Grace Fellowship Grace Fellowship ChurchChurch

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Thursday, Thursday, September 30, 2010September 30, 2010

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

Memory VerseMemory Verse

Phil 2:5, Phil 2:5, “Have this attitude in “Have this attitude in

yourselves which was also yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”in Christ Jesus.”

John 15:18-21John 15:18-21

Obstructions to Divine Obstructions to Divine Good ProductionGood Production

Reason #1: Reason #1: Verse 18, Satan’s Cosmic Verse 18, Satan’s Cosmic System hates the believer!System hates the believer!

Part 3Part 3

Principles of John 15:18Principles of John 15:18::

(continued)(continued)

8. It is the nature of man to 8. It is the nature of man to want sympathy and want sympathy and

understanding and it can be understanding and it can be very discouraging to be hated, very discouraging to be hated, especially when one acts from especially when one acts from

the purest motives and the purest motives and performs righteous deeds. performs righteous deeds.

9. Therefore, the Lord 9. Therefore, the Lord comforted His disciples by comforted His disciples by

preparing them for the preparing them for the sufferings they would sufferings they would

undergo because of His undergo because of His name, as He also does for us. name, as He also does for us.

10. Peter passed on the 10. Peter passed on the same truth in 1 Peter 4:12-same truth in 1 Peter 4:12-13 because it had been a 13 because it had been a

comfort to him.comfort to him.

11. This was Christ’s 11. This was Christ’s warning to them so that warning to them so that

they would be prepared to they would be prepared to face the challenge face the challenge

triumphantly.triumphantly.

Principles of the KOSMOSPrinciples of the KOSMOS::

1. The head of the structure 1. The head of the structure for the KOSMOS is noted for the KOSMOS is noted

in John 14:30 and Eph in John 14:30 and Eph 6:11. Satan is the prince 6:11. Satan is the prince

(ruler) of this world.(ruler) of this world.

a. The one who rules the a. The one who rules the world is Satan. The person world is Satan. The person

of Satan, the greatest genius of Satan, the greatest genius of all creatures is described of all creatures is described in, Isa 14:12-17; Ezk 28:11-in, Isa 14:12-17; Ezk 28:11-19; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8. 19; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8.

b. He gained rulership of the b. He gained rulership of the world as a result of Adam’s world as a result of Adam’s

decision to follow him rather decision to follow him rather than God. than God.

Compare Gen 2:26, 28; 3:1-Compare Gen 2:26, 28; 3:1-7 with Mat 4:8; Luke 4:5-6, 7 with Mat 4:8; Luke 4:5-6,

John 12:31; 1 John 5:19.John 12:31; 1 John 5:19.

Luke 4:5-6, Luke 4:5-6, “And he led Him up and showed “And he led Him up and showed

Him all the kingdoms of the world Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the in a moment of time. And the

devil said to Him, “I will give You devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I has been handed over to me, and I

give it to whomever I wish.”give it to whomever I wish.”

1 John 5:19, 1 John 5:19, “We know that we are of “We know that we are of God, and that the whole God, and that the whole

world lies in world lies in the power ofthe power of the evil one.”the evil one.”

2. 2. The general make up of The general make up of the KOSMOS is noted in the KOSMOS is noted in

Eph 6:11-13. Eph 6:11-13.

a. Devil - DIABOLOS, a. Devil - DIABOLOS, ““slanderous or accusing slanderous or accusing

falsely.” He is the Head of falsely.” He is the Head of the demon army.the demon army.

