A DIVINE RESPONSE TO REJECTED LOVE?
Have you ever been rejected by someone you deeply loved?
How did you feel?
How did you respond?
Did you fight to keep their love?
That is what God does for us.
“Welcome back to what promises to be an epic journey through the unseen, a saga not of this world. A battle for love.
We’re embarking on a 13-part series unlike any other.
We’re diving into the cosmic war that rages beyond what we can see and hear.
It is a war between the forces of good and evil.
This war began in the heavens but now unfolds on planet Earth.
We’re digging deep into the heart of this cosmic battle, exploring the origins of sin, the nature of evil, and the ultimate showdown between God and Satan, both of whom are battling for our love and affection.
From the inception of this celestial conflict to its present-day battles and end-time prophecies, we’ll uncover the history of this war from a perspective you’ve never seen before.
We view history through the lens of the divine, the battleground of Earth, and the role humanity plays in this vast cosmic conflict.
This series isn’t just about understanding the forces at play; it’s about understanding our place within this universal struggle.
Every episode, every moment of this journey matters because, like it or not, this war touches us all.
It is about a God who loves us so much that despite our rejection of him, He is willing to fight for us.
Before diving into this conflict’s origins and tracing its path through history, let’s take a moment to invite God’s presence.
You Don’t want to miss a single episode.
Your view of the universe and our place within it is about to change forever.
“Dear Lord, as we delve into the cosmic conflict between good and evil, grant us insight and understanding. Illuminate our path through the mysteries of suffering and help us better understand your enduring love. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.”
The War Between God and Satan (Lesson 2)
The War Behind All Wars
Session/Day 1
The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?
“Imagine this vivid scene, and let it captivate your heart and mind: You are a shepherd in ancient times, tending to your flock of sheep on the slopes of the Mount of Olives.
Below the mountain is the city of Jerusalem, with its temple standing as a beacon light.
Its marble walls radiate a magnificent glow under the rays of the afternoon sun.
As you ensure the safety of your sheep, you hear a stirring conversation.
It’s Jesus. He is speaking to His disciples.
The air seems to hold its breath as His words unfold a shocking prophecy:
In His voice that carries the weight of unspoken truths, He says.
“ ‘Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down’ (Matthew 24:2).
Can you imagine the astonishment, the bewildering mix of awe and fear, as Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem?
His disciples are confused. What could Jesus possibly mean?
Will the impenetrable walls be torn down?
Jesus’ description of the destruction of Jerusalem is the forewarning of Satan’s evil strategy of deceit and destruction in the end times and the trials His followers will experience before He returns.
Here, we delve deep into the heart of Matthew 24, where we witness Jesus’ profound warnings about the deceptions of the last days and the destruction that will soon come.
Yet, amidst these revelations, we have for this journey the promise of Isaiah 41:10.
It offers us an anchor of hope and strength, saying:
“ ‘ “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” ’ (Isaiah 41:10)
This is God’s promise of Love.
We must always remember that God loves us.
Though Satan may weave a web of deceit, his evil schemes are never beyond God’s sight.
God assures us of His unwavering protection, even in the worst of times.
Let’s embark on this enlightening journey together, exploring the depth of Jesus’ warnings and the certainty of God’s protective love.
Satan’s plan may aim to deceive and destroy, but armed with the knowledge of God’s word and His promises, we are shielded against the darkest of times.
Keep this picture in your mind and carry Isaiah 41:10 in your heart as we navigate the revelations and assurances given to us.
We can be sure that, indeed, God always safeguards His people.
Therefore, with the confidence of God’s love and protection, we look at Satan’s twofold strategy to deceive and destroy His people.
What He fails to accomplish through oppression and persecution, he seeks to achieve through deceitful compromise. (Split)
But God is never surprised, and even in the most challenging times, He preserves His people.
Why? Because His love is real. It is not selfish love.
Jesus experienced the worst kind of rejected love.
Observe how He feels and responds to rejected love.
View the next segment of this video:
Part 2: A Broken-Hearted Savior
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 2)
The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?
