Victory Over Satan

                                                            VICTORY OVER SATAN

We are continuing our series on Spiritual Warfare. We have exposed our enemy's lies and insidious nature. We saw how he relentlessly roams around like a lion to devour God's people. We came to recognize and learn how to protect the three strategic battlegrounds from our enemy: The Mind, heart, and mouth. Today we will learn about the remaining weaponry in the Full Armor of God, how to ensure victory over Satan, and his final destination.

I. Spiritual Warfare is Defensive and Offensive.

The Apostle Paul's final words to the Ephesian believers were, "Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God's Armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the Devil." This scripture advises that when facing the enemy's supernatural power, we have to be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. It also tells us that every piece in the Armor is essential and has its place, and none of them should be forgotten.

The call to "put on" God's Armor recalls a similar appeal in 1Th 5:8. This Armor is provided by God and modeled on what he wears himself (Isa 11:5; 59:17). It is a complete outfit ("full armor," also v.13). The soldier must be protected from head to foot. His Armor consists of various pieces, both defensive and offensive.

"Stand" is a keyword in this passage (cf. vv.13-14). It is a military term for holding on to one's position. The equipment enables the soldier to ward off the enemy's attacks and make a stand against him. Before any offensive can be launched, one must, first of all, maintain his own ground. We began with the first critical piece of the Armor, the belt of truth.

The belt of truth here is not about just knowing the truth about something but knowing the one who said, "I am the Truth," and His name is Jesus. Putting on the belt of truth means putting on Jesus. Why? Because Spiritual Warfare has always been His fight. Jesus severely bruised the Devil's head on the Cross. He gives us strength to fight our battles against Satan.

II. Three defensive weapons: The Breast Plate, Helmet, and Shield.

The Apostle Paul calls them "the Breastplate of righteousness, the Shield of faith, and the Helmet of salvation. A. Breastplate of righteousness: The "breastplate" covers the body of a soldier from the neck to the thighs. It was made of bronze, though more affluent officers wore a coat of chain mail. What does the breastplate of righteousness mean?

It means to live a life of uprightness and integrity. When we are tempted to do or say things contrary to God's standards, we resist the Devil by doing what is right. For instance, Wilma was given a card to sign at her workplace to congratulate a gay colleague on her wedding.

Though Wilma loved her colleague, she didn't sign it because her conscience didn't allow her. Was it frowned upon by people? Yes! Was it the right thing to do? Yes! Sometimes doing the right thing in God's eyes is not well-liked by people, but regardless we do what is right.

B. The helmet of Salvation. In NASB, it says, "And take the helmet of salvation." The "helmet" covered the head. It was made of bronze with leather attachments. In Isa 59:17, the Lord wears "the helmet of salvation" and the "breastplate of righteousness." We share that divine equipment.

The verb "take" reflects that the helmet and sword were usually handed to a soldier by his armorbearer. This verb is appropriate to the "givenness" of Salvation. In other words, God freely gives us the gift of Salvation, and we have done nothing to earn it. All we need to do is to put it on as a helmet that protects us from doubts of whether we are saved or fears of losing it.

 

 

 

C. The Shield of Faith:  Vs. 16, In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the Devil." A Roman soldier held a large shield in front of him for protection. It consisted of two layers of wood glued together, covered with linen and hide, and bound with iron. Soldiers often fought side by side with a solid wall of shields. But even a single-handed combatant found himself sufficiently protected. For the Christian, this protective shield is "faith."

            The function of the shield of faith is to stop the fiery arrows of the Devil. What might be the fiery arrows? They could be self-doubt, accusations, condemnation, or conspiracy theories. When the enemy hurls these fiery arrows, we can lift our personal and collective shields of faith in Christ. Our individual faith alone, at times, may not get us through. We need others' faith as well. That is why it is essential that we belong to a Bible-believing and practicing Church to grow in our faith collectively and face any fiery arrows that the enemy might throw at us.

 

III. Two offensive weapons: The Shoes and the Sword. 

D. The gospel shoes: Vs. 15, "For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God." Once the breastplate has been fitted into position, the soldier puts on his strong army boots; these ensure a good grip. The military successes of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar were due in large measure to their armies being well-shod so they could undertake long marches at incredible speed over rough terrain.

