03-13-2022 - Sermon - What Satan Doesn't Want You to Know

OPENING

At the beginning of Luke Chapter 10, Jesus appoints 70 others, besides the 12 Disciples, to spread the gospel. They were to go out two by two to the cities where Jesus was soon going to visit to prepare the way for His arrival. Jesus said He sent them out as “lambs among wolves.” They were to simply spread the gospel and God would protect them. They were to take nothing with them. If the city they entered received them and provided for their needs, then they would remain there and share the gospel. But if the city they entered did not receive them, they were to go out in the busiest part of town and shake the dust off as a symbol that judgment was coming to that city. Not because they rejected the disciples, but because they were in essence rejecting Jesus Christ Himself, because it was His message that they were preaching.

After a time of spreading the Gospel, the 70 returned and were so excited that even the demons were subject to them in Jesus’ name. But Jesus reminded them of the purpose of their mission. He told them not to rejoice because the demons are subject to them, but rejoice because their names were written in heaven. But Jesus also confirmed that what they experienced and what they said was true; demonic spirits were subject to them in His name. Look at what Jesus says in Verse 19:

SCRIPTURE

Luke 10:19 NKJV

19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

MESSAGE

As born-again believers and followers of Jesus Christ, we face and unseen enemy. We often refer to this enemy as Satan or the devil. However, the truth is that there is a whole host of demonic powers, fallen angels, and evil spirits that roam the earth that are under Satan’s authority. Satan is the head of the serpent of evil.

And Satan and his demonic cartel are out to steal, kill, and destroy your soul. The Bible says that Satan prowls around, like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The Bible says that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. The Bible says that Satan desires to steal you away from Jesus and to sift you as wheat is sifted. The Bible says that Satan is a liar and the father of lies. The Bible says that Satan is a murder from the beginning. The Bibles even says that Satan will disguise himself as an angel of light to try to deceive you and I into falling for his schemes.

Satan is a formidable foe. He is nothing to play around with. Although Satan’s power is limited by God, Satan has power nonetheless. And it just seems like to me that Satan is ramping up his attacks on the church and on the followers of Jesus Christ in these last days. It doesn’t take a rocket surgeon to understand we are living in the last days. And Satan knows he only has a short time left. And he is unleashing all of his weapons, all of his schemes, and all of his devices to deceive, discourage, disrupt, and divide the church.

And Satan wants us to think that he is bigger and badder than he really is. That’s why he prowls around, like a roaring lion. He is trying to scare us and intimidate us. He is trying to instill fear in us, so that we will stop advancing the Kingdom of God. He is trying to bring division to the body of Christ so that we will turn our weapons on ourselves and take each other out. He is trying to impose his will on us so that instead of the church continuing to fly the blood-stained banner of Jesus Christ, we will instead raise the white flag of surrender and fade into obscurity and ineffectiveness.

And Satan wants us to think he has the power to make this happen and that there is nothing that we can do about it and nothing we can do to stop him. You think that’s impossible? You think that our faith could never get that weak? Let me remind you of a man named Elijah. One of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. Raised the dead. Prayed so that it did not rain for 3.5 years. Called down fire from heaven on his enemies. Destroyed 450 of the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. But one sentence, 29 words, from a woman named Jezebel caused Elijah to run and hide like a coward. Elijah fled into the wilderness, sat down under a juniper tree and prayed for God to end his life.

Why was Elijah so afraid and so defeated and so discouraged? After everything that Elijah had faced, how in the world could 29 words from a pagan, demonic queen cause Elijah to crumble? Let me suggest to you that there was more behind the words of Jezebel than just a threat; there was a demonic spirit behind them. Jesus referred to a spirit of Jezebel that had infiltrated the church in Thyatira. And, for a moment, Elijah’s faith wavered. And he felt like his world had come to an end.

And that is exactly what Satan wants to do to us today. Not just Farm Hill Church, but the entire body of Christ. He wants us to run and hide, give up and quit, and just simply sit around and do nothing and wait for Jesus to come back and rescue us. Satan wants us to believe his lies and wants us to think that he is in control of the situation.

God spoke to Elijah and said, “What are you doing here?” Elijah said, “It’s over, I’m the only one left, the enemy is just too strong and too numerous, there is no way that I will be victorious, it’s hopeless.” And God responded to Elijah, “Get up and get moving! I still have 7,000 prophets besides you who have not bowed their knee to Baal.”

If God is on our side, we are never outnumbered! If God is on our side, we will never be defeated! If God is on our side, the enemy will come before us one way and flee seven ways! If God be for us, who can be against us?

But Satan doesn’t want you to know that. He doesn’t want you to know that he is just full of a lot of hot air. He doesn’t want you to pull back the curtain and see him for the defeated foe that he really is. As long as Satan has you deceived, he has you under his spell, just like Jezebel had Elijah under her spell. But when you see Satan and his cohorts for who they truly are, they cannot defeat you.

