The Power Over "I Will..."

D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, in his book Studies in the Sermon on the Mount, used Matthew 5:27-30 to address the "exceeding sinfulness of sin." We too at Wakefield Valley Bible Church, have taken this opportunity to study the depth of sin. Yesterday we dived into a study on the depth of sin. This study began with the angelic origin of sin, namely the fall of Lucifer.
In that study I asked the body if they saw themselves in the person and sin of Lucifer? Many commented that they did, especially in the area of pride. A telling moment came when we looked at John 8:44. In John 8:44 Christ is talking to the Jews and the conversation has grown heated. They continue to claim, that first Abraham is their father, and then God is their father. Christ says "no" to both claims, and in verse 44 He points out who is their real father. He tells them that Satan is their father and because of this, they do what comes natural, what their father does.
This is a disturbing commentary on the state of unsaved man. Unsaved man, like his father the devil, makes the same claims found in Isaiah 14:12-14. Unsaved man moment by moment says, "I will ..."
Take some time this week and read through the "I will" statements of Lucifer. Lucifer longed to take over the highest heavenly position. He desired to rule over the angelic kingdom and over all the earth. Lucifer wanted all the glory of heaven. And finally he wanted to be like God, a lie he later told Eve in Genesis 3:5.
For unsaved man the "I will" statements are part of daily life. However, what about the believer? Next Sunday we will study the advent of sin in the human race and further understand the exceeding sinfulness of sin.
-Mark