Such Reckless Hate

Introduction

Good evening. Well, this is unusual. I was all prepared to speak tonight, and then Tony and Cherry come in. So ready to hand the mic back to Tony, but for some reason he wants to finish his vacation that they started and take the night off. So I guess we’ll respect that. And I have to say, after just getting ready for one lesson, it does make me appreciate people who do this on a regular basis and frequently do it and do it well. So thank you, Tony, and you deserve a little break. Of course, you might regret it after we get started tonight. But have you ever watched the news and said to yourself, why would someone do that? You see, some horrible crime has been committed.

What would cause someone to do that? Some horrifying thing, some terrorist act. And you have to ask yourself, what would motivate somebody to do something so terrible? Maybe that’s why you don’t watch the news anymore, so you don’t think about things like that. Have you ever thought, why does Satan do what he does? Why does what motivates him? Why does he accuse us before God day and night as Revelation chapter 12, verse 10 describes, and that’s what the word devil means. He’s the accuser, the slanderer. Why does he do that? Why does he tempt us to sin, knowing that could result in our eternal torment? Well, the simple answer is he hates us. So we can go home. Lesson’s over. But I think it might be helpful for us to think about that tonight in a little more detail.

And that’s what I want to try to do with you tonight. And I want to be careful of this not to engage in speculation of things that are not revealed in God’s word. And I might throw out a few opinions, but I have to be careful there because, you know, Paul convinced Timothy to not pay attention in this and then this endless genealogies which give rise to mere speculation rather than further the administration of God, which is by faith. We don’t want to be guilty of doing that tonight. But I do hope that by looking at that, maybe we can better understand our adversary, and as it is revealed in God’s word, and that no advantage would be taken of us by him, and that we’d not be ignorant of his schemes, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 2.

1. Why Does Satan Do What He Does?

So to explore the question of Satan’s motivation, let’s talk a little bit about his origin, and again, we’ll have to be careful here not to speculate. But there’s some things I think we can know from God’s word that I think we can say with certainty that he was created. Like all beings physical and spiritual, all things were made by God. Let’s look at a passage that was mentioned this morning by Brother Jared, Colossians chapter 1. In Colossians chapter 1, beginning of verse 15, Jared read this morning, speaking of Jesus, that he is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities, all things have been created through him and for him.

In the beginning of the Gospel of John, verse 3, John mentions all things came into being through him, and apart from him, nothing came into being that has come into being.

That language isn’t used with the devil. And so I think when we have a passage like Colossians 1, I think we can conclude, just like all spiritual beings, Satan was indeed created, which gives people some interesting philosophical problems. But we don’t look at tonight is that leads to two obvious choices when we consider if he was created, how did he become our accuser, our adversary? Well, one possibility is he was created to do that. He was created as an evil being, and that he’s has done and always has done what he was created to do. He had no choice in the matter. That’s one possibility, I guess. The other possibility is he chose to do that. That he chose to do evil and that he rebelled against God in sin.

That’s another, seems to be the other obvious possibility. And I don’t think I’ve heard any scriptural arguments for the first possibility, but for the sake of argument, let’s look at a couple of verses. And back in John’s gospel, John chapter 8, verse 44, Jesus, speaking of the Pharisees, makes this statement and says, You are of your father, the devil, and you wanted to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand at the truth because there is no truth in him. Whatever, whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. So is Jesus saying here that the devil was a murderer because that’s the way he was created at the beginning of creation?

Or is this more of a figure of speech saying that rebellion, his rebellion and his murder was near the beginning, since the beginning of time? Like we might say, Scott’s loved Bacon since the beginning. Doesn’t mean Scott was born desiring bacon. It’s just as long as you’ve known me, as long as I can remember, maybe I’ve always liked bacon. So we understand that figure of speech. And is Jesus saying that when the devil speaks lies and he’s speaking from his own nature, is that is he saying that’s because he was created that way? Or is he saying that’s his nature because that’s that’s what he’s chosen to do? That’s become his habit. Just like we might say of somebody who’s a habitual liar, it’s like, well, that’s his nature.

