Category Archives: Bible Study

THERE’S MORE… 9

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Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT‬
[20] Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. [21] Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.

As I explore God’s Word, I have come to realise how much God desires to bless us. He is passionate about giving, favouring, blessing us with lavish portions of His love and goodness. We are the ones who limit Him by our doubts, fears, suspicions, and unbelief.

As Paul unpacked God’s salvation plan from before creation to its consummation at the end of time, he understood that God had two great goals in mind. First, He chose people from every nation to be a family of redeemed humans upon whom He could lavish His love in all its many-faceted wonder. Second, He wanted to display, through them, His glory to every created being, including those who had forfeited His love and goodness by rebelling against Him.

When God has finally judged and disposed of His opposition, rebellious gods and humans, and replaced them with people qualified and groomed to take their place, His kingdom will rule in peace forever under the authority of His chosen King.

‭Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT‬
[6] “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. [7] His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!”

What then? No one on this side of heaven can imagine what eternal life will be like when heaven and earth are united under the reign of King Jesus.

‭Revelation 21:3-5 NLT‬
[3] I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. [4] He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” [5] And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.”

Since Jesus is God and equal, in every detail, to the Father and the Holy Spirit, He will be to His creation what He represented the Father to be during His time on earth.

‭John 14:8-9 NLT‬
[8] “Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” [9] Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?”

His redeemed people, in turn, will be set free from all the limitations of their earthly existence. Their limited understanding will give way to perfect knowledge!

‭1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 12 NLT‬
[9]” Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! [10] But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless….
[12] Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

However, it seems, from the witness of Scripture, that our knowledge and experience of God will never stop growing. Even in eternity, since God is infinite, there will always more of God and His love to learn.

What we don’t know of God now, His nature and ways, in our finiteness, we will know then. What we will know then, when our knowledge of the mysteries of earth and heaven are revealed, we will still not know of God in His completeness. How can we unless we ourselves are God and that will never be.

So, in this life, however much of God’s glory, grace, and power He reveals, there will always be more… In the life to come, when our limitations are removed, we will know God yet not know Him. There will always be more…

As Anna said, (of “Mister God, this is Anna” by Finn), to paraphrase, “Just when we climb to the the top of the ladder and think we know God, we discover that we know nothing.”

ROOTED IN GOD’S LOVE – 8b

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Colossians 2:6-7 NLT‬
[6] “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. [7] Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

We cannot leave this topic without considering a vital aspect of our knowledge and experience of God’s love.

In Jesus’ letter to the Ephesian church, He had an issue with the very people to whom Paul wrote his letter.
It seems that these people had slipped away from the root of their service and ministry. They were just doing things without the pure motive of love for Jesus.

‭Revelation 2:1-4 NLT‬
[1] “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands:
[2] I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. [3] You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
[4] Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.“

“First love”… what is the implication here? We must look elsewhere for its meaning. Does “first love” mean the love these believers had for Jesus when they first believed, or does it mean something else?

John’s first letter throws light on what the Bible means by “first love”.

‭‭1 John 4:10, 19 NIV‬
[10] “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins….
[19] We love because he first loved us.”

“First love”, then, refers to the one who first did the loving!

How important that we understand this principle! Our love for God has its roots in His love for us, not the other way around. Our love for God is our response to the love which gave His only Son as an atoning sacrifice for us.

Without a root, the fruit of our love for God will wither and die.

The Ephesian Church had abandoned, let go, sent away (Greek word ‘aphiemi’) the love they had in the beginning of their relationship with Jesus. They had forgotten how great God’s love was for them. They were acting mechanically, not dynamically, out of duty, not love.

How did Jesus restore Peter after his tragic denial of his relationship with his Master? Not “Peter, why did you deny me?” or “I’m putting you on probation until you prove your loyalty to me!”

‭John 21:15 NIV‬
[15] When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Three times, Peter denied Jesus. Three times, Peter reaffirmed his love for Jesus. Restoration accomplished! Would Peter ever forget that moment on the beach?

Repeatedly, the Bible reminds us that our love for Jesus must be rooted in His love for us. Only then will we remain steadfast through all the tests and trials we face on our journey towards eternity. We can only remain rooted in the love of God if we constantly cultivate an awareness of that love in every circumstance.

‭John 15:5-6, 9-10 NIV‬
[5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. [6] If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned….
[9] “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. [10] If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

If the love of God, shown so vividly to us in what Jesus did for us, is not the root of our love for Him, whatever we do for Him will be nothing but empty and fruitless, fit only for the fire.

