PLAYING GOD—ASSUMING THE ROLE OF GOD 1

12 “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!
13 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 14:12,13 (NKJV)

• Pride leads to a destruction. When you begin to conceive what you would do without God, you are heading towards a destruction.

• Lucifer conceived things to do in his heart, which are all about the self: "I WILL ASCEND TO HEAVEN AND SET MY THRONE ABOVE GOD'S STARS" (Isaiah 14:13 NLT).
• Pride is one of the most grievous Sins in the sight of God. If you are fond of using I, thinking you are of great worth or importance, you have pride in your life: "BECAUSE OF THE PRIVILEGE AND AUTHORITY GOD HAS GIVEN ME [Paul], I GIVE EACH OF YOU THIS WARNING: DON'T THINK YOU ARE BETTER THAN YOU REALLY ARE. BE HONEST IN YOUR EVALUATION OF YOURSELVES, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us" (Romans 12:3 NLT).
• The falling of Lucifer started with the conception of the thought, that is, having a thought to be like the Most High God (Isaiah 14:13).

14 “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.
15 YOU WERE PERFECT IN YOUR WAYS FROM THE DAY YOU WERE CREATED, TILL INIQUITY WAS FOUND IN YOU.
17 “YOUR HEART WAS LIFTED UP BECAUSE OF YOUR BEAUTY; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I CAST YOU TO THE GROUND, I LAID YOU BEFORE KINGS, THAT THEY MIGHT GAZE AT YOU."
Ezekiel 28:14,15,17 (NKJV)
READ: Ezekiel 28:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:4

• The undoing, the ruin or the downfall of Satan, started with the conception of being like the Most High God.

• He wanted to set his throne above the stars, the princes of God (Isaiah 14:13).
• Are you contending with God? If a person wanted to do what only God can do, such is playing God, assuming the role of God, in the lives of the people he or she wanted to help—it shows there is pride in the life of the person!
• A leader who would not allow the people under his or her leadership to see God, but the self, such is calling for their own downfall or ruination or destruction.
• The major responsibility of a ministry leader is, pointing the people to God. That is, letting the focus of those whom you are leading, be on God.
• Teach the people how to read and study the Word of God, and pray, and meeting with God personally, one on one with their Maker—God.
• On no account should a ministry leader allow the people to shift their gaze or focus to him or her. Let them know God is the One working in their lives, you are just an instrument in His hand to accomplish His Will or Purpose in them.
• I have seen ministers who wanted to be all in all in the lives of the people they are leading. That could be dangerous for any leader to do.
• The God we serve, the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, is a jealous God, He would not want to share the glory of His works or doings with anyone (Isaiah 42:8).
• A leader posing to take or share the glory that should be ascribed to God, is calling for trouble. Sharing God's Glory would lead to the downfall of such a person.
• Whoever wanted to last in the work of ministry, should learn to humble himself or herself, and ascribe the glory due God to Him.
• Even if you are helping the people materially, that is, you are giving them money and other material things, do not allow their focus to be on you. Let it be on God!
• Also, If you are gifted, you are being used by the Holy Spirit to meet their spiritual needs, people tend to idolize or Reverence, or Worship you, but this should not be allowed. All glory and honour should be given to God.
• It does not mean the people should disregard or dishonour you, Scripture also says honour should be given to whoever honour is due (Romans 13:7). However, you should not allow them to overdo it!

• Another thing to learn from the passage, about what Lucifer did is, learning to be contented: "NOW GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN" (1 Timothy 6:6 NKJV).

• Lucifer was not satisfied being one of the archangels, he wanted to be like the Most High—God. If you are not satisfied with whatever God has given you, where He has placed you, you would surely fall.
• Lucifer who was a glorious archangel, became a rebel, and an adversary, because of lack of contentment.

• Let God be the One dictating the affairs of your life.

• Tame your thoughts and desires. Desires for fame, exalted positions, and wealth, could lead you to destruction:
  6 NOW GODLINESS WITH CONTENTMENT IS GREAT GAIN. 7 FOR WE BROUGHT NOTHING INTO THIS WORLD, AND IT IS CERTAIN WE CAN CARRY NOTHING OUT. 8 AND HAVING FOOD AND CLOTHING, WITH THESE WE SHALL BE CONTENT. 9 BUT THOSE WHO DESIRE TO BE RICH FALL INTO TEMPTATION AND A SNARE, AND INTO MANY FOOLISH AND HARMFUL LUSTS WHICH DROWN MEN IN DESTRUCTION AND PERDITION. 10 FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY IS A ROOT OF ALL KINDS OF EVIL, FOR WHICH SOME HAVE STRAYED FROM THE FAITH IN THEIR GREEDINESS, AND PIERCED THEMSELVES THROUGH WITH MANY SORROWS. 11 BUT YOU, O MAN OF GOD [Timothy, or whoever], FLEE THESE THINGS AND PURSUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, GENTLENESS" (1 Timothy 6:6-11 NKJV).

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.

• If you had any ailment in your body, I declare you healed now in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
• Hold of sicknesses is completely broken, never to be built again, in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
  Peace!
  TO BE CONTINUED.

STEPS TO SALVATION
• Take notice of this:
IF you are yet to take the step of salvation, that is, yet to be born-again, do it now, tomorrow might be too late (2 Corinthians 6:1,2; Hebrews 3:7,8,15).
a. Acknowledge that you are a sinner and confess your Sins (1 John 1:9); And ask Jesus Christ to come into your life (Revelation 3:20).
b. Confess that you believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that you confess it with your mouth, Thus, you accept Him As your Lord and Saviour (Romans 10:9,10).
c. Ask that He will write your name in the Book of Life (Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:8).

• If you took the steps As highlighted above, It means you are saved—born-again. Join a Word based church in your area and Town or city, and be part of whatever they are doing there. Peace!