And I don’t think we necessarily mean the same thing, but they’ve developed that habit, so it’s become their nature. So I think that might be more of the figure of speech that we see there. And we see a similar statement in 1 John chapter 3, verse 8, where John says, The one who practices sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose to destroy the works of the devil. So if what the devil has done since the beginning is described as sinning, I think that right there implies that there was a choice in the matter, that he chose to do what he did. He chose to sin very early on, since the beginning, so to speak.

Okay, well, there’s been a lot of speculation as well as is Satan a fallen angel, and again we want to be careful with that, and some will focus on some prophetic passages. I think Tony brought up one of these not too long ago. Isaiah 14, 12 through 15 is one some will go to, or a similar passage in Ezekiel 28, 12 through 19. And we won’t look at those in detail tonight for reasons of time. But these are prophecies where the object of the statements is pointed out by the prophet. in Isaiah 14, speaking of the king of Babylon, in Ezekiel 28 referring to the king of Tyre. And so we have the object of those prophecies pointed out, and some would still attribute those to Satan, saying that’s it’s one of those prophecies that has a double meaning, but if that’s true, it’s it’s cloaked in this prophetic language.

So I think we have to be careful about trying to conclude anything from that. And some point out a that’s another statement of Jesus in Luke chapter 10. Remember that at one point Luke sends out the seventy disciples to go out and work wonders and gave them authority to cast out demons. In verse 17, it says, The seventy return with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. And he said to them, I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. So is Jesus saying that Satan literally was cast from heaven? He saw that? Or is he referring to some past event? Or is this again another figure of speech referring to his downfall was as quick as a lightning strike from the clouds.

So again, I think we should be careful of what we conclude just from that. And then another passage people refer to would be Revelation chapter 12, which you might want to put your marker there because we’ll come back there later. But Revelation chapter 12, beginning at verse 7. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old, who is called the devil and Satan, who deceased the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. So this is the apocalyptic language that we study recently in the context of the woman, Israel, giving birth to the male child, who’s pointed out as being the Christ.

So is this language referring to what happened then? Perhaps maybe using language that referred to a past event or using a similar language. Again, I just would be careful about drawing concrete conclusions just from these passages if we’re trying to discuss the origin of Satan, because we’re just not given a whole lot of information. But here’s something I think we can know is that we know that spiritual beings like us have a free will, and they can rebel against God. We have passages like 2 Peter chapter 2, verse 4, where Peter says, For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness reserved for judgment, and goes on to speak of the world in Noah’s time.

And then we have a passage in Jude, verse 6, in angels who did not keep their own domain but abandoned their proper abode, he has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for judgment of that great day. So when you consider that spiritual beings also had free will, I think we can understand, well, that certainly would apply to Satan himself, wouldn’t it? So we’re not given specific information on things that happened in the spiritual world, and so we have to be careful there. But I think we do know from the scriptures that spiritual beings are capable of choice and capable of rebelling against God and sinning. And it seems reasonable to infer that’s true for the devil himself, but we have to be careful about being dogmatic about that.

Okay. Thanks, God, thanks for all that. What’s the point? Well, again, we’re trying to decide what’s Satan’s motivation. And we said he hates us, but why? Why does he hate us? And could it be that we’re hated because God has made special provision for man that perhaps he does not have access to? Let’s turn to Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2, where angels are spoken of quite a bit, and how Jesus is superior to angels, let’s pick up in verse 9. But we do see him who is made for a little while lower than the angels, namely Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for him, for whom for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, and bringing many sons to glory to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.

For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father. For which reason he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, I will proclaim your name to my brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, behold, I and the children whom God has given me. Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise also partook of the saying that through death he might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly he does not give help to angels, but he gives help to the descendants of Abraham.

Therefore, he had to make had to be made like his brethren in all things, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, he is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. Christ became lower than the angels, and shared in the same flesh and blood as we did, as mankind, and he tasted death for all man. something a fate that we’re all subject to. Yet we don’t read of that same fate applying to angels, and surely the flesh and blood doesn’t apply to them, and he did the so to render to the devil powerless.