So, Paul prays, in response to the revelation of God’s great and cosmic plan of salvation…

‭Ephesians 3:14-19 NLT‬
[14] “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, [15] the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. [16] I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. [17] Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. [18] And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. [19] May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

When I think about my own past, and the many” good works” I’ve done that were nothing but worthless and empty actions, without love for Jesus, what can I do about them?

I see a mental picture of myself walking barefoot along a sandy road. Someone walks behind with a leafy branch in his hand, obliterating my footsteps as I walk. That’s God’s mercy! He blots out all my failures and doesn’t remember them.

‭1 John 1:7 NLT‬
[7] “But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.”

What can I do to remain constantly, in Jesus’ love?

‭Jude 1:20-21 NLT‬
[20] “But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, [21] and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.”

ROOTED IN LOVE – 8a

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Ephesians 3:14-17 NLT‬
[14] “When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, [15] the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. [16] I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. [17] Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”

As we read through the Apostle Paul’s letters, we must keep in mind that he was called to reach and teach Gentiles.

Gentiles were pagans, born and raised in the belief systems of worldly paganism with its foolishness, ignorance, and idolatry. What a mission!

The pagan gods Gentiles worshipped were both the product of their ungodly minds and the influence of their wicked spirit rulers. Gentiles were steeped in idolatry, attributing all their human experiences to evil, unpredictable, and capricious powers represented by visible images.

(Paul warns his readers in Corinth against trespassing into pagan territory by knowingly eating meat offered to idols).

(‭1 Corinthians 10:16, 19-20 NLT‬
[16] “When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ?…
[19] What am I trying to say? Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, or that idols are real gods? [20] No, not at all. I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons.”)

Gentiles lived in fear of falling foul of their gods’ whims and, consequently, did whatever they could to stay in favour with them. Since their gods represented demon spirits who were the epitome of evil, there was no end to the debauchery and wicked behaviour their worshippers engaged in.

God sent Paul to these people to tell them the truth. Imagine how difficult it must have been for him to tell them about the God and His interventions that were utterly foreign to them! Therefore, Paul’s confidence lay, not in the eloquence of his preaching, but in the power of the message he preached.

‭Romans 1:16 NLT‬
[16] “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.“

‭1 Corinthians 1:17-18 NLT‬
[17]”For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power. [18] The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.”

Paul’s tidy mind enabled him to explain God’s plans and the execution of them in an orderly way. How important that his readers have as clear an understanding of their faith as possible! Based on the knowledge of what God has done, his readers, in turn, would learn how to respond to God’s grace.

Faith without knowledge is fragile and dangerous. Without an understanding of what and why people believe what they believe, they have no solid foundation upon which to build their confidence in God. They are vulnerable to any “wind of doctrine” that may blow from unscrupulous preachers.

So, God in Christ has made provision, through the gift of people equipped with the knowledge of the truth, to train His people to be who they are, sons of the Most High God.

[11] “Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. [12] Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. [13] This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. [14] Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth.”

Everything Paul has explained in his Ephesian letter so far, is leading to a grand conclusion. Paul knew that the power of the gospel in all its facets lay in the Holy Spirit’s revelation of truth. The Spirit and the Word of God are an inseparable duo, working together in tandem to enlighten His people with life-changing truth. Without the Spirit, the Word is sterile. Without the Word, the Spirit has no ammo with which to dislodge lies. Together, the Spirit and the Word renew minds, and change lives.

‭Ephesians 6:13-17 NLT‬
[13] Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. [14] Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. [15] For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. [16] In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. [17] Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the SWORD of the SPIRIT, which is the WORD OF GOD.

‭Ephesians 6:18 NLT‬
[18] “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

Following his detailed explanation of God’s cosmic plan of salvation, including the place Gentiles occupy in His plan, Paul does the only thing left to do. He prays! Paul’s response to this plan so superb that no human mind could ever imagine it into reality, is to call on God’s Spirit to disclose its source and meaning to his readers to give them understanding of the truths he taught them, and empower them to live by who they are.

Why has God done all of this for us? What prompted Him to go to the lengths He did to rescue us from our self-destructive ways and catapult us into untold favour and blessing? Only one thing….His love!

God’s very essence is love. Everything He is, says, and does issues from His love.

“Essence is the basic nature of a thing, and the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is” (Definitions from Oxford Languages).

