Jesus Christ made a public spectacle of Satan’s forces the day He died for our sins! For Christ won the battle for our souls by removing our sins and our slavery to Satan! This is the encouragement we have as baptized believers!

Colossians 2:11-15 says: “In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”

As we end the year, let us rejoice in salvation! For Christ’s death has given us eternal life, forgiveness of sins, freedom from the condemnation of the written code, and victory over the evil forces of Satan! Christ redeemed us from Satan’s evil grip! The dark spiritual powers and authorities were conquered and disarmed by the dying Redeemer ,who is to be praised and blessed forever and ever! Amen!!! Never has the devil’s kingdom suffered such a mortal blow the day Jesus was crucified! Truly did Satan bruised His heel; but Christ has crushed his head! (Gen. 3:15) God used Satan against himself! For Satan thought he won the victory; but instead, he lost!!! If Satan and his evil battalion had known that Jesus’ death was to bring victory to the lost, he would’ve protected Jesus, keeping Him from dying for our sins! For, as it is written in 1 Corinthian 2:7-8, “...we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”  If God had come to destroy the earth and the heavens around us and cast Satan into hell before Jesus had freed us from the bondage of sin, we would’ve all gone to hell with Satan and his demons! God Himself would’ve been forced to send us there since His law would’ve demanded it! (Eze. 18:4) But thanks be to God for giving us victory: our faith in Jesus Christ, the Savior! By fighting the battle Satan himself didn’t understand, God released from the forces that work against us! Jesus didn’t come to take the world from Satan; He came to take us from Satan’s world! Hallelujah!

Key Text:                                   1 John 5:3-5

“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God!”

Theme:

Faith believes that God keeps His word, rewarding those who are His! Faith is trusting God in all situations! “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1) and that victorious faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). Christians believe in something they cannot see because they believe the message of the One who tells them it is there! The word of the Lord is good, trustworthy, and credible. If God says something is true, we can be absolutely certain of it--even when we can’t see it! If you can see it, then you don’t need faith; but as it is, we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Do you have faith in Christ? Do you place all  trust in Him? Do you believe that He has victory over Satan? Do you have victory over Satan through Christ your Lord?

Application:

Here are some practical suggestions:

1. Love the law of God!  God’s law is holy and just! A good

    understanding of God’s nature and will can be found

    through His Word.

2. Obey it with rejoicing! Halfheartedness cannot lead to

    spiritual sensitivity! Be opened to hearing and submitting

    to God’s will with gladness of heart!

3. Hide it in your heart! Memorizing the Word of God

    makes it available for study or meditation, anytime! It

    helps us resist temptation (Mt. 4:4,6,10)!

4. Understand what it means! Misunderstood Scripture

    becomes ammunition for the evil ones. Learn not to

    misapply Scripture, but learn and understand God’s

    Word and apply the Word appropriately!

May the Lord richly bless you!

Spiritual Warfare: Seeing the Unseen

I.      Last Week: Faith: Idea or Master?

1 Peter 1:3-9

       1. Our trials help us to grow, change or learn!

       2. God does not allow the demons to defeat us!

       3. Faith is refined as gold

II.  Forces at Work For Us

     A. Satan: The Defeated One

       Colossians 2:14-15

         1. Jesus won the battle for our souls when He died!

         2. He removed our sin and slavery to Satan!

         3. He triumphed over Satan’s host through the

             cross!

     B. God’s Plan Hidden From Satan

        1 Corinthians 2:7-8

        1. If Satan had known God’s plan:

             a. He wouldn’t have killed Jesus

             b. He would’ve protected Christ, preventing

                  Him from fulfilling the Law for us!

             c. But we have the victory through Christ!

             d. God fought the battle Satan himself didn’t

                 understand!

       C. The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit

          1. What shall I do?

              a. The Holy Spirit’s Call: Acts 2:38

                  --Obedience to the Gospel:

                     Sin leaves; God moves in!

              b. Our Christianity depends upon the

                  Holy Spirit living in us! (Eph 1:13-14)

         2. We Need His Leadership (Rom. 8:13-14)

              a. Through the Word

               b. Through prayer for wisdom, strength, etc.

          3. He Strengthens Us (Eph. 3:16-17)

               a. He offers us personal strength

                b. We don’t have enough strength to undergo

                     major battles in our lives!

Conclusion: Don’t Lose Him!

         1. Without the Spirit, you will be unprotected!

         2. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit by:

            a. by living according to your sinful desire!

            b. Participating in sinful activities!

            c. Allowing your relationship with God to wane!

Warm-up:

Give an example of things (or situations) that influence us to act or think in a certain way. Respond in detail. You may want to use a personal example.

See To It                 Romans 8:13-14

1-     Who must we allow to lead in our lives? Why?

2-     What benefits does His leadership bring? What benefits does our own leadership bring?

3-     Can we crucify the flesh on our own? Who must be actively involved in our lives?

4-     How do we allow Him to lead or guide us? Where do you go to inquire His guidance?

5-     Why is it more difficult to live by the Spirit-controlled mind? Who are speaking at the same time in our minds?

Seeing It Closer:    Psalm 119:11-15,27,46-48, 97-100, 148

1-     How do we train ourselves to listen to the Spirit?

2-     List the ways the psalmist learned to hear the Spirit more clearly? Discuss them.

Getting To It:

For the penitent Christian, the Spirit indwells (Acts 2:38), guides (Rom. 8:13-14), intercedes (Rom. 8:26-27), and strengthens (Eph. 3:16-17). Be encouraged to pray for His guidance! Meditate on the Word of God. Pray for wisdom and understanding so you will be able to make godly decisions as you walk in this life! Thank Him for His intercession. Pray for the strength that comes from His power! Don’t ignore or doubt Him! Love Him and give in to Him! He is the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ!!!

Thank you, God, for your Holy Spirit who leads us and

fights along with us in the war that rages around us!