But look at verse 16. For assuredly he does not give help to angels, but he gives help to the descendants of Abraham. And in the context here of what Jesus did for us, it makes me wonder that this special provision, this sacrifice that Jesus made, it’s for mankind. I don’t I don’t see that help being given to angels, which I think is interesting. So could it be that Christ died for mankind, but not for these rebellious angels? I mean, that doesn’t sound very fair, does it? Don’t they have provision there? And if that’s the case, maybe that would be an example of the principle we see in Luke 12, where Jesus says, From everyone who has been given much will much will be required.

If you think about it this way, these angels that did not keep their own domain, the matter of does God exist isn’t a matter of faith for them. They saw them. Possibly even been in his very presence, but yet still decided to cast that aside and do their own thing and not serve God into sin. And so that kind of makes me think of the language that the Hebrew writer later uses in Hebrews chapter 10. In Hebrews chapter 10, beginning in verse 26, the writer says, For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment, the fury of a fire which will consume the adver adversaries.

I mean, for us, we’re admonished, you know, if we have come to a knowledge of the truth, and if we continue in rebellion to God, what can be done for us? The sack there is no sacrifice for our sins. It makes me wonder if we find ourselves in that state, perhaps we’re in the same state that maybe these rebellious spiritual beings are finding themselves in. Because they have a knowledge of the truth, maybe even a firsthand knowledge, and yet they went on sinning willfully. So if that’s that’s true, you know, what can be done for a person like that? And that might explain maybe that Satan hates you because we’re given an opportunity through Christ’s sacrifice, but there’s no sacrifice for his sins. That’s a thought.

Well, here’s some things we can know for sure. We know that his fate is sealed. And that’s something that’s stated very clearly. Matthew 25, 41, and this picture of the judgment, verse 41, then he will also say to those on his left, depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels. And sometimes you see the world around us has this conception that Satan will rule hell, sitting on his throne with his pitchfork and watches people are tormented. No, that’s that’s for him too. And that’s clearly stated in the passages like Revelation 20, chapter 20, verse 10. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

I think we can say with certainty he hates us because he knows he’s going to suffer. He knows he’s going to suffer for eternity when the final judgment comes, and I think he wants us to suffer with him. I think we can say that’s part of his motivation. Not for us to spend eternity in the presence of God, something that perhaps he forsook, but he wants us to burn just as he is going to burn. And another interesting possibility was a passage that Aaron brought up a few weeks ago. 1 Corinthians chapter 16. I’m sorry, 1 Corinthians chapter 6, if you want to turn there. When Aaron was speaking to us on the subject of judgment, he brought this passage up that had a verse which I think used to give me trouble, but I think he made a good explanation of it.

In chapter 6, Paul is writing to the church there at Corinth, which apparently has a has a problem with the divisions, the divisions to such an extent they have disagreements with each other, and they’re even bringing each other into courts of civil law. So beginning in verse 1, he says, Does any of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go along, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more in matters of this life? Well, I won’t pretend to know with certainty exactly what that means.

But I think Aaron gave us a good explanation in that perhaps this is a judgment by comparison. In the last day of judgment, there’s a sense in which the saints judge the world because they can be shown as an example. God can turn to the saints and say to those who received condemnations like, Look, this is what I wanted from you. These people had the same opportunity as you did, and they accepted it and you didn’t. So in that sense, the saints cast judgment on the world. And perhaps the same thing can be said with the angels. Is that look, they had an opportunity to obey and they took it. You had an opportunity to obey and you didn’t. And so, in the same sense, perhaps the saints will judge the angels in that way.

So that might be another reason that Satan hates us, is that we are willing, we’ve demonstrated a willingness to submit to God’s word, and that’s something that he’s rejected doing. And remember, going back to Revelation chapter 12, at the end of that chapter, when you have this picture of what’s going on where the dragons devices were thwarted, the last verse in that chapter is interesting. Says, so the drag the dragon was enraged with the woman and went off to make war with the rest of her children, who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And perhaps, if nothing else, that’s a fantastic description of the hate we’re talking about. We’re talking about rage. The dragon is enraged, and he makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus.

