Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, Revelation 12:7-12. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- It took a long while for me to be comfortable thinking about what is described in our text, great spiritual warfare. I preferred to deal with what was tangible and seen – things that consist of matter and energy, things that can be observed and verified empirically. This whole business of demons and spirits, Michael and the devil, seemed way too “airy fairy” for me. I was practical.
- However, in the years I have spent in the ministry I have been forced to confront evils and dynamics that have no “empirical” explanations – though it is often human beings who are the participants and agents of such evils. Still, for many of these things there is no explanation other than the influence and pressures of Satan, “the deceiver of the whole world,” who to this very day continues his “ministry” as the “accuser of our brothers.”
- While the actual “warfare” is in the invisible realm, it is nonetheless possible to see and view the “effects” of this warfare – in the behaviors and in the words of people, and what they teach by their behavior and words. In this we have both “deceptions” and “accusations,” and especially an unwillingness to acknowledge what Christ has done for us and a refusal to extend the effects of God’s great love and forgiveness to those around us. All of this is very, very real – and tragic.
- So this is a first for me – a full sermon about “THE GREAT COSMIC WAR.” I’ve included prayer in our title – a petition from the Lord, for the reality is that:
I. Even Now The Kingdom Of God Has Come
A. The Authority Of God’s Christ [and our Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ] Has Come
1. Bringing us salvation
Text: “I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation of our God has come.”
2. Likewise God’s power has come, and His kingdom is power
Text: “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come.”
B. In Conjunction With This, And In Consequence of The Coming Of God’s Kingdom, Our Accuser Has Been Thrown Down [The One Who Accuses God’s People Continuously, Day And Night] For “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Text: “for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”
C. And We Are Now Participants In This Cosmic War – And We Have Conquered This Satan Our Accuser
Text: “And they [“our brothers”] have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
1. Our conquering is only and always “by the blood of the Lamb”
2. Our conquering is only and always “by the word of their testimony,” the testimony regarding God’s free and gracious gift of forgiveness, cleansing, mercy, and love in Christ Jesus “the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.”
3. Our conquering is possible because we “love not our lives even to the point of death,” we love Christ and His kingdom even more than our own earthly lives
Statement: We often think of “the kingdom of God” as something coming in the future, at the end of time. This is not the case! Certainly the full culmination of His kingdom comes at the end, on the Last day. However, the “kingdom of God” is His rule, reign, authority, power, and conquest – and it is here today and forever. You remember Jesus said, “the kingdom of God is at hand,” and “the kingdom of God has come near.” [Mark 1:15; Luke 10:11] It is true that “THE GREAT COSMIC WAR” is still in full force, but there would be no war if the Kingdom of God had not come – only darkness and evil. But it has come and it is here right now today – with the devil, Satan, being the opponent.
However, the defeat of the devil is sure and is also occurring here right now – especially where God’s people are, those who know and believe God’s love and salvation, the power of Christ’s blood and God’s Word. And these are the tools of our warfare, the undefeatable weapons of our victory – Satan cannot accuse us, and neither can others! God has redeemed us, cleansed us from sin and guilt, we are clean and white each day, and no one can change that – though many will take Satan’s side and try to deride and destroy our faith. But let them do what they can – knowing God’s love and salvation, we will gladly give up all to remain with Christ!
Application: And this is a critical diagnostic in both “seeing” and understanding the dynamics of this great cosmic struggle in our own lives and within the life of the church. Luther explains all of this in his explanation of the 6th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer, the devil’s efforts to drive us to despair of God’s gracious forgiveness and cleansing. So there are many occasions where “accusations” continue even when there is repentance and absolution – when others will not let go of our sins but insist upon continuing to plague us with their condemnation. This is demonic! Likewise, there are many situations where people try to destroy others in the church – even when there is repentance and confession and the certainty of God’s forgiveness. This is demonic! For if allowed to stand, such condemnation and destruction “belies” the grace of God and the work of Christ and His gift of salvation! Surely we can all see that this is demonic, and also foolish!
This is precisely what Jesus warns about in the Gospel reading – “offending and causing one of these little ones who believe in me to sin.” He is talking about destroying their faith by our refusal to acknowledge God’s forgiveness, and our refusal to “live out” God’s forgiveness, mercy, and love by refusing to fully forgive one another. These are no normal or ordinary sins, but destructive, damning, and demonic sins – and woe indeed to the one who engages in them! Were Jesus referring to common sins and temptations to sin we would all have “millstones” tied around our necks, and we would all be devoid of numerous body parts. But He is referring to behaving toward one another in such a way as to destroy the faith of those who “believe” in Him, who trust in His mercy – by not extending mercy and forgiveness toward them, or by teaching falsely about God’s certain mercy and forgiveness.
But even the angels protect us from this – always beholding the face of our Father in heaven, and reporting such demonic sins of unbelief to Him. So we had better repent – if we are involved in such denials of the Gospel and the gracious love and salvation of God! And if we are afflicted by such “demonic” enemies, we must flee to Christ – to His gracious mercy and forgiveness! There we will never be turned away or forsaken! And with Christ’s assurance and love, we:
II. Therefore Rejoice Even Now, Even As We Continue To Battle
Text: “Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them!”
A. For Our Victory Is Already Sure, The Victory Of God’s Kingdom
Text: “the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven.”
B. And We Rejoice Even Now, Even Though We Live On The Earth In Satan’s Wicked Presence And His Desperation
Text: “Woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short.”
Statement: This is the reason for all of the inexplicable and totally wretched evils on the face of the earth – including worst of all the unbelief of so many. This is also the reason for the devil’s incessant attacks on believers – especially on our faith, on our knowledge of God’s gracious love. This is the reason why some people cannot let go and forgive, and why they must continue to attack and accuse – even when there is confession, repentance, and absolution.
Application: So we can know – by what is being administered to us in these circumstances – when the devil is attacking us. And we can also know a great deal about those who are doing the attacking – whose side they are on! And we might want to be very careful about this ourselves, knowing the powerful deceptions of the devil, so that we never mistakenly take his side and attack God’s children with temptations to unbelief!
Conclusion: And we must take heart and joy, comfort and courage, for God’s kingdom and the authority of His Christ have come! We are plagued for sure, but the victory is ours in Christ! We have conquered by the blood of the Lamb and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord! Do not be afraid then to engage the battle – knowing whose side you are on, and even more importantly, Who it is Who is on your side! Amen
Votum: The peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.