What does "readiness" suggest? It signifies a prepared foundation, that is, "the gospel of peace" We were the enemies of God, but through Christ, we have made our peace with God. Our position of being reconciled to God gives us a sure foothold to walk into the enemy's territory by preaching the Gospel of Peace. As Paul encouraged Timothy, we are to "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not." II Tim 4:2.

E. The Sword of the Spirit: The final weapon is the "sword," the short two-edged cut-and-thrust sword wielded by the heavily armed legionary. The "sword of the Spirit," the word of God, is the Christian's weapon of offense. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus used God's word, the sword of the Spirit, effectively to overcome Satan. All believers are given the same Word of God. Let's use it effectively to thwart the schemes of the Devil. With this, the Armor is complete. Knowing about it will not make us victorious, then what or who will?

IV. VICTORY OVER SATAN.

By knowing and seeing what the Devil can do, one wonders whether it is even possible to stand against him, let alone defeat him, to claim a victory. Jesus had fought all the battles and won the war against our chief enemy Satan when He triumphed over sin and death on the Cross.

Jesus built His Church upon himself; no one, including Satan, can overcome it. In Ephesians 2:20, the Apostle Paul reminded the Ephesian believers they were God's house, built on the foundations of the apostles and prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself."

All those who believe in Jesus become part of God's glorious Church worldwide. Over the centuries, the Devil tried to destroy the Church, but He failed and will never succeed. We know how his story is going to end. Revelation 12:12 tells us he has little time left.

So he is intensifying persecution of God's Church. The Lord has not abandoned His Church; He has given us tools to combat and overcome the Devil. Part of those tools is "The Full Armor of God." Now you know the truth about every piece of the Armor, what will you do?

 

 

On the final judgment day, the Devil will be thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever." (Rev 20:10). How can we ensure victory over Satan? By applying the three R principles.

Recognize: Recognizing you're in a war is a big part of the victory. Our enemy has already been defeated, and his destiny in hell is sealed. Refuse: Refusing Satan is passive Warfare. Once you recognize what he is up to, ignore it and avoid it. Turn away and begin to worship the Lord, and lift Him up. Refuse to be hurt. Refuse to be angry. Just let it go by.

Resist: This is active Warfare. We are told to humble ourselves before God. Resist the Devil, and he will flee from us. (James 4:7). God won't resist him—you have to. Put on the whole Armor of God and firmly stand your ground against the enemy, and he will flee from you. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Full Armor Of God

                                                          The Full Armor of God

Last week we learned that all people, even more so Christians, are engaged in Spiritual Warfare. As in any natural war, we must understand who our enemy is in Spiritual Warfare. Today we will learn about the nature of Spiritual Warfare, the enemy's targets, and how believers effectively fight against our arch-enemy Satan and his forces. (Ephesians 6:10-18).

I. The Nature of Spiritual Warfare (Ephesians 6:10-12)

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (ESV). The war is on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. To express the nature of the war, the Apostle Paul used a sporting analogy of wrestling.

Paul’s readers knew what physical wrestling was like. It was the most popular organized sport in ancient Greece. It was even added to the original Olympics in 708 B.C.”[1] We use the term “wrestling” to describe all kinds of struggles, and it provides a vivid image of intense effort.

In football, basketball, and most other sports, the prayers are given a “time out” to catch their breath. But not in wrestling. The wrestler has to be in top physical form. Once he enters the ring, he can't let his guard down even a second, or his opponent will pin him to the ground.

Similarly, Christians can't say, “Time Out, Devil,” I need a breather. The devil doesn’t believe in taking weekends or Mondays off. He doesn’t go easy on you because you are going through some hardships. That’s when he increases his attacks on you even more.

The devil doesn’t spare anyone. He tempted Jesus, Peter, and other disciples and will tempt you and me. I Peter 5:8, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” The Good News Christ has already won the victory, and on the great judgment day, He will send Satan and his followers to hell.

Paul trained the believers to recognize that the nature of their warfare war is not earthly but spiritual. Sometimes we mistake people as our enemies. No doubt they could be used as the devil's agents, but our real enemy is not people but the devil and his fallen angels.

