Posts Tagged ‘God’

The Story of Satan – Part 6 – Satan’s Future

Posted: August 2, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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Well, we have arrived at the final installment of our series on the history of our common adversary, Satan. We set out on this path together a few weeks back, aiming to truly understand the enemy who opposes us. He began as Lucifer, a magnificent fallen angel now known simply as Satan. As the Most High’s finest creation, his very existence was meant to reflect the splendor of his God. His rank in Heaven granted him entry into the Father’s throne—a privilege beyond the reach of most heavenly beings. However, as we have seen throughout this series, he became so captivated by his own brilliance that corruption began to take root in his heart.

And Lucifer made a choice that would not only impact him but all the angels that followed along with the humans that chose or still choose to follow him. The ultimate result of that selfish, sinful choice is the topic of this last episode; Satan’s Future.

Take a moment and reflect on a specific crossroads in your personal  journey where a single choice possibly redirected your entire future. Maybe it was a life-altering commitment like your marriage or the moment you embraced your faith—decisions that continue to bear good fruit. Yet, on the other hand, we must also acknowledge those poor choices, the ones that carry heavy, lingering ripple-effect consequences. 

This is why when you learn more about Satan, you see that his mindset of “thinking he could be better than God” was so short-sighted. Against all rational probability, Lucifer, created by God, waged his will against that of the Creator. This also meant that even through all of his efforts; his scheming, lying, and deception, that God would ultimately still get the glory. 

Which is exactly opposite of what Satan intended to take place.

Honestly, the really strange part about our enemy was his myopic view of what he thought would happen. Because the reality for him was the very moment he said, “But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God…. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Isa 14:13-14, he was doomed to eternal damnation. 

I stil find it mind blowing to consider Satan’s relentless focus to defy God by persisting in his rebellion despite the absolute certainty of his eventual defeat.

So now I ask you to take a step back and look around; I think we can all agree that there is an accelerated intensity level of evil active upon this earth. I do not know what the plans of God are but what I do know is that when God no longer needs Satan for HIS purpose, that is when the end is coming.

Prior to the glorious return of Christ to this earth, the situation for humanity will undoubtedly deteriorate, as Satan and his legion of fallen angels intensify their wicked operations across the globe.

ALL OF THIS evil activity will be the beginning of Satan’s final ruin; This will happen in 3 separate stages:

First, Satan is cast out of Heaven-

Now, there are scholars that believe Satan does NOT still have access to Heaven but I am not one of them. I believe that Satan still has access to Heaven even now and that is evidenced by the final war in Heaven where he battles against the mighty archangel Michael and is defeated. Satan is in heaven already but that defeat meant there was no longer any place for him in Heaven and he was cast out. 

Think about this for a second…Satan, who was created by God long before the world was created, and who had only ever known in his existence in both Heaven and earth…and now he was cast out of this place, permanently. God’s judgment is always final.

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. Rev 12:7-8 ESV

(By the way, if you didn’t notice, the dragon mentioned above is Satan, and “his angels” are the ones that followed him when he decided he had a better plan for his life than God did)

Second, Satan is bound for 1000 years-

At the end of the age, Satan is to be confined into the Abyss for a thousand years.

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be released for a little while. Rev 20:1-3 ESV

Third, Satan is cast into the Lake of Fire–

After his release he will make a final attempt to overthrow God; this act will result in Satan’s final defeat and his being thrown into the Lake of Fire.

And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison 8 and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. 9 And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, 10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.  Rev 20:7-10 ESV 

I heard someone say once that God never learns anything new, and if you think about that, you understand that no matter what Satan thought or did…GOD already knew it would happen. The irony for this fallen angel is that he left Heaven thinking he could rule and be like God himself but instead, he continues to exist only FOR the glory of God just as he has always done. 

I also love the hypothetical situation someone described that when Satan successfully tempted Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit that there were no emergency meetings in Heaven as to how to respond or combat what the next steps were. Why? Because God is never surprised.

If you’re a Christian, that is a HUGE relief because in the Bible you constantly read about how God has a plan for you and me and again, ironically, for Satan as well. Remember what Paul said in Romans 8:28,

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Here is an absolute truth that you can stand firmly upon:

Guys, regardless of the circumstances you face in your life, understand that nothing occurs by chance…whether good or bad. God knew it before it happened. Sometimes that might be a hard pill to swallow depending on your circumstances but I assure you, as the verse in Romans states; God will weave your personal circumstances ultimately for good.