Part 2: A Broken-Hearted Savior
Picture this: Jesus sitting solemnly on the Mount of Olives.
His heart is broken. His gaze sweeps over the entire city of Jerusalem.
There’s a deep sorrow in His heart; a profound grief penetrates the air and echoes through the ages.
Why this sorrow?
The answer is found in John’s touching words:
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11).
The Creator of the world, witnessing the beloved city of a people he longed to save on the brink of catastrophic destruction.
Jesus’ boundless love for His people flowed from an infinite heart of love.
With every fiber of His being, He pleaded for them to abandon their sinful ways, repent, and embrace His mercy.
Yet, the scriptures in Luke 19:41-44, Matthew 23:37,38, and John 5:40 reveal a heart-wrenching reality:
His offer of mercy, forgiveness, and salvation was met with rejection.
These verses give us a glimpse into the depth of Jesus’ despair and love—
love for a people who turned away from His saving grace.
Hear what it says in Matthew 23:37-38
37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; (Matthew 23:37-38)
And John 5:40
40 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. (John 5:40)
But why, many ask, if God is loving, why would He allow an event such as the destruction of Jerusalem?
If He truly loved His people, why would he allow Jerusalem to be destroyed?
History reveals that the Roman general Titus and his legions laid siege to the city, a battle that led to the deaths of thousands and, ultimately, the city’s ruin.
In the midst of their suffering, where was God?
The answer is simple yet complex. God’s heart was broken.
Now, Jesus’ eyes flowed with tears.
Despite His infinite love, Jesus faced the heartbreaking reality that His people had resisted His love.
For centuries, He reached out to His people, and time and time again, they rejected His love.
By repeatedly rebelling against His lovingkindness, they forfeited His divine protection.
Now, the time had come when He could no longer shield them from the consequences of their choices.
No, God’s absence of intervention is not a lack of love but a sobering consequence of our freedom to choose, even when those choices lead to destruction.
God does not always intervene to limit the results of His people’s choices.
He allows the natural consequences of rebellion to develop.
You see, it wasn’t God who provoked the Romans to slaughter innocent children in their destruction of Jerusalem.
The tragic death of the innocents was Satan’s act, not God’s.
The blame lies squarely with Satan.
He is the instigator of war and division.
He is the one who causes the hearts of people to turn towards hatred and violence.
Satan’s ultimate scheme is to deceive, destroy, and then cast the blame for his evil deeds on God.
Satan finds pleasure in war and fighting because war and fighting stir up the worst passions of the human heart.
Down through the ages, it has been his purpose to deceive, kill, steal, and destroy and then blame his evil actions on God.
Nevertheless, as detailed in Matthew 24:15–20, in a crucial message of escape and survival, Jesus instructed His followers to flee Jerusalem when they saw the Roman armies surrounding it.
This was God’s way of providing a pathway to safety and saving as many of the people of Jerusalem as possible from its impending doom.
This powerful story reminds us of the profound reality of Jesus’ love, even amid rejection.
It also shows the tragic consequences of ignoring divine mercy and helps us see the lengths to which God goes to save us, even as we face the consequences of our own choices.
In this cosmic battle between good and evil, Satan’s purpose is to destroy God’s church –His congregation of true followers.
In God’s providence of Love to save his people, does God intervene to keep His true followers from Satan’s evil attacks?
If we accept Jesus, does this mean we are immune to Satan’s assaults?
View the next segment of this video, Part 3: Christians Providentially Preserved.
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 2)
The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?
Part 3: Christians Providentially Preserved
Now, picture this scene: the Roman general encircles Jerusalem with his mighty legions, ready for a devastating attack.
Yet, in a twist of fate that could only be orchestrated by the Almighty, the Romans mysteriously retreated, and the Jewish armies pursued them and obtained a great victory.
This sudden turn of events becomes a miraculous opportunity for the Christians in Jerusalem.
Heeding a sign promised by Jesus Himself, they seize the moment to escape to Pella, a safe haven beyond the Jordan River.
This pivotal moment in history is not just a tale of war and escape but a testament to God’s foreknowledge, providence, mercy, and love.