Paul addresses them as “evil rulers, authorities of the unseen world, mighty powers of darkness, and evil spirits in the heavenly places. Here Paul probably refers to the most depraved abominations, including extreme sexual perversions, occultism, and Satan worship.”

Did you know there is a Satanic Temple in Salem, MA? They plan to organize SatanCon, a 10^th-year celebration of its existence, during April 28-30 in Boston. We, as Christians, must be aware of the Satanic presence and guard ourselves against his attacks. Where does Satan attack the believers the most, and how can we protect those vulnerable areas?

II. Three Battle Grounds

In any physical warfare, the enemy targets their opponent's strategic installations, i.e., communications, military assets, airports, bridges, and clean water sources. Whoever controls those installations could win the war. Similarly, in Spiritual Warfare, the devil tries to take control of three strategic areas in the life of a believer. In the warfare language, we call them the three battlegrounds: The mind, the heart, and the mouth.

1. Your Mind. It is a prime target for the enemy. You can be born-again and heaven-bound, but your effectiveness on earth is greatly diminished if you have the wrong mindset. He whispers in your mind saying; no one loves you, you are a failure, there is no hope for you, etc.

The Truth is that you are loved, have eternal worth, and can do all things through Christ.

If it is thought of as pride, fear, unbelief, lust, depression, guilt, or condemnation, you should refuse to dwell on it, and it must be cast out. A common phrase says, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” Therefore, do not let it remain idle. Let’s renew our minds through God’s word.

Your Heart. In this case, your "heart" means your attitudes and emotions. Wrong attitudes and negative emotions are killers. The undealt arrogant, rebellious, and contentious attitudes open doors for the enemy to enter our lives, marriages, and families and ruin them.

Watch out if we are constantly given to anger. You might be giving a foothold to the devil, so be quick and don’t let the sun go down while you are angry. Ephesians 4:27. “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech and devious talk far from you. Proverbs 4:23-24.

I want us to see how the enemy is strategically attacking us. First, he attacks our minds by making us think wrong thoughts about God, ourselves, others, and the world around us. Then he goes after our hearts contaminating the wellsprings of life through wrong attitudes and negative emotions. Then he goes after the third battleground, our mouth. 

Your Mouth. The mouth is a powerful instrument, and the devil knows it. Our mouth has spiritual power for either good or evil. The same mouth can pronounce a blessing or a curse. (Jas. 3:10). Our words can be a vehicle for the human spirit, the Holy Spirit, or an evil spirit.

The enemy inspires us to speak lies, unbelief, slander, gossip, and hurtful, harsh sarcasm. Many of us carry wounds from things said to us years ago. Don't let the devil bring curses through your mouth. Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." Let’s be vigilant in protecting these three significant battlegrounds in our lives.

III. Put on the Full Armor of God.

In any physical war, soldiers never put themselves in combating situations without armor. Using the Roman Soldier's Armor as a visual example, the Apostle Paul describes the armor as a defensive and an offensive weapon. Three were considered defensive: Breastplate, Shield, and Helmet. Two are considered offensive: The sword and the shoes. One is neutral: The belt.

Today we will only deal with the neutral weapon, the belt of Truth: Vs. “Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.” Interestingly, Paul puts it very first on the list! This means it is one of the essential pieces. Why the belt?

What purpose did the belt serve for a Roman soldier? What purpose does the belt of Truth serve for us? A Roman soldier's belt was multi-purpose, and the belt held everything in place. It held the tunics they wore under their armor. It kept the breastplate secured around the soldier from banging against his chest. It also contained a sheath for his sword or dagger.

A soldier without a belt amounts to nothing on the battlefield in the same way believers can not hold the armor together without the belt of Truth. Satan is a master deceiver. After deceiving Eve into sinning, he cleverly deceived many people through his lies.

The world we live in teaches that Truth is what we make of it, that good and evil are relative, and that there are no absolutes, only equally valid opinions. How do we know the absolute Truth to hold on to it? "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall make you free.”

Jesus called the Pharisees, “For you are the children of your father, the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the Truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44-45. How can we refute all the lies of the enemy?