So I’m pulling back the curtain this morning and I’m going to reveal What Satan Doesn’t Want You to Know. I’m going to give you three simple facts from God’s Word that you can stand upon this morning and declare victory over every attack of the enemy.

Jesus Already Defeated Satan at the Cross

Satan is already a defeated foe. One the reasons why Jesus came to earth to die on the cross and be raised from the dead was to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8 NKJV

8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

And Jesus accomplished this task through His death, burial, and resurrection.

Colossians 2:14–15 NKJV

14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of Genesis 3:15:

Genesis 3:15 NKJV

15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.”

When Jesus died on the cross, Satan thought he had won the victory over God. But what Satan didn’t realize is that the cross was his death sentence, not Jesus’. Satan might have bruised Jesus’ heel, but Jesus dealt a fatal blow to the head of the serpent. And when Jesus walked out of the tomb three days later, He walked out in complete and total victory over the works of the devil.

And one day Satan is going to be eliminated for eternity.

Revelation 20:10 NKJV

10 The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

Satan’s fate is sealed. He is a defeated foe, and he knows it. But he doesn’t want you and I to know it. He’s acting like a roaring lion, but Jesus has already knocked Satan’s teeth down his throat! He is no match for our Savior who is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The next time Satan roars, just remind him of Who is living on the inside of you! The next time Satan reminds you of your past, remind him of his future!

We’ve Got the Power Over Satan, in the Name of Jesus

We know from what we just discussed that Satan is under Jesus’ feet. But did you know that as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ that Satan is also under your feet, because the Spirit of Christ lives in you? Look at what Paul tells the believers in Rome:

Romans 16:20 NKJV

20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Paul said that God would crush Satan under their feet. I’m came here this morning to remind you that through the precious blood of Jesus Christ that has been applied to your life, as a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, that Christ’s victory on the cross is your victory! That if you are walking by faith in the Spirit, that Satan is under your feet because Satan is under Jesus’ feet.

You don’t have to let the enemy trample all over you! You are a child of the living God. You are a child of the King of kings and Lord of lords. If you feel like you’re being trampled on by the enemy, get out from under your juniper tree Elijah, and stand up and begin to walk in victory over all the power of the enemy!

Child of God, Satan does not want you to know that he is under your feet! Satan wants you to walk in defeat, instead of walking in victory with Spirit-filled feet that have been shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. Paul said the God of Peace will crush Satan under your feet. I don’t think it is just a coincidence that Paul referred to our feet as shoes of peace in Ephesians 6 when talking about the whole armor of God.

Satan doesn’t want us to know that we have the power to overcome him. He doesn’t want us to realize that greater is He that is on the inside of us than he that is in the world. And we have the authority in Jesus name to crush Satan under our feet.

As Long as We Stand Firm in Christ, We Can't Be Defeated

God has given us everything we need to be victorious over the enemy. God has given us the power to stand up against the devil.

Ephesians 6:10–11 NKJV

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

But we must also remember that our enemy is not another human being. Our enemy is Satan and his cartel.

Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

And then Paul gives us the instructions on how to stand against the devil. We must put on the whole armor of God. In other words, it’s time to suit up!

Ephesians 6:13–18 NKJV

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Satan doesn’t want you to know that he does not have the power to defeat you!

Keep on the helmet of salvation that will protect your mind. Don’t listen to the devil’s lies about you.

Keep on the breastplate of righteousness to guard your heart and your soul.

Tighten up the belt of truth that holds all of the armor in place. Don’t get caught up in the devil’s lies, stand on the truth of God’s Word.

Keep your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. And use those shoes of peace to crush the head of the serpent when he gets in your way.

Keep your shield of faith up at all times. The enemies arrows cannot get through as long as your faith is strong.

And fight against the enemy with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Jesus overcame Satan’s temptations in the wilderness by rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Use God’s Word as a weapon against the enemy. He can argue with your word, but he can’t argue with God’s Word.

And finally pray. Prayer is also a mighty weapon. Prayer is spiritual warfare. Prayer is where we find strength. Prayer is where we put it in God’s hands. Prayer is where we hold each other up. The devil doesn’t want to mess with a praying church. Because a praying church is a powerful church!

Satan doesn’t want us to know that he doesn’t have the power to defeat us. Christ has already won the victory and Christ’s victory is our victory! When the devil comes at you, stand firm. Put on the whole armor of God and stand and fight the good fight of faith!

CLOSING

Give me your hand, let’s agree together.

That all of our enemies, will crumble at our feet.

For whatever we bind on earth, shall be bound in heaven.

At the name of Jesus, Satan has to flee.

For many years now, Satan’s tried to stop us.

But the church of Jesus, is still alive!

Like a mighty army, we keep marching onward.

Winning every battle, with the Lord by our side.

We’ve got the power, in the name of Jesus.

We’ve got the power, in the name of the Lord.

Tho’ Satan rages, we will not be defeated.

We’ve got the power, in the name of the Lord.

ALTAR CALL