"Worn Down But Not Wore Out”

Intro: How many can say to themselves that they are tired. You are overwhelmed and worn down physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Today Church I want to talk to you about being “Worn Down but not Wore Out”. We are living in one of the most glorious times in the history of the Church; we are seeing the fulfillment of prophecy as well as an ever changing World around us with the increase of technological advances and knowledge. We stand at the threshold of the latter rain out pouring of the power of the Holy Spirit as well as the second coming of Christ. It is these events that have caused Satan to wage a more advanced war on the Church and its Saints and the people of this World. Satan is holding back as many as he can from finishing the race, by wearing them down in their bodies, mind, and spirit.

I. This adversary of the Most Holy God has been warring against God and His people since the beginning.

A. In Genesis 3 we are introduced to that old devil, but before he was the father of lies he was a prince of praise.

1. There are two books in the Bible that give us detailed insight into who Satan was before his fall as well as a detailed synopsis of his fall.

2. Ezekiel 28:13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone [was] thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets (tambourine) and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. (14) Thou [art] the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee [so]: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. (15) Thou [wast] perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. (16) By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. (17) Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

3. Isaiah 14:12 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! (13) 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:(14) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. (15) Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

4. From the text we see that Satan, who is formally called Lucifer which means “the shining one” was once an angel, he was created perfect and beautiful, covered in precious jewels. From the text we see that he had what many believe to be built in musical instruments used to sing the Glories and Praises of God almighty, which would put him in the category of a music director; which would explain his use of music today.

5. It is within these verses that Satan was called the “anointed cherub that covereth” from this we see that he had the high position as a covering cherub of the Throne of God, and was anointed. As far as scripture indicates he was the only cherub to be described as “anointed” which it serves to note that scripture never indicates that he lost that “anointing” which would explain his power.

6. But this anointed cherub that covered the throne of God and sang His praises would soon find himself captivated by his own beauty and power, and sought to over throw God and set himself up as god.

B. Which brings us to the fall of Satan; this of course is a much-debated subject in theology to the exact time when he fell. A debate of time that I will not bring to this pulpit, but rather leave it to the lecture halls and group studies, but rather I will only cover his fall as recorded in scripture.

1. With his pride growing, Satan would tell histories first 5 lies as well as the first fairy tale, which was his “I will” statements, these lies were so convincing that not only did he believe them, but was able to convince a third of the angels as recorded in Rev.12:4.