i will

By Elizabeth Prata

Jesus said I AM seven times. Satan said “I will” five times. There is a big difference between I AM and I will.

Jesus said,

“I am the bread of life. (John 6:35).
“I am the light of the world. (John 8:12).
“I am the door. (John 10:9).
“I am the good shepherd. (John 11:25).
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6).
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser” (John 15:1).

In Isaiah 14:14-15 it is said of Lucifer,

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart,

I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will be like the most High.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. (Isaiah 14:14-15)

Jesus declared himself I AM out loud, before many, Satan said quietly in his heart. Jesus declares the reality, Satan declares his individual desire. Jesus is eternally I AM, satan was created and generated ambition later.

Jesus was, and is, and is to come (Revelation 1:8) and what He purposes will come to pass (Isaiah 46:10. Satan WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER HAVE ANY OF HIS WISHES, HOPES, AMBITIONS, GOALS, OR PURPOSES ULTIMATELY COME TO PASS. (Revelation 20:10).

Jesus did it all, He paid it all, it is finished.

Friends, remember, satan is a defeated foe. He is active, but moot. He is around, but vanquished. Those of us in Christ are victorious through Christ’s eternal act of submission, crucifixion, and resurrection, His love, and His will.

Satan says he will, but GOD DID.

By Elizabeth Prata

The Bible is clear that there is a devil, and that he was an angel who fell and now opposes God and all He stands for. The Bible isn’t too frequently forthcoming on explicit information on the old snake but it does reveal some.

I keep going back to Isaiah 14:12-14,

How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;c
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’

It’s utterly astounding how a cherub of the highest order (Ezekiel 28:14) could say these things even if they were in his heart. Given God’s omniscience, saying those things in your heart is the same as shouting them from the mountaintop.

Just imagine if someone came up to you and said-

I will enter your home,
I will sit in your recliner,
I will eat at your table,
I will lay in your bed,
I will be master of your home and the people within it.

The crime is always more potent and punished to a higher degree considering who it is against. As my pastor teaches, if two peasants slapped each other in the face in the street, most people may say who cares, the crime might be ignored or just punished lightly. If a peasant gained entry to the throne room of the King of the land and he ran up to the King and slapped him, the peasant would be executed.

If you were offended just at the thought that someone would come to you saying he will enter and master your home, just imagine the cosmic treason of that intent when it’s a creature saying it against the gloriously holy Ancient of Days!

Just imagine the restraint the LORD displays by not smiting that being immediately. Instead, He allowed Lucifer, now satan/adversary, to live. God uses Him to advance His purposes on earth and in heaven.

We should maintain a healthy and righteous hate against all that satan is, and a holy and righteous love for the Lord in His holy habitation.

Who is like the Lord our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
(Psalm 113:5-6)

unspeakable glory.jpg

Tag: i will

I AM vs. I will

Just imagine if someone came up to you and said this!