{"id":7006,"date":"2026-03-11T21:53:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T21:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/?p=7006"},"modified":"2026-03-11T22:11:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T22:11:23","slug":"the-kingdom-satan-founded-shall-now-be-overthrown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/2026\/03\/11\/the-kingdom-satan-founded-shall-now-be-overthrown\/","title":{"rendered":"The Kingdom Satan Founded Shall Now Be Overthrown"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Oculi (Lent 3)| Luke 11:14-29| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| March 8, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: The Kingdom Satan Founded Shall Now Be Overthrown: Oculi Sermon 2026\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/episode\/5i7d4fLYvnPKSsWSjL7fwi?si=0cde46abaec74823&amp;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The kingdom Satan founded<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shall now be overthrown,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Christ its fall hath sounded,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And through His pow\u2019r alone<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shall Satan meet his doom,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And be for aye confounded;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He from the souls he wounded<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shall flee in fear and gloom. (The Kingdom Satan Founded, Thomas Kingo, ELH 259:1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our nation is at war with Iran. Those with loved ones deployed overseas wait anxiously for hostilities to end. And we pray for a swift resolution to the conflict and peace in the Middle East. Yet, for most of us, this war will be watched from afar on the TV or internet. We aren\u2019t immediately affected by it. Yet there is a war waging from which we cannot escape. The enemy is much more powerful than Iran or Israel or even the United States military. And if we lose this war, we will be damned to hell for the rest of eternity. St. Paul writes of it in Ephesians 6, \u201cFor we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.\u201d (vs. 12)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our chief enemy is Satan. Satan is the strong man, who Jesus says is fully armed guarding his own palace so that his goods are safe. His goods are the souls of mankind. St. Paul writes of Satan\u2019s control in Ephesians 2, \u201cAnd you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience\u2014among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.\u201d (vss. 1-3) When Satan led our first parents into sin, he took captive the entire human race. We are born sinful, under the powers of Satan. Much worse than the man who was possessed by a demon, which made him blind, deaf, and mute, Satan binds our eyes, ears, and mouth, so that we do not hear or perceive the Gospel and cannot praise God\u2019s name. As our hymn states:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O Jesus! My distresses<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To Thee are known full well,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thou seest how Satan presses<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My soul\u2019s weak citadel;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>His aim is to control<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My members and my senses,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With sin and with offenses<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He steals into my soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anon my tongue he bindeth<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That God it shall not praise;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Anon my eyes he blindeth<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To hide the light of grace;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now he my ears doth close<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To hinder me from hearing<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gospel\u2019s sound so cheering<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And soothing in my woes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The name Satan comes from the Hebrew for Adversary. Satan is such a great enemy, that every petition of the