Finally, guys, I want to thank you for staying with me during this long series. I also think it is important to mention I still skipped a great deal of material about Satan’s story because my intent was only to summarize who he is, what he does, and where he is going. Frankly, I hope you take the baton from here and study more just for you. 

Honestly, if this series lites a small flame of interest in you then I will call this a success. Either way I would highly recommend you read the book I have been calling out through this series because it was inspiring to learn from Erwin Lutzer and it was a great help and encouragement to me in this study. I don’t normally recommend books, but this one gave me a HUGE new perspective about this topic that I found particularly strengthening so check it out.

Until next time guys-

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

The Story of Satan – Part 5 – Satan’s Adversary

Posted: July 26, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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So a quick recap from part 4 is we learned what Satan is doing right now. And trust me, he is NOT sitting on his hands. He is an active General conducting a war against you and me…Please don’t forget that. Additionally we learned what you and I should be doing to protect ourselves while we are going through this journey. 

Most importantly though, we cannot be complacent about this unseen war Satan is conducting and we certainly can’t pretend it isn’t happening. So let’s jump right back into this study again.

Let me start with this statement-

Jesus Christ came to earth to destroy the works of Satan. 

Did you catch that? Not mediate, compromise, or even legislate what Satan is doing, He came to destroy. As I previously mentioned, Satan prowls around this earth with the sole intent of devouring you and me. Jesus’ plan is exactly opposite; Instead of your destruction, He wants you to have eternal life with Him and what stands in both our ways are the plans of the enemy. 

Jesus Christ is the adversary of Satan. 

Read this;

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 ESV 

Christ also came to this earth to establish the Kingdom of God and most importantly, deliver us, you and me, from the dominion of Satan. In case you missed this from previous blog episodes, while we are on earth, we are enslaved to Satan unless we accept the offer of Christ to be redeemed…but I am getting ahead of myself. Read these few verses:

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.  Matthew 12:28 ESV – Christ Speaking

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed Luke 4:18 ESV – Christ speaking

And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” Luke 13:16 ESV – Christ Speaking

…to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:18 ESV

In case you didn’t know, when Christ came to Earth, that was a direct invasion into the enemy’s territory that absolutely shook the kingdom of darkness. Before He officially began His ministry here, Jesus actually allowed Satan to challenge Him with various temptations. The enemy tried to bribe Him with everything you see on this planet, provided Jesus would simply fall down and worship him. (Matthew 4:1-11).

Take a look at these few verses:

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'” Matthew 4:8-10 ESV 

(We have talked about this before so I encourage you to go back to the blog citation at the end and read, “The Temptation of Jesus” for further details on the power that Satan has here on Earth.)

When you read these verses, you will notice that Jesus systematically refused Satan’s temptations by using only scripture as responses to each question. Why would Christ do this? Because according to the Bible, the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword and that was sufficient to defeat the prince of this world.

Let me remind you of Martin Luther’s words from many years ago when he said,

The devil is God’s devil. We have forgotten that only when we know who God is can we know who the devil is. Blessed are those who are convinced that the prince of this world has become a slave to the Prince of Peace.

QUICK SIDE NOTE: I really want to stress how vital it is for you to grasp the weight of this quote. Even though Satan operates as the prince of this world, he remains completely subject to the authority of Christ! Don’t miss this: it means you and I can access that very same power to achieve victory over the enemy when we need it. Please make sure you read this and realize that this divine resource is available to you. You are never fighting this battle alone.

Let’s pick up this story again. When Christ hung on that cross and breathed His last breath, the entire kingdom of darkness erupted in celebration. They were convinced they had secured the final victory because Jesus was dead. 

But don’t miss this: God had a different plan. 

If you are familiar with the scriptures, you know exactly why we celebrate Easter—it’s because He rose from the grave, defeating death once and for all and dooming Satan.

Read this quote from Erwin Lutzer from his book, God’s Devil, who says;

Though he could never have predicted it, at the cross Lucifer would be defeated spiritually, for there Christ was guaranteeing that at least part of fallen humanity would be purchased out from the kingdom of darkness to share in the Kingdom of Light.

As you might expect, the legions of Satan shifted instantly from jubilant celebration to absolute terror. It was a complete reversal of fortune. Through the resurrection, Christ effectively sealed the doom of our enemy and guaranteed that God would secure the final triumph over him.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil  Hebrews 2:14 ESV

So guys, we have reached a very important mile marker in this 6-part series about Satan.  We are at the point where the next episode we will talk about Satan’s future. I think it is critical to share with you what happens to him and I want you to know what the Bible tells us about the end of our collective enemy.

