Christ Came to Defeat Satan and His Kingdom

This is a post-Christmas message. Obviously Christmas for us is come and gone, but this morning I want us to view Christmas from a bit of a different perspective, we think of Christmas we generally considered from the perspective of the recipient. What did you get for Christmas and when we think of it in religious terms. We are focusing on the incarnation and were thinking what benefits are derived for us from Christ coming.

But if we would ask the son of God, what Christmas means to him. What is his perspective. What is his view, we very well might hear him respond in a similar way to the response here in Luke chapter 11. We must always keep in mind that the incarnation is a necessary means to an end. The end is our salvation. The end is the glorification of God the father through his son the Lord Jesus Christ. You can't is a Christian view, the manger without seeing the cross.

That's why I say that the incarnation is a necessary means to an end. But what was the manger to Jesus. What was the incarnation to Jesus and I would suggest to you that it is nothing less than the kingdom of God coming to this earth coming to vanquish his enemy coming to crush the devil come to coming to defeat the devil to strip him of his power. That's why Jesus came.

Notice what our text tells us here in Luke chapter 11 verse 20 Jesus is being accused falsely of having demonic spirits by which she's exercising the power to cast out demons in Jesus is arguing that's absurd.

That's nonsensical. Why would the devil himself. If these are if the power I'm exercising is of demonic source. Why would the devil empower me to cast out demons. That's his whole business to enslave people to make people miserable. That's nonsensical.

After dismissing the argument in that way, he says, but if I cast out demons with the finger of God. Surely the kingdom of God has, upon you.

Interesting that Jesus would say that in the context of them asking for a sign that really you cast out demons. Some said by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.

Others testing him sought from him a sign from heaven really what greater sign could be given from heaven than the son of God coming from heaven, and yet men who were dead in trespasses and sins and are blind can see the nose on their face can see the obvious, no.

There's not a lot of emphasis on the incarnation in our world. But, you know.

Notice how often it's couched in safe, nonthreatening terms, people don't have a problem acknowledging a baby in a manger. He doesn't eat. He's not going to threaten you babies are for traveling and loving in but not this Jesus with the eye of faith we see in the manger. We don't see just a baby. We seeking Jesus we see the king whose, to vanquish his enemy to establish his kingdom to destroy the devil and his kingdom.

That's what's threatening about the incarnation this morning. I want us to focus on three verses in our passage. They are versus 2122 and 23 and let me read them again. Again, this is Jesus is description of the kingdom of God coming. Verse 21 when a strongman fully armed guards his own palace's goods are in peace, but one is stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him he takes from him all his armor, in which he trusted and divides his spoils.

He who is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me scatters sore focus this morning as it is again around these three verses on I want us to see three things number one Satan's kingdom and his domain described 21 Satan's kingdom and domain attacked and overthrown in verse 22 and then finally a sobering ultimatum by the victorious king. In verse 23 is consider number one Satan and his kingdom, and domain described in verse 21 and again, let me read the verse one a strongman fully armed guards his own palace's goods are in peace. This is a descriptive of Satan and his kingdom from the lips of Jesus. Why do I say that well if we were getting a description of Satan's kingdom from Satan himself.

He's a liar.

He's the father of lies.

He wouldn't tell us the truth he would embellish who he is and the the is kingdom, but this is what Jesus has to say about Satan and his kingdom and his domain. So keep that in mind, listen to some words from Scripture that help us understand Satan and his kingdom. Paul says in second Corinthians 4 verses three and four. If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost in home the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, less the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Satan is described there as the God of this world. Jesus says of him in John 14 verse 30 the Prince of this world is coming, and he has nothing on me said Jesus, the Prince of this world again. Paul in Ephesians chapter 2 in verse two, wherein time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the Prince of the power of the air, the prince of the power of the year John the apostle said the whole world lies in the grip of the evil one. Martin Luther said of Satan in that wonderful him a mighty Fortress is our God, his craft and power are great and he's armed with cruel hate, and on earth is not his equal.

So, make no mistake about it, get it here straight from the lips of Jesus. Satan is a strongman.

Verse 21 when a strongman Jesus describes our adversary as a strong man. Jesus is something else abiding when a strongman fully armed Satan is a strongman and he is fully armed. What we do learn from that well sand has left all of us vulnerable, incapacitated, unable to stand in our own strength against the wiles of the devil. The devil has as his ally, the world, the devil has as his ally. Our flesh to appeal to. He's fully armed. He has power, he has the ability to enslave, such as his power and control. Jesus said no one, no one comes to me unless the father who sent me draws him. The devil's armor.

The power over the human will. John tells us of the world.

