Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” Martin Luther King Jr. (A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr.)
Satan’s agenda is to get mankind to hate God as he does. He hates God because he was kicked out of heaven where he had indescribable beauty and unlimited freedom. Now he is confined to the 2nd and 1st heavens, knowing his final destiny is everlasting torment in the Lake of Fire and brimstone. If he cannot partake of God’s glorious 3rd heaven anymore, then he certainly doesn’t want anyone else to be able to do so either. If he is going to be tormented then he sure as ‘hell’ is going to make sure that mankind is tormented too.
When he found out that God was coming in the flesh as Jesus Christ to redeem man from his dominion, he was furious, and has wreaked havoc on the earth among men to this day. When Jesus died, shed His blood paying Satan’s ransom, descended first into the lower parts of the earth to set captives free, then arose from the grave with many saints in Jerusalem, conquering death, hell and the grave, Satan became livid with hatred for Christians.
As we come closer to the hour when Jesus shall return to take His believers out of this world, so they will not have to go through the great tribulation, we can see that darkness and hate are abounding around us as never before in the history of mankind, except for the days of Noah. Jesus tells us that His coming would be when the Days of Noah returned. In our research we have shown that there was great demonic activity in the Days of Noah, with many unnatural happenings among men and the sky. Today there is an abundance of lawlessness and unnatural relations and many reports of aliens. Just like the Days of Noah.
God set boundaries for the fallen angels. They could have activity within certain perimeters, or borders. Jude says they did not keep that estate or habitation or boundaries or perimeters. They left those boundaries and intermingled with women, giving birth to giants. God sent a flood to destroy the earth and these giants and started the population of the earth over with Noah and his sons. When these giant children died, their bodies went to dust, but their spirits had no place designed for them to go, so they became earth-bound spirits or demons. They were 1/2 devil and 1/2 human. This explains the drawings on the walls of caves showing centaurs and many other half and half creatures. It also explains the beliefs of the Greek and Roman pantheon of gods and mythical stories about Zeus, Pan, Muses and many others. It also explains the fascination with the paranormal today, hunting for ghosts and UFOs. It shows us that demons are the angel guides and ascended masters behind New Age and Eastern teachings. God judged these fallen evil angels, sealing them in the abyss, but the demons or spirits or ghosts of their children are roaming the earth to deceive and entrap mankind into forsaking the true source of all knowledge, Jesus Christ, and hating His Word and those who believe in Him. The book of Revelation says that these evil angels will be released from the abyss during the last 3 1/2 years of time on this earth. They will once again do what they did in the Days of Noah.
Jesus came to conquer the devil and his kingdom of darkness, setting free the captives held against their will. He did this by ‘LOVE’ “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Have you ever wondered about all the broken relationships in the world today? Why are there so many broken homes, broken relationships, broken lives, broken bodies, broken minds? We know that people make bad choices bringing bad things upon themselves. We know that people have mental imbalances of chemicals and diseases that influence their behavior. We know that people do not always have the same opportunities that their neighbor has had in their lives. We know people have bad role models and hang out with the wrong crowds. We know that people enjoy being mean and bad for self-esteem and identity purposes. But what about those who didn’t have these hindrances?
We have more knowledge today than ever in the history of mankind. We have the best medical care, the most conveniences, the latest technology, the best education, the latest self-help techniques, the majority of the world seeking self-enlightenment, yet nothing has changed. Why are there so many rude, self-centered people, unfeeling people everywhere you go today?
We live in a world of darkness which is ruled by the Prince of Darkness, Satan himself. Satan is hate and darkness and everything and everyone he touches become hateful and dark, eventually destroying themselves and those around them. The nightly news takes on a whole new meaning when you see what is behind the headlines.
The only thing that will overcome hate is love, and it is not our human love, but God’s Agape Love. Only when people acknowledge their need of Jesus Christ will they begin to be filled with His Holy Spirit of Agape Love. When they are filled, then this Agape Love begins to flow outward to those around them, warning all of the deception of Satan and his demons and pointing all to the only one who can overcome the destructive hateful dark forces in this world today. Jesus’ teaching on prayer becomes meaningful saying, “Thy will be done in my life and on this earth as in heaven. Thy kingdom come in my life and on this earth as in heaven. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.” The angels in heaven are continually giving praise and thanksgiving to God for all the beauty of His creation and miraculous works among mankind. This is the whole duty of man according to Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?” Satan, and anything that he influences man to do, is to bring the glory to self and thus to Satan.
Consider the many meanings of the word ‘Love’ in English, and then in Greek. Is it any wonder that we have trouble maintaining a ‘loving’ attitude toward our fellowman in our own strength? The Chichewa language has only one word for love. ‘Konda’ They kept it simple and it was only in the context of the sentence that you knew whether they liked you or loved you. LOL
Love
1. a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person.
2. a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.
3. sexual passion or desire.
4. a person toward whom love is felt; beloved person; sweetheart.