So thanks for indulging a little bit of a thought exercise there of why does Satan do what he does? But the reason I want to talk about that is to try to spend the rest of our time tonight talking about some practical points is what we need to be aware of. What should that mean to us? So if you’ll let me geek out for a minute again, I’ll refer to the movie adaptation of the Lord of the Rings, the Two Towers. And if I’m giving away spoilers, it’s been out for like 15 years. You should have seen it by now. But one of the huge plots of this part of this movie is that there’s a huge orc army coming for the kingdom of Rohan, a kingdom of men.

And all the people, at the king’s orders, all the people flee from their villages and cities, and they seek refuge in the ancient mountain fortress of Helm’s Deep, which looks really cool in the movie, by the way. But one of the heroes in the movie, Aragorn, advises the king Thaod, that you see here. He tells them about the army. It’s an army bred for a single purpose, to destroy the world of men. They do not come to destroy Rohan’s crops or villages. They come to destroy its people, down to the last child. So, severely outnumbered, the men of Rohan fought a desperate battle against this invading horde, but eventually the fortress walls are breached, the gates are broken, and what remained of the human army retreats into this inner keep while all the women and children hide in the caves behind it.

So, in this very sad scene, as it works, are battering against the last gate to the inner keep, you see King Theodon pictured here say, So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate? And I think that’s an interesting description because I think it really captures what we’re talking about, that the hate that Satan has for us, that reckless hate. And the description of what we see in the movie there, that they come to destroy its people down to the last child. I think that’s an interesting description of what Satan is trying to do. So let’s look at a few practical things, hopefully, in our last few moments together. So, what does that mean for us when we consider how much Satan hates us and how much he wants to destroy us?

2. We Need to Be on the Alert

Well, obviously, we need to be on the alert. 1 Peter 5 and 8 be a sober spirit, be on the alert, your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. I’m afraid, at least I think I’m guilty of this, is such a familiar passage that the gravity of it’s lost on us. You know, we think, oh yeah, lion. Those are those are cute and cuddly. At the zoo, I’ve seen the lion, it’s awesome. Or the musical lion, sorry, all the Disney guys. If we see a bunch of lawyers come in, let me know. I’ll run out. But I think we think of a lion like that as in the cute and cuddly sense. But it makes me think of maybe you’ve heard of the story of an American tourist years ago who was on a photo safari in Africa.

And as the line of jeeps came up and was going through the Sahara there, or the Serenghetti, excuse me, they came upon a family of lions, you know, dozing underneath the shade of a tree. And this American tourist, against the urgings of his tour guide, gets out of the Jeep and goes and walks over to the lions. I think he wanted to pet the lion. And what’s we laugh, but what’s sad about the story is the family watched on in horror as the lion killed this man, pounced on him and killed him, and began eating him right in front of them. And I think we have that view, I mean we forget what the lion is. The lion is chosen in this passage for a reason.

This is a wild beast. A wild beast that would just as soon kill us. And I think we treat Satan that way. We read a passage like first Peter 5 8. It’s like, yeah, I understand. He doesn’t like me. I gotta be careful. I got no, he hates us. He hates you. And this isn’t the guy that cut me off in traffic because he wasn’t thinking about anyone but himself, and this isn’t, you know, the co-worker or the fellow student that would stab me in the back to get advanced their own agenda. This is the prince of the power of the air, as Paul describes. And this is the great red dragon we read about in Revelation 12, seven heads and ten horns.

I mean he wants to eat us alive, just like that lion did. he wants to see us burnt. So if you get nothing else for tonight, just remember he hates us. Let’s remember that. I mean, have we considered the things that Satan will do? there’s no rules of engagement with Satan. There’s there’s nothing off the table as far as he concerned. He won’t hesitate to spread strife in our families. He won’t hesitate to try to wreck our marriages. He will gladly cause us to lose our jobs, our possessions, our homes. He won’t think twice about giving our wives cancer or striking down our children with it. He hates us. And unless we forget, he actually does these things. We can go back and read Job.