We will overcome the enemy's lies by putting on the belt of Truth. Let’s follow the Apostle Paul's advice to the Colossian believers to overcome our adversary. “But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” Col 3:8-10. 

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://ezraproject.com/pale-the-great-wrestling-match/

Knowing Your Enemy

                                                      SPIRITUAL WARFARE: Part I

Knowing Your Enemy!

 

We hear about warfare, whether cyber warfare, culture wars, or the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, etc. I am all for ending all wars. How many know that spiritual warfare is being waged in the cosmic realms? Could there be a lack of awareness and misunderstanding? Some may have never heard that they were involved in spiritual warfare. Others may have wrong notions about it. Yet others may have been too afraid to hear or talk about it.

The Devil has been engaged in this war for the souls of humans since the beginning. He will do anything to stop people from believing in God and becoming followers of Christ. He will distract and destroy the faith of those who believe in Christ. The Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesian Church gives us insights into how believers can engage in spiritual warfare effectively.

I. What do we know about the Ephesian Church?

In AD 53, the Ephesian Church was established during Paul's homeward journey to Jerusalem. On his third missionary journey, Paul returned to Ephesus and stayed there for three years, preaching and teaching. God gave Paul the power to perform great miracles.

When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. Throughout the province of Asia, Jews and Greeks heard the word of the Lord and became believers.

Several who practiced witchcraft brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was what would now be several million dollars. (Acts 19:1-20). Paul begins this letter by highlighting the believer's immeasurable blessings in Christ and concludes by reminding them that the Church is in constant Spiritual Warfare and that they should use every spiritual weapon at their disposal against the enemy. As in any natural war, we must understand who we are coming against, which is the same in spiritual warfare.

 

II. Knowing Our Enemy

Before we delve into knowing our enemy, there are two primary errors in spiritual warfare—over-emphasis and under-emphasis. Some blame every sin, every conflict, and every problem on demons that need to be cast out. They are preoccupied with the Devil.

Others completely ignore the spiritual realm and the fact that the Bible tells us our battle is against spiritual powers. They are afraid to talk about the Devil. The key to successful spiritual warfare is finding the biblical balance. We don't want to be impressed and intimidated by the Devil, but we want to know the truth about him. What does the Bible say about our enemy?

A. The origin and the fall of Satan or the Devil.

            I use the names Satan and Devil interchangeably, but they are the same. Who created Satan? Has he always been evil or turned really bad at some point? What are his nature and main agenda? How does he attack God's people? What other names are given to him? Let's explore.

Through Jesus, God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth.

He made the things we can see and the things we can't see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world." Col 1:16. The only person who has always existed was God, and everything else has been created, including the angels.

            Two specific passages in (Isaiah 14:12–15; Ezekiel 28:13–17), give us a bit of history concerning the Devil and his origins. Isaiah 14:12, Satan was in heaven but, later on, was thrown down to the earth. The Ezekiel 28 passage says he was one of the created cherubim. He led worship on the mountain of God. (13-14). He was blameless until sin was found in him.

By reading these passages, we will know pride and envy corrupted the heart of the chief cherub. He wanted to be like the most high God and even exalted himself above God. That was when God threw him down. He took 1/3 of the angles down with him to the earth. Rev 12:4.

B. The names and nature of Satan.

Last week we learned that in the OT, names, besides identifying a person, also revealed their nature and personality. For instance, God was called by several names, each showing a particular aspect of His character. Let's look at the names and descriptions the Bible gives the Devil. "Satan" in Hebrew means "adversary." This name indicates Satan's fundamental nature: he is the enemy of God, of all God, does and loves.

The Devil in Greek means "false accuser" or "slanderer." Satan plays this role in Job 1–2 when he attacks Job's character. In Matthew 12:24, the Jews refer to Satan as "Beelzebul," an epithet derived from "Baal-Zebub" ("lord of the fly"), a false god of the Philistines in Ekron (2 Kings 1:2-3, 6). Other titles of Satan include the tempter (1 Thessalonians 3:5).

The wicked one (Matthew 13:19, 38). The accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). Three titles that point to Satan's authority in this world: The ruler of this world (John 12:31), the God of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), and the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). "The father of lies and murderer" (John 8:44), the dragon and the serpent of old Rev 12:9, etc.