Ellen G. White captures this divine intervention in The Great Controversy, noting how God’s hand controlled the events, she says:
“The promised sign had been given to the waiting Christians, and now an opportunity was offered for all who would, to obey the Saviour’s warning. Events were so overruled that neither Jews nor Romans should hinder the flight of the Christians.”—Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 30.
But what does this story tell us about God’s loving care?
The scriptures offer profound insights. Psalm 46:1 and Isaiah 41:10 remind us of God’s unwavering support and strength, His constant presence even in the face of adversity.
Psalms 46:1
1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. (Psalms 46:1)
Isaiah 41:10
10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)
These verses aren’t just mere words. They are a declaration of God’s sovereignty over all creation.
They declare His ability to orchestrate events according to His divine purpose.
However, God sometimes adapts his plans for our sake. He, at times, alters his original plan to accommodate our bad choices, which is a reminder of our free will.
Yet, the ultimate plan for this planet remains unbroken. In other words, God’s will shall ultimately prevail.
This lets us know that there will be times when the people of God will experience hard times.
But this assurance carries us through trials, persecution, and even the threat of death for our faith.
Hebrews 11:35-38 and Revelation 2:10 delve deeper into this puzzling dilemma, illustrating how God’s protective hand is at work even in suffering and death.
These verses confront us with the reality of our battle against Satan and challenge us to understand the deeper meaning of God’s protective hand.
Reflecting on this enduring struggle, the book The Great Controversy acknowledges the martyrs who died for their faith yet affirms that the church continued to thrive despite Satan’s attempts to extinguish its light.
The writers of the Bible endured great suffering, yet their writings are testaments to God’s enduring love.
This prompts us to reflect on our own experiences of God’s love. It challenges us to see beyond the immediate pain and recognize God’s protective and guiding hand through our trials.
So, as we explore these themes, you are invited to ponder the profound ways God has manifested His love in your life, even in moments of deepest despair.
This story isn’t just history; it’s a reminder of God’s active presence and unchanging love for us, guiding and protecting His people through the ages.
Continue to the next Segment of this video Part 4: Faithful Amid Persecution.
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 2)
The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?
Day 4: Faithful Amid Persecution
In the energetic heart of the ancient world, a revolution was unfolding.
The Christian church, ignited by the Power of the Holy Spirit, was expanding at an astonishing rate despite imprisonment, torture, and persecution.
Thousands were drawn to the message of Jesus, surrendering their lives to His cause.
Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4, 31; Acts 5:42; and Acts 8:18 depict a movement unstoppable, even in the face of relentless persecution.
Why this explosive growth, despite the shadow of danger? (Split)
The early believers were:
- Commanded to silence their proclamation of Jesus (Acts 4:17), (Split)
- Imprisoned for their faith (Acts 5:17, 18),
- Subjected to violence (Acts 8:1),
- And even faced death for their unwavering belief (Acts 7:59; Acts 12:2).
Yet, undeterred, they were empowered by the Holy Spirit to go forward.
With their spirits infused with divine strength, they courageously proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus.
As a testament to their unsurmountable faith, their mission, according to Acts 9:31, expanded throughout the entire regions of Judea, Galilee, and Samaria.
What fueled their courage?
Witnessing the resurrected Jesus transformed them utterly, igniting within them a fervent zeal that no trial could quench.
The defenders of hell were shaken.
The chains of Satan were broken.
Pagan superstition crumbled before the power of the resurrected Christ.
The gospel triumphed in the face of overwhelming odds.
The disciples, who once, out of fear, secluded themselves, walked with power and great authority.
Fear faded away; it no longer had power over them.
Their Savior was not dead.
They now served a resurrected King.
One glimpse of their resurrected Savior changed their lives forever.
Jesus gave them a new reason for living.
He also entrusted them with the Great Commission found in Mark 16:15, promising the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to help them carry His message to the ends of the earth, just as expressed in Acts 1:8. (Split)
This divine mandate propelled Jesus’ disciples to spread the gospel far and wide, as Colossians 1:23 affirms.
