Jesus In The Old Testament: He Will Crush Satan's Head

Genesis 3:15; And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring (seed) and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. 

These words from God - spoken to Satan in the garden of Eden - state that Jesus would crush Satan's head, Satan's power, Satan's curse, and Satan's work. These words from God - spoken during the first days of creation, moments after man first sinned against God - point to the cross. These words tell us that God would send a person - Jesus - to come and redeem us and to save from the sin of mankind. These words tell us that Jesus would come and break every bond of Satan.

Hebrews 2:14; Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.

1 John 3:8; The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

Be Alert and Stay Focused

The escaped convict from the prison is still on the loose (see previous post here). I wrote before that I was not afraid, I was not apprehensive, I was not fearful.

Last night my wife reminded me that I had forgotten to lock the car doors and she thought that it would be a good idea if I did. I walked out into the darkness of the night (with both the front porch light and the driveway post light shining brightly), the entire twenty feet from our front door to our car door I looked around as if someone were going to attack at any moment. After pushing the "lock" button and shutting the car door I began to walk confidently back toward the front door of the house. Just as I reached for the door knob the car let out a loud "BEEP"! As I quickly turned the door knob I was sure glad no one else was around to see the panic on my face and the hop in my step through the door.

Even today, as I put the dog out, take the trash out, walk over to the church, and do many of my routine actions, I would not say I am afraid, I would not classify it as fear. I would, however, admit to anyone that I talk to that I am on guard.

Knowing that this man is on the loose, that he has attacked an armed guard, and that he has made his way across town - probably coming straight through our neighborhood. I would freely admit that I am on guard. And this guy has no idea who I am or where I live. He does not want to attack me or my family. He is not my enemy and yet, here I am, alert and on guard against him.

Yet, the Bible states that we do have an enemy that is waiting to attack us and Peter  gives us - as believers - some instruction; Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith... (1 Peter 5:8-9).

What does this mean? It means that Satan is our enemy and he is plotting, he is planning, he is waiting - prowling to get closing, crouching in the shadows - for the most opportune moment to attack and devour you. Satan is looking for the moment that he can attack, eat you up, spit you out and move on to his next victim. And we are to be clear-minded and sober - not allowing anything else to take our focus off of Jesus - not allowing anything else to cloud our judgment. We are to be sober and alert - on guard - so that we can resist the attacks of our enemy and stand firm in Christ Jesus.

Understanding Temptation

One of my favorite verses of Scripture is 1 Corinthians 10:13;

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

The quoting of this verse is very helpful when I find myself being tempted at many times and in many ways.

This morning I was reading from Luke 4; Jesus' temptation in the desert following His baptism. Verse 1 sets the stage for the chapter and serves as a reminder that Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit of God and that the Spirit of God led Him into the desert, where he was tempted. Understand that I am not implying that God is the one that tempted Jesus in the desert, for James 1:13 points out;

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

 And, although God is not the one that tempts anyone, and He is not the one that tempted Jesus, His Spirit had filled Jesus and was The One that led Him into the desert where the temptation took place. It is important to recognize that when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, it is the Spirit that leads them, there is no other way!

While Jesus is in the desert He is tempted on three occasions, by Satan, and He is tempted, in three distinctly different ways. First Jesus was tempted in the physical manner (verse 3);

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

Next Jesus was tempted in the spiritual manner (verse 6);

“If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down."

And finally, Jesus was tempted in the psycological manner (verse 9);

“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” 

 All of these things are important to remember when we find ourselves being tempted, and we will all find ourselves being tempted.

• Am I filled with he holy Spirit? If so, it is the Holy Spirit that is leading you into this exact situation. Is this a place the Holy Spirit go? Is this a place the Holy Spirit would have taken you?
• No temptation that you have faced or will ever face is beyond what another human being has faced in the past. No temptation that you have faced or will ever face is beyond what you have been created to bear the weight of. No temptation that you have faced or will ever face is beyond the sovereign and faithful control of God the Father. 
• Am I being tempted in the physical manner? Am I being tempted in the spiritual manner? Am I being tempted in the psycological manner? Satan knows you weakness and He attacks that weakness. Satan has a target on your back and a plan to strike. Understanding the way that you are being tempted by evil will allow you to know how you must reach out to God and how you must pray through the temptation to overcome it. 

