How The Angel Became The Devil | Jentezen Franklin

Sunday, June 7



Key Verses 

Ezekiel 28:1-19; Isaiah 14:11-16; I Peter 2:9; Psalm 150:6; John 20:19 

Key Points  

  • Praise God because you’re free. You can be saved and satisfied. When you’re really free, you won’t wish you could go back to your old life. Praise God because you’re free! 
  • You are a chosen generation. You can’t live off your parents’ faith. You are a chosen generation, which means you should generate something. God has chosen you to be a praiser. Praise is your purpose! You were justified to glorify. You were liberated to leap. You were delivered to dance.  
  • God’s Church is always to praise. Don’t let praise stay in your past; bring it into your present. Praise is not to be made light of or made fun of. Put on the garment of praise and celebrate what God has done. Don’t let the music or the preacher be more important than Jesus.  
  • Not worshipping is pride. If you won’t praise God, you are doing the same thing Lucifer did that got him kicked out of Heaven. Praise is not denominational; it’s biblical! A Christian cannot live without praising God. 

 

Introduction  

Today we’re reflecting on the message Made to Worship by Jentezen Franklin. This 

inspiring message reminds us that worship is more than something we do; it is part of 

why we were created. When we praise God wholeheartedly, we step into our God-given 

purpose and find freedom, peace, and strength in His presence. Pastor Franklin also 

contrasts this with Lucifer’s fall, highlighting the importance of honoring our calling to 

worship and glorify God. 

This week we will dig into: 

  • Lucifer’s Fall – The Danger of Pride and Refusing to Worship 
  • The Purpose of Praise – We Were Created and Redeemed to Worship 

  

LET’S START THE DISCUSSION: 

  • What stood out to you in this past Sunday’s message? 
  • Outside of church, where and how do you praise God and worship most frequently? 

 

Lucifer’s Fall – The Danger of Pride and Refusing to Worship 

 

Ezekiel 28: 12-17 

“You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty… You were anointed as a guardian cherub… You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you… Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth.” (NIV) 

Ezekial 28, verse 15 states, “From the day you were created you were blameless in your ways—until wickedness was found in you.…” 

And this is where the fall came in. Due to Lucifer’s self-exaltation, pride, and rebellion, he refused to worship God. Lucifer’s fall was not for some external temptation; it was an internal heart- shift from surrender to pride. Neither was it impulsive behavior. In Isaiah 14:13,14 we see five bold and prideful declarations: ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of the north. ‘I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ 

The act of refusing to worship the Creator, led to leading a rebellion and the expulsion of Lucifer and 1/3 of the angels in heaven. Scripture points out in Ezekiel 28:17, "Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor."   

How dangerous it is to leave pride in our heart, as this can seriously affect our thinking and our outcome, as well as the outcome of others around us. The scriptures in Ezekiel and Isaiah clearly show how our self-exaltation or obsession with a part of ourselves – either our beauty, or gifts, talents, or even finances, can warp our judgement and wisdom bringing us and those around us to ruin. 

However, praise and worship take us from ourselves and lead us to surrender and to worship our Creator, God.  

  • How does this point challenge you? 
  • Why is it essential to praise God in all seasons of your life?  

 

The Purpose of Praise – We Were Created and Redeemed to Worship 

 

From Dark To Light 

 “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Pastor Jentezen provoked us to remember when we used to be living like the world, held captive by sin, and weighed down with the heaviness of despair. He then encouraged us with the truth of who we are now. We were once darkness, but now we are light in the Lord and we now walk as children of light. (Eph 5:8).We have been set free (John 8:26). We have been given authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy and nothing will harm us (Luke 10:19). God gave us victory through Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:56); we are victors not victims! What a reason to praise!  

Something to ponder: Sometimes, as we sit in our seats at church we tend to unconsciously think “it’s always been like this” because it has been so long since the time when it “wasn’t like this”   

 

Question: When was the last time you reflected on all that God delivered you from? 

 

Praise The One Who Set You Free 

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). 

It says right here in this verse that we are chosen, royal, holy and His special possession SO THAT we can proclaim the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections of Him! It is all about Him and for Him; the One who called us out of the darkness into light. It is all about Him and we are dutybound out of love, honor, and awe to praise Him.  

Praise is our purpose. Psalm 150 is entirely about praising the Lord; where to point our praises to Him, what to praise Him for,  the instrumental sounds to shower Him with and ultimately concluding with “let everything that has breath praise the Lord” (Psalm 150:6). God formed man out of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life (Gen 2:7). 

  • How did God breathe new life into your nostrils (your broken life)? Could you have done it without Him? How do you know? 
  • Do you praise Him equivalent to the miracle He has done in you?  

  

Praise Is The Atmosphere Of Miracles 

Pastor Jentezen joked that we should have a sign that says “Pardon our noise, it’s the sound of freedom.” Our freedom from the grip of sin and death is nothing short of a miracle. We should be unapologetically noisy about it! You have been redeemed – rejoice! The shackles have been removed from your feet – dance! You have been given new life - sing! David declared, “God inhabits the praise of His people” (Psalm 22:3). David knew God was on His throne, present and in control. Jesus, being the same yesterday, today and forever is still on the throne and He is still doing miracles today through the Holy Spirit. Praise and worship invites Heaven in and kicks heaviness and darkness out. 

 

  • What will you plan to do differently so that you do not end up saying  “I remember when I used to worship like that”? 
  • How will you sow into your children so that they will be worshippers and praise God with all their hearts? 

Conclusion  

As we close, remember this simple truth: worship keeps us close to God and strengthens us for every season of life. There will be times when praise comes easily and times when it is a sacrifice, but choosing to worship in every circumstance draws us into God's presence and gives us strength to overcome. Go forward encouraged, knowing that one of the most powerful weapons God has given us against the enemy is a heart devoted to praising and worshiping Yahweh. 

Call To Action:   

  • Examine yourself to see if you are living a life of praise and worship or if you have compartmentalized your faith and calling into a Sunday morning ritual. 
  • Commit yourself to choose to worship in gratitude and look for opportunities to praise God all day long. 
  • Spend time in your Bible each day to hear the Lord’s voice for ways to express your gratitude in praise and worship especially in difficult times. 
  • Ask the Holy Spirit to give you a fresh anointing to guide you in how you can be a positive influence on others through your practice of worshipping at all times and in all circumstances. 
  • Journal what God is doing in your life and how you are responding to Him. 

Prayer:   

Lord, thank You for calling us to fill the role of worshippers of You.  Thank You that this call is enabled and empowered by the incredible gift of Your grace and mercy in the face of our sinfulness.  Thank You for the gift of salvation and redemption that was not afforded to the angels that rebelled but was given to mankind despite our rebellion. Pour out Your Spirit on us to worship You in spirit and in truth.  Enable us to both glorify you and to influence others in a positive manner through our praises of Your holy name! 

In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen. 

 

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