Even as the first century drew to an end with the death of John, who was the last of the Twelve disciples, others picked up the gospel’s torch and continued to proclaim the message of a living Christ to the subsequent generations.
Pliny the Younger, governor of the Roman province of Bi-thy-nia on the north coast of modern Turkey, wrote to Emperor Trajan around A.D. 110.
His statement reveals the extent to which Christianity had permeated society.
It was nearly eighty years after the Crucifixion, yet it was still regarded by some as a ‘disease’ that infiltrated cities and villages alike, uniting men and women across social divides in the face of persecution.
Pliny described the official trials he was conducting to find and execute Christians, saying:
“For many persons of all ages and classes and of both sexes are being put in peril by accusation, and this will go on. The contagion of this superstition [Christianity] has spread not only in the cities, but in the villages and rural districts as well.”—Henry Bettenson, Documents of the Christian Church (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011), p. 4.
The early church’s narrative is one of resilience in the face of adversity, a beacon for believers navigating the complexities of faith in every era.
As Satan waged war against God’s church, its growth only accelerated.
This is a vivid reminder that the gospel thrives not in ease but in this world’s trials and tribulations.
What lessons can we draw from the early church’s experience?
Their story is a call for endurance and faith.
It is a promise of divine power to the end of the times.
It challenges us to stand firm in our convictions, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and carry the message of Jesus to every corner of the globe, regardless of opposition
The early church’s legacy is a testament to the gospel’s unstoppable force, a guide for us as we navigate our journey of faith in today’s world.
We are to proclaim God’s love to a world that has rejected him so that they might not suffer the same faith as those who were destroyed when the Romans sieged Jerusalem in AD 70.
How do we proclaim God’s love to His rejectors?
View the next segment of this video: Part 5: Caring for the Community
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 2)
The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?
Part 5: Caring for the Community
You have stepped back in time to the busy streets and rolling hills of ancient Galilee, where the air buzzes with the news of a man who brings the promise of hope and healing.
In Matthew 4:43, we see that this man, Jesus of Nazareth, travels the countryside, entering synagogues, speaking of God’s kingdom, and miraculously curing every disease and infirmity among the people.
He does not just perform miracles; he offers messages of profound love and compassion for all.
Now, fast-forward to the era of the New Testament church, which was formed after Jesus died, was buried, and awoke from the dead.
The power and spirit of Jesus ignited this body of believers.
This early church wasn’t just a group of believers but a force of love in action.
They mirrored Jesus’ unselfish care for people, reaching out to those in need, healing, and sharing the Good News across lands.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit and their good deeds, lives were radically changed.
Acts 2:44–47, Acts 3:6–9, and Acts 6:1–7 give us a glimpse into this remarkable era. They portray the essence of true Christianity.
The Christians of this era lived out Jesus’ love in action.
Peter in Acts 10:38 beautifully captures this, recalling how Jesus, “anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.”
As the living expression of Jesus’ body on Earth, the early church extended His mission of love to the hurt and the broken.
They stood as beacons of His healing mercy, compassion, and love in a world shadowed by the conflict between good and evil.
In this grand cosmic battle, Satan strives to damage the image of God in humanity.
Yet, the Good News of Jesus serves as a bridge, bringing us back to God’s image and making us whole again in our hearts and minds.
Jesus outlines His vision for us in John 10:10: “ ‘The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.’ ”
Jesus wants us to live life to the fullest.
He longs for us to be in good physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, marked by goodness and joy. He wants us to be completely whole.
Matthew 24 and Luke 21 tell us that this world is going to face an immense crisis.
Turbulent times are ahead. As we navigate what Jesus foretold, it becomes more crucial than ever before that we receive His touch of healing grace.
As Jesus heals us, we long to touch others. We long to become his hands and feet, to extend His touch of love and mercy to others and help facilitate their journey toward wholeness.
The love story between the New Testament believers and their communities is powerful evidence of the impact of living in Jesus’ love.
These believers showed real love—not selfish love.
Their intense love echoed Jesus’ compassion and changed the world around them.
Today, we are invited to be a part of this continuing love story and prove Satan wrong.