Guys, I realize this isn’t exactly a light subject to dive into, but we simply can’t examine the full account of our enemy without looking at his final defeat through a scriptural lens. My aim is to lay out these details in a way that is clear and easy to grasp so the big picture really resonates for you.

Part 6 is next and it is the last one…planned.

Until next time guys-

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

Wright, Kent, “The Temptation of Jesus,” Ironman Strength, January, 2, 2024, iron-man-strength.com

The Story of Satan – Part 3 – Satan’s Kingdom

Posted: July 12, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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So let’s pick this up again from where we left off from Part 2 of The Story of Satan. If you recall last time, we learned that Satan is the god of this age on earth and is the one responsible for bringing sin to the human race when Adam and Eve ate the fruit from the tree. In Part 3, we are going to learn more about the Kingdom of Satan. 

And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? Matthew 12:26 (Christ speaking)

Yes…you heard me correctly, Satan indeed has a Kingdom that is highly organized and functional towards a singular purpose. He is anything but a chaotic ruler; instead, he commands a systematic empire of darkness with a laser-focused aim of total destruction. He is marshaling every resource of his domain to wage war against the Almighty… and against you and me personally.

A huge point to consider is from Erwin Lutzer who tells us that, “Satan‘s most strategic victory is to give us reasons to disbelieve what God has said.” I cannot emphasize the enemy’s strategy enough. If he can get you or me to just question our belief system, exactly like he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, then he has a foothold in your life. I encourage you to remember this.

While he is the prince of this earth, Satan has authority over the following: 

Kingdom of the Air – in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Eph 2:2 NIV]

The “air” in this verse refers to the invisible realm above the earth where Satan and his demons move and exist and this space is the location of the earth’s atmosphere or “air.” He can move anywhere he wants in and through this earth…The entire world is his domain and he can show up whenever he wants to…please remember that.

Fallen Angels – “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. [Mat 25:41 NIV]

-Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. Rev 12:7 NIV

So when Satan fell from God’s grace and out of heaven, I mentioned in Part 1 that he brought a whole slew of fallen angels go with him. The Bible says a third of all heavens angels went with him. Those angels are now his demons and are completely under his control. Without a doubt, they are a HUGE part of fulfilling his destructive purpose on earth. Please remember that too.

Unrepentant Humanity  – Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. [John 12:31 NIV]

…the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. [Eph 2:2 NIV]

OK, another huge point to consider is that those who intentionally resist the Almighty God and refuse to repent are, whether they realize it or not, are part of his domain. I cannot emphasize the gravity of this enough. You are either for God…or you are under the spirit now at work in the disobedient. Again, please consider this.

The World –  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. [2 Co 4:4 ESV] 

As I mentioned before, Satan has limited control over the earth at this time so let’s unpack that quickly.

Things to know about Satan inside his Kingdom:

Satan does have power: And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. Luke 4:6 NIV

I encourage you to go back to the blog citation at the end and read, “The Temptation of Jesus” for further details on the power that Satan has here on Earth.

Satan has a throne: I know where you live–where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, not even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city–where Satan lives. Rev 2:13 NIV

I cannot emphasize the enemy’s strategy enough: the most critical error is failing to respect our adversary’s capability. While Satan possesses significant authority, remember that his influence is strictly constrained by God. Think of him as the executive of a massive, systematic empire with his singular purpose being yours and my total ruin. In this age, right now, he exists almost exclusively to dismantle our lifes. 

As Erwin Lutzer brilliantly observes, “If Satan cannot keep us from heaven… at least he can keep us from being useful on earth.” I encourage you to remember that. 

Another set of important points to recognize is that Satan is NOT:

Omni-present – Present everywhere at the same time.

Omnipotent –  Having unlimited power; able to do anything

Omniscient – Knowing everything

Guys, consider the weight of this: our greatest foe cannot know or peer into your inner thoughts. Only the Almighty possesses the power to know your thoughts. Does realizing this truth about our adversary shift your perspective? I encourage you to think on that.

Moreover, because Satan is limited in his power, much of his earthly activity is delegated to his demon horde who also are limited in power. He has to use his team to tempt and defeat you as evidenced by the verses below-

-And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. Matt: 8:28 

-For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. Rev 16:14

Guys, let me leave you with this…If you think you have nothing to fear from this enemy, then he has you right where he wants you. 

