Overcoming Our Foe

Background Scripture: Revelation 12; Romans 8:31-39
Lesson Scripture: Revelation 12:1-12

Introduction

Every Christian is engaged in a spiritual battle, and the stakes are high. We face a formidable foe that has been very proficient at deceiving mankind for six thousand years. He is an enemy we need to reckon with, and we will not overcome him with our own strength alone. Jesus Christ our Captain, who shed His life’s blood for our salvation, is the only One who can give us the victory.

Key Verse

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

Lesson Scripture

Studying the Lesson

John the Revelator “was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day” (Rev. 1:10), and in the ensuing time, various scenes unfolded before him. Commentators on the book of Revelation have varied interpretations. Some see the prophecies of Revelation being fulfilled in the kingdoms of the world. We will rather seek to glean spiritual truths for the kingdom of God from the Scripture reading in today’s lesson.

Most Bible students are agreed that the woman described in Revelation 12 refers to the church of God. She is “clothed with the sun” (the righteousness of Christ). Having “the moon under her feet” could mean that she lives above the world. The twelve stars of her crown signify the twelve apostles through whom the gospel was first preached.

When Satan lifted himself up against God, he was cast out of heaven. He deceived and drew with him a third of the angels of heaven. This was incredible deception, and we marvel how this happened in that pure and holy place. Considering this, we realize we are absolutely no match for the Evil One. He attempts to outfox us at every turn on the path of life.

In the first two chapters of Job, when Satan apparently still had access to God’s presence, we get a glimpse of his methods. Thankfully, his accusations against Job, when tested, proved false. As the atoning blood of Christ is applied to our souls, the law is satisfied, and Satan’s accusations against us are silenced.

When Jesus came to earth, the forces of evil that are typified by the dragon in our lesson Scripture worked diligently to thwart God’s plan of salvation. King Herod did everything in his power to destroy the infant Jesus. Thus began the fulfillment of David’s prophecy: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed” (Ps. 2:2). In spite of Satan’s continued opposition, Jesus fulfilled His mission and overcame the devil by dying on the cross and rising triumphantly from the tomb. Jesus opened the way of salvation through the grace of God.

Since then, Satan targets all Christians. Even though there were times of respite, countless thousands have been martyred throughout the centuries. During the first few hundred years after Christ, the church suffered ten major persecutions at the hands of the Romans. In one of these, over 17,000 Christians perished. It is difficult for us to imagine a loss of such magnitude.

Practical Truths for Today

The first recorded temptation on earth was “Hath God said?” The tempter insinuated that Adam and Eve’s Creator was purposely keeping them in ignorance. Satan suggested this: God knows—but doesn’t want to tell you—that if you eat of this fruit, you will be wise like Him. This first temptation was based on the lie that God was withholding good from His creatures. The evil one came to Eve with a question, and he created a perplexity for her, after which he made a direct contradiction of God’s Word. The serpent did not directly cause disobedience—he led the woman up to it and stirred in her the evil thought of satisfying her curiosity. In yielding to the tempter, she became a tempter to Adam. “She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat” (Gen. 3:6).

The apostle John exhorts us to not love the world and specifically mentions “the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). These three coincide with Eve’s temptations as well as with Jesus’s temptations. Adam and Eve could freely eat of all the other fruit trees, but they were dissatisfied that they were not allowed to eat of the tree in the middle of the garden. When Jesus had not eaten for over a month, Satan suggested He use His power to satisfy His natural hunger. Jesus indicated to Satan that it is more important to satisfy the spiritual need than to satisfy the physical appetite.

The tree in the midst of the garden of Eden “was pleasant to the eyes,” and as Eve continued to gaze, the temptation grew. As Satan, the worldly exhibitor, and Jesus were standing on an “exceeding high mountain,” it appears the whole panorama of worldly glory was visible and within reach. But here is the catch: Jesus would need to fall down before Satan and worship him. We may be tempted to reach for things that are “highly esteemed among men” (Luke 16:15), but do we realize that to do so we compromise our devotion for our Savior and jeopardize our salvation?

As Eve contemplated all the good things the serpent said about that tree, it seemed more and more like “a tree to be desired to make one wise.” We understand they were the only human beings on the earth, and whom were they hoping to impress with the wisdom they aspired to? Were they discontented with the way the Lord had made them? When Jesus was looking down from the pinnacle of the temple, the tempter suggested that He cast Himself down and impress the people with the divine protection that would be shown Him. Jesus had a Scripture verse ready in defense: “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Matt. 4:7).

Even as our Savior, we can use a fitting Bible verse to defeat the devil—may we keep our grip on “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17). The best time to acquaint ourselves with the Word of God is in our youth before the responsibilities of life weigh down upon us. The apostle John wrote, “I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14).

At a members’ meeting, the song, “He Will Care for Me,” was sung. A phrase says, “And in His grace is a hiding place, unknown to any foe.” 1 Someone mentioned that here, in the assembly of the saints, is a hiding place. Here we can share our failings and our victories over the assaults of the evil one. Let us not neglect to meet together, lest we unduly expose ourselves to the enemy of our souls and forfeit the Lord’s protection (Heb. 10:25).

If Satan is successful in any of his evil exploits, he finds no true joy. He is only filled with ceaseless wrath, taking revenge on the One who has banished him to everlasting torment. In his revenge, he seeks to destroy any good that our loving Savior has wrought in our lives.

Satan knows his time is short, and even when a faithful soldier of the cross is on his deathbed, Satan may yet attack his faith. He knows that another soldier will soon be “home free,” forever out of reach of his temptations. God has promised to be with us to the end.

Though we must judiciously resist the attacks of Satan, thinking too much about him may cause us to lose sight of our Savior. A small child, when fearful, will often look again to the object of his fear, which brings a fresh outburst of tears. Though we are living in Satan’s domain, we need not be afraid of him. Jesus’s atoning blood makes us more than conquerors against our foe. Let us look to “him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).

Illustration

When Peter was walking on the stormy sea toward Jesus, he knew full well that, given the chance, the waves would swallow him up. But his eyes were on Jesus; he paid no attention to the waves, and they could not harm him. He knew that he was not walking on solid ground, but neither did he wonder, Can I take another step? It was only when Peter gazed at the dangers around him that he began to sink. When we respond to Jesus’s bidding, we can do what seems impossible. As we keep our eyes on our Shepherd, the evil about us cannot destroy us.

Questions

1. In what way does the blood of the Lamb win the victory for us?
2. In what ways can we underestimate the power of Satan?
3. How can young Christians learn the lifelong benefits of an allegiance to God?
4. 1 Charles W. Naylor (1874-1950), “He Will Care for Me”
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).