. And so he's coming out with plans to destroy the family. Husband-wife relationship, family, children, misbehavior in the family, whatever. You see, he's so clever.

He's got our leaders, whether they are government, economy, media, religion, education, whatever it is, he's got them in his hands. And he's manipulating this all with one great master plan. Which one is it? To destroy mankind. To destroy you and I.

And therefore, he's created tears. You know about the parable that Christ said? You know, there's tears in the field. He's implanted tears all over the place, even in the Church of God. And does a tear know that he's a tear? No! But he's planted tears even in the Church of God. And you and I have to be careful with him. Are we a tear? We need to analyze that. You know, Satan is a light-bringer and his followers are so-called also light-bringers. And therefore, they disguise themselves as really nice people. It says, no wonder, you know, if Satan disguise himself, you know, people can disguise themselves in all different ways. So what does little person like you and I, what can we do? What can we do? Because it's more powerful than us. And he is out there trying to get us either on one beach, which is, oh, I'm so good, I'm so great, I'm such a big shot, everybody must follow me. If they don't follow me, I'll kill them or I'll destroy them. I'll wipe them out. Or into the other beach and says, well, I'm so bad, I'm such a piece of rubbish, I'm so guilty, I'm so depressed that I better kill myself. Both end up in destruction because that's what he wants. Sure, we know what we need to repent and come to God and ask for God for His help and assistance. And so what is it that you and I can do? And the answer is in Ephesians 6. We heard the beginning of that, Ephesians 6, in the sermonette, about honoring our fathers and mothers, our parents. But then a little bit further, in verse 10, because our true Father is God, He says, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, that is, the Holy Spirit. Put on the old armor of God. Put on that old defense mechanism, which is spiritual, not physical, because we're not fighting against flesh and blood. We're fighting against demons in our places, very powerful, very strong demons out there trying to destroy you and me. And so He says, put on that old armor and stand! And stand firm with courage, with God's Holy Spirit, which is the power of God, not a power of fear, but a power of a sound mind and of love. If we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, nor against principalities, against powers, against the rulers, but against principalities and powers and rulers of the doctrines of this age, against spiritual hosts of weakness in a heavenly place, here it was demons and different demon powers and authorities and governments there, which are not the government of God, but they exist. Verse 15, therefore, take on the whole spiritual armor of God, that you may be able to withstand, just stand, in the evil day and having done all to stand. Therefore, verse 14, stand! How many times are you saying stand?

Stand! Bite hard! As in South Africa they use the word fastbait, means bite hard. You know, fast, it's hard, fast, hard. And bait is bite, fastbait, bite hard, like a bulldog, tendency, just stay firm and stay there. Not with your strength, or my strength, with God's strength, which is the power of the Holy Spirit. As it says in verse 10, in the power of his might. That's the Holy Spirit with that power. Stand! Having therefore girded your waste with truth, girded first start of truth, truth shall make you free. The truth is a matter of the mind. Get that mind right with truth, and self-discipline comes from that truth.

Having girded your waste with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, that leads you to do acts of righteousness with the truth. Do the right thing. Having shot your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. So, work, use your mind with acts, use your mind with acts, good acts, which lead and yield to peace. With that sound mind all the way, as I explained on that sermon on the authentic cost, as you go up from sound mind to acts of goodness to peace. Above all, taking the shield of faith with your whole being with faith, with your whole being with faith, which includes the mind and the heart, with which you'll be able to quench all the fiery darts of the week in one. All those doubtful doubts that come into your mind with faith, believing in what God says, these are spiritual weapons. And take the helmet of salvation, which is the hope around your being. You put that hope, the helmet of salvation, which is that hope that we have to wrap that faith with hope.

And the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. So take the sword of the Spirit. And praying always with all power and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to the sand with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. So there you are. That's what it is. You need to build up. That's our Alma, our spiritual Alma. In the end, the sum of the soul is that we have outgoing love for one another.

Brethren, our only hope is God. Satan, otherwise, is too powerful for us in our own strength. He's too powerful for us individually. But we need not fear if we have God on our side, because he's more powerful. And you are his children. He loves you. And he'll care for you. And he'll never leave or forsake you. So you have nothing to fear. Nothing to fear. But we must turn to God, obey, and ask for the power of God's Holy Spirit to fight in this society and world around us, which is getting worse and worse. As the prayer says, says, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven, as it is in heaven. Brethren, you and I have a part now to be trained to allow that will to be done in our minds, in our actions, in our daily lives. May God give you the strength to fight this fight which is ahead of us in the days ahead.