October 12, 2025
Hard Fought Hallelujah
- Matt Nickoson
Genesis 3:4-5 NIV
“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
John 8:44 NIV
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he (Satan) is a liar and the father of lies.”
You have an enemy who loves to lie:
You’ll never be good enough.
There’s no one out there for you.
God isn’t good. You can’t trust Him.
If it makes you happy, it can’t be that bad.
You would be happy if you had ___________.
Make sure you look out for yourself… who else is going to?
Genesis 3:14 NIV
So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.”
Because of his rebellion against God, Satan has been cast down from his lofty position.
Revelation 12:7-9 NIV
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
This world is now under enemy control!
Ephesians 2:1-2 NIV
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Therefore, we must be constantly aware of Satan’s lies and schemes.
Ephesians 6:11 NIV
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.
1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
The point of your deepest pain is most often the Devil’s playground in your mind.
The good news is Jesus is greater!
Ephesians 2:1-6 MSG
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Revelation 12:11 NIV
“They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.”
Ephesians 6:10-12 MSG
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no weekend war that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
Ephesians 6:13-16 MSG
Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.
John 8:31 NIV
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.
John 8:32 NIV
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Ephesians 6:17-18 MSG
God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.