All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, the pride of life is not the father but it's of the world and the world passes away, and the lust thereof, but he who does the will of the father abides forever.

So this world is an ally of the evil one. Satan has many vices in his arsenal at his disposal, he knows us knows us better than we know ourselves use a really he studies me that well know, he just knows a human heart. He's been around a long, long time. There's nothing new under the sun. He knows our tendencies and we are warned in Scripture, not to be ignorant concerning his devices and because he exercises power upon men who are blind and enslaved who have no power to rebut the him and resist him in their own strength he doesn't have to be too clever uses the same tools that are used in the garden, you think that he would have developed more sophisticated weapons and strategy, but if what you're using is successful. Why change the lust of the eye, the pride of life.

That's what worked in the garden. That's what works today so stay with it. That's what he does and Satan will not be intimidated. He will, it will not disarm unless he is engaged and defeated and stripped of his power. He is a strongman.

He is fully armed and what else he guards his palace he guards his own palace and says in verse 21.

What is his own palace easy it is on palace is the corrupt parts of the of the unregenerate man. This is painting a pretty hopeless picture for an unconverted man unregenerate man areas enslaved under the sway under the power of the evil one in the devil himself is guarding his heart know what that suggests to me that suggests to me that nobody gets out. Nobody escapes Satan guards his people.

He is 1 billion 1,000,000,000,001 zillion to zero, apart from Jesus. That's why sin is nothing to play with sin is dangerous St. sin will damn you, the notion that you can entertain this vice that advice and not become enslaved is a lie and a deception. Jesus is giving us a description of Satan and his domain.

Here in verse 21 Jesus is telling us that the nature of Satan's capacity in this domain is to keep prisoners under the delusion that they are in peace noticed the last part of verse 21 want to strongman fully armed guards his own palace's goods are in peace who are as good well have already said they are the souls of unregenerate men and does experience bear that out. Yes it does.

What about the unregenerate men man.

They have no concern over their sin.

They have no sense of their danger, they made no inquiry about how to be free.

There is no fear of hell and damnation. No fear of God. No fear of wrath no fear of condemnation instead of those things being present. Satan has the mother the delusion of a false security crying peace peace when there is no peace. The writer captures this we sing. Jehovah said Cano in our hymnal listen to Robert Murray McShane give Penn these thoughts I once was a stranger to grace and God, okay stranger to grace in the God I know my danger and felt not my load though friends spoken rapture of Christ on the tree. Jehovah said Cano was nothing to me. It was nothing to me because I didn't see myself in the I didn't see myself in danger. I didn't see myself under the wrath and condemnation of God thought I was in a place of peace. What a delusion. But not only do we have here a description of Satan and his kingdom number two we have Satan and his kingdom and his domain attacked and overthrown in verse 22 again, these are the words of Jesus in my Bible. These words are read letter. They probably are in yours. It says, but when a stronger man than he comes upon him and overcomes him he takes from him all his armor, in which he trusted and divides his spoils.

Jesus says five things about himself. Here in this verse as it relates to the incarnation and again the incarnation to us might be the babe lying in a manger, but to Jesus. It was a frontal attack upon Satan and his kingdom. That's what the incarnation was the Jesus. It was a strategic military operation and it was planned, designed to attack Satan and his kingdom. At the very nerve center of his domain.

This is a declaration of war by Kevin in the sending of Jesus.

That's a new perspective on Christmas, but that's what Jesus is telling us here and again you heard that from John Piper earlier this morning. First John 38 says that for this purpose, the son of God was manifest that he might destroy the works of the devil. So, what are these five things that Jesus says about himself in relationship to his purpose to destroy Satan, his kingdom and his domain. Verse 22 but when a stronger then he comes Jesus is stronger. Amen hallelujah for that because if he wasn't there be no hope for you or me. This notion that every day there's this warfare going on between the power of darkness, and the power of of good and we don't know it till the end of the day, which forces going to win is nonsense. Jesus came to destroy the devil to drive a stake through his heart and kill him. You say will why isn't he dead while he's dead he's still walking around but is walking around is a dead man. The kingdom has come, and we are waiting for the consummation.

Yes, the devil was defeated.

He has not yet been cast into the abyss, but he will. It's is certain as it can be. Jesus is stronger but when a stronger than he comes. And he did come in the incarnation whenever demons are pictured in Scripture interacting with humans.

It's not a pretty same in memory recall the demoniac of good there – himself living in the tombs chain crying in the night. The woman in Luke bent double because of demons. The little boy who threw himself in the fire and into the water trying to kill himself.

The sons of Skiba, who were beaten and left naked and ran off into the night.

