Spiritual warfare is our theme for today and for the next two weeks.
That is, that we would know that there is a war that is happening inside of us and outside of us that we cannot see. We might be able to see the effects, but we cannot see the full battle, or even always what’s at stake.
Our Old Testament Reading helps us see how the devil enters into the conversation with Adam and Eve in the garden, especially with the question, Did God really say?
Jesus, led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, especially tempted with doubt in God’s Word. God the Father had just said, This is my beloved Son, and the devil comes with one of his favorite words to incite doubt by saying to Jesus… If you are the Son of God, command these stones to becomes loaves of bread…If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down…All these I will give you, if you fall down and worship me.”
And Jesus teaches us about spiritual warfare and the certainty we have in God’s commands and promises by continually saying, It is written, Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God….It is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test…it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.”
Where is he in your life?
The devil.
You don’t see him, but you see his effects.
He is strong and he is smart and he hates God and he hates you.
But you don’t always know by his specific temptations that he hates you.
He makes things sometimes look really, really good that are actually really, really bad.
You know that, but you also can ask Adam and Eve.
There is so much that we could consider about the devil.
This week and the next two weeks, our Lord through the Gospel lessons bring us into an increased awareness of the unseen world of good and evil, of light and darkness, of spiritual warfare.
There is so much that we could consider about the devil
But, it’d be good to not consider too much about the devil.
The British theologian, CS Lewis, once said that we commit two errors regarding the devil. First, we disbelieve in the existence of the devil. Second, we have an unhealthy and excessive interest in him.
So, as Lent begins, let’s just be reminded that he exists.
You don’t see him, but you see his effects.
Just consider what you think you are weak at?
Anger, greed, not wanting to pray,
pornography or other lusts or other desires,
discontentment, laziness, talking about others.
He attacks there.
And consider what you think you’re strong at?
Are you generous, patient, have routines of prayer and hearing God’s Word,
Do desire to truly love and forgive and give to others,
You know where true joy and peace and the gift of humility comes from, even if you know you often fail.
He attacks there.
He can attack you with pride – “I’m pretty good. Maybe I don’t need God today.”
And he can attack you to grow weary in doing good, because you’re probably not seeing the results in either yourself or in others that you want.
In the home, at the workplace, on your computer and phone,
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm if your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
At night time, when you are alone, when you are with many others,
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm if your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9)
When you are trying to do good, when you have done wrong, when others are wronging you,
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm if your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1 Peter 5:8-9).
I was reading about some of our brothers and sisters around the world this past week. One pastor, who was responsible for LCMS missions and mercy care around the world, wrote about the many times he visited the Lutheran Church in Madagascar.
It was about these Madagascar Lutherans gathering on this Sunday, the First Sunday in Lent. Listening to Adam and Eve fall into sin through the devils temptation,
but yah, we should be sober minded, watchful –
but like us, they were also listening to God promising to send One, born of woman’s see, who would crush Satan’s head for us,
who would set us free,
like us, they were listening to that One sent by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And He wins.
He overcomes the devil for us.
And these Lutherans in Madagascar, 2,000 of them, gathered for the early service at 6 a.m., there would be another 2,000 of them gathering for the later service at 11 a.m., in this country who has 2.5 million Lutherans, more than our LCMS,
just consider that brotherhood we have throughout the world,
and they were singing the liturgy, with some Madagascar musical settings,
that’s how we begin to resist the devil, firm in our faith
and they were singing the hymn of the day, A Mighty Fortress, in Malagasy:
The old satanic for
Has sworn to work us woe.
With craft and dreadful might
He arms himself to fight.
On earth he has no equal.
No strength of ours can match his might.
We would be lost, rejected.
But now a champion comes to fight,
Whom God Himself elected.
You ask who this may be?
The Lord of hosts is He
Christ Jesus, mighty Lord, God’s only Son, adored.
He holds the field victorious.
Think of these thousands of Lutherans gathered for worship, believing the devil is real but also believing Jesus is real and that He fights for us and that He holds the field victorious.
Stand firm in the faith.
Think of your brothers and sisters in Christ, too often impoverished of food, so thankful for the Bread of Life.
Think of those who could be so defeated by life, so thankful Jesus holds the field victorious.
These texts for today, heard around the world by millions of Christians, these living Words of God are not fantasy.
They are the core of who we are.
Did God really say? O, we’re tempted by that all the time.
We lose. But Jesus wins us back and keeps fighting for us.
It is written. God did really say. God did really do. God really is doing.
A Champion came to fight – comes to fight.
So resist the devil, firm in your faith. A faith that doesn’t base “If God loves me…If God provides for me…if God forgives me” based on feelings,
but on, “It is written, and so it is,”
He receives me, accepts me,
leads me, guides me,
fights in me and for me and with me – all the while holding the field victorious.”
You don’t wrestle against flesh and blood, because this is spiritual warfare, and so you need spiritual weapons.
There is a war that is happening inside of us and outside of us that we cannot see.
But hear all the “It is written…” and see how you take and eat,” and know that a champion is fighting for you and for your brothers and sisters throughout the world. …
The devil is real, but one little Word can fell him.
In the name of Jesus. Amen.