Delievered To Bruise Satan's Head

Delivered To Bruise Satan’s Head

Are We Delivered That We Might Sin?

Last Sunday, we preached on Colossians 1:13 and our being delivered from the power of darkness. The primary concept of that message being, don’t Yield to the enemy, Yield to God.

We also talked about ways to stay delivered – Praying, Calling, Staying in the light, Walking in the light. This morning I’d like to consider why we’ve been delivered.

Jeremiah 7:1-11

“And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?” (1:10) Having been delivered from Egypt to fulfill the lust of the flesh.

God forbid!

· I Corinthians 3:16-17; Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

· 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

God cannot dwell in that which He does not occupy. To occupy is to take ownership of.

So why are we delivered? (Note to self: This message of Are We Delivered That We Might Sin, could go several different ways, but let’s go this way.)

There are several reasons we’ve been delivered. One being for our own sake. Another that we might glorify God in our lives. But there’s more than those two. What I’d like to suggest is that we have been delivered from the power of darkness that we might bruise the head of Satan.

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.

· God placed the enmity there. (Enmity, a deep-rooted hatred)

o He placed it there that we might crush the head of the serpent.

o He placed it there that we might abhor sin.

· God never intended for us to be lovers of this world – “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4.

Have you ever looked up the word “enmity”? It means “deep-rooted hatred.” “The friendship of the world is [deep-rooted hatred] with God” Knowing and understanding this, can you still be a lover of this world? The message isn’t to those who are cheating on their spouse, (adulterers and adulteresses) though it is applicable, no it’s an indictment against all those who are rejecting [cheating] on God. If you are living in sin, it is because you are in a love relationship with the world rather than in a holy and righteous relationship with God. (The same God who loved you enough to die for you.) You are the adulterer or adulteress to whom God is speaking and the relationship you have with the world speaks volumes for how you feel about God.

o In fact, all of your actions speak of how you feel about God.

§ People that don’t come to church – don’t like having a God – not important

§ Christians that don’t come on Sunday night – not concerned about hearing the word of God – not important (no hunger and thirst for righteousness)

§ Christians that don’t attend SS – not concerned about learning more of God – not important – I know all I need to know attitude

§ Christians that are living in their sin; refusing to give up their sin – not concerned about the purity of the temple – not important

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

· Colossians 1:13 the Father “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:”

· God gave us authority over the power the enemy, over His enemy, even Satan. HE put the enmity there and gave us authority over the power of the enemy.

· We are not delivered that we might sin, no, we are delivered that we might defeat the enemy, to bruise his head; to tread upon.

o Not a final defeat – that is the work of the Son of God, and yet we are to defeat him in our daily lives and in our daily walk with God, thereby being a living example of what God can do in a life surrendered to Him.

How do we do that?

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. DON’T YIELD TO IT!

I recently made the statement that God isn’t doing anything about evil but that we should be.

Let’s qualify that statement. (What I’m suggesting is that God has equipped us to do something)

· He put the enmity there – 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.

o Not evil, enmity. God never intended for us to get along with the enemy.

· He gave us authority over evil - Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power [authority] to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

· He commanded us not to be evil–

o Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

o Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

· Jesus forewarned us evil in Matthew 24:6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

There is a higher glory to be had than what the world offers

· The world offers fame, fortune, and death.

· God offers for you to be joint heirs with Christ, riches untold of, and eternal life.

o Ephesians 1:18 -23 18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…

So, for now, having been delivered from the power of darkness, let’s focus on overcoming evil with good (Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil. But overcome evil with good.”) rather than participating in it.

Stop trying to act like a Christian and just be one.

Stop trying to live as a Christian and just live free in the knowledge of His truth.

Stop trying to manifest God and just be like Him and others will see Him in you.

Live in the presence of God, consumed by His Holy Spirit and live holy even as He is holy.

We have been delivered for just such a cause or do we, as the children of Israel “come and stand before [God] in this house, which is called by [His] name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations?”

Stop making excuses for your sin. Stop living in sin and start living in the freedom Christ has purchased for you. 3 “Amend your ways and your doings” and He will cause you to dwell in His presence.

You have been delivered from the power of darkness for a greater cause than the one you are living out. You’ve been delivered that you might bruise the head of Satan.

How can I do that? By being an evangelist! 2 Timothy 4:5 “…do the work of an evangelist…”

Share the gospel of Jesus Christ and thereby bruise the head of Satan.