We are called to love as Jesus loved, extend his healing hands of mercy to uplift those around us, and help prepare the world for His soon return.
How can we show and experience real love rather than selfish love?
Continue to the next segment of this video: Part 6: A Legacy of Love
The Great Controversy
(Lesson 2)
The Central Issue: Love or Selfishness?
Day 6: A Legacy of Love
In the heart of a world where selfishness, division, and despair reign supreme, the words of John 13:35 and 1 John 4:21 shine as beacons of hope.
They define the essence of what it truly means to be a Christian.
Unselfish love transcends all boundaries.
35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:35)
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. (I John 4:21)
This love, radiant and sacrificial, was the norm of the early Christian church for the first few centuries.
They were a community of believers that not only preached love but lived it in the most profound ways imaginable.
Ter-tul-lian, an early church religious thinker, says this about the inconsistent nature of this love: “It is mainly the deeds of a love so noble that lead many to put a brand upon us. See, they say, how they love one another.”—“Chapter 39,” in Apology, trans. S. Thelwall, https://www.logoslibrary.org/tertullian/apology/39.html (accessed October 10, 2022).
His words echo down the centuries, testaments to a love so radical that it drew admiration and scorn. Their love put a brand on what a professed Christian should be.
But the true brand of God Love came during the devastating pandemic of A.D. 160 and A.D. 260, when a mysterious plague swept through the Roman Empire, leaving death and despair in its wake.
It is said that “These plagues killed tens of thousands and left entire villages and towns with scarcely an inhabitant.
In these dark times, when fear kept many away, Christians stepped forward, embodying Jesus’ command to love one’s neighbor in the most literal sense the did what Jesus did love.
They cared for the sick and the dying, even at the cost of their own lives.
What a stark contrast to the surrounding society paralyzed by fear and self-preservation.
In his book “The Rise of Christianity,” Rodney Stark paints a vivid picture of these times.
He describes how the Christian community, driven by unconditional love and unwavering faith, transformed into a legion of nurses in the second epidemic.
Despite the danger, they ministered to the sick, addressing their every need with compassion and grace, mirroring the way Jesus Himself cared for the suffering.
This selfless act of love and devotion did not go unnoticed.
As Stark notes, many Christians succumbed to the illness themselves, yet they faced their plight with joy and peace.
This was a profound demonstration of unselfish love.
The impact of their actions was monumental. In the face of death, the Christians’ unselfish spirit not only healed and gave hope to countless lives but also forever altered the spiritual landscape of the Roman Empire.
In fact, during these two epidemics, eventually hundreds of thousands, and then millions, in the Roman Empire, became believers in Jesus.
In the Book The Rise of Christianity, it says:
“Most of our brother Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbors and cheerfully accepting their pains.”—The Rise of Christianity (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1996), p. 82.
This story of early Christian love offers more than just a historical account; it challenges us to reflect on the depth of our own faith and love.
How can we, in today’s world, embody the same spirit of selflessness and sacrifice?
How do we learn to set aside our own selfish desires and die to self so that we can offer Jesus’ healing touch to those around us?
The answer lies not in grand gestures but in everyday acts of love and kindness, in choosing compassion over indifference, and in loving others as Jesus loves us.
In this way, step by step, we can carry forward the legacy of the early Christians.
It is by this that we become beacons of hope and love in a world that desperately needs both.
As we stand on the shoulders of these giants of faith, let their stories motivate us to take on the same selfless love and courage in our own lives.
The early Christians’ legacy is not just a story of the past; it’s a divine call to action, a reminder that love is the most powerful force for change in the world.
Let us then move forward with purpose, carrying the torch of the love of Jesus and with unwavering faith through the power of the Holy Spirit; let our lives be a testament to the transformative power of love.
In doing so, we honor the memory of the early Christians.
Most importantly, we continue the mission of Jesus, our Lord, and Savior, proving that love, in its purest form, indeed conquers evil.
Let’s rise to the challenge and embrace the call to love without limits.
Let us change the world with our love, with one act of kindness at a time, on our journey to the kingdom.
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