Is that not what he did to Job? Killed his children. He took everything from him, struck him down. And maybe the devil doesn’t directly cause our suffering. Sometimes that happens. The wise writer said in Ecclesiastes 9 that sometimes time and chance overtake us. That can happen. But we need to be assured that Satan will try to use that against us too. He will try to drive a wedge between us and God, between us and our brothers and sisters, and get us to lose our faith. And so we should not be ignorant of his schemes. We know he’s going to do that. And we know there’s nothing he won’t sink to cause that to happen. So, as Paul writes in Ephesians 4 27, the context of our anger, do not give the devil an opportunity.

3. We Shouldn't Be Surprised

Because he hates us. So perhaps we would be more sober minded, more alert, and much more careful if we respected how much we’re hated by him. Well, another thing when you think about is this we shouldn’t be surprised. 1 Peter 4 12, just speaking of our trials, Peter says, Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. You know, we shouldn’t be surprised that we’re the targets of Satan. I mean, who else is it going to focus on? I mean, is he going to think about those out in the world? Other than maybe trying to thwart attempts to send the gospel to them. He already has them where he wants them.

So he’s going to focus his attention onto those who have accepted God’s gift and who are trying to live as he would have us. Those people who judge him by living righteously when he’s chosen not to. So we have to remember that we’ve aroused his attention. We’ve aroused his attention by being here tonight, thinking about spiritual things and remembering the Lord’s death. That’s aroused his attention. We have targets pain in our back because we’ve shown that we’re interested in spiritual things. Brother Wayland talked to us a couple weeks ago that perhaps our shepherds’ families are even being targeted because of what they’re trying to do here, because of the good they’re trying to do. And that might be true for a lot of the families here.

We don’t have a way of knowing that, but we know he wants to stop this. For my young friends who have recently pledged their lives to Christ and put them on in baptism. I’m very proud of you, but just know you’ve aroused his attention. And he’s not going to stand sit by idly. You will be tempted. So don’t be surprised when it happens. Instead, expect it, and as we’re commanded, we should prepare for it. Let’s turn to Ephesians chapter 6 and go to another familiar passage, but such an important one in light of this. Ephesians chapter 6 and verse 10. Finally be strong in the Lord in the strength of his might. Put on the full armor of God so that you’re able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.

Well, we need to be ready to stand firm because he’s scheming, they’re coming. So we need to be ready for that. And look at look at what we’re up against. Verse 12. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. That’s that’s not a cute and cuddly line. And this is this is a serious struggle, and we need to take it seriously. So, therefore, Paul says, take up the full armor of God so that you will be able to resist him in the evil day, and having done everything to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.

In addition to all, taking up the sh the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. I think I had a really bad picture of this in my mind for a long time. I always had pictured, okay, here’s a guy over here with the shield, and there’s a guy over here like lobbing a flaming dart. Lob dart. That’s not very, it doesn’t sound too bad. But I think the idea is more what you might see in the battlefield. If you were a soldier on the battlefield, you might see something more like this, where you can’t see the sun because of all the arrows coming at you. And if this was coming at you were hunkering down behind your shield and making yourself as small a target as possible.

And that’s how I think we need to think about the flaming arrows of Satan. We need to shield ourselves.

4. Overwhelmingly Grateful for What's Been Done for Us

That’s our faith that allows for that. And verse 17 and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. You know, there’s a reason why we’ve been encouraged this year to have keep up with our daily Bible reading, to be in God’s word every day. Do we know how to wield our sword properly? Have we taught our children how to wield their sword? Because Satan hates them too. And he’s coming for them, and he’s going to come for them, and we’re not there to help them. So we need to teach them how to wield their sword properly. Something else that this should remind us is that when we realize how much hate is directed our way, it should make us overwhelmingly grateful for what’s been done for us and for what’s continues to be done for us.