That's what demons do. They don't cozy up to you and promise you a sweeter life. The come to destroy and enslave.

But in contrast, when the demons have an encounter with Jesus in the Scriptures we see the truth.

You see, men are no match for the devil and his emissaries. But when the demons encounter Jesus, we find from the lips of demons. Some of the most clear and logical and correct theological statements anywhere in the Scriptures concerning Christ's concerning the demoniac of good there demons spoke. They looked at him and they said I know who you are, Jesus of Nazareth, the holy one of God. Think about that Jesus of Nazareth, the holy one of God. They had their Christology right they understood the hypostatic union you've come to destroy us. They understood his mission. Jesus didn't come to enlighten everyone order to live an example, but to defeat Satan. They understood that they said that what else they said further. Don't torment us before the time and do not cast us into the abyss. They had their eschatology right Jesus is stronger than Satan. When a stronger than he comes. Secondly, when he comes in he didn't come. He came to attack Satan and his kingdom. One is stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him again that's with the manger scene is all about. We sing silent night holy night, but from God's perspective, the incarnation is phase 1 of the strategic military assault on Satan's kingdom. The incarnation is an attack force and again we we think about this at other times of the year, but somehow Christmas sentimentality clouds horror objectivity in our perspective. So I'm trying to help us this morning. You see, even though this world isn't threatened by a baby in a manger parent loss terrible us. Listen to what's recorded in Matthew Matthew chapter 2 then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise man determine from them what time the star appeared.

This is Matthew to verse seven and he sent them to Bethlehem and said go and search carefully for the young child and when we you have found him, bring back word to me that I'm a common worship. Also, when they heard the king, they departed, and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy when they had come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down in worship him and when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to him gold Frank and consents, and murder. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, arise, take the young child and his mother flee to Egypt and stay there until I bring you word for Herod will seek the young child to what to to destroy him when he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt and was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying out of Egypt I called my son, then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wisemen was exceedingly angry and what did he do, he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wisemen. He took the debt the book the, the birth of this since this child very, very seriously.

That's the devil he's a destroyer this this liberal nonsense that the only reason Jesus came was to make a smart and defeatist in the clothes and clothe us and make us happy is a deception. He came to set us free from Satan's domain and control. To the east of Bethlehem there is a fortress of Herod called the Herodian and it was there to guard the south entrance of Jerusalem, and I wonder how many times Herod walked out on his veranda, wondering if he had got that baby, the one called the King of the Jews really didn't. Christmas is a military maneuver O Little town of Bethlehem house. Still, we see the fly was a very threatening thing to Satan looking at five words of description of Jesus in the incarnation, he stronger number one number two what to say. He comes but one is stronger than he comes upon him and overcomes him so he came to defeat the. The devil he came to overcome him to overcome him. How did he overcome him.

Strange as it may sound. He overcame him at the cross say really exactly the overcame him notice the next phrase he takes from him all his armor, in which he trusted but was a double trusting in. He was trusting in his schemes he was trusting in his allies in the political establishment in Judas in a cowardly disciples he was trusting in his own devices he was trusting in the cross that would be the death of Jesus. But what does the Bible say about that was that the death of Jesus this in the Colossians chapter 2 concerning Jesus's cross work, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers.

He made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them in it that's unlike Jesus was the defeated foe. Having disarmed principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle of them triumphing over them. And yet, in what in the cross he disarmed him. He stripped him.

He spoiled him and the last thing there in verse 22 is divides his spoils, or distributes his plunder the people that Satan had held captive Jesus comes and sets them free, liberates them and translates them from his kingdom. Satan's kingdom into the kingdom of light. Powerful stuff.

That's what happened to the demoniac of good there. Remember, Jesus came, cast out the demons and the Bible says that this man was see sated seated and in his right mind, and he wanted to be a loyal follower of the Lord Jesus is what Jesus does. That brings me to my final point this morning and that is a sobering ultimatum by the victorious king. Jesus says in verse 23 he who was not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me scatters, he who is not with me is against me and he who does not gather with me scatters I don't know how many years ago.

It's been 25 or 30 years ago, at least I heard a message preached on this test on this text and the preacher got to verse 23 said something like this. So Jesus is saying you have to make a choice here and at the time I was a bit dumbfounded that he would say that given the context of the passage.

Let's just stop for a minute think that through. Given the description that we have concerning those who are enslaved and under the control and the sway of the devil we going to make a choice. What choice are they going to make what choice can I make the gotta make a choice consistent with their nature there enslaved their bound so whatever choices they make is going to be consistent with that nature.

So that's the conclusion here.