For us to live loved, to quote Paul Adams of “The Shack” fame, we must know God’s love in both understanding and experience. How can this happen? Only through the Holy Spirit in us, working through the truth we now know, to secure our faith in that love.

We cannot live “rooted in love” until we know what that LOVE has done for us. We cannot know what that love has done for us until the Holy Spirit convinces us of its truth through the Word. The revelation of that Word comes from the apostles God chose to be the channels through whom His truth was written.

‭Ephesians 3:3-5, 8-9 NLT‬
[3]”As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. [4] As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. [5] God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets…
[8] Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. [9] I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.”

Paul’s prayer, then, is an echo of God’s heart and purpose. This is what true prayer is. God has done everything needed to undo the devil’s work and redo His original plan. It will happen in us as and when we add our “Amen!” to what He has done.

We can only participate in the fullness of God’s plan as we live loved in all the dimensions of God’s love. We learn to attribute everything that happens in our lives, good and bad, to the love that is guiding us towards God’s desired end. We trust that love even in our darkest times because we know that He is working for our good.

‭Ephesians 3:19 NLT‬
[19] “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.”

There is always much more of God’s limitless love than we can ever know or experience here, now. Yet, God’s power administered to us through His Spirit will always show us more… and more… and more… as we are ready to receive it.

And if and when we ever reach this level, we will discover, to our delight, that there’s aways still more… much more!

‭Ephesians 3:20-21 NLT‬
[20] “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. [21] Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

To be continued…

A COSMIC PLAN – 7b

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GOD’S PURPOSE ACCOMPLISHED

Since the spiritual powers God created to rule the nations under His authority failed to fulfill their mandate, God’s plan included the next phase. He also planned to create another race, humans, who would be like Him. Humans would be both spiritual, of Him, and physical, of the earth. He would put His own breath in them so that they could fellowship with Him as well as live on, and relate to, their physical world.

‭Genesis 1:26-28 NLT‬
[26] “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” [27] So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. [28] Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

Their mandate was to rule the natural world, to take care of the earth and its resources, in preparation for a far greater responsibility. They would take over the rule of the nations from the fallen and doomed “princes” who forfeited their right to govern the nations.

‭1 Corinthians 6:2-3 NLT‬
[2] “Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? [3] Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life.”

Life on this earth, then, is an apprenticeship, not only testing our ability to rule over our own unruly spirits but also training us to take responsibility and to be faithful to the role assigned to us in this life.

However, included in this divine blueprint is the interlude of man’s rebellion, led by the wicked spirit rulers, and God’s seemingly risky salvation plan. The human to which God entrusted His rescue plan was none other than His own Son, incarnate in a human body from birth to death.

He, Jesus, lived the life of a perfect son despite His humanity, in a hostile environment, then died the death of a condemned blasphemer in obedience to the Father’s will. His death paid the debt for all sin for all time, setting those humans free who believe in Him to live righteously in preparation for their role as God’s representative rulers over the nations.

God appointed His Son as Lord as a reward for His obedience,

‭Philippians 2:6-11 NLT‬
[6] “Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, [8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. [9] Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, [10] that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

… And appointed Him to rule over all the nations.

‭Psalms 2:6-8 NLT‬
[6] “For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” [7] The king proclaims the Lord’s decree: “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. [8] Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession.”

So, God’s cosmic plan reaches its climax, seen by Daniel in his vision centuries before it happens. In this long quote from Daniel 7, we have a glimpse of the final chapters of history.

‭Daniel 7:13-27 NLT‬
[13] As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. [14] He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed. [15] I, Daniel, was troubled by all I had seen, and my visions terrified me. [16] So I approached one of those standing beside the throne and asked him what it all meant. He explained it to me like this: [17] “These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. [18] But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.” [19] Then I wanted to know the true meaning of the fourth beast, the one so different from the others and so terrifying. It had devoured and crushed its victims with iron teeth and bronze claws, trampling their remains beneath its feet. [20] I also asked about the ten horns on the fourth beast’s head and the little horn that came up afterward and destroyed three of the other horns. This horn had seemed greater than the others, and it had human eyes and a mouth that was boasting arrogantly. [21] As I watched, this horn was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them, [22] until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom. [23] Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path. [24] Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them. [25] He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time. [26] “But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. [27] Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.”

Daniel’s great vision take us, full circle, to the beginning, when God’s cosmic plan was set in motion from the moment of creation. What was the purpose of this entire saga?

