MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS – September 28, 2008

SCRIPTURES – Ps. 103; Dan. 10:10-14 & 12:1-3; Rev. 12:7-12; Luke 10:17-20

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles broadcast in his popular radio program an adaptation of the H.G. Wells book, “The War of the Worlds.” The book, which was about aliens from Mars who invaded in an attempt to conquer the earth, was presented by Welles as a series of news bulletins reporting a Martian invasion. Even though this was just a radio play, many of the millions of people who had tuned in thought it was the real report of a Martian invasion, and they were terrified. Thousands of people packed the roads, hid in cellars, loaded guns, and even wrapped their heads in wet towels as protection from Martian poison gas. They flooded police stations with frantic phone calls. The news of an invasion from a hostile alien race was terrifying. 

I remember as a kid watching the 1953 movie depiction of the story. It was scary. Powerful Martian spaceships traveling across the countryside, impervious to all of our weapons, even nuclear bombs, attacking and destroying great cities – this was pretty scary stuff to a young boy. But, I at least knew that it was only a movie! 

The reading from Revelation today sounds like it could have been the impetus for the original story.

“Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon… And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him… woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”

An invasion of the earth from a hostile alien power! This is scary stuff. And, it is true. What is even scarier is that this invasion is like the invasion of bacteria into your body. It is quiet, secret, hidden from our eyes.

 

Satan and his demon hosts are not really that interested in conquering our cities or wrecking our economy, you see, although they would be happy about that, too. They are interested in your hearts and minds. They want to drag your soul down to hell with them. To get at you, he does not use heat rays or guns or any weapons like that. He uses words. With Satan we are engaged in

 

A WAR OF THE WORDS

 

Did you pay attention to what the devil was called in our readings? “the deceiver of the whole world… the accuser of our brothers.” Deceit and accusation are matters of words. The devil is a master of words. He is especially good at using God’s Word, our great weapon against him, and twisting it so that we don’t trust it and use it, and so that he can use it against us. He fights a war of the words.

 

Do you believe in the existence of demons: spiritual, not physical, beings who hate God and His people, and all that is good; who are greatly powerful and crafty in their wicked schemes; who bring much sorrow and suffering into people’s lives; who above all seek to be near you who believe in Christ, to tempt you, oppress you and afflict you in heart and mind? They are spoken of and warned against throughout the Bible; Jesus confronted them and spoke of them many times; and yet, many people have come to view them as mythical characters that were created by superstitious people to explain things they could not understand. We’re smarter today, people think. People are bad enough. We don’t need to worry about or fear demons.

 

This may not be you in belief; but it is many of you in action. Remember, the devil is involved in a war of the words, and it is words, God’s words, that throw him down and overcome all his power. He is conquered “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of [the believers’] testimony,” says Rev. 12. Satan is defeated by the testimony about Jesus, who shed His blood to pay for our sins and their guilt and remove their condem-nation from us. But, how few of us use God’s Word! How few read it on their own, study it with other Christians, hear it in church, and so take it to heart and rely upon it. Imagine being a soldier and being sent into Iraq to patrol the streets of Baghdad, but not taking your weapons! Sadly, this is how many, many Christians live their lives: unarmed and defenseless. If you do not hear, believe, and follow God’s words, you will be defenseless against your great enemy, and the great and evil dragon will easily devour you.

 

For, the devil tears at us with words: with words of accusation. He is “the accuser of our brothers… who accuses them day and night before our God.” The devil accuses us of being sinners, and this is not hard to do. We hear his accusations from other people, who remember and point out and talk about our sins. We hear them in our own hearts and minds, words of doubt and worry and fear. “Will God consider me worthy of eternal life in heaven? I could be a better Christian. I have failed Him many times!” And this is true.

 

When such thoughts arise, banish them! “Begone, Satan!” cry out. Remember and take hold of who, and whose, you are! Jesus, the Son of the living God, bore your sins in His own flesh and paid their due penalty for you, paid it completely. In the Baptism which Jesus commanded and which you received, the holy and mighty name of Jesus, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, was placed upon you. You bear the name before which the demons fall like lightning, and in your Baptism the blood of the Lamb washed away your sins completely. God’s Word promises in Galatians 3:

“You are all sons of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

And so, as God’s baptized child you can say: “I am baptized into Christ! I am a child of God! I bear Jesus’ name upon my brow!” Before such a confession Satan falls down, and is tread under your feet. He falls, not because you feel forgiven and worthy, but because God promises in His Word that in your baptism you are forgiven and are His. Trust what God says! Hear it and cling to it.

 

“Oh, so you wish to listen to the Bible?” Satan asks. “Smarter people than you are confused by it, and even Bible scholars disagree about what it means. Can you really rely on what it says? It will only confuse you! And, besides, you’ll never be able to remember it.” Again, remember who you are! The Son of the living God, the almighty Word made flesh, has given you His very words by the mouths and pens of His prophets and apostles. And, in your Baptism He has given you His Holy Spirit, the same Spirit which gave these words to those who wrote them down. You are not fools! You can understand God’s words, which are for the most part plain and simple words. Take them as they are, and don’t let Satan take them from you by making you think that they are too hard or too much for you. They are your life, your strength, your mighty weapons, your victory! Read them, learn them, take them to heart and rejoice in them. And, don’t let anyone twist their plain meaning and so take them from you. Doesn’t the true and holy God know what He is saying and writing? Do you think that in this war of words with Satan God would give you defective, unreliable weapons? You have a sure Word. Trust it!

 

And, finally, as those who bear the name of God, remember that you are members of Christ’s kingdom. You have, then, His great and mighty helpers with you at all times. They are the mighty and holy angels, who with the archangel Michael long ago fought against Satan and his hosts and cast them out of heaven.

q   Just as our soldiers in the field rely upon and take comfort in helicopters and jets which swoop in to attack and destroy their enemies, so we have mighty angels whose concern is at all times to help and defend us.

 

Rejoice, then, people of God, and stand firm in Christ and in His Word! Rejoice that by that Word and water in your Baptism your names are written in heaven. Look forward to your ultimate deliverance in Christ, when He shall come with the shout of the archangel and the trumpet call of God, awaken us from our sleep in the dust of the earth, and bring us to everlasting life where we will “shine like the stars forever and ever.” To the glory and honor of Jesus, our Savior.