Setting Your Heart for Holiness

Holiness is possible! If it wasn't God would be a liar (Romans 6) and there would be no hope of heaven (Hebrews 12:14).

Set your heart on Christ-like peace

 John 14:27; Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. 

John 16:33; I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

o   This is a heart that has the peace and knowledge that Christ was victorious over death

o   This is a heart that has the assurance and faith  in Christ’s  promise to us that He will grant us victory as well

o   This is a heart that is confident that Christ is in control of the large and small matters of life.

Set your heart on Christ-like worship

Matthew 15:8-9; “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”

o   This is a heart prepared to receive the God of all creation

o   This is a heart that craves more of Jesus

o   This is a heart that is deeply connected with His Spirit

Set your heart on Christ-like treasures

Matthew 6:19-21; Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

o   This is a heart that is concerned with matters of heaven

o   This is a heart that desires to build the Kingdom of God

o   This is a heart that longs to do the will of Jesus

Set your heart on Christ-like thoughts

Matthew 15:17-20; Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man ‘unclean’

o   This is a heart that has been cleansed from selfish desire

o   This is a heart that is aligned with the will of God

o   This is a heart that has pure motives and actions always.

Set your heart on Christ-like speech

Matthew 12:33-37; “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

o   This is a heart that seeks to honor God with respect

o   This is a heart that aims to encourage fellow believers

o   This is a heart that strives to inspire others with truth

Holy living is all of this – holiness is a heart that is Christ-like. And setting your heart for holiness is all about motive.  

So, what is the motive –  the intent – of your heart?

Remember Hebrews 12:14; “without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

Jesus said it a different way in Matthew 5:8; “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

What motives of your heart must you give up - and do away with - for holiness to be a possibility in your life? 

What motives of your heart must you embrace - and better take hold of - for holiness to be a reality in your life?

Acting for God or Satan

I was reading the book of Job this morning and a couple things occurred to me.

In the first chapter Satan stands in front of God and requests; "But now stretch out your hand and strike everything [Job] has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

And read what God does: "The Lord said to Satan, 'Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.'"

See, Satan begged God to strike Job, but God - although He gave permission for Satan to - refused to strike Job Himself.

"Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord (and did His best to hurt Job and his family)." God is love, Satan is evil. God would not harm Job, Satan did whatever He could to hurt and harm Job.

But, Satan could not do it alone. Later we can read of groups that acted by the desire of Satan to bring harm to Job; the Sabeans and the Chaldeans.

As I read this account it brought to mind a question that I pass on to you; "Are you acting for God - as Job was - or for Satan?". Are you acting in accordance with love or evil, in line with goodness or harm?

A Blessing for Job

If you have been around the church for any period of time, or even if you haven't, you have probably heard the story of Job from the Old Testament. Job is the guy that in the period of a couple of days lost his oxen, his camels, his donkeys, his sheep, his servants, his daughters, his sons, and finally his health. This was a successive pattern, happening one after the other, through Satan, as God gave him permission to do so.

As we consider this account we often look at Job and think of the poor guy. Sometimes we might ask the question of how God would allow something so horrible to happen to a guy that was blameless. But, then, that is the point. Isn't it?

Job 1:8 reads; "Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” 

It was because Job was blameless and upright, because he feared God and shunned evil that he was the target of these tests and the persecution that came at the hand of Satan. Not only that, it was because of his faith and the life that he lived that God pointed him out to Satan and encouraged him to examine him, to evaluate his life, and even allowed Satan to put him to the ultimate test. It was because of Job's strong faith that he was able to withstand the ploys of Satan and to combat the words of his closest friends and his wife and did not curse the God that gives and takes away.

When we consider all of this, we realize that this entire episode of testing and persecution from Satan, by the permission  of God, was the greatest compliment that could have ever been given.  When we consider Job 1:8 perhaps we should ask ourselves; What would God say if He were having a discussion with Satan about you and your life? Would God feel confident to send Satan your way and encourage him to examine you, to evaluate your life? Would God feel confident that you would stand strong in your faith if you were to lose all that you hold dear, if all that God has given to you were taken away?