Why Satan Hates the Church
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Intro: Make no mistake. Satan hates the church of the Living God. The Gates of Hell will come against the church.
Satan hates the church because…
I. The Church was Purchased by God
Jesus called it “my church.”
Satan hates the church because we once belonged to him, and now we belong to God.
Satan wants everything God has.
· John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
When we got saved, God plucked us from the grasp of Satan, and put us in His grasp.
And he can’t take us away.
John 10
· 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
· 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
Satan did everything he could to stop Jesus from going to the cross.
He did everything he could to kill Jesus when He was born.
He tried multiple times during His ministry to stop Him.
He tried to kill Jesus in Pilates hall with the scourging.
But Satan was not able to stop the crucifixion.
He was unable to prevent the Perfect Sacrifice from shedding the blood that He would use to purchase the church.
And so it stands to reason that he hates the church.
He hates the blood, and he hates the church that was purchased with that blood.
In Revelation 12, the martyrs that died for their faith during the Tribulation were able to defeat Satan by the blood.
· 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
· 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
They overcame the accuser of the brethren – he was cast down - by the blood of the Lamb.
Satan hates the blood, and he hates the church!
Satan hates the church because…
II. The Church is Protected by God
Jesus made it clear all the way back in Matthew 16 – the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church.
There is a supernatural, sovereign protection attached to the church.
There is a story in Acts 5 that proves this very truth.
· 34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
· 35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
· 36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
· 37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
· 38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
· 39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.
Many times as a pastor, I fall into the trap of feeling like I have to protect the church.
As an undershepherd, I am responsible to preach, to teach, to warn, to instruct and to try my best to follow God.
But at the end of the day, this flock belongs to Jesus Christ.
He purchased this flock of sheep with His own blood, and it will be up to Him to protect this church.
It is HIS church.
Satan hates the church because…
III. The Church is Promoting Godliness
· 2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
When the church promotes godliness, righteousness and holiness, Satan will target that church.
The church is supposed to be a reflection of God.
When a church promotes godliness, it promotes God.
1 Timothy 4
· 7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
· 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
· 9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation.
· 10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Satan hates the church because…
IV. The Church is Publishing the Gospel
Acts 13
· 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
· 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.
· 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
A church that passes out thousands of tracts a week will be hated.
A church that has two organized soulwinning outreaches a week will be hated.
A church that supports over 250 missionaries will be hated.
A church that has a rescue mission ministry will be hated.
A church that has a nursing home ministry will be hated.
A church that runs buses will be hated.
Conclusion: Just a reminder from the Apostle Peter:
1 Peter 4
· 12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
· 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
· 14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.