"Behind the Curtain: Demons, Angels, and The Power of God"
Pastor Albert Almore
As we continue our series titled, OPEN HEAVEN, we’ve been taking a look at all that’s taking place UNDER HEAVEN, this spiritual war that’s at work in us, and around us, that’s at work trying to hinder us from enjoying the vastness of our open heaven, unusual blessings, unusual opportunities.This morning, I want to share in a message titled,
BEHIND THE CURTAIN
Demons, Angels, and The Power of God
This discussion is key this morning because 2 Corinthians 4:4 tells us,
“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.”
2 Corinthians 4:4
This morning it’s time to turn the light on. It’s time to turn the spiritual light on as it relates to spiritual warfare, and the devil by asking the question…
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Ezekiel 28:12 reads,
““Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.”
Ezekiel 28:12
“You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your TIMBRELS and PIPES Was prepared for you on the day you were created.”
Ezekiel 28:13
““You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.”
Ezekiel 28:14
“You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.”
Ezekiel 28:15
Isaiah goes into more detail about what the iniquity was that was found in the enemy. Isaiah 14:12 reads,
““How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!”
Isaiah 14:12
HOW DID WE GET HERE? THE 5 "I Will’s” tell us…
“For you have said in your heart: ‘I WILL ascend into heaven, I WILL exalt my throne above the stars of God; I WILL also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;”
Isaiah 14:13
“I WILL ascend above the heights of the clouds, I WILL be like the Most High.’”
Isaiah 14:14
No you want! Isaiah 14:15 Goes on to say…
“Yet YOU SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.”
Isaiah 14:15
Lucifer, the devil actually thought to himself, this is a fight I can win. Me vs God is a fair fight.
Ladies and gentlemen, what we’re witnessing here is The deceptive power of pride. This is crazy! But where do the demons come into play? Revelation 12 tells us how the enemy was brought down and where demons came into play. Revelation 12:3 says,
“Then I witnessed in heaven another significant event. I saw a large red dragon with seven heads and ten horns, with seven crowns on his heads.”
Revelation 12:3
“His tail swept away ONE-THIRD OF THE STARS in the sky, AND HE THREW THEM TO THE EARTH.He stood in front of the woman as she was about to give birth, ready to devour her baby as soon as it was born.”
Revelation 12:4
Where did demons come from? In this particular reference, these stars that John is referring to is actually angels, who would become fallen angels, who are now also known as evil spirits, or demons.
“She gave birth to a son who was to rule all nations with an iron rod. And her child was snatched away from the dragon and was caught up to God and to his throne.”
Revelation 12:5
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
“Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven.”
Revelation 12:7-8
“This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, THE ONE DECEIVING THE WHOLE WORLD—WAS THROWN DOWN TO THE EARTH with all his angels.”
Revelation 12:9
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
WE GOT HERE THROUGH REBELLION.
It started in Heaven, worked it’s way to earth, showed up in Genesis 3:1 challenging God’s Word & God’s Authority. Genesis 3:1,
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “DID GOD REALLY SAY, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?””
Genesis 3:1
The devil and his fallen angels didn’t stop there WITH THEIR REBELLION. Jude 1:6-7 says,
“And THE ANGELS WHO DID NOT STAY WITHIN THEIR OWN POSITION OF AUTHORITY, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—”
Jude 1:6
“just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which LIKEWISE INDULGED IN SEXUAL IMMORTALITY and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.”
Jude 1:7
Did you know that these rebellious fallen angels, overstepped their limitations, and did LIKEWISE as in Sodom & Gomorrah.
“When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, THE SONS OF GOD saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose.”
Genesis 6:1-2
WHO ARE THE SONS OF GOD?
The term, "THE SONS OF GOD” are only used 5 times in the Old Testament and they’re referring to angels.
“Now there was a day when THE SONS OF GOD came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.”
Job 1:6
““Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”
Job 38:4
God goes on to say in verse 7….
“when the morning stars sang together and all THE SONS OF GOD shouted for joy?”
Job 38:7
These are the THE SONS OF GOD. What did they do?
“There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.”
Genesis 6:4
“THE NEPHILIM were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown.”
Genesis 6:4
“The Lord said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Look around from where you are, to the north and south, to the east and west. All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.”
Genesis 13:14-15
“I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth, so that if anyone could count the dust, then your offspring could be counted. Go, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I am giving it to you.””
Genesis 13:16-17
When it came time for God’s people to take possession of the land, they only had one problem stopping them. Numbers 13:32
“So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height.”
Numbers 13:32
“And there we saw THE NEPHILIM (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.””
Numbers 13:33
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
"Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But WOE TO THE EARTH and the sea, because THE DEVIL HAS GONE DOWN TO YOU! He is FILLED WITH FURY, because HE KNOWS THAT HIS TIME IS SHORT.””
Revelation 12:12
“And the dragon was angry at the woman and DECLARED WAR against the rest of her children—ALL WHO KEEP GOD’S COMMANDMENTS AND MAINTAIN THEIR TESTIMONY FOR JESUS.”
Revelation 12:17
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
WE’RE AT WAR AGAINST THE ENEMY OF OUR SOUL.
