July 5, 2026
Spiritual Warfare In Our Suffering
- Matt Nickoson
SERMON NOTES
We have only known a world wrecked by spiritual warfare.
Revelation 12:7 NIV
Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.
Revelation 12:8 NIV
But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.
Revelation 12:9 NIV
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.
Revelation 12:10 NIV
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:
“Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down.”
Since Satan has been hurled down from Heaven, he is wreaking havoc here.
2 Questions:
Q1. When did this happen?
A1. During the ministry of Jesus
Luke 10:18 NIV
He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” – Jesus
Q2. What did he do before he was cast down?
A2. Accuse day and night
Job 1:1 NIV
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.
Job 1:2 NIV
He had seven sons and three daughters,
Job 1:3 NIV
and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
Job 1:4 NIV
His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.
Job 1:5 NIV
When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
Satan is relentless in his assault on your life.
John 10:10 NIV
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life,and have it to the full.”
Job 1:6 NIV
One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them.
Job 1:7 NIV
The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
Job 1:8 NIV
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
Job 1:9 NIV
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.
Job 1:10 NIV
“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
Job 1:11 NIV
But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
Job 1:12 NIV
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
Job 1:13 NIV
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,
Job 1:14 NIV
a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby,”
Job 1:15 NIV
“and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:16 NIV
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:17 NIV
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:18 NIV
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house,”
Job 1:19 NIV
“when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
Job 1:20 NIV
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
Job 1:21 NIV
and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Job 1:22 NIV
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
How can God be all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient) and all-loving (omnibenevolent), and evil still exist?
Job 2:1 NIV
On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him.
Job 2:2 NIV
And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
Job 2:3 NIV
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
Job 2:4 NIV
“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life.”
Job 2:5 NIV
“But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
Job 2:6 NIV
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
Job 2:7 NIV
So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head.
Job 2:8 NIV
Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.
Job 2:9 NIV
His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
Sometimes, those closest to us can be caught up in the suffering and accidentally be an instrument of Satan to try and bring us down.
Job 2:10 NIV
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.
All suffering isn’t the same:
- Unjust suffering (i.e., suffering for doing good)
- Just suffering (i.e., suffering for doing evil)
- Evil as a by-product of a fallen world (i.e., suffering like cancer or earthquakes)
Romans 8:18 NIV
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
Romans 8:19 NIV
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Romans 8:20 NIV
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
Romans 8:21 NIV
that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
Romans 8:28 NIV
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
My peace is not in complete understanding; it’s found in the hope that God will one day make all things new!
Romans 8:35 NIV
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
Romans 8:37 NIV
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Romans 8:38-39 NIV
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.