In Revelation 8:10-11, Then the third angel sounded: And a great star fell from heaven, burning like a torch, and it fell on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water.The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many men died from the water, because it was made bitter.
The word wormwood in Strong’s Concordance from the Hebrew translation means curse. So a prince named Wormwood fell from heaven and then polluted the rivers and springs of water with poison. Hence the rivers and springs were made bitter….. I wonder if his name changed as he fell…..hmmmm.
Paul, the apostle or prince, looks like he had the curse upon him. Actually God’s hand was upon him strong by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, so Satan made Paul a target. As Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool- I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes beyond measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness- beside the other things, what comes upon me daily; my deep concern for all the churches.
Satan tried to stop Jesus on His course. Satan tried to make Jesus’ cup of bitterness turn from the Father’s will. Hoping Jesus would be disobedient to loving our Heavenly Father until and even death…. Satan was also busy with his attacks against Paul. Satan hoped Paul would think he was under the curse, because Paul being a zealous pharisee, knew the law. Therefore, Satan planned a bitter attack against Paul and the work of the Holy Spirit through him. Satan again hoping all the revelation that Paul was being taught by the Holy Spirit would not be given down the ages to all believers. Satan wanted Paul to give up on His call and become bitter. Did Satan win?????? No, thank God. One question for you to ponder…who did Satan work through?
As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:5-6-2, Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God, who made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
Psalm 46:4-7, There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn. The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah!!
Then my favorite , well one of my favorite verses, is in verse 10 of Psalm 46, Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
God will give strength to His messengers through all the perils Satan throws at us. Why? It is written here in Colossians 1:27-29, To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect IN CHRIST JESUS. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.
The Holy Spirit was the Promise of the Father to Jesus for His obedience of death, burial and the grave and His Resurrection….. The Spirit of God was sent as Fire to the making of Jesus’ bride. Let us also give honor to His Gift of the Holy Spirit and His workings in us—– The River of Life!!!! Remember our only hope of glory is Christ in us!!
God blesses us beyond what we hope or can imagine……Let us live His will to the fullest with His strength of His Spirit within us. After all, He, who is mighty, is our sufficiency!!! Let’s just do it! Remember Satan knew Jesus and Satan knew Paul, let us make sure we are Satan’s biggest threat!
