Sowing in Tears

Every kingdom divided against itself is laid to waste, and a divided household falls.  And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?¹

Over a year and a half ago, I was sitting on our pastor’s couch in tears over Satan.  I was so infuriated with the destruction before my eyes and the “strength” of Satan’s grasp on the world that I was paralyzed.  When paralyzed due to anger, it’s difficult to see hope.  It becomes difficult to love the one who I’m told is victorious and holds the world in His hands–an almighty, sovereign God.  Sometimes an illusion can be so real that it paints a picture that becomes your reality.  Satan-strong and powerful-was my reality.  Truth be told, I don’t believe I’m alone here.  A good part of the Church lives here.  It’s what makes heaven so appealing as an escape from this reality.  Why wage war in a losing battle?  Yes the Church often sings “Victory in Jesus” yet His victory is isolated within the coming of Christ.  Until then, we are meant to hold on and stay faithful until we can escape this hell on earth.  Endure and win the prize.  What reality are we inviting others into?

Let me dare paint a different picture of reality.  Satan is divided.  Satan is limited.  Satan is inferior.  In the passage above, it states that Satan’s kingdom is divided!  Why?  I contend it might just be pride.

In Daniel 10, Daniel is mourning before the Lord over His people, beckoning His God’s strength.  After days of waiting on God, a messenger angel (Gabriel) comes to him with a curious reason for his delay–he was in battle with the prince of Persia.  Gabriel set off on the first day of Daniel’s heart cry, yet for 21 days Gabriel was locked up until Michael came to help battle the demon.  After Daniel was strengthened by the angel’s words, Gabriel made a provoking statement: “But now I will return to fight against the prince of Persia; and when I go out, behold the prince of Greece will come.” If Satan’s agenda was united, why did the prince of Greece not come to help the prince of Persia against Michael?  The characteristic of Hell and Satan is SELF.  Satan rebelled because he did not accept the identity and role God had given him.  He took 3000 with him in his rebellion and sought to divide the kingdom of God.  But anything with the characteristic of self is surely divided.  And anything divided falls.

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil.²

This is a key passage to the reality.  This passage is speaking of the house and people of God.  Satan is a “strong man”, armed and ready to defend his power over the earth, the deed given him by Adam.  Yet when Jesus–one stronger–descended into hell, crushed Satan and overcame him, he took away his armor (panoplia) and divided his spoil.  The impression in this passage is that Jesus took away all of the armor, every weapon, every piece of defense.  In Ephesians 6, it speaks of the whole armor of God given to His children.  Grasp this picture: You have all of the armor.  You have every weapon that ever has been and ever will be.

I know.  I know.  But what about the evidence of “Satan’s reign”?  What of the death and destruction all around us.  Remember, it was admitted there was a “strong man”.  So if every weapon has been taken from Satan, what is he left with?  Words.  That is all Satan has–words!  Think about it…

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.  We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your disobedience is complete.³

We are to destroy words!  However, this reality requires action and strength on our part.  It requires the Church to be a warrior bride.  If we stay passive, he has us.  If Satan cannot stop the Church from belief, he will certainly fight to prevent our growth and the gaining of inheritance.  If you grasp nothing else in your spirit from this reality, grasp this: You have nothing to fear. Satan is divided.  Satan is limited.  Satan is inferior.  Satan cannot breed demons.  Satan is not all-knowing.  He cannot be two places at once.  God is united.  God is limitless.  God is superior.  God has conquered hell!  Here is the catch:  they are both looking for human partners.  One out of abuse and the agenda to use for his selfish purposes.  One out of pure love and the agenda to give an inheritance and bring life to this earth.  Which reality will you believe?

Permit me to make one more point.  I’ve often been discouraged by the divided spirit of the Church.  Satan’s words and illusions have swept through the Body of Christ and divided the kingdom.  Let this soak into your spirit…

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.⁴

A kingdom divided falls right?  Speak this to Satan–When we, the Church, fall, we shall arise!  Satan still roams the earth, seeking to bring darkness, right?  Speak this to Satan–When we sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to us.   We have nothing to fear and we have every weapon.  We have the strength to get up and light to see the illusion of Satan’s lies.  Take thoughts captive.  Arise Church and fight. Let’s begin to paint the picture of a victorious, warrior Bride–for that is reality.