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Participating in the Cosmic Conflict

Participating in the Cosmic Conflict. The Cosmic Conflict.

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Participating in the Cosmic Conflict

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  1. Participating in the Cosmic Conflict Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  2. The Cosmic Conflict • Unselfishness, the principle of God’s kingdom, is the principle that Satan hates; its very existence he denies. From the beginning of the great controversy he has endeavored to prove God’s principles of action to be selfish, and he deals in the same way with all who serve God. To disprove Satan’s claim is the work of Christ and of all who bear His name. ED 154 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  3. God’s Heart Jeremiah 32:38 They shall be my people, and I will be their God See also Jer. 24:7; Eze. 37:27; Zech. 8:8 Revelation 21:3 • “See, the home of God is among mortals. • “He will dwell with them as their God; • “they will be his peoples, • “and God himself will be with them; See also Rev. 21:7 and 22:4 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  4. Overview: • Luke 10:18 • We participate in the Cosmic Conflict • Proclaiming the Gospel • Responding in obedience to God’s love • Bearing the burdens of others Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  5. Luke 10:18 • He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.” • 10:1-11—the setting • The Disciples’ Response • 10:19-20—Jesus set the disciples activity in the setting of the Cosmic Conflict Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  6. Note Jesus’ Words V. 18 I watched Satan fall from heaven V. 19 , I have given you authority … over all the power of the enemy v. 20 Rejoice … your names are written in heaven V. 21 Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit Father, have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  7. Setting: the Cosmic Conflict • The timing of this display of Divine Power • What did it mean to the misrepresentor? • What did it mean to the angels of Truth? • The same power has been given to us Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  8. As we obey The powers of darkness fall to earth The Holy Spirit gives us the desire/ability to obey causes us to rejoice We rejoice Jesus rejoices God rejoices • They were to • Cure the sick • Proclaim the Kingdom of God • We are to • Heal the sick • Proclaim the Kingdom of God Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  9. The Lord Jesus is making experiments on human hearts through the exhibition of His mercy and abundant grace. He is effecting transformations so amazing that Satan, with all his triumphant boasting, with all his confederacy of evil united against God and the laws of His government, stands viewing them as a fortress impregnable to his sophistries and delusions.They are to him an incomprehensible mystery. AG 222 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  10. Causing satan to Fall • The disciples as they went from village to village • Sharing the Gospel • Healing the sick Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  11. The Cosmic Conflict: Truth • Henceforward Christ’s followers were to look upon Satan as a conquered foe. Upon the cross, Jesus was to gain the victory for them; that victory He desired them to accept as their own. … • The rainbow of promise encircling the throne on high is an everlasting testimony that "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son. … It testifies to the universe that God will never forsake His people in their struggle with evil. It is an assurance to us of strength and protection as long as the throne itself shall endure. DA 490 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  12. The Cosmic Conflict: misrepresentor • Time, invasion of the privacy of another, my inadequacy, etc. 1 John 2:16 for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  13. Trusting God Matthew 28:18–20 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” See also Acts 1:8 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  14. Trusting God (cont.) • When we have a realization of our weakness we learn to depend upon a power not inherent • Nothing can take so strong a hold on the heart as the abiding sense of our responsibility to God • Nothing reaches so fully down to the deepest motives of conduct as a sense of the pardoning love of Christ • We come in touch with God, then we shall be imbued with His Holy Spirit, that enables us to come in touch with our fellow men Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  15. Trusting God (cont.) • Then rejoice that through Christ you have become connected with God, members of the heavenly family • While you look higher than yourself, you will have a continual sense of the weakness of humanity • The less you cherish self, the more distinct and full will be your comprehension of the excellence of your Savior • The more closely you connect yourself with the source of light and power, the greater light will be shed upon you, and the greater power will be yours to work for God • Rejoice that you are one with God, one with Christ, and with the whole family of heaven.DA 490-494 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  16. Trusting during Temptation James 1:14–15 But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; 15 then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death. The core issue in the Cosmic Conflict: Whom do I trust. Whom do I obey Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  17. misrepresentor Flesh’s vs. God’s Spirit Galatians 5:16-17 Live by the Spirit, … and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. See Rom. 8:5-17 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  18. Battle for Our Thought Life 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 for the weapons of our warfare are not merely human, but they have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments 5 and every proud obstacle raised up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to obey Christ. Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  19. At the Moment of Temptation • I must decide whether or not God is trustworthy. • Is God’s love adequate for my needs at this moment OR • Must I supply my needs Mark 4:18–19 the thorns: cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things. 1 John 2:16 for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—from the world Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  20. The Lord Jesus is making experiments on human hearts through the exhibition of His mercy and abundant grace. He is effecting transformations so amazing that Satan, with all his triumphant boasting, with all his confederacy of evil united against God and the laws of His government, stands viewing them as a fortress impregnable to his sophistries and delusions.They are to him an incomprehensible mystery. The angels of God, seraphim and cherubim, the powers commissioned to cooperate with human agencies, look on with astonishment and joy, that fallen men, once children of wrath, are through the training of Christ developing characters after the divine similitude, to be sons and daughters of God, to act an important part in the occupations and pleasure of heaven. AG 222 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  21. Suffering for Others • Revealing God’s Love Mark 12:31 ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ Romans 12:5, 10 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. … 10 Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Also: Gal. 6:2; Luke 10:33-37; Mat. 25:34-40 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  22. Jesus Suffered—Willingly Bearing our Burdens Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  23. God’s Love Draws Us to Him Romans 2:4 Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Galatians 2:20 and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. See also 2 Cor. 1:3; Luke 15;20 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  24. Bearing Other’s Burdens Unity John 17:20–23 “I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  25. Bear with Love and Humility Ephesians 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, Colossians 3:12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. See also Phil. 2:1-2 Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  26. We Need the Holy Spirit Romans 5:5 God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  27. The misrepresentor’s Lies Mark 4:18–19 And others are those sown among the thorns: these are the ones who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it yields nothing. 1 John 2:16 for all that is in theworld—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  28. In the Cosmic Conflict 2 Corinthians 5:17–20 So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. … 20 So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

  29. In the power of the Holy Spirit we proclaim the Gospel, God rejoices and satan falls like lightening • In response to the call and power of the Holy Spirit we trust the truth of God’s loves; we become “a fortress impregnable” to the misrepresentor • As we “bear one another’s burdens” the world will know of God’s love Participation in the Cosmic Conflict

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