Satan will be defeated, and God will be victorious. This devotional reading looks at what that victory entails.
Nuggets
- God will be victorious in the end – and so will we when we believe.
- Salvation is offered to us to restore our relationship to God, giving us victory.
- God is all-powerful.
Jesus has authority because – to God – He is His Christ. - Victory is established by three components.
- We have one weapon in our arsenal – the blood of the Lamb.
- While belief that the Lamb is the substitute for us is a major part of salvation, testimony is also.
- Victory cannot be secured if we love this life more than eternal life.
In the last devotion, we discussed Satan’s fall from Heaven. That happened because God was victorious.
Let’s look at the celebration that victory brought.
Let's Put It into Context
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Devotions in the Intermission series
They Have Come
“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God” (Rev. 12: 10 ESV)
God will be victorious in the end – and so will we when we believe.
We can look at this celebration in two ways. It occurred when Satan was exiled from Heaven.
It will also occur on the Day of the Lord. God will be victorious then, leading to celebration.
Salvation
Salvation is offered to us to restore our relationship to God, giving us victory.
True, the Book of Revelation talks about the vengeful wrath of God. But that isn’t the focus.
The focus is that God has provided a way for us to not feel his wrath. We can feel His love.
Salvation can be offered to mankind because Satan has been banished from Heaven. More importantly, Jesus conquered Satan when He arose from the dead.
Bonar explains what salvation is. He wrote,
“It is salvation — not consisting of one blessing or one kind of blessing, but of many; made up of everything which can be indicated by the reversal of our lost condition. It is not done at once, but in parts and at sundry times, each age bringing with it more of ‘salvation’ in every sense; unfolding it, building it up, gathering in new objects, overcoming new enemies, occupying new ground, erecting new trophies.”
Resource
The most important aspect of salvation is the reversal of our sinful spiritual condition. We are to change from our sinful nature to God’s nature.
This isn’t a one-time fix. I know, sometimes we think salvation is.
And it is true that we experience regeneration at conversion. That is step one
Step two is the process of sanctification. That is a life-long process.
Power
God is all-powerful.
No, we don’t know the extent of His power because it has been hidden from us. That doesn’t mean it isn’t real.
Kingdom
When Jesus came, He said the kingdom of God was at hand. “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel’” (Mk. 1: 14-15 ESV).
The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom that describes His sovereign reign. Since God is eternal, so is His kingdom.
You see, God wasn’t interested in an earthly kingdom. This earth is temporary. God is more interested in our eternal condition – our souls.
We can’t gloss over the fact that Satan’s defeat isn’t the only thing that has happened. The void caused by that defeat has been replaced by God’s kingdom.
God’s kingdom is so much better.
Authority
Jesus has authority because – to God – He is His Christ.
Jesus was sent to earth as God’s messenger, His Messiah. He carried the message of salvation.
God gave Jesus authority. “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’” (Mt. 28: 18 ESV).
Satan Accuses Them before God
Satan’s influence was limited to earth, but he still has access to God.
Yes, Satan has been eternally banished from Heaven. Don’t see this as a contradiction to that.
We know that, since his fall, Satan has been restricted by God. God’s Word tells us how his intentions are foiled.
- “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (I Cor. 10: 13 ESV).
- “And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly” (Mt. 17: 18 ESV).
- “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (II Cor. 12: 9 ESV).
- “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22: 31-32 ESV).
But then we get a verse like the one in Job. “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, ‘From where have you come?’ Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it’ (Job 1: 6-7 ESV).
I would think this is one reason why people think the Book of Job is set before creation. How can Satan have access when he is banished?
But then, I don’t think Satan can go up before God’s throne and trash talk us. God doesn’t need Satan to bring charges against us to His attention.
Why would Satan want to go back?
Let’s think this through. We know Satan does a lot of trash talking to us. He can really kick up our level of guilt for sin.
Where is God’s throne? Our hearts.
- “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Ps. 51: 10 ESV).
- “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life” (Prov. 4: 23 ESV).
- “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezek. 36: 26 ESV).
- “God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne” (Ps. 47: 8 ESV).
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Prov. 3: 5-6 ESV).
- “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness” (Ps. 45: 6 ESV).
The battle is over our hearts.
Victory Established
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death’” (Rev. 12: 11 ESV)
Victory is established by three components.
