When Jesus walked the earth, he was a man on a mission.

It is interesting to note, then, what his first order of business was. Step one wasn’t to confront the political bullies in Rome, the tax collectors preying on the weak, or the religious leaders misleading his people. Jesus’ first order of business on the outset of his earthly ministry is confronting our greatest enemy, the devil.

Mark’s gospel makes clear that we should not be unaware of his affects & power in our world. Satan is on a leash, so to speak. So, what is our response? Resist him & rest in the power of the gospel.

Walt’s spoke at length about these things yesterday. His sermon notes are below. Or you can listen to the full message by clicking here.

Mark 1:12-13.

MAIN POINT: Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, setting free one ransomed sinner at a time.

1. The enemy is not flesh & blood, but the devil.

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15

The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

2. The battle is for freedom & life.

And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. Deuteronomy 8:2
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:22
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15

“Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word and signifies good, merry, glad, and joyful tidings, that makes a man’s heart glad and makes him sing, dance, and leap for joy.” William Tyndale

3. The victory is secure.

But, Jesus responds to them: How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. . . . No one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. Mark 3:23-27
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2:5-6
Resist him.
Preach the gospel.

What do Christians do when they try to overcome the Devil and all his tricks in this wicked world? The Devil is working through politics, corruption, the media, the state, declining morals, secularism, pluralism, educational systems, & much more. How do Christians fight back? Do they form a political party? Do they picket the White House? Do they send a lot of letters to the [president]? Can you imagine Paul setting up a circuit of letters to send off to Caesar? . . . Don’t misunderstand me. We live in a democracy, which is a different form of government from Paul’s, and our Christian responsibilities in this kind of content may mean that we should give a lot of thought as to how to be salt and light in a corrupt and corroding society. We dare not withdraw into a little holy huddle. But we must recognize with every ounce of our being that what finally transforms a society is the gospel. D.A. Carson (2010)