In Everything Christ Touches There Is Victory!

The format of this sermon is BIBLE STUDY. It is designed with more personal application in mind. Be blessed!

Text: Revelation 12:7-18+

Date: September 29, 2002 (St. Michael and all the Angels)

Title: In everything Christ touches there is VICTORY!

If you ever decide to take the time out to study History, you will be reminded that much of our history has been surrounded by war. In the past year alone, America has begun its war on terrorism! Recently the president has been talking about us getting into yet another war. So it is safe to say that war or the threat of war is constantly around us. But what we don’t expect to see is war, taking place… in heaven! That location is supposed to be exempt from battle. Yet God allows us to see that a battle in heaven indeed took place. And he does this with the ultimate purpose of preparing us not only to remember his former victories over the dragon but also the daily victories that he wins for us by the blood of our Savior.

It was a war of words, so to speak. The devil stood before the throne of God with the argument that he was the better choice to truthfully represent we the saints. He challenged Jesus’ throne and God’s authority and purpose. When he lost that argument, he began to accuse God’s people all the more of all the crimes that we were guilty of, and I am sure he made up a few extra sins, just for spite. Satan was very angry and fought against Michael and his angels as he stood before throne of God. And all of heaven took part in what should be called the war to end all wars. Because the wars we hear about on earth, can only destroy the body. But the battle that was fought in heaven was for our body and our soul.

The battle took place to see who was the strongest. It was a two to one battle in favor of our Lord. Two thirds of an infinite number of angels were on God’s side, verses Satan and one third of those who followed him. Yet with all the dragon’s cunning and skill… he lost. Satan lost! And with that first loss of the devil comes our first shout of victory.

No longer could Satan go back and forth from earth to heaven. When Michael and the angels kicked him out. The door would be forever shut and Satan could never again come before the throne of God to accuse us. There was never a doubt that Satan would win, but imagine if he did. I just think about what God allowed him to do to Job and then think about him doing worse if he had the freedom to do so. Thinking about such things only causes me to thank my Lord all the more and worship Him with the joy of His victory.

This reminder of the war to end all wars causes us to be joyful, but also to be concerned or at the very least aware. The concern or awareness is justified when we think about where the Devil went after he was kicked out of heaven. If Satan no longer has access to heaven then, that means he is stuck here on earth. To me, no human made horror story can match this terror should a person without Christ, be made aware of these things. God does not want us to make light of the Devil, but we are to be aware of his desire to destroy our relationship with God. We are to consider him a threat! We are called to be on the lookout! Satan, now confined to this world, WILL take his fury out on the human race and life itself. He and one third of an infinite number of his angels are now residing with us. Again, their goal is to utterly destroy our life and our relationship with the Lord. And Satan will never stop.

God makes us aware of the Devil’s presence again today because it is all too easy to forget about his purpose and his activities. That old saying, “Out of sight, out of mind” really does take place for us especially when we get caught up with the day-to-day trials of life and thus forget all about the devil presence. And our Lord knows this and thus wants us to be on alert not only to remember what Satan is all about but also, to mainly recall the many, many victories that the Holy Trinity has won in His battle against the dragon.

As we read on in our text, we discover Satan’s complete battle plan. His first attack would be to persecute and hopefully destroy the woman. His reason is clear, it was a woman who gave birth to the Messiah. If he can destroy the woman, he could also destroy future souls who would worship our living Lord. Cause for alarm? Sure! But there is no cause for fear because as we read verse 14 we again see God’s intervention. Listen, “But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times a half a time.” Isaiah 40:31 helps explain what this verse means. Hear these words: “Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” When the woman, or any one of us is attacked, our Lord promises protection. He will aid us to flee the wrath of the devil. This was accomplished for us, when Jesus suffered upon the Cross-, only to rise again so that all our sins would be forgiven. Although the context of being given eagles wings, is directed toward the woman. It truly relates to each and every one of us just as the blood of Jesus covers each and every one of us.