When we think of the Devil, we have this Hollywood version in mind, a dark-skinned, strangely looking, with horns on the head, a long tail, and a pitchfork in hand. But that's not how he presents himself in the Bible. He disguises himself as an "angel of light." II Cor 11:14.

We don't have to convince most people in Asia and Africa about the reality of the spirit world. They live with it daily, often seeing evil spirits with the naked eye. By contrast, people in Western countries place demons in a fantasy category like Superman, Mickey Mouse, etc.

Some have a weird fascination for the paranormal and occult world. Some innocently play Ouija boards, read Tarot cards and horoscopes, or go to Psychics, witches, and mediums for advice. They may look innocent, but God prohibited such practices in the scriptures. Isaiah 8:19.

C. How much power does Satan possess?

The book of Job provides insight into the relationship between God and Satan. In Job 1:6-12, Satan stands before God and reports that he has been "walking up and down" on the earth (v. 7). God asks Satan if he has considered godly Job. Satan immediately accuses Job of insincerity—he only loves God for the blessings God gives. "Stretch out your hand," Satan says, "and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face" (v. 11).

God permits Satan to affect Job's possessions and family, not his person, and Satan leaves. In Job 2, Satan comes again into God's presence and is, this time, permitted to affect Job's personal health. This story shows Satan's place in the spiritual realm.

Jude 1:9 shows that even Michael, the archangel, needs the Lord's help overcoming him. However, Satan is restrained from enacting his full fury; he is still a created being under God, and his power is limited. How much power do demons or evil spirits possess?

An evil spirit "crippled and bound a woman for eighteen years. (Luke 13:11). A father was helpless as an evil spirit often came over, threw his son into the fire or water, and tried to kill him. (Mk 9:21-22). In both cases, Jesus set them free by a touch and a command.

A demoniac man was filled with over 2000 demons who lived in the tombs and often cut himself with sharp stones. No one could subdue him, not even with iron chains and shackles. That was the power of the demons inside of this man. But Jesus, with one command He, set that demoniac man free. (Mk 5:1-13). Satan and his forces are powerful, but their power is limited.

There is more to know about our enemy. For now, let's not underestimate or be intimidated by their power. Jesus overcame them 2000 years ago on the Cross. Through the Holy Spirit, He lives in His children. Jesus is much more powerful than our arch-enemy Satan. Next week we will learn more about Satan's strategies and how we can overcome him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who Keeps Us Safe?

                                              WHO KEEPS US SAFE? John 17:9-21

In the US, the right to life is protected under the American Declaration and the American Convention."[1]Including the president, our sworn congressional leaders, and the local police, who are supposed to protect this fundamental human right, sometimes may fail to protect it. In India, we have a proverb for this phenomenon, "if the fence starts eating the crop, who can protect it? It comes from the skepticism of those who break laws they are supposed to uphold.

Those in power fail to protect us; who will keep us safe? To answer this crucial question, the Asian Americans living in Seattle developed a podcast, "Who Keeps Us Safe?" which explores safety, policing, and abolition in their communities and beyond.[2]

This is how it works in the world; we create structures and pass laws to protect ourselves from those who threaten to harm and kill us physically. The world's systems may not protect us entirely. More and more, we realize their frailty and inadequacies.

With that backdrop, who keeps us safe in this troubled world? How about the people of God who sometimes feel peculiar and ill-fitted in the world? What laws of God do they have in place for their protection and safety? What arrangements did God make for His people's ongoing protection and security? Jesus' prayer in John 17:1-26 will answer these questions.

We have learned that Jesus prayed a lot during his time on earth. Among all those prayers, the high priestly or the farewell prayer of Jesus was the longest and most profound because it comes in a crucial time of uncertainty. Before this prayer, Jesus announced to his beloved disciples, "In a little while, you won't see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again." (John 16:16). The disciples didn't know what to make of such an announcement. Let's see what this prayer contains and its ramifications today.

The twenty-six verses of this prayer can be broken into three parts. (1) Jesus' prayer concerning himself (vv.1-5), (2) for the disciples (vv.6-19), and (3) for all believers (vv.20-26). A considerable portion of Jesus' prayer relates to the disciples. He was much more concerned about them than about himself. At that point, Jesus' prayer concern was the remaining eleven disciple's protection, sanctification, and mission, but its implications are for all believers.