‭Ephesians 3:10-11 NLT‬
[1″God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. [11] This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And to reveal, once and for all, who is in charge.

‭Isaiah 45:6 NLT‬
[6]… So all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other.”

A COSMIC PLAN – 7a

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GOD’S PURPOSE REVEALED

‭Ephesians 3:10-11 NLT‬
[10] “God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. [11] This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God’s plans always turn out to be far bigger than we imagine. In this letter to the Ephesians, Paul traces God’s blueprint, step by step, through the stages of His actions, to its greatest purpose. Salvation, from His perspective, turns out to be far more than saving some people from hell and taking them to heaven.

Let’s follow its path from beginning to end.

The first step began before creation. God decided what He would do to remedy man’s impending rebellion before it happened. He chose people from all nations to belong to Him and He decided what they would become…replicas of His Son in one big family.

After the creation event, He set about building a nation through which His salvation would come. He chose a childless couple to produce a son in their old age, Abraham and Sarah, and promised Abraham that He would bless all the nations through him.

Through many centuries of this nation’s history, including enslavement in Egypt, a covenant God made with them at Mt Sinai to guide them, miraculous rescue and settlement in the land God promised them… and a checkered past of rebellion, idolatry, and restoration… God finally sent His promised Messiah to them to execute His salvation plan.

Despite His credentials and the demonstration of God’s authority and power through Jesus, the Jews rejected their Messiah. They had Him executed as a blasphemer, exactly as God planned, but their scheme to get rid of Him failed. Not only did He rise from the dead as He prophesied, but His Spirit also came, as He promised, to empower His followers to continue His restoration mission.

No matter how hard the Jews tried to get rid of His followers, they could not stamp out this explosive new “Way” as it was called. The good news of Jesus spread from Jew to Gentile until the known world was filled with the message.

Persecution, far from halting the progress of the gospel from Israel to Rome, scattered believers everywhere. They took with them the witness to a new life of peace and unity between Jew and Gentile.

In all these events, there were onlookers in the unseen realm who watched the unfolding story with increasing horror. It meant only one thing for them – judgment and eternal doom.

Who were these unseen onlookers?

Many passages in Scripture indicate that God had created a race of spirit beings to rule over the nations for Him, sometimes called “the great assembly” (NIV), “the gods” KJV, or “heaven’s court” (NLT). In the New Testament, these spiritual beings are called “principalities and powers”.

Ephesians 6:11-12 NLT‬
[11] “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. [12] For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

This startling passage reveals God’s original plan for order and authority in the nations…

Deuteronomy 32:8 NLT‬
[8] When the Most High assigned lands to the nations, when he divided up the human race, he established the boundaries of the peoples according to the number in his heavenly court.

It seems, then, that God divided the human race into nations and assigned to each nation a heavenly being (a god) to rule over them as God’s representatives.

But…

‭Psalms 82:1-2, 5-7 NLT‬
[1] God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings: [2] “How long will you hand down unjust decisions by favoring the wicked?
[5] But these oppressors know nothing; they are so ignorant! They wander about in darkness, while the whole world is shaken to the core. [6] I say, ‘You are gods; you are all children of the Most High. [7] But you will die like mere mortals and fall like every other ruler.’”

God appointed them to manage the nations for Him, but there is evidence in the Word that these rulers – also called princes – rebelled against God and overthrew His authority in the nations. Led by a “god”, who later became known as Satan, they claimed the nations for themselves. Since, in their rebellion and wickedness, they led the nations astray, God condemned them and all their demonic underlings, to death; they were doomed to the eternal fire,

and they knew it.

‭Matthew 8:28, 29 NLT‬
[28] When Jesus arrived on the other side of the lake, in the region of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They came out of the tombs and were so violent that no one could go through that area.
[29] They began screaming at him, “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?”

Only one nation was ruled by God Himself, Israel. He chose Israel over all the nations, to be His personal possession.

‭Deuteronomy 7:6 NLT‬
[6] “For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure.”

He gave them His instructions for life so that they would show all the nations around them what their God was like.

However, they wanted to be like the other nations, to worship gods, their rulers, who were wicked, so that they could give vent to their own wicked natures.

God planned His course of action for everything to happen before it happened. Then He set the plan in motion so that, in the end, everyone, both spirit beings and humans, would know that He alone is the Most High God.

To be continued…