The Jesus saying you must make a choice were in serious trouble right this is the application that I understand from verse 23 Jesus, saying he was not with me is against me and he does not gather with me scatters Jesus is saying there is no neutrality here. You're either in one of two kingdoms you either in the kingdom of Satan under his sway enslaved by him a son of disobedience or you know the glorious grace of God that has come to you in this state and rescued you and put you over here in the kingdom of God. Now, you're still a slave mature slave to righteousness your slave to a good master boy wants to do.

You God who was going to give you life and life more abundantly. This master over here is intention is to destroy you to kill you to ruin your life. So there's only two choices. You're either in this kingdom or urine.

This kingdom you say will not align no witch kingdom. Amen. I want to make light of that question, but if you are passive in this. You've been acted upon. You were in that kingdom you been rescued. Can you be ambivalent about that. Can you be indifferent to that. Can you be ignorant of that that well. I really don't know I just II hope in the Christian II hope on the longer in the kingdom of darkness. I hope him in the kingdom of light is if those two kingdoms are so closely aligned to you really couldn't tell one from the other really if there is been a military operation and an assault from heaven against this kingdom and the object of that rescue and you been right rescued and belabored that kingdom. You gonna know about because your your different your desires are different. Your loyalties are different. That's the question, who do you follow the where are your allegiances are you putting on daily, the Lord Jesus Christ. Or are you making provision for the flesh. Let me ask you which over here in the kingdom of darkness. Is there anybody over here in the kingdom of darkness putting on the Lord Jesus Christ.

No, that's only going to happen if you're over here you're over here you're making provision for the flesh. Why, because your boundary enslaved. That's all you know your son of disobedience you controlled by your loss, but if you're up if you I want to say more than just your.just a citizen of this kingdom is glorious as that is. I want to minimize that if we been rescued out of that domain and placed over here. We are a citizen of the kingdom of God. But God did more for us and simply make us a citizen of the kingdom, looking at me like what you when referring to just a citizen of the kingdom. Your child came these major part of his family, your son or daughter of King Jesus is mind blowing, or what I made. I may not that staggering to me it be one thing if you were in a country that was controlled by dictator and somehow you were rescued out of that and brought into another country.

Say America you now citizen of that you be so grateful so thankful. But if you were now son or daughter of the royal family you like well that's too much. I don't deserve that note, we don't deserve that, but that's the blessings that are bestowed upon us. So again the question is where are your allegiances today what you live in for. And if we and we know ourselves to be not under the domain and control of Satan, but we been rescued by King Jesus. Then it not to fuel our worship and audit dictate where we go only talk to what we talk about what we look at what we involve ourselves with how we spend our time. We spend our money. This just that's what I think Jesus is saying he who is not with me is against me. There is no middle ground or snow place where we can walk offense and say well you know I this is, was an odd illustration but some people like to think of us in spiritual terms like mutual funds, you know, I will buy just a stall because it's so risky how III don't mutual detection.

There see some people think in spiritual terms. You know I've got this mutual fund that you know I got this place here for my flashers a place here for my secrets and there's a place here for the world and I got Jesus I'm good. Got a cover with mutual funds.

No, it's either/or is black-and-white. You're either you belong to God. You belong to Satan either a son of disobedience or your son of God, you either your life is either characterized by darkness was characterized by light.

You say mean there's no place for me know what you say you saying that this is all this kingdom is nothing but loyalty and obedience. No, no, what happens when you become a member of this kingdom, a citizen of this kingdom you're in the Army now your citizen not only the kingdom but you been made a soldier, Jesus Christ said will I don't need to be a soldier. I thought the fight was over. Look around you look around you know their skirmishes all around you now the war is over. Okay victories been declared but there's a lot of skirmishes still going on. We don't need to wonder about the final outcome. Jesus is victorious. He's one you've heard people say have read the back of the book and we we went. That's true. So let's act like it were not were not to be G I'm a soldier.

I don't know whether or not to make it or not. Here in the Lord's army.

You're gonna win. He's going to fuel you is going is going to help you. Celeste Mike post Christmas message for us today. We have a victorious king and there's cause for rejoicing.

If you've been a recipient of his rescue and he is calm and delivered you out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his dear son. And therefore we have a responsibility to live like children of the King live as children of light know the darker it gets, the less bright light needs to really to be not make sure your light is shining bright. As bright as a candidate, but my point is, even in our stumbling is even even in our failures, the darker it gets, the more impact the more influence we ought to be having an because people are confused people are bewildered people are without answers. People are desperate. God help us as we walk in the new year and serve him. Let's pray father, thank you for your word cause it to bear fruit in our lives receive our praise and worship as we think on these things we pray in Jesus name a man