Messages
from the Bible
A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
Previously I have told you that the rule of thumb for preaching is that if there is a short text, the sermon will be long, when there is a long text, the sermon should be short. According to that rule, today's sermon should be very short. The text is the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.
The text in Genesis is:
And in Revelation 20 we read:
Yes, this sermon is going to be short. Here it is: Satan who was once Lucifer, the son of the Morning, was thrown out of heaven, and someday soon, will be cast into the bottomless pit.
When I was a kid I remember hearing these two songs many times:
The first one had a great chorus:
But this is how one of the verses went:
Actually , there's another version which goes like this:
There Is Victory Over Satan
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Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20:2, 3, 10)
So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose, and frowners never win.
So let the sun shine in, face it with a grin.
Open up your heart and let the sun shine in.
My mommy told me something a little boy should know;
It's all about the devil and I learned to hate him so.
She said he causes trouble, and makes you want to sin.
So open up your heart and let the sun shine in.
She said he causes trouble
If you let him in your room,
And he'll never never leave you
If you heart is filled with gloom.
Then there was this song:
One, two, three, the devil's after me;
Four, five, six, he's always throwing bricks;
seven, eight, nine, he misses all the time.
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen.
Now perhaps you weren't brought up on such songs, but if you were, you too have probably developed some wrong ideas about who the devil is and what kind of power he has. Already we have understood that we must put on the whole armor of God, and we have talked about the principle roles of Satan being temptation and discipline. But I'm worried that there are way too many people who are way too worried about the power of Satan. Yes, we understand that he has delegated power to tempt us and to bring about discipline, but this is always for redemptive purposes. And yes, he does make efforts to destroy and hinder the work of God. But he does not have the independent use of that power. His judgment has been pronounced; Satan is a truly duly declared doomed devil!
But now we want to ask, what should be the results of our having a proper understanding of Satan being an already defeated foe?
1. The first result of having a proper understanding of Satan being an already defeated foe is, TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. When the devil is perceived to be a powerful force for evil, we too easily excuse ourselves on the basis that "the devil made me do it." Let's get this straight - nobody can make you do nothing! God can't, and that's why it says, "He stands at the door and knocks". (Revelations 3:20) Think about it, if God honors your freedom to make moral choices, do you think He would allow Satan to violate them?
Quite often, I have heard someone say, "This evil thought entered into my mind - it must be that Satan put it there." I hope this won't be a disappointment to you, but Satan does not know what you are thinking, and he has no power to dictate, or plant thoughts in your head. James gives us clear teaching about this matter of temptation: "Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. (James 1:14,15)
2. The second result of having a proper understanding of Satan being an already defeated foe is, GIVING PROPER ATTENTION TO GOD.
When ever we unduly focus on Satan and his power, we have removed our focus, and probably our faith, from God.
Remember the devil's third temptation of Jesus? That's when he ". . . showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. 'All this I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.' (Matthew 4:8,9)
Satan was trying to get Jesus to see him (the devil) as the giver, he was trying to take God's place. Whenever we focus on Satan, we are taking something away from what should be our unwavering attention on God.
3. The third result of having a proper understanding of Satan being an already defeated foe is, CELEBRATING VICTORY.
Every day of our lives we can rejoice not only in God's forgiveness of our sin, but we can also rejoice that we have power over sin. We don't want to sin, and we don't have to sin! Satan, whose job it is to try to get us to sin is a defeated foe. That's why we can shout with Paul, "But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57)
Just believe it, and it is done. 1 John 5:4 - "Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith."
But in addition to faith, humility is also required, for we celebrate not our own power over Satan, but we celebrate God's power at work in our lives.
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (I Peter 5:6-11)
Yes, the results of having a proper understanding of Satan being an already defeated foe are:
TAKING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
GIVING PROPER ATTENTION TO GOD
CELEBRATING VICTORY
In conclusion then, let's go back to the description Isaiah gives us in Isaiah 14:12-15.
"How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High." But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit."
In the KJV, instead of the words "morning star", reference is made to "Lucifer", which literally means "light-bearer", or "shining one". While Isaiah may be writing immediately about the King of Babylon, there's no doubt that these words are ultimately referring to Satan himself.
Certainly that's why in Luke 10:18 Jesus said, "I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven."
But it's interesting to note that when John was writing to the churches, in his letter to the church in Thyatira, the promise is made, "I will give him the morning star." (Revelation 2:24-28)
In other words, Satan has been given to the faithful in the church, those who "have not learned Satan's so-called deep secrets" (v. 24). Do you know what Satan's Secret is? It's the deception that he is powerful. But remember this, his is always an empty roar: Satan is a truly duly declared doomed devil!
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