By the Blood
We have one weapon in our arsenal – the blood of the Lamb.
Sin was conquered by Jesus’ death on the cross. The shedding of His blood washed us clean.
We may think the term saints doesn’t apply to us. We don’t think we are good enough to earn it.
Well, we don’t earn it. We are given the title upon conversion. We are set apart when we acknowledge Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer and confess God as Sovereign Lord.
But then we have a skewed idea of who we become when we gain Heaven. No, we don’t turn into angels. Spurgeon stated we sometimes think those who have reached Heaven are somewhat better – nobler – than us.
Resource
Revelation 12: 11 is specific about how mankind can beat the dragon. “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death’” (Rev. 12: 11 ESV).
We cannot defeat Satan by ourselves. It is only through Jesus’ blood that we can. On our own, we don’t even come close.
It isn’t even that it was Jesus’ blood – which is important as He is the only One worthy. It is that He is the Lamb – the willing substitute for us.
What all this says to me is that we are not to doubt our salvation. We are to stay strong in the belief that God can – and will – and has – saved us.
Testimony
While belief that the Lamb is the substitute for us is a major part of salvation, testimony is also.
Salvation has to change us. It has to make a difference in our lives. It has to be evident.
That isn’t going to be easy. We will be in a battle with Satan. That is why we need the armor of God (Eph. 6: 11-17).
We must celebrate the victory of salvation by telling others. We must tell them that the Man Who shed His blood did it for us.
Our testimony isn’t about ourselves and our abilities. It is about what Jesus has done for us – shedding His blood.
We have to endure to the end. “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mt. 24: 13 ESV).
Unto Death
Victory cannot be secured if we love this life more than eternal life.
Satan is a formidable opponent. Even though God does the fighting for us, it will take courage to endure.
- “The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent” (Ex. 14: 14 ESV).
- “You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you” (II Chron. 20: 17 ESV).
- “For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory” (Deut. 20: 4 ESV).
- “You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you” (Deut. 3: 22 ESV).
- “No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord” (Isa. 54: 17 ESV).
- “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Ps. 34: 17 ESV).
- “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isa. 40: 31 ESV).
We must have the loyalty to endure. Our faith must strong in adversity.
To endure to the end means we fight for righteousness regardless of the outcome.
As God is, we must be more concerned about our spiritual condition than our physical condition.
Remember, we said sanctification is a process. We have to go from where we are loving this world to having the character of God and longing for eternal life.
We have to put our faith in God to use all the situations and circumstances of our lives to further His purposes.
Making the Connections #1
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Ac. 4: 12 ESV).
Salvation only comes through the blood of Jesus. If we don’t accept the blood of Jesus, we don’t get the salvation.
This isn’t fire insurance. This is an inward transformation.
Making the Connections #2
How does Satan make his opposition felt? Wilson said that he weasels his way into our hearts. He tries to get us to believe his lies and half-truths.
Wilson described it this way. He said, “The place where Satan carries on this opposition is set forth in this symbolical passage as his heaven, from the popular notion of heaven as a place of eminence, of ease, safety, and enjoyment. It imports, here, the visible kingdom of Satan in its full pride and power; from which, when he is dispossessed, he is said to be cast down unto the earth.”
Resource
Satan has lost. God and Jesus have won.
Making the Connections #3
Remember, we have said salvation is to lead to an inward transformation. Vaughan explained. He wrote,
“Is it not true that lives have been remade in their most secret, and yet in their most practical, being — remade for strength, remade for happiness, remade for usefulness, influence, and blessing to other lives, entirely by that sacrifice of the Son of God for sin which is here briefly [characterized’ as ‘the blood of the Lamb’?”
Resource
We are remade for great, wonderful things.
How Do We Apply This?
- Believe in the blood of Jesus.
- Overcome Satan through the power of God and the blood of the Lamb.
- Make Christ’s victory our own through faith.
- Tell others about the power of Jesus’ blood.
- Be obedient to God.
- Testify about the blood of Jesus.
- Don’t prioritize this life over eternal life.
- Remember Satan has been defeated.
Resources
Father God. We thank You for salvation. We thank You for the blood that cleanses us. Help us testify of Your love and grace. Strengthen us to endure to the end. Amen.
What do you think?
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