5. (used in direct address as a term of endearment, affection, or the like): Would you like to see a movie, love?
verb (used with object)
15. to have love or affection for: All her pupils love her.
16. to have a profoundly tender, passionate affection for (another person).
17. to have a strong liking for; take great pleasure in: to love music.
18. to need or require; benefit greatly from: Plants love sunlight.
19. to embrace and kiss (someone), as a lover.
verb (used without object)
21. to have love or affection for another person; be in love.
Verb phrase
22. love up, to hug and cuddle: She loves him up every chance she gets.
Idioms
23. for love,
a. out of affection or liking; for pleasure.
b. without compensation; gratuitously: He took care of the poor for love.
24. for the love of, in consideration of; for the sake of: For the love of mercy, stop that noise.
25. in love, infused with or feeling deep affection or passion: a youth always in love.
26. in love with, feeling deep affection or passion for (a person, idea, occupation, etc.); enamored of: in love with the girl next door; in love with one’s work.
27. make love,
a. to embrace and kiss as lovers.
b. to engage in sexual activity.
There are five Greek words for Love….
Mania – Manic love is almost not a love at all. The word “lust” is probably not strong enough – “obsession” is closer to the word. This is the love of possession.
“mania” that which I obsessively desire to own. It is generally seen as taking over the “lover” like insanity – thus the connection to modern concepts of madness (kleptomania, pyromania). It is like the opposite of a phobia – an obsessive need to avoid something. “Mania” is translated as “madness” and “beside yourself” in Acts 26.
Eros – Eros is obviously the root word for “erotic,” but it does not describe sexual love only, it actually describes all emotional love; the feeling of love. Eros love is that insatiable desire to be near the target of this love. The exciting, passionate, nervous feelings that sweep over people in the appropriate circumstances. This is the love that says “I love how you make me feel.” As an emotion, Eros changes, sometimes suddenly. Remember that it is entirely based on circumstances and on the target of its emotion. As an emotion, alone it is morally neutral, however, it can just as easily lead to lust (sinful desire) as it can passion. It is also a good picture to think of Eros as the fruit and flowers of a new relationship. Eros is not a bad thing, but it is also not a “good” thing. The word Eros does not appear in the Bible.
Philos – Philos love, or brotherly/friendship love, is the next kind we will look at. Philos describes the love between two people who have common interests and experiences, or a fondness for. Hemophiliacs apparently seemed to ancient doctors to have a “fondness” to bleeding, for example. Unlike Eros, which pulses up and down like waves on the ocean, Philos steadily grows, like a building being constructed stone by stone. For this reason, when close friends are separated for a while and reunited, they will often say “it is like we picked up exactly where we left off.” Philos is half about the circumstances, and half about the commitment of two people to one another; it says “I love who we are together,” or in case of a non person: “I am fond of this food.” Philos love generally grows over time except in the case of some kind of betrayal. It is commonly used in the New Testament, as in Matt. 10:37, John 12:25, and Revelation 3:19.
Storgy – We will not spend much time here; storgy is the love one has for a dependent. It is commonly called “motherly love.” It is entirely based on the relationship between the “lover” and the “lovee.” When the dependent is no longer dependent, this love remains only in its emotional remnants. It is one of the stronger loves, because it involves a commitment that relies on only one trait of the receiver – that he or she is dependent. This type of love is toxic to a marriage under normal circumstances.
Agape – Agape love is the final of the five loves we look at here. Agape love is entirely about the lover, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the one loved. Agape love, in its purest form, requires no payment or favor in response. The most common word for God’s love for us is Agape (I John, John 3:16) and the love we are commanded to have for one another (Matt. 5:44, I Cor. 13). This lack of input from the recipient makes it possible for us to love our enemies even though we may not like them or the situation they have put us in – because Agape love is not in any way dependent on circumstances; it says “I love you because I choose/commit to.” Unlike eros or philos, Agape creates a straight line that neither fades or grows (!) in its perfect form (which of course only exists from God outward). Oddly enough, even though many people marry out of eros love alone, they make vows that speak of commitment despite any circumstance: richer/poorer, better/worse, sickness/health.
This kind of love is about a commitment to the very best for another, no matter what emotions or feelings exist! You can see why in the King James Version of the Bible, Agape was usually translated as “charity.” It is a love freely given, and freely committed to. You can read I Corinthians chapter thirteen for Paul’s definition of love.
Mother Teresa said, ““I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.” “When you know how much God is in love with you then you can only live your life radiating that love.”
Father I ask that you open the hearts of your children, helping them to realize just how much you love each one of us. Man has never been able to duplicate your unconditional love. We have tried, but the moment someone steps on a painful area of our souls, we react with the flesh and not with your Spirit. Help each to be filled with your love to overflowing so that when someone hurts us we respond automatically with your agape love in forgiveness. Please remove the blinders from our eyes to see clearly just how much you really love us and that there is no substitute with any other source in this life. I ask this in Jesus Name.