One more point to consider is that even though Satan knows the word of God (scripture) better than anyone on this earth, he still refuses to recognize that God wins in the end. 

He is in denial about his own destruction.

Part 4 is next –

Until next time guys-

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

Wright, Kent, “The Temptation of Jesus,” Ironman Strength, January, 2, 2024, iron-man-strength.com

The Story of Satan – Part 2 – Satan’s Role

Posted: July 5, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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Ok, let’s pick up this story from Part 1 where we were discussing who Satan is and where he came from. It never ceases to amaze to me when I think about what an incredible creation Lucifer was before he fall, and yet, how much his personal prideful choice caused him to lose…but we will get to that later.

If you didn’t know this already, Satan, who is also called the Serpent, was the one who caused the fall of the human race. Yes… the same guy…Now we will learn more about this in the coming episodes but it is very important to recognize that although Satan is the adversary of God, he does not appear to Adam and Eve in this manner. Rather, as Lutzer puts it, “He comes under a disguise and without revealing who he really is. He changes himself into something he is not to deceive others. He did not come to frighten, but to soothe, encourage, to instruct.”

Look at the brief story of the encounter between Adam, Eve and the Serpent below from the book of Genesis:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 

2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 

3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'” 

4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 

5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.  [Gen 3:1-6 ESV] 

Lutzer tells us that, “Literally, the first time Satan opens his mouth is to put a question where God had put a period. Satan knew that if he could get Eve to focus on the one thing she did not have, it would rob her of the joy she should derive from all of the things she did have.”

Do you understand how Satan operates? He convinced Eve to question God and from that day on, lying, deception, and sin entered this world and the human race has never been the same. Can you imagine if Adam and Eve had resisted the temptation of the serpent? And what this world MIGHT have been like? That is a whole topic unto its own and one that will not be addressed by me.

What is Satan doing right now?

We know that we are the children of God and that the whole world is in control of the evil one.  1 John 5:19

Guys, we will NEVER adequately understand the New Testament unless we recognize its underlying conviction that Satan is the “god of this world” right now. Think about that for a second. Satan is the evil one and it is his power that controls this present evil age. When Adam and Eve sinned, that is when it started. 

Now, I hope this isn’t the first time you are hearing this but if it is, and you are skeptical, please read these verses I have stacked up below because the Bible is very clear about what is going on.

2 Co 4:4 – In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Gal 1:3-4 – Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

Eph 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Heb 2:14 – ​​Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil…

1Pe 5:8 –  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Even though I say Satan is in charge, that does not mean that God isn’t in direct control of this ungodly world. 

The ungodly world I am speaking of are sinful people, evil, cruelty, and injustice…all the things we see around us every day. More importantly, it is critical that I stress the fact that in no way does God desire or cause all of the sufferings in this world, nor is everything that happens His perfect will.  I can tell you that God uses everything; even evil, to accomplish His purposes.

The Bible does tell us that at this present time, the world is NOT under God’s dominion, but is currently in rebellion against God’s rule and is enslaved to Satan. God, for the time being, has limited His own supreme power over this world…but I assure you, this is only temporary. That is what we see happening right now.

I know this is not the best news you have received today and I get that, but know this, because of this worldly condition I spoke about above…that is why Christ came to die for you and me.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV

…and why His plan was to reconcile the world to God 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 

that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 2Co 5:17-19 ESV

So the two main points from Part 2 that I want you to understand today are: 

  1. Satan is the god of this earth right now.
  2. Satan is the one responsible for bringing sin to the human race when Adam and Eve gave into temptation. 

There is more detail coming on what Satan is also doing presently so stay tuned because Part 3 will be next – 

Until next time guys-

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

The Story of Satan – Part 1- Who is he?

Posted: June 29, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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4 years ago, I posted a 6-part series called The Story of Satan and my intent was to provide you more detail about our common enemy, Satan, so you knew how to better resist him. I say resist because that is what you and I are called to do…not stand and fight, because we will lose. 

I also wanted to mention that since these first posts, I have read one of the most comprehensive studies on Satan that is out there written by Erwin Lutzer, called God’s Devil. I will be quoting him as we revise these 6 parts with new information. I will also place the bibliography for this book at the end of the post.

So to begin, I know I have mentioned in past blogs how important it is when preparing for war, to know your enemy. In the case of Satan, I believe that to be even more true because of how ruthless he is. I am sure some of you have heard of the famous Chinese General, Sun Tzu who wrote the book, The Art of War. In that famous book, Tzu had a quote where he said, 

“Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated.”