Let’s turn to Colossians chapter 1. Go back to Colossians, if you would, please. In some verses preceding what we just looked at, I’m going to start reading it, verse 9, there in Colossians 1. For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will and all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all power according to his glorious might, for attaining all for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience, joyously giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints and light.

For he rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

What’s against us, that our fully appreciate our adversary, I think that might help us appreciate how awesome a thing it was to be rescued from that and to remember that. And also be grateful of the help that God still gives us. We’ve talked about in our class recently how the Spirit makes intercession for us when we don’t even know how to pray. But Jesus Himself, as we read in Hebrews chapter 2, you know, Satan is described as the one who accuses us before God night and day. But Jesus, on the other hand, has satisfied God wrath and makes propitiation for our sins. As we read there in verse 17, he’s suffered so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest. In verse 18, for since he himself was tempted in that which he has suffered, he’s able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.

And that’s something we should also be overwhelmingly grateful for, that we’re able to get that aid from Jesus Himself when temptation does come.

5. Concerned for Those Around Us

And the hate that’s thrown our way should also just cause us to be concerned for those around us all the more. And as we think about the neighborhood Bible story, Bible story, Bible studies going on, and the chance, the opportunity that gives us to help spread the word to those around us, just remember that people need rescuing around us. In Jude, verses 22 and 23, Jude writes, have mercy on some who are doubting, save others, snatching them out of the fire, and on some have mercy with fear. That phrase, snatching them out of the fire, you get the urgency of that. You know, we see the story of you know a fireman rescuing a family from a burning building, and he’s called a hero, and rightly so, but how much more so if we can help snatch someone else out of the fire, out of the eternal fire that’s reserved for the devil and his angels.

6. Long for Our Ultimate Salvation

And so if we can remember the hate that’s shown towards all of mankind, maybe that will motivate us to help share the gospel around us. And finally, we should long for our ultimate salvation. We read in 1 Peter 4, verse 12, that you know, to not be surprised about the ordeals we’re going to go through, but the rest of that statement is in verse 13. But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing. So that also at the revelation of his glory, you may rejoice with exaltation. And you get this sense of if we can make it through to the end, that would that’s awesome. If we can be rescued from that. And as Tony often brings out, you know, our salvation is nearer to us than we than we first believed, Paul writes.

Conclusion

So, if I can geek out again, go back to King Theodon and his statement, where he just said in despair, as it looked like doom was crushing in on them. He says, So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate? You know, what can men do? In the case that we’re talking about with Satan, nothing really. But God, on the other hand, we already know God will defeat him. And his faith sealed, as we talked about. When we were finishing up Romans, we’re doing Romans chapter 16. There was an interesting verse that I just I guess I’d never noticed that before, as Paul’s kind of winding down that letter. Verse 20, if you look at Romans 16, verse 20, I had to underline this because it’s just one of those verses.

He says, The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. So one, that’s awesome. Satan will be defeated. His faith is sealed. But what he says there, he didn’t say God of peace will crush Satan under his feet, which it would be a true statement if he were to say that. That’s not what he said. He said he will crush Satan under your feet. That’s awesome. You know, God’s victory, Christ’s victory over the devil is our victory. That we can we can exalt in that. So finally, in 1 John 5, another familiar passage, we read that whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world?

But he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. So tonight I just want to ask you, do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God? Because you too can be rescued from the hate that’s that’s sent our way and from what Satan is trying to do to us. You can accept his gift of mercy and be and be rescued from that. If you put him on in baptism for the forgiveness of your sins. Maybe you’ve done that. And maybe you’ve lost some battles. There’s nothing Satan wouldn’t love more than for you to be despondent in that, for you to despair in that, and for you to just give up. But don’t give up. We know Satan’s already lost the war. so don’t give up.

Strive to be on the winning side. And if you want to come forward tonight and ask for the prayers of your fellow soldiers who are bleeding alongside of you, we’ll pray with you and for you so that you might be forgiven and might be encouraged. if anyone has any in need, please come forward while we stand and sing.