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#1198. You will strike His heel (6/12/24)

Community Church Putney Sermons

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  1. #1198. You will strike His heel (6/12/24)

  2. Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we begin our Christmas series, Emmanuel, where we are reflecting on what it means for Jesus to be ’struck’ by the devil.

  3. Today, concluding our reflections in Genesis 3:15, we see that Jesus was God with us, and yet, as a man, He was also struck by Satan.

    Genesis 3:15

  4. To watch this devotional, select the link below

  5. https://youtu.be/l7chDaJsUqI

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

    Genesis 3:15

  7. Today, we focus on what is meant by the phrase ‘“and you will strike his heel”’. Yesterday, we focussed on the hope of the final undoing of The Fall when Jesus destroys all evil and the causes of evil by ‘crushing Satan’s head’. However, this following phrase makes it clear that Jesus’ victory comes at the cost of His suffering. This has a past, present and future element:

  8. 1. Jesus’ heel was struck in the past

  9. Firstly, the devil struck Jesus’ heel as he inspired evil people to take Him to the cross. We saw that satan entered Judas’ heart so that he betrayed Jesus. We surely see the work of Satan inspiring Pilate, the High priest, those who whipped and crucified Him etc. Of course, there is the mystery of God’s plan and sovereignty over all of this, however, Satan and demonic powers were at work. Satan struck Jesus heel throughout his life through temptations and attacks; ultimately, he struck Jesus’ heel on the cross.

  10. 2. Jesus’ heel is struck in the present

  11. Secondly, there is a present aspect. Satan continues to strike out at Jesus by attacking His reputation, His people, His Word, His world… Our suffering and spiritual warfare, as His body, is Jesus’ suffering also.

  12. 3. Jesus heel will be struck in the future

  13. Thirdly, there will be a final striking of Jesus’ heel in the final period of The Last Days. We know that a period will come when Satan will be especially active to deceive and destroy. As we read in 2 Thessalonians, Satan is at work but will be especially active toward the end:

  14. ‘For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendour of his coming.  The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie…’ (2 Thessalonians 2:7-9)

    2 Thessalonians 2:7–9

  15. This ‘lawless’ one is the ‘Antichrist’ who is a man that will be empowered by Satan (rather like the serpent in Genesis 3). The Antichrist will strike out at Jesus and his people but Jesus will ‘crush his head’ as he returns in glory.

  16. At Christmas we remember that Jesus has come into this world and was ‘struck’ for us. We remember that He’s coming again to crush Satan’s head in final victory. At that time the promise of restoration and victory will be fulfilled, as Isaiah pictures it:

  17. ‘The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.’ (Isaiah 65:25)

    Isaiah 65:25

  18. Let’s pray together as we finish

  19. “Lord Jesus, I praise you that you were struck and suffered for me. Help me to remain vigilant and prayerful against spiritual attack whilst I live in the certain hope that your coming will end all suffering and bring renewal to all things. Amen”