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“The Manifold Wisdom of God”

God’s Use and Overthrow of Satan’s Designs — (Revelation 12:1-17)

As the Lord God used and overthrew Satan’s designs in the Garden of Eden, so he uses and overthrows the designs of the devil in all his works of evil. Let me show you four things accomplished by Satan, by which he attempts to rob God of his glory and destroy mankind, four things, four works of Satan God uses to glorify himself and save his elect. Here is “the manifold wisdom of God” clearly displayed in four areas.

The Death of Christ

Our Lord Jesus was betrayed by Judas because Satan entered into the betrayer’s heart (Luke 22:3). Our Savior told us plainly that he was put to death by wicked men under Satan’s influence, under the influence of “the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53).

Satan set himself against the Lord Jesus, the woman’s Child, as soon as he was born. Herod, by Satan’s instigation, tried to kill him. The Jews repeatedly tried to stone him. The Scribes and Pharisees tried to trap him. But none could touch him until his appointed hour had come. What an hour that was! It was the hour of man’s free will and the hour of Satan’s power! Yet, it was the hour of Christ’s glory and the hour of our redemption!

When Satan succeeded in nailing the Lord Jesus Christ to the cursed tree, he overthrew his own kingdom (John 12:31-33). As Jonathan Edwards put it, “The cross was the devil’s own weapon; and with this weapon he was overthrown: as David cut off Goliath’s head with his own sword.” That is precisely the meaning of Samson’s riddle — Honey out of the lion’s carcass. “Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness” (Judges 14:9-14).

The Persecutions of the Church

Religious persecution, though it is executed in the name of God, is instigated by Satan. By means of the sword, the old serpent has endeavored to destroy God’s church in this world throughout the ages. But Satan’s persecution of the church has always been overthrown by God and made a means for the increase of the church (Genesis 50:19-20; Exodus 1:7; Acts 11:19-21).

We are truly thankful that in these days God’s church, at least in the Western World, no longer lives in fear of physical persecution. But the malice of our persecutors has not changed. They simply do not have the power to execute their malice as they would. Instead of the sword, persecution now comes from slander, ridicule, social isolation, and vindictiveness. But we have nothing to fear. Neither Satan nor those who are inspired by him have any power to injure God’s church, hinder our work, or hurt God’s saints; try as they may. God’s enemies and ours are taken in the pit they have dug for us (Psalm 57:6).

If we are God’s people, doing God’s work, for the glory of God’s Son, doing God’s will, Satan cannot destroy us. He cannot hinder us. And whatever he does to oppose us will be turned by our God into that which will benefit us.

Yes, the fiend of hell may even sow tares among the wheat in God’s kingdom, and often does; but he cannot harm the wheat. And God will make use of the tares for the good of his people.

Heresies among You

Throughout the history of God’s church, what Satan could not destroy by sword, he has sought to destroy by heresy. He is a crafty, subtle adversary. He seeks to keep men from the knowledge of God by giving them the delusions of false religion.

He seeks to keep sinners from Christ by giving them a false Christ. He seeks to keep men from the gospel by feeding them with a false gospel. And the heresies promoted by Satan always exalt the power and goodness of man, diminish the glory of God, promote free-willism, works, and legalism, and detract from the Person and work of Christ.

Yet, all the heresies that abound in this world, though designed by Satan to destroy God’s elect, are turned by God into instruments of usefulness to make his elect manifest (1 Corinthians 11:19). Be sure you understand these three facts plainly declared in the Book of God.

1. Nothing is more dangerous to your soul than false religion (Philippians 3:2).

2. Yet, false religion will never destroy God’s elect, but only prove who they are (1 Corinthians 11:19).

3. And the only thing that keeps anyone from being engulfed in false religion is God’s almighty grace (2 Thessalonians 2:13-16): electing grace, redeeming grace, calling grace, preserving grace.

Our Trials

The trials of God’s saints are often things inspired and executed by Satan seeking whom he may devour (Job 2:7). But every trial and affliction by which Satan seeks to destroy us is turned by God into a blessing upon us for the glory of his name (2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 1:6-9; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

“God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines of never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs, and works His sovereign will.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust Him for His grace;

Behind the frowning providence He hides a smiling face.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take; the clouds you so much dread

Are big with mercy and will break with blessings on your head.

His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour;

The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan His works in vain;

God is His own interpreter, and He will make it plain.”

Don Fortner

Pastor Fortner’s