I. Jesus Prayed for the Protection of His disciples (Vs. 9-15)

A special bond developed between Jesus and His disciples when they first laid their eyes on Him or His eyes on them. He called them to follow Him, and He would make them fishers of men out of them. The disciples followed, seeing something powerful and divine in Him.

Jesus protected them till the end. When the hour finally arrived for his departure, He lifted his eyes to the heavens and said, "Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so that he can give glory back to you." God glorified Jesus by giving him authority over everyone.

Jesus brought glory to the Father by completing the work He gave him to do. How would He now give glory back to God? Letting his disciples finish the remaining work of preaching the gospel everywhere. Jesus realized he was going home, but his disciples remained in the world and didn't want to leave them without protection. He prayed, "Holy Father, you have given me your name, now protect them by the power of your name." What is there in a Name?

In scripture, names do not merely identify people but speak of their nature. They reveal something special about the person bearing the name. In the OT, every name has a specific meaning and reason behind it. When addressing God, the OT people saw him performing certain acts and called him based on those actions.

For example, Israelites saw how God protected them from their enemies, so they called Him "Jehovah-Sabaoth, "The Lord of Hosts, the Lord of Armies." The young David invoked this mighty name of God when he faced Goliath.

Here was how David challenged Israel's enemy. I Samuel 17:45-46, "You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!"

 In that tradition, Jesus, the Son of David, protected his disciples in the mighty name of God. No one was lost except Judas Iscariot. Knowing the immense power of God, Jesus prayed that God would protect his disciples and us according to His mighty and Holy name.

What implications does the prayer of Jesus have on the 21^st-century disciples? As Christ has brought glory to God by completing His work, we will bring glory to God by completing the remaining work. Jesus has returned to the Father, but we remain on earth until He calls us home. Meanwhile, we will hold on to the message He has given us and be diligent in our mission.

II. We are in the world but don't belong here, then to whom or where do we belong?

Vs. 13-14, "Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world."

If Jesus and His disciples didn't belong to the world, to whom did they belong? Why would the world hate the followers of Christ? What would bring Joy to the disciples when they faced persecution? To answer these questions, we look back to earlier remarks from Jesus.

In John 13, before washing his disciples' feet, "Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God." He showed them how to respond to the world's hatred. "if the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you." John 15:18-20.

The world hates Christians because Christian's values differ from the world's. Because Christ's followers don't cooperate with the world by joining in their sin, they are living accusations against the world's immorality. The world follows Satan's agenda, and Christians follow Christ's agenda. Satan is the enemy of Jesus, His mission, and His followers.

II. Who keeps us safe when our enemy attacks us?

Vs.15, "I'm not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one." In Vs.18, "Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world." Jesus didn't ask God to take believers out of the world but instead to use them in the world.

Because Jesus sends us into the world, we should not try to escape from the world, nor should we avoid all relationships with non-Christians. We are called to be salt and light and do the work God sent us to do. Doing the work of God comes with stiff opposition from Satan. But let's take heart. Jesus Prayed to the Father to keep us safe from the evil one, referring to Satan.

Through Jesus' prayer, we learn that our world is a tremendous battleground where the forces under Satan's power and those under God's authority are at war. We will know about Satan, how He attacks God's people, and how we can overcome him more in the next two weeks.

But for now, let's realize we have an evil enemy who attacks to destroy us both physically and spiritually. Satan and his forces are motivated by bitter hatred for Christ and his followers. Jesus prayed for his disciples, including those of us who follow Him today.

 

He prayed that God would keep his chosen believers safe from Satan's power, setting them apart and making them pure and holy, uniting them through his truth. This part of Jesus' prayer is being answered in the Church worldwide. God is raising teachers of the truth of His Word to arm believers to face the enemy's attacks aimed at their physical and spiritual lives. That's why we equip believers at Hope Church with tools for practical Christian living.

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] http://www.cidh.org/countryrep/seguridad.eng/CitizenSecurity.V.htm

[2] https://anchor.fm/who-keeps-us-safe/episodes/What-Does-Safety-Mean-to-You-e14p1pb