A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day (October 4, 2018)
Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)
Because of pride, Satan decided to exalt himself and place his throne on the sides of the north with the throne of God. He was convincing in his lie (and we have talked about this lying spirit extensively in our last few devotionals) that he could be exalted like God. So convincing was he, that one-third of the heavenly hosts chose to follow him in his rebellion (which was all based on a lie).
Even though Lucifer and his followers believed they could exalt themselves to be like God, their belief (in a lie) did not overpower the truth that God is light, and light always overpowers darkness. As a result, Lucifer (Satan) was cast out of Heaven to the earth along with one third of the heavenly angelic beings who, instead of being exalted and glorified, were transformed into a fallen, demonic existence, confined within the atmosphere of the earth (Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12; Ezekiel 28:16).
When Lucifer was on the mountain of God, he was beautiful and full of music (he was created perfect). The Scriptures imply that he was a being that led in worship. But there was a day when iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15).
The Hebrew word used for iniquity is “evel” which means evil or wickedness. It comes from the root Hebrew word “aval” which means to distort morally (lie) or deal unjustly. This iniquity, of course, was the pride in his thinking that he could be like God and rule with God. The error in his thinking was due either to the lack of his understanding, or his refusal to submit to the fact that he (an angel) was not created in the likeness and image of God and was never intended to be an heir, or to be considered a son of God (1 Peter 1:12).
Pride is a terrible thing and a characteristic of Satan. Pride is something that is never good. There is no such thing as good pride. That’s like saying there is good sin and bad sin. No, all sin is bad, and all pride is sin. There is not good adultery and bad adultery. There is not good stealing and bad stealing. Stealing is wrong. That’s a characteristic of the devil: he comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). Pride is not good.
Ezekiel 28 says, “Your heart was lifted up [that means it was prideful] because of your beauty. You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor…” (vs. 17 explanation mine). Lucifer was beautiful, but when pride entered in, he wanted to lift himself up instead of using his splendor to exalt God.
When God gives a gift, whether it is singing, acting, teaching, or whatever the talent, it is humility when that gift is used for Him, because it exalts Him. But if the gift is pulled inside and used to exalt oneself, then that is a characteristic of the devil. That’s what the devil did. He looked at his own majestic splendor and used it to attract the support of the angels to help him rise up against God, believing he could be like Him.
We were created to inherit salvation, but angels were not (Hebrews 1:14). When Lucifer decided he was going to be like God (he bought a lie) and he stepped out of his planned design and purpose and took one-third of the angels with him. A liar will always have an audience but the ones that know the truth will not follow him. Two-thirds of the angels knew the truth and did not follow Satan.
