There once was a man and his son who went out Christmas shopping. On their way home they noticed all of the houses and how beautifully decorated they were. At one of the houses, the son noticed a flag hanging down with a star in the middle. The son asked the father what that meant. The father answered "that means they have a son fighting in the war." A little while later while the son was looking out the window he excitedly exclaimed "Look daddy, God must have a Son fighting in the war, He hung a star in his window too!" Ever since the beginning of time Gad has been in a war with Satan. It started when Lucifer went to make a throne over God’s (Is. 14:12-15, Rev. 12:8,9) Since the beginning of time this war has been fought, the only thing that has changed was how.
Satan involved himself in creation, since cast out of heaven he sought to corrupt the thing that God has created in love and innocence. "Did God really say. . .No you wont surely die, you will become like God. . ." Just as he did in heaven, now uses that same tactic to corrupt Adam and Eve. "You will become like God..." When God came down and saw what the serpent had done he pronounced the curse. (Gen 3:14,15) This was the beginning of the end for Satan. He knew someone was coming to deal him a deathblow. he now sought to sop that one from coming.
He convinces Cain to kill Abel, using jealosy as motivation. If the coming one was Abel, Satan would use Cain to destroy him. That way he actually kills two with one stone, surely his enemy could not be a killer of such an innocent life. Satan corrupts Cain, has Abel killed and throughout the book of Gensis such tactics are used. Satan sought to corrupt all of creation to stop this one "Messiah" from coming. He corrupts all of mankind except Noah who was found righteous before God. (Gen.6:9) He was not counting on an Ark to save them (1 Peter 3:20-21) When Satan learned that the Messiah would come through Isaac, he seeks to corrupt him or kill him. Don’t you think Satan was overjoyed when Abraham took Isaac up the hill and layed him on that sacrifical altar? Only to see God provide the sacrifice.
Satan later learns the Messiah would come through the line of Judah (Gen. 49:10) and later more specifically from the line of David.(Is 9:7) When learned of this he seeks to stop David. He sets up a lion and a bear, only to find the bravery of this young shepherd and his devotion to God. Then comes the Philistine giant Goliath, only to see the shepherd boy’s true aim and zeal for God. He uses Saul, the Philistines, lions and bears, only to find this one is protected. He has to stop him somehow, he even tries to corrupt him with Bathsheba, only to find that David’s heart, even though fallen in sin, returns to God.
Satan later learns of the virgin who will bear this son, Immanuel, God with us. (Is.7:14)So he watched and waited for this virgin. When he sees Gabriel visit Mary he now knew. He tries to convince Joseph to do away with her. But Joseph obeys God. He uses Caesar to proclaim a census. How dangerous it is for a pregnant woman to travel from Nazareth to Bethlehem. But God saw to it the donkey’s feet were strong and steady. So Satan uses Herod, "Murder all boys 2 years and under" to protect his throne, and Satan to protect himself. But God once again foils Satan’s plan and Jesus escapes.
When Jesus ministered Satan tried to destroy. Finally Jesus is nailed to the cross. Satan thinks he won, but three days later, Jesus comes from the tomb, and takes back the keys of death and hades. The deathblow is struck, Satan’s greatest weapon against man, death, is now taken.
But the war is not over, you see Satan may have lost that battle, but he is still fighting. Today his weapon is simple. Make Jesus irrelevant. We have signs and pins that say "Keep Christ in Christmas" and "Jesus is the reason for the season" yet Christmas has become far less than that. Where is Jesus today, it is politically incorrect to mention Jesus in public. Satan has made Jesus irrelevant to our generation. There are many who proclaim many ways to heaven, Jesus is not one of them. As you leave today see how many Santa Clauses and riendeer decorations are out compared to manger scenes.
WE CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE WE CAN MAKE JESUS RELEVANT TO OUR GENERATION. IT IS UP TO US. (EZEKIEL 3:20). WE ARE THE WATCHMEN OF TODAY.
Kay Noll one time speaking at Homecoming at Johnson Bible College gave this list about Jesus, I will modify for this sermon;
In the Book of:
Genesis he is the breath of life
Exodus he is the Passover lamb
Leviticus the Great High priest
Numbers the fire by night
Duet. Moses voice
Joshua he is salvations choice
Judges he is the giver of the law
Ruth he is the kinsman redeemer coming to claim his own
1 & 2 Sam he is the Prophet that is true
HE IS HE IS MY JESUS IS AND HE IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY
Kings and Chronicles he is forever Soveriegn
Ezra he is the true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah he is the rebuilder of broken walls andlives
Esther he is Mordecai’s courage
Job he is the timeless redeemer
Psalms he is the Morning Star
Proverbs he is wisdoms cry
Eccl. he is time and the season
Song of Songs he is the lovers dream
Isaiah he is the Prince of PEace
Jeremiah he is the Prophet who weeps
Lamentations he is the cry for Israel
Ezekiel he is the call from sin
Daniel he the stranger in the fire
HE IS HE IS MY JESUS IS AND HE IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY
Hosea he is forever faithful
Joel he is the spirits power
Amos he is the arms that carry us
Obadiah he is the Lord coming in Judgement
Jonah he is the God of the second chance
Micah he is the promise of peace
Nahum he is our strength and our sheild
Habakkuk and Zephaniah he is pleading for revival
Zechariah he is our living fountain
Malachi he is son of righteousness risen with healing in his wings
The Gospels he is God, man, Messiah and the Word
Romans he is the Grace of God
Corinthians he isthe power of love
Galatians he is freedom from the law
Eph. he is our Glorious treasure
Phillipians he is the servants heart
Col. the Godhead trinity
Thess. Our coming King
HE IS HE IS OUR JESUS IS AND HE IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY
Timothy/Titus/Philemon he is our faithful pastor
Hebrews he is our mediator and Great High Priest
James he is the one who heals the sick
1&2 Peter he is the shepherd and great guardian of our souls
John and Jude he is the lover coming for his bride
Revelation he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Son of Man, Lamb of God, the Great I Am, the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end.
AND WHEN TIME ITSELF SHALL BE NO MORE, STILL HE IS, HE IS, OUR JESUS IS AND HE IS STILL RELEVANT TODAY!!!!
IT IS UP TO US TO MAKE HIM RELEVANT TO OUR LIVES, SHOW THIS RELEVANCY TO OTHERS BY THE WAY WE LIVE. MAKE JESUS THE REASON FOR EVERY SEASON THE GUEST OF HONOR IN OUR LIVES, HOMES, AND FAMILIES.
