1. Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Thursday, September 30, 2010 www.GraceDoctrine.org

2. Doxology Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.— Amen.

3. Memory Verse Phil 2:5, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.”

4. John 15:18-21 Obstructions to Divine Good Production

5. Reason #1: Verse 18, Satan’s Cosmic System hates the believer! Part 3

6. Principles of John 15:18: (continued)

7. 8. It is the nature of man to want sympathy and understanding and it can be very discouraging to be hated, especially when one acts from the purest motives and performs righteous deeds.

8. 9. Therefore, the Lord comforted His disciples by preparing them for the sufferings they would undergo because of His name, as He also does for us.

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

10. 11. This was Christ’s warning to them so that they would be prepared to face the challenge triumphantly.

11. Principles of the KOSMOS:

12. 1. The head of the structure for the KOSMOS is noted in John 14:30 and Eph 6:11. Satan is the prince (ruler) of this world.

13. a. The one who rules the world is Satan. The person of Satan, the greatest genius of all creatures is described in, Isa 14:12-17; Ezk 28:11- 19; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8.

14. b. He gained rulership of the world as a result of Adam’s decision to follow him rather than God. Compare Gen 2:26, 28; 3:1- 7 with Mat 4:8; Luke 4:5-6, John 12:31; 1 John 5:19.

15. Luke 4:5-6, “And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.”

16. 1 John 5:19, “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

17. 2. The general make up of the KOSMOS is noted in Eph 6:11-13.

18. a. Devil - DIABOLOS, “slanderous or accusing falsely.” He is the Head of the demon army. Mat 9:34; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15

19. b. Rulers – ARCHE, “beginning or origin, first place or power, sovereignty, dominion, or command.” From ARCHO, “to rule”. These are the top ranks, the Generals of Satan’s demon army.

20. c. Powers / Authorities – EXOUSIA, “power to act or authority.” It is used for “an office or magistracy.” These are the Officer Corps of Satan’s demon army.

21. d. World Forces – KOSMOKRATOR, “rulers or lords of this world.” These are the ones representing Satan in each country here on earth, the Ambassadors of Satan’s demon army. Dan 10:13-20

22. e. Spirits of Evil in the Heavens – (PNEUMATIKOS PONERIA EPOURANIOS). “Spiritual, iniquity / wicked- ness, of heaven”. These are the Rank and File Soldiers of Satan’s demon army.

23. Satan or DIABOLOS is in the singular while the other four mentioned ranks are all in the plural.

24. Other verses which describe hierarchy among angels both elect and fallen. Rom 8:38; Eph 3:10; Col 1:16; 2:10, 15

25. 3. Satan also has a strategy working through unbelievers. Luke 8:12; 2 Cor 4:3-4; 2 Thes 2:9-10; Col 2:8

26. 4. God knew that Satan would be the ruler of this world; therefore He designed certain things to protect the human race during Satan’s rule.

27. a. The four Divine Institutions: Volition, Marriage, Family and Nationalism.

28. 1) They were designed to protect human freedom and are the means of perpetuating the human race as the counteraction to Satan’s rule.

29. 2) Under them human freedom is the most protected thing in the Devil’s world so that bona fide evangelism can exist in every generation.

30. b. Likewise, the ministry of God the Holy Spirit as the restrainer, 2 Thes 2:2-6, is a protection to all of mankind and especially the believer while in Satan’s Cosmic world.

31. 5. Satan attacks not only the positive believer but these four Divine Institutions as well as the gospel, the content of the gospel, the message of the gospel, those who deliver the gospel, and so on.

32. Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, September 30, 2010 Tape # 10-108 Obstructions to Divine Good Production, Part 3 KOSMOS Hatred, Part 3 Upper Room Discourse, Part 422 John 15:18; 1 Peter 4:12-13; Eph 6:11-13 Grace Fellowship Church Thursday, September 30, 2010 Tape # 10-108 Obstructions to Divine Good Production, Part 3 KOSMOS Hatred, Part 3 Upper Room Discourse, Part 422 John 15:18; 1 Peter 4:12-13; Eph 6:11-13 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2010