Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone.

Revelation 8:2-11:19

Then from the smoke came locusts on the earth, and they were given power like the power of scorpions of the earth. They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green plant or any tree, but only those people who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. They were allowed to torment them for five months, but not to kill them, and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings someone. Revelation 9:3-5

I continued with my D-Group's study of Revelation using Stephen Witmer's commentary and study guide.  For this week, the study looks at Revelation 8:2-11:19, and for today my focus is on Satan and how, although he has much power and influence, he is under God and cannot do anything that God does not allow. God reigns and has providence over all, including Satan.  In Revelation 9:3-5, after the fifth trumpet is blown, we see locusts arise from the abyss.  God gave them power to torment non-believers only and they only had power to torment, not to kill. 

Comment and discuss this power.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for protection from Satan and sin - I know that You have already defeated sin and death and You give me the power to protect myself from temptation and sin - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great - worry, etc. - and it is daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Isaiah 13-14

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

I continue with my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series. Today, on Lesson 6, Day 5 (self-study of commentary day), the focus looks back on Lesson 6 (Isaiah 13-14), and it once again remains on the role and fate of Babylon, not just during Isaiah's time, but also during end times as portrayed in the book of Revelation. A brief review of the rise and fall of Babylon indicates that "[a]lthough the fall of Babylon marked the end of political rule of Babylonian rulers, much of the Babylonian culture, its pagan religions, and its ideology were continued in the kingdoms which followed."  Building on my post yesterday, most would agree that Babylon represents Satan and sin in a fallen world, so we see Babylon also playing a role in end times where Babylon is referred to in Revelation and Christ defeats Satan for eternity.  Clearly, whether it is during ancient times or current times, Babylon represents the pervasiveness of sin and a challenge for believers: how can we remain faithful when the world around us is so deeply sinful - it can be discouraging for sure! This post from DesiringGod.com helps I believe by framing the question around how and where do I draw the line when I get pushed to exalt man or the world above God?  

Key of course is daily study and prayer with God where we allow the sanctification process to work - we are transformed by "renewal of the mind."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and I am grateful for how You give me victory of sin and death as sin is pervasive and I know the sanctification process works in my life - thank You Jesus!  Yet I know there is more work in me to do - please keep going and help me submit!  I am not deserving that You made me one of Your elect, justified me, etc.  My sin continues...anger, worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Chapter 19: Pages 262-270, 2 Corinthians 12

Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 3 "Providence Over Satan and Demons" - moving to chapter nineteen "The Ongoing Existence of Demons". 

Here, Piper intends to explain how, even though God is sovereign over Satan and evil and ultimately defeats Satan, there must be some reason why Satan continues to exist - essentially we must answer the question "why God permits Satan to go on living?" Piper believes that although he does not see an answer to this question directly in scripture, he does see "pointers".  He shares that God is working to defeat Satan "not with one initial blow" but through four processes: (1) showing, (2) suffering, (3) using Satan himself against himself, (4) savoring. 

Among these processes, for me this morning, (3) and (4) are key and Piper's use of Paul's "thorn in the flesh" demonstrate how Satan tormented him, but how this was used by God to keep Paul humble.  Piper writes: "[i]n ways that exceed our full comprehension, God is able to harness Satan's hatred of Paul and make it serve God's own purposes of Paul's humility and joy."

Piper then goes on to demonstrate for me the knockout blow to Satan in how "savoring" is used to defeat Satan.  Piper writes that "God allows Satan to exist and bring short term harm on God's people.  It becomes an occasion not only to show the greater glory of Christ's wisdom and power and worth, but also to show the superior satisfaction that this glory gives his people compared to what Satan can give....God intends for Satan to be defeated in this age not merely by showing him to be weaker than Christ, but also by showing him to be less savory than Christ - less desirable, less satisfying."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, Your design and Your ways are incredible and I am renewed each day with Your love, compassion, and mercy for me - thank You.  I am not deserving of such love and mercy.  I worry to much and I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Chapter 18: Pages 241-261

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:4-6

This morning, I continued John Piper's book Providence (purchased from Amazon Kindle Store) and started Part 3 "The Nature and Extent of Providence", moving to Section 3 "Providence Over Satan and Demons" - moving to chapter eighteen "Satan and Demons". 

The core takeaway from Piper in this chapter is that, yes, Satan is powerful, yet God is sovereign over every aspect of Satan's role before Satan is ultimately defeated at the end times.  Piper's discussion, includes scriptural examples of how God is sovereign over earthly rulers (Romans 13:1, Proverbs 21:1, Psalm 2:2-4), over demons and evil spirits (James 2:19, Luke 7:21, Matthew 10:1, Daniel 10:13, Matthew 8:29-32, Mark 1:27), over persecution (1 Peter 3:17, 1 Peter 4:19, Luke 22:3, 31, 52-53, John 10:18, John 7:30), over Satan's life taking power (Deuteronomy 32:39, 1 Samuel 2:6, James 4:13-16), over Satan's hands in natural disasters (John 8:44, Job 1:16-19, 37:11-14), over Satan's sickness causing power (Acts 10:38), over Satan's use of animals and plants, over Satan's temptations to sin (Acts 1:16, 2:23, 1 Thessalonians 3:5), over Satan's mind blowing power (Revelation 20:10, Romans 1:16), and over Satan's spiritual bondage (2 Timothy 2:24-26).

Piper wraps up the chapter with these words: [w]hen God permits Satan to act with that design, God's design in doing so is for his glory and the ultimate good of his people.  We have show before that all God's wise permissions have good designs. They are planned permissions, and all God's plans are good."

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You are sovereign over all, including all aspects of Satan's existence.  You have freed me from bondage and given me faith and help grow that faith - thank You Jesus!  I am undeserving of how You have given me faith and freed me from bondage to sin.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.