THE ART OF WAR (PART 2)
Rev. 12:1-17
Sermon Objective: We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Corinthians 2:11) and knowing his character, strategy, and tactics equips us for victory.
Supporting Scripture: Genesis 3:13-15; Psalm 41:11, Psalm 103:9-12; John 10:10; John 8:44; Romans 8:31-39; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 6:10-18; Colossians 2:15; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; I John 3:7-8; 1 John 5:4
REV. 12:1-17
SERMON INTRO
On December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the Constitution) was adopted, having been ratified by three-fourths of the United States. Included within these was the second amendment. It reads as follows: “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
The idea of an unhindered well-regulated militia was very important to Alexander Hamilton. In the Federalists papers (no. 29) he says, “A tolerable expertness in military movements is a business that requires time and practice. It is not a day, or even a week, that will suffice for the attainment of it.”
As we return this week to Revelation 12’s exposé of our enemy the idea of a well-practiced and well-regulated militia seems appropriate. You see, the reason Satan’s character, motivations, strategies and tactics are exposed here is because he is a real and present danger and the spiritual warfare that we engage in is not to be taken lightly. The heart this chapter is verses 9-12 and verse 12 really drives him this point. “Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”
Last week I introduced you to Sun Tzu’s book, “The Art of War.” This book, as you may recall was written about 3,000 years ago, consists of 13 small chapters that give principles of warfare, and is still studied and utilized for its military tactics today. One of the principles that Sun Tzu addresses time and again is, “If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.” And that is one of the reasons God has exposed the enemy’s schemes for us … so that Satan might not outwit us. As 2 Cor. 2:11 tells is we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices. Rev. 12, which is right in the middle of John’s apocalypse, is dedicated to this task.
Last week we looked at two elements that go far in helping us understand our enemy. You can find this sermon on the website so I will not review it, I will only list them for you.
1. Our enemy is a real entity not a mere “symbol of evil.”
2. If our enemy cannot “capture” us – then he will try to paralyze / neutralize us through guilt and self-accusation; neither of which are God’s way of motivating His church (v. 12.)
May I quote Sun Tzu again? “Now the reason the enlightened prince and the wise general conquer the enemy whenever they move and their achievements surpass those of ordinary men is foreknowledge.”
He also said, “Know thy self, know thy enemy. A thousand battles, a thousand victories.”
Our enemy would love for us to be naïve and uninformed. But God has made sure this is not the case.
Let’s take some time to identify some specific character traits, motivations, and tactics of our enemy, the Devil. By doing so, we will be armed (equipped) to engage in the spiritual battle that we must inevitably fight.
Sadly, some seem to think there is no war and there is no threat. Our enemy loves this! Sun Tzu said, “Supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”
SERMON
1. Our enemy is real
2. Our enemy seeks to neutralize us
3. OUR ENEMY IS DETERMINED TO LEAD THE WORLD ASTRAY (V. 9)
We must never forget that our enemy is a “hater.” Everything within our text validates this. Satan hates anything and everything that is in relation to God. Humankind, not just followers of the lamb, is his focal point.
9The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
In John 8:44 Jesus said, “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Sun Tzu said, “Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.”
Satan brings all the fury that his violent character possesses to this war. Not only is he the accuser of God’s people, our enemy is also the deceiver of the world (v.9). Deception has been one of his tactics since the human race began. He has nothing but contempt for humankind. His offers are hollow and designed to deceive.
Sun Tzu also speaks of deception as a ploy in battle. More than once he tells his readers that there will be no victory over the enemy if there is no deception. Do not these words from his book go far in explaining Satan’s strategy? “Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent’s fate.”
Satan has nothing of substance to offer humankind. All he offers are temporal fixes and shiny trinkets. The Gospel stands in direct contrast to the offers of the Enemy. The Gospel offers real fixes t. The Gospel o the human conditionf Jesus Christ (which is called “the eternal Gospel” in chapter 14) offers humankind the substance, purpose, and reality they crave. In John 10:10 Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” It is only truth that sets the world free and it is only Jesus that can give the world abundant life.
The enemy’s objective is to deceive and delude humanity. As priests of the Kingdom (Rev. 1:6 & 5:10) the church’s task is to point them to a savior and minister to humankind until it is re-formed into the likeness of Christ. Our tools and weapons are the same; truth, love, patience, goodness, kindness, peace, and justice. The enemy is a liar and speaks only lies to the world and can only entrap and deceive – his strategy and tactics do not include deliverance from sin and bondage.
I think the conclusion of last week’s sermon might be illustrative at this point. Would you indulge me as I repeat it?
The job of the church is not to impact the church, but to impact the world. It’s like a huddle in a football game. 70,000 people don’t pay $50.00 a ticket to watch the team huddle. What if you went to a game and for 2 ½ hours you watched 11 men stand in a circle and talk? That’s not what you pay for!! 70,000 people pay $50.00 a ticket to see what difference the huddle makes. WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW IS, HAVING CALLED THE PLAY IN SECRET, DOES IT WORK IN PUBLIC? The challenge for the church is not what we do when we call our Sunday morning huddle, but what we do when we break our huddle and head to our Monday morning assignment. When Satan lines up against us, what difference does it make that we are Christians?
(Special thanks to Rev. David Salisbury of Hohenwald, Tennessee for this idea)
WRAP-UP
1. Our enemy is real
2. Our enemy seeks to neutralize us
3. Our enemy is determined to lead the world astray (v. 9)
“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”
In Heller vs. The District of Columbia, the U.S. Supreme Court stated that "the adjective ’well-regulated’ implies nothing more than the imposition of proper discipline and training."
“Discipline and training.” Boy if I ever heard two words that John’s Apocalypse echoes for the followers of the Lamb those are the two! This whole interlude critiques modern culture and exposes it as being controlled by a fierce enemy (see chapter 13-15) and we must be “sober and vigilant” – “well regulated” – “disciplined and trained” if we are to survive the battle.
And how does that discipline reveal itself? John makes it clear in verse 11 … faithful love for the savior … obedience even in the face of adversity and death.
1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. 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 the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
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This sermon is provided by Dr. Kenneth Pell
Potsdam Church of the Nazarene, Potsdam, New York
www.potsdam-naz.org