This makes real sense because when you know your enemy, you can predict what they might do. In this case, the simple translation is, if you ignore your enemy, they can and will overcome you, but if you study them and have knowledge of them, it certainly improves your chances at victory. 

And that is the reason I wanted to write this easy-to-read, 6-part series on The Story of Satan. My hope is that after reading, you will have a better understanding of what the Bible says about the evil one and what YOU need to do to prepare versus just what the world tells you.

The plan is to provide you with as much detail in a shorter blog format including many of the scripture references so you can review and decide for yourself what you think. This may not be obvious, but this 6-part series is just the cliff notes version of what the Bible actually says. There is a great deal more for you to explore and I highly recommend doing so if you find this even the least bit interesting. Or, better yet, read Erwin Lutzer’s book.

Why is this important to you and me?

Because the Bible tells us that while Satan is the prince of this earth, more evil men are coming and their job will be to change your mind about your belief in God…and I do not want you to do that. My goal is for you to be strong in your faith. The Bible says these evil men will preach so effectively that even the very elect…our so-called experts, will be deceived. Read this scripture below.

​​For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.  Matthew 24:4

So again, my hope is you will read and learn more about our common enemy in this short series so that you can better prepare yourself for the future. So let’s get started-

We need to be reminded of Martin Luther’s words that even “the devil is God’s devil.” We have forgotton that only when we know who God is can we know who the devil is. Blessed are those who are convinced that the prince of this world has become a slave of the Prince of Peace. Lutzer, E.

Who is Satan and where did he come from?

First of all, his name, Satan: (Hebrew Meaning – Accuser/ Adversary)

Secondly, the name Lucifer means: ‘light-bringing, morning star’, from lux, luc- ‘light’ + -fer ‘bearing’

The Bible has many other names for him including, the prince of the power of the air, and god of this age but the King James Version of the Bible calls him Lucifer, which means light bearer or shining one.

Lutzer tells us that “Satan had no natural light of his own but was expected to reflect the light and the glory of God”.

To be clear, Satan was not as magnificent or as beautiful as God but evidently he was the best the Almighty could do. Lucifer was God’s masterpiece and from a human perspective and he would not be like anything you or I have ever seen. He was a blaze of God’s reflected light, very powerful and he was appointed to be minister at the throne of God which meant he was very important in the hierarchy of heaven. Apparently, as we learn, he was not satisfied.

Even before the world began, meaning before the earth was created, Satan rebelled against God and became the chief antagonist to Him and all of humanity. Read this explanation verse from Ezekial:

“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. 13 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. 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. [Eze 28:12-15 NKJV] 

I know there is great symbolism in the Bible that make these scriptures difficult to understand but the above verses describe Satan when he was created and really how amazing he was, or could have been. He was created, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty…and he was established on the holy mountain of God…and all of that went away when iniquity was found in you. Lutzer tells us however, that “Satan was defeated the moment he chose to sin.” 

What is iniquity? The dictionary calls it; ​​immoral or gross injustice or wickedness. A wicked act; sin

Satan attempted to assault God in his original rebellion when he demanded to be “like the Most High” and he failed.

Lutzer reminds us, “True, Satan wouldn’t depend on God for guidance in the decisions he made, but every one of his rebellious acts would be under God’s careful direction and control. He could defy God, to be sure, but his activities would always be limited to what God allowed”.

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Isaiah 14:14

So we are crystal clear, BECAUSE Lucifer rebelled against God…he was cast down out of heaven.

Here is a verse from Isaiah that describes the fall of Satan from heaven:

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! [Isa 14:12 NKJV]

Important facts to understand:

In his rebellion against God, Satan drew with him a multitude of lesser angels, who are identified, after their fall, with both demons or evil spirits. Satan and many of these lesser beings were exiled to earth and the atmosphere around it, and operate within this sphere (Earth) under the permissive will of God.

To be more specific, Satan’s initial rebellion as I mentioned above, took with him literally a third of heaven’s angels as evidenced by the scripture below;

His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth.  [Rev 12:4 NKJV]

Again, more symbolism in the book of Revelation but this indicates that the stars are the angels that were banished to earth. Additionally, a part of this rebelling brood of angels are still bound in Hell while the rest of them are free to operate and exist under Satan’s dominion and control (more to come on this later).