Jesus said in Matthew 16:26,
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, AND LOSES HIS OWN SOUL? Or what will a man give in exchange for HIS SOUL?”
Matthew 16:26
III John 1:2 says,
“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, JUST AS YOUR SOUL PROSPERS.”
III John 1:2
The enemy is after your soul.
The enemy seeks your soul through…
DECEPTION
“And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 11:12-13
“And no wonder, for even SATAN DISGUISES HIMSELF AS AN ANGEL OF LIGHT.”
2 Corinthians 11:14
The enemy seeks your soul through…
REBELLION
“But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22
“REBELLION IS AS SINFUL AS WITCHCRAFT, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.””
1 Samuel 15:23
The enemy seeks your soul through…
SIN
The evening meal was in progress, and THE DEVIL HAD ALREADY PROMPTED Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. John 13:2
During supper, when the devil had already PUT IT INTO THE HEART of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, John 13:2
The enemy seeks your soul through…
SEPARATION
“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have SEPARATED you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”
Isaiah 59:1-2
The enemy seeks your soul through…
DESTRUCTION
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and TO DESTROY. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
Come what may, no matter what I did, no matter what I said, no matter what’s been thrown at me, I have a promise found in Psalm 23:3,
“HE RESTORES MY SOUL…
Psalms 23:3
WHERE ARE WE HEADING?
We’re heading to victory! We’re heading towards the ultimate destiny of the devil found in Revelation 20:10,
“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
Revelation 20:10
But on our way there, God’s angels are fighting on our behalf! Daniel 7:9-10 says,
“I watched as thrones were put in place and the Ancient One sat down to judge. His clothing was as white as snow, his hair like purest wool. He sat on a fiery throne with wheels of blazing fire, and a river of fire was pouring out, flowing from his presence. MILLIONS OF ANGELS ministered to him; MANY MILLIONS STOOD to attend him. Then the court began its session, and the books were opened.”
Daniel 7:9-10
Angels are SERVANTS of God.
Angels are MESSENGERS of God.
Angels are WORSHIPPERS of God.
Angels are SOLDIERS for God.
“Who is this King-Glory? GOD-OF-THE-ANGEL-ARMIES: he is King-Glory.”
Psalms 24:10
Elisha had it right. 2 Kings 6:16
“He said, “Do not be afraid, for THOSE WHO ARE WITH US ARE MORE than those who are with them.””
2 Kings 6:16
“Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.”
2 Kings 6:17
The Angel armies…
Behind the curtain you’ll find the devil and his fallen angels. Behind the curtain you’ll find angel armies, but ABOVE THE CURTAIN IS THE KING OF GLORY!!! ABOVE THE CURTAIN IS THE LORD OF HOST!!!
“You were perfect in your ways from the day YOU WERE CREATED, Till iniquity was found in you.”
Ezekiel 28:15
The CREATED will never be greater than the CREATOR.
As great of servants as angels are, Jesus gave us a principle in John 15:20 that we must never forget. He said,
Remember what I told you: ‘A SERVANT IS NOT GREATER THAN HIS MASTER.
John 15:20
As great as angels are. As mighty as angels are, they are still servants to the omnipotent all powerful master, THE LORD OF HOST!!!
The CREATED will never be greater than the CREATOR. And THE SERVANTS will never be greater than THEIR MASTER!
Above the curtain is The One Who always was.
He has no beginning. He has no origination. He always was, He always is, He will always be. Isaiah 44:6
“This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; THERE IS NO OTHER GOD.”
Isaiah 44:6
“WHO IS LIKE ME? LET HIM STEP FORWARD and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future.”
Isaiah 44:7
When the devil tried to step forward to our God, it didn’t go good. Jesus said in Luke 10:18,
“And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.”
Luke 10:18
When it comes to the devil and our God, it’s not even close. It’s no match. It’s no contest. God is in a class all by Himself—unmoved, unbothered, unthreatened, untouched, undefeated. David understood this. When it came time to find a King.
So they ran and brought Saul, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others. 1 Samuel 10:23
“Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I COME TO YOU IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”
1 Samuel 17:45
“This day THE LORD WILL deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,”
1 Samuel 17:46
“and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. FOR THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S, and he will give you into our hand.””
1 Samuel 17:47
This battle that you’re in, isn’t yours, it’s the Lord’s. Sign over your rights, sign over your concerns, sign over your worries, sign over your calculations. This battle doesn’t belong to you, this battle belongs to God, this battle belongs to the ancient of days. It’s not His first battle, and it won’t be His last.
WHERE ARE WE HEADING? We’re heading to victory! And
on our way there, we might as well join in with the creatures around the throne in Revelation 4:8 where it says,
…Day and night THEY NEVER STOPPED SINGING, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord, the all-powerful God, who was and is and is coming!" Revelation 4:8
He’s not just Holy, as in sinless. He’s holy as in MATCHLESS. He’s holy as in set apart. He’s Holy as in a class all by Himself.
Behind the curtain you’ll find the devil and his fallen angels. Behind the curtain you’ll find angel armies, but ABOVE THE CURTAIN IS THE KING OF GLORY! ABOVE THE CURTAIN IS THE LORD OF HOST!
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HE’S ABOVE IT ALL?
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