Pride - a praise and worship leader gone astray?

Selections from The Holy Bible and personal essays and commentary

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Lucifer, from the Hebrew heylel (hay-lale') (in the sense of brightness); the morning-star or halal {haw-lal') a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify:--(make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool(- ish, -ly), glory, give (light), be (make, feign self) mad (against), give in marriage, (sing, be worthy of) praise, rage, renowned, shine. Once chief among angels, Lucifer was expelled from heaven with his followers because he fell in love with his own beauty. He became the perfect example of false pride and arrogance. He wished to be equal to and worshiped as God. He was given dominion over the earth after seducing Eve, who seduced Adam, to take that vicious bite from the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil. He achieved this by convincing Eve that she and Adam would become like God, or become gods, when they gained the knowledge of both good and evil. This great deception has led us all to the brink where we are today. Satan was defeated by Jesus' death on the cross to redeem all mankind from their sin and with the glorious return of our Lord Jesus Christ, the world will again belong to its rightful Ruler as He establishes the Kingdom of God on earth in Jerusalem, the Holy City of the One True God.
When sin was discovered in Lucifer, he was cast out of heaven along with all the angels whom he had convinced to take his attitude of false pride and rebellion against God.
This very intriguing historical and prophetic scripture passage from Isaiah 14 describes Lucifer and his fate but also, some say, refers to the anti-Christ - the King of Babylon or the Assyrian and his ultimate fate as well as passages about the land of Palestina or Plesheth pel-eh'-sheth; to roll (in dust):--roll (wallow) self; rolling, i.e. migratory; Pelesheth, a region of Syria:--Palestina, Palestine, Philistia, Philistines.

Isaiah 14:4 That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! (proverb: or, taunting speech) (golden…: or, exactress of gold) 5 The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6 He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. (a continual…: Heb. a stroke without removing) 7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 8 Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. 9 Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. (Hell: or, The grave) (chief…: Heb. leaders, or, great goats) 10 All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11 Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! (O Lucifer: or, O day star) 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? (opened…: or, did not let his prisoners loose homeward?) 18 All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19 But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. 21 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. 22 For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD. 23 I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts. 24 The LORD of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: 25 That I will break the Assyrian in my land, and upon my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders. 26 This is the purpose that is purposed upon the whole earth: and this is the hand that is stretched out upon all the nations. 27 For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? 28 In the year that king Ahaz died was this burden. 29 Rejoice not thou, whole Palestina, because the rod of him that smote thee is broken: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. (cockatrice: or, adder) 30 And the firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety: and I will kill thy root with famine, and he shall slay thy remnant. 31 Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Palestina, art dissolved: for there shall come from the north a smoke, and none shall be alone in his appointed times. (none…: or, he shall not be alone) (appointed…: or, assemblies) 32 What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it. (trust…: or, betake themselves unto it.)

Here is the translation found in the HNV - Isaiah 14:3 It shall happen in the day that the LORD shall give you rest from your sorrow, and from your trouble, and from the hard service in which you were made to serve, that you shall take up this parable against the king of Bavel (Babylon,) and say, How has the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! The LORD has broken the staff of the wicked, the scepter of the rulers; who struck the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, who ruled the nations in anger, with a persecution that none restrained. The whole eretz (earth) is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. Yes, the fir trees rejoice at you, and the cedars of Levanon, saying, Since you are laid low, no lumberjack is come up against us. She'ol from beneath is moved for you to meet you at your coming; it stirs up the dead for you, even all the chief ones of the eretz (earth); it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. All they shall answer and tell you, Are you also become weak as we? are you become like us? Your pomp is brought down to She'ol, and the noise of your viols: the worm is spread under you, and worms cover you. 12 How you are fallen from heaven, Heylel (day-star), son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; and I will sit on the mountain of congregation, in the uttermost parts of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like Ha`Elyon (the Most High). Yet you shall be brought down to She'ol, to the uttermost parts of the pit. Those who see you shall gaze at you, they shall consider you, saying, "Is this the man who made the eretz (earth) to tremble, who shook kingdoms; who made the world as a wilderness, and overthrew the cities of it; who didn't let loose his prisoners to their home?" All the kings of the nations, all of them, sleep in glory, everyone in his own house. But you are cast forth away from your tomb like an abominable branch, clothed with the slain, who are thrust through with the sword, who go down to the stones of the pit; as a dead body trodden under foot. You shall not be joined with them in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have killed your people; the seed of evil-doers shall not be named forever. Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers, that they not rise up, and possess the eretz (earth), and fill the surface of the world with cities. I will rise up against them, says the LORD of Hosts, and cut off from Bavel name and remnant, and son and son's son, says the LORD. I will also make it a possession for the porcupine, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction, says the LORD of Hosts. The LORD of Hosts has sworn, saying, Surely, as I have thought, so shall it happen; and as I have purposed, so shall it stand: that I will break the Ashshur in my land, and on my mountains tread him under foot: then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulder. This is the purpose that is purposed on the whole eretz (earth); and this is the hand that is stretched out on all the nations. For the LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who shall annul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? In the year that king Achaz died was this burden. Don't rejoice, O Peleshet, all of you, because the rod that struck you is broken; for out of the serpent's root shall come forth an adder, and his fruit shall be a fiery flying serpent. The firstborn of the poor shall feed, and the needy shall lie down in safety; and I will kill your root with famine, and your remnant shall be killed. Howl, gate; cry, city; you are melted away, Peleshet, all of you; for there comes a smoke out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks. What then shall one answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Tziyon, and in her shall the afflicted of his people take refuge.

The gift of eternal life is freely given to those who trust in Jesus as their savior. Those who believe, pray, read the Bible and allow themselves to grow in spirit and truth by trusting in Jesus and in the guidance of the Holy Spirit are brought into the family of God and will spend eternity with Him. You can read more about Jesus in the Gospel of John.

Topics.
The Good News - the Gospel of John.
The Sermon on the Mount
The Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Paley's Evidences of Christianity
Sherlock's The Trial of the Witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Words of wisdom and warning.
The Authority of the Holy Scriptures - the Bible.
The Sign of Jonah.
The Two Babylons.
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...a refiner and purifier of silver.
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The Shroud and The Sudarium.
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Blood and Flesh.
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A praise and worship leader gone astray?
St. Valentine's Day.
The influence of feminism, new-age and pagan philosophy in the church.
God, the Father.
Marriage is for one man and one woman.
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The apostate church.
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Ancient conflict - Isaac vs. Ishmael.
A Tale of Two Films - The da Vinci code and The Passion of The Christ.
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