OK, lets stop here but stay tuned the revised Part 2 is coming soon-

Read, Think, Pray – That is all I am asking-

Until next time guys-

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

Lutzer, Erwin, W. God’s Devil. Chicago: Moody Press, 1996

The Christian Elevator Pitch

Posted: June 7, 2026 in Biblical Wisdom
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Have you ever heard of an elevator speech before? If you have ever been in a sales role then I am sure you are familiar but essentially an elevator speech is if you happen to be in an elevator with a CEO that you recognize as famous and of course they don’t know you. The idea is that you invoke the “20 seconds of extreme courage” model and strike up a conversation with them, introduce yourself and then give them 30 seconds about who you are and why you are the the best choice.

What this does is it causes you to really focus on the most important facts about your pitch and what makes the most impact in the shortest amount of time. You remove all the fluff and unimportant details and just convey solid, efficient, information that is succinct and directly to the point. 30 seconds…that is all you have. 

If you have never done this I assure you it REALLY makes you think but that is really not the reason for this post today…well sort of.

This elevator pitch idea got me thinking about what if I applied that same concept above to being a regular Christian guy in this world and you found yourself on an elevator. What would you say to the person? Could you explain God or Christ and what He did for you in 30 seconds? 

For that matter, could you explain that topic in 30 minutes? I think the easy answer is some of us can and others have never even considered this question before. Guess you know why I am writing about this today. 

Here is my point; every single person…man or woman, who claims to be a Christian must have an explanation for why you believe or have faith. Why is that necessary? Why do I need to know how to explain why I believe? My easy answer is, what kind of faith do you have if you don’t know why you believe? I mean, realistically if you don’t know, or have a relationship with Christ, then what is the point?

Peter says it this way, But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter: 3:15

Guys, faith is a spiritual muscle that God requires you and me to exercise constantly. How does He do that? By providing us daily challenges to overcome and obstacles and barriers to get over or around.  Adversity can and will build faith OR…it can cause our faith to weaken if we choose to give up. As I have said many times on this blog, strong faith is up to you…you get to choose if you want to live for Him.

These good and bad experiences along our journey become a part of your walk with God and certainly a part of your elevator speech; And on that journey, God walks right along side of you and me. He is not our crutch but our companion. He seeks nothing but good for you because He cared enough to send His son to die to pay the price for sin that you nor I could pay. 

And frankly, conveying that sacrifice alone to someone should be your 30 seconds…just saying.

Guys, I have never given my readers any homework before so today will be the first time but I want you to take just 5 minutes on your morning drive into work and think about my question. If someone asked you today why do you believe in the faith you profess? What would your answer be? 

I encourage you to take the time to consider your own personal answer…because it will ultimately determine your eternal future.

Until next time Guys,

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

How do I know Christ lives in me?

Posted: May 25, 2026 in Kingdom Living
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A friend of mine recently posed a question to me that I found very interesting. He asked me “how do you know if you are truly saved? How do you know if you are REALLY a Christian? This guy was genuinely struggling with whether or not he had actually been saved, or was this completely in his head.

For those of you not familiar when I refer to “saved”. This is what happens when we accept Christ into our hearts and He comes to inhabit or live in us. Being saved means we gain eternal life with Him.

But, back to the question at hand; Is it possible to be saved only in your head, and not in your heart?

The easy answer is no, you cant be saved just in your head and how do I know this? Because a truly saved person is changed from the inside out. They are renewed inside, they are different because of that renewal.

J. A. Motyer said it this way, “No one can walk with God without giving himself to a determined pursuit of good.” 

If you just think you are saved and yet you are still on the same path as before, then I would question the validity of your experience. I am not trying to be harsh, but at the same time, God does not inhabit a heart that doesn’t want Him to be there. 

A better way to say this is you can’t profess Christianity and still have a solid foothold in this world. The two do not, can not, and will not EVER coexist. God wants all of you or none of you and He will not share…especially with the enemy.

When your heart has been changed by Him, you will have a desire to pursue good things…and there will be a battle inside of you when you come into conflict with your old way of thinking. That conflict is God inside you reminding you that you are not the same person anymore.

I can also tell you this on solid authority; when you give your life to God, and He comes to live in your heart; because of that personal choice you made, the enemy will triple and quadruple the attacks on you to ensure your experience does not last. When you have lived your life away from God, and then in humility, give your life over to Him…that is when things can get interesting.

