The Holy War rages on; the Kingdom of God versus the Kingdom of Satan. Opening shots were fired in the Garden when the serpent craftily inquired of Eve: “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1) God really did say but Satan has looked for ways to get us to question ever since.
Sometimes the battle looks so unfair; the Kingdom of Satan almost always going with the big and powerful. The most powerful man on earth the end of Genesis is the Pharaoh; he is Satan’s pawn. God chooses the slave Joseph to be His man and he would become the one in charge of Egypt (Genesis 41:41-43). Satan chose another Egyptian Pharaoh the beginning of Exodus. God chooses Moses who at the time was in the desert herding sheep and goats. In the end, it would be Moses telling the Pharaoh what to do (Exodus 12:31-32).
Satan’s memory must be poor because he keeps choosing out of the same mold—his man was “Saul, an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the others” (1 Samuel 9:2). But God went with the little guy again; the one tending sheep named David who had a heart for his Lord (1 Samuel 13:14). Saul kills himself (1 Samuel 31) but David’s throne would be established forever (2 Samuel 7:13).
The Kingdom of Satan chose King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon; a mighty king and nation indeed! God went with Daniel; a deported Jew serving in Nebuchadnezzar’s court. Daniel warns the king that if he didn’t acknowledge God as the only Sovereign; he’d be dining and lodging with the cattle (Daniel 4). This comes to fruition and after seven years of eating grass Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that it is the Kingdom of God that reins. A few years later, the pattern continues as small Esther takes down big Haman (Esther 7:6-10)—the number two man in Satan controlled Persia.
When Jesus comes (the lowly “son” of a carpenter), He chooses mostly fishermen to go to war against the powerful religious establishment of Israel; an establishment that had abdicated their role as children of God when they rejected Jesus and were now children of Satan instead (John 8:44). When Satan tries to stamp out the young church in the first century with mighty Rome; God’s small church wins again.
The Kingdom of God verse the Kingdom of Satan has continued to rage through the centuries. The Kingdom of Satan almost always looks bigger, stronger, and more imposing. It is no different today. How can the Kingdom of God win?
On the war-front where we battle, we are a small church marching in a big town. The question is: “What possible difference can we make?” And the answer is: “Whatever difference God wants us to.” Just as God chose to use Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Esther, the disciples, and the fledgling church; thrusting them to the frontlines of what looked to be an unwinnable war—He sends us.
The outcome is not in doubt. The Kingdom of Satan looks fierce and formidable; but we are on the side that does not lose. The Kingdom of God marches to victory.
I’m glad we are a small church in a big town; the Bible and history says the odds are in our favor—the big town doesn’t have a chance.
Pastor Rich Hamlin
July 7, 2011