Mat 9:34; Mark 3:22; Mat 9:34; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15Luke 11:15

b. Rulers – ARCHE, b. Rulers – ARCHE, “beginning or origin, first “beginning or origin, first

place or power, sovereignty, place or power, sovereignty, dominion, or command.” From dominion, or command.” From ARCHO, “to rule”. These are ARCHO, “to rule”. These are the top ranks, the Generals of the top ranks, the Generals of

Satan’s demon army.Satan’s demon army.

c. Powers / Authorities – c. Powers / Authorities – EXOUSIA, “power to act or EXOUSIA, “power to act or authority.” It is used for “an authority.” It is used for “an

office or magistracy.” office or magistracy.” These are the Officer Corps These are the Officer Corps

of Satan’s demon army.of Satan’s demon army.

d. World Forces – d. World Forces – KOSMOKRATOR, “rulers or KOSMOKRATOR, “rulers or lords of this world.” These are lords of this world.” These are the ones representing Satan in the ones representing Satan in

each country here on earth, each country here on earth, the Ambassadors of Satan’s the Ambassadors of Satan’s demon army. Dan 10:13-20demon army. Dan 10:13-20

e. Spirits of Evil in the e. Spirits of Evil in the Heavens – (PNEUMATIKOS Heavens – (PNEUMATIKOS PONERIA EPOURANIOS). PONERIA EPOURANIOS). “Spiritual, iniquity / wicked-“Spiritual, iniquity / wicked-ness, of heaven”. These are ness, of heaven”. These are

the Rank and File Soldiers of the Rank and File Soldiers of Satan’s demon army.Satan’s demon army.

Satan or DIABOLOS is in Satan or DIABOLOS is in the singular while the other the singular while the other four mentioned ranks are four mentioned ranks are

all in the plural.all in the plural.

Other verses which Other verses which describe hierarchy among describe hierarchy among

angels both elect and angels both elect and fallen. fallen.

Rom 8:38; Eph 3:10;Rom 8:38; Eph 3:10;Col 1:16; 2:10, 15Col 1:16; 2:10, 15

3. Satan also has a strategy 3. Satan also has a strategy working through working through

unbelievers.unbelievers.

Luke 8:12; 2 Cor 4:3-4; Luke 8:12; 2 Cor 4:3-4; 2 Thes 2:9-10; Col 2:82 Thes 2:9-10; Col 2:8

4. God knew that Satan 4. God knew that Satan would be the ruler of this would be the ruler of this

world; therefore He world; therefore He designed certain things to designed certain things to

protect the human race protect the human race during Satan’s rule. during Satan’s rule.

a. The four Divine Institutions:a. The four Divine Institutions:

Volition, Marriage, Family and Volition, Marriage, Family and Nationalism. Nationalism.

1) They were designed to 1) They were designed to protect human freedom and protect human freedom and

are the means of are the means of perpetuating the human perpetuating the human

race as the counteraction to race as the counteraction to Satan’s rule.Satan’s rule.

2) Under them human 2) Under them human freedom is the most freedom is the most

protected thing in the protected thing in the Devil’s world so that bona Devil’s world so that bona fide evangelism can exist fide evangelism can exist

in every generation. in every generation.

b. Likewise, the ministry of b. Likewise, the ministry of God the Holy Spirit as the God the Holy Spirit as the

restrainer, 2 Thes 2:2-6, is a restrainer, 2 Thes 2:2-6, is a protection to all of mankind protection to all of mankind and especially the believer and especially the believer while in Satan’s Cosmic while in Satan’s Cosmic

world.world.

5. Satan attacks not only the 5. Satan attacks not only the positive believer but these positive believer but these four Divine Institutions as four Divine Institutions as

well as the gospel, the content well as the gospel, the content of the gospel, the message of of the gospel, the message of the gospel, those who deliver the gospel, those who deliver

the gospel, and so on. the gospel, and so on.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchThursday, September 30, 2010Thursday, September 30, 2010

Tape # 10-108Tape # 10-108

Obstructions to Divine Good Production, Part 3Obstructions to Divine Good Production, Part 3KOSMOS Hatred, Part 3KOSMOS Hatred, Part 3

Upper Room Discourse, Part 422Upper Room Discourse, Part 422

John 15:18; 1 Peter 4:12-13; Eph 6:11-13John 15:18; 1 Peter 4:12-13; Eph 6:11-13  

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010