Again, this is not a scare tactic, I simply want to present you with the truth. It is critical you are aware that the enemy will not give you up easily. Be prepared for the battle that is coming. But recognize the more you lean into God, there will be challenges in your life. But please…read this scripture today guys:

…Greater is He who is in you than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4

We were not promised an easy life by signing on with Christ. What He did promise was on life’s journey, that He will never lead us or forget about us. David said it this way in Psalm 23, “…Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I am not afraid, because you are right there with me.”

Guys, our God inhabits those of us who truly seek Him and that is the foundation of your salvation. Those of us who pursue the narrow path and are intentional about doing good in this life; I applaud you for your fortitude and I believe in my heart there are a bunch of you out there, just everyday, doing your version of life and serving Him.

Until next time Guys,

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

Motyer, J. A., The Message of Amos, Intervarsity Press, 1974

Flawless

Posted: April 17, 2026 in Strength for Today
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Have you ever been inspired by something before? Maybe it was a great speech your heard or a seminar you attended. It could have even been a song that really hit you in your core. Whatever it happened to be, it got you thinking that something in your life might change for the better. Because let’s face it, all of us need hope am I right?

A few years back, I found myself unexpectedly inspired by a song that I wanted to reshare with you because I think the words in this song will resonate as we navigate this life. You see if you are anything like me, you may find yourself constantly going back and forth; trying to be a good person and then when it matters, falling flat on my face. 

Inevitably, we try and claw our way back into God’s good graces, and yet we feel like we are on the edge of a cliff and we can’t get back. Or we have gone too far and we’re going to fall over. And that is why I want you to hear the words from this song.

Because…No matter what path you have been on or may still be on…

Because…No matter what has happened in your past that you are ashamed of…

Because…No matter if you have ever experienced failure, or disappointment, or unhappiness, or you just can’t overcome something that is keeping you down…

Just in case you may have forgotten this important detail along the way.

God has an amazing grace just for you, and, because of what Christ did…

THE CROSS HAS MADE YOU FLAWLESS…

This is an important to consider; when God looks at us, what He sees isn’t pretty because we live in a world reeking of sin and frankly, I can’t imagine what that looks like from His perspective.

But, because of what Christ did on that cross, God looks at you and me through the filter of Jesus and instead of seeing sin, He sees someone who is pure and blameless before Him.

AND, I don’t care what you have done…that is between you and God but I do know that because of His grace towards all of us…and His righteousness wrapped around us…

You, YES YOU, and Me are Flawless…

Guys, this is a simple message but I also know it is easy to lose your way and forget even the simple things God has given to us. I believe there is no such thing as hopelessness for someone who recognizes what has been done for him by Jesus Christ on the cross…why? 

Because being right with God and being flawless before Him; there is truly no greater place that anyone can be…and that my friend is the greatest hope any of us will ever experience.

I want you to be encouraged –

Until next time guys…

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

Enjoy, Flawless, by MercyMe

Is God Safe?

Posted: March 17, 2026 in God Perspective
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I was reading from a book recently when I came across this question the author posed which I found intriguing because of the obvious contrast. This contrast I am referring to is the God we often refuse to see: the God who is simultaneously our ultimate Privilege and yet, our ultimate Peril. He is one God—with two very different realities— but yet He is held together without contradiction.

I hope I don’t surprise any of you with this post but to be clear, the more I learn about our God, the more I fear Him. God isn’t “just” filled with compassion and mercy; He is an Almighty and “Consuming Fire” and as a reminder, many times when He spoke or just showed up in the Bible, people were filled with sheer terror. 

I think one of the best examples of this is when God leads His people to Mt Sinai where he gave them His Ten Commandments in the book of Exodus. Moses serves as the liaison between the Children of Israel and God by going back and forth, or… up and down the mountain 8 different times to accomplish this task. 

As J. A. Motyer tells us, “The 10 Commandments were spoken by the Lord, in His own voice to Israel, but to those who heard this found the experience terrifying beyond endurance and appealed to Moses to be their mediator”. See the Exodus verses below:

When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die.”  Exodus 20:18-19.

You see, God was building a foundation for them to understand that He was the God who saved them from Egyptian slavery and brought them to this place. Here, at His mountain, He would teach them about His holiness. And that without holiness, no one will see the Lord. 

But as we learn, Israel assumed that “an easy going people believe in an easy going God” which could not have been further from the truth. Because “the Lords holiness is like a huge force held in check, but constituting an overwhelming menace if released”.

The real lesson here is DO NOT TAKE GOD FOR GRANTED. Do not approach Him with indifference or apathy because He is God and He should be revered.

So I ask you the question again, Is God Safe?

Let’s see how Donald McCullough answers that in his book, The Trivialization of God:

God is definitely not safe. To appear before the Wholly Other with steady knees – well, it would be foolhardy, to say the least. In the presence of this God, human indifference gets slapped to alert attention and human pretension gets knocked on its backside. 

God is not safe, but God is good, very good. For the dangerous otherness is a transcendent, loving commitment not to be separate – a threat to our egos that establishes our true selves, a danger that is our only safety. 

Why is this important now? 

Because if you haven’t noticed, this society continues to move at warp speed towards indifference and apathy…two human characteristics God hates the most because they come from the evil one. And it is critical for you and me to constantly be reminded that although our God is a patient and loving God, He is still a consuming fire who, as the Psalmist tells us in 115:3, “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him.” And guys, there is absolutely nothing you or I can do about that…except be humble and reverent towards Him.

Which is my encouragement to you today. Don’t get lost in apathy or lack of caring about your relationship with Christ. Renew it today and stay connected to Him.

Let me leave you with this quote from the C.S. Lewis book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe about the first time the children learn about Aslan:

“Is…is he a man?” asked Lucy.

“Aslan, a man!” said Mr. Beaver sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of the Beasts? Aslan is a Lion  –  the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he – quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”.

“That you will, dearie, and make no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver. “If there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or just silly.”

“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Until next time Guys-

Iron-man Strength (IMS) Team

NOTES:

  • Motyer, J. A. The Message of Exodus, Inter-Varsity Press, 2005
  • McCullough, Donald, W. The Trivialization of God, Navpress, 1995
  • Lewis, C. S., The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Harper Trophy, 1950

I miss you Dad…

Posted: February 17, 2026 in Strength for Today
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I lost my father a week ago and I am still reeling from it. Unfortunately, I am very well acquainted with loss after having lost my daughter, but this loss is very different. Unlike my daughter, my father has been with me my whole life. He has been with me through the highs, like marriage and the birth of my children, and through the lows, as with the loss of my daughter. 

My father has ALWAYS been there.

I could call him anytime I wanted and he would always take the call. He never was too busy for me or any one of my children. If I needed him to show up somewhere; He did…He never complained he just “did” and that kind of support and unwavering commitment is just such a tremendous loss it is hard to put into words. 

I am sure many of you have lost your parents so my words are not new to you. The process of grief can be long and something we cannot avoid. Mine is a daily hammer of a reminder that he is gone and never returning to this life. Therefore, my life will never be the same again. That statement, as true as it is, is where one starts the process of grief and then I found that over time, you work your way into what I have always called, the new version of normal. 

In other words, and for me, what does my life look like without my dad in it? 

Guys, I do not mean to take anyone down my rabbit hole with this post. Especially, in your own journey if you have conquered your version of your new normal. If you made it that far, I congratulate you…because some people never do and that impacts them in ways they can’t quite understand.

For me personally, I go back to my previous grief journey with my daughter and look at what helped me back then move through each step as best I can.

One of those areas I looked at was the person who left us. What I mean is, was that person suffering? And if yes, then there is solace in knowing that they are suffering no longer. They are free from that finally and that helped me when I thought about him lying there.

The second area I looked at was their destination. In other words, as a Christian man…I  fully recognize that my father is with God in Heaven. Again, for me personally, I have absolutely 100% confidence in telling you that I know exactly where my father is right now and also who he is with. When you take the time to develop that idea for yourself, where your loved one actually is, there is truly a peace that comes which is exactly what you need.

Finally, in my short blog version, you help pick up the pieces for those who are left. In my case, my mother is left to transition her own path of grief from living with someone for over 65 years to being alone. Yes, that is an incredibly lonely and overwhelming feeling to overcome so my family and friends are critical, but so is her own relationship with God. 

Guys, this cannot be overstated enough; you, me, anyone who serves God is not left on an island to fend for themselves while on this path of grief. God does not desert you…honestly, that is when He is the closest to you. But remember, relationships go 2 ways. 

In other words, as Jeremiah 29: 13 says, 

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

In your moments of pain and loss, if you truly seek Him, you will find Him…IF you seek Him with all of your heart. This is truth.

If you are suffering a loss like I am, please don’t go it alone. Whether you have family or friends or both, do not forget your Heavenly Father because the peace He brings is like nothing else on this earth.

Dad…you will always be in my heart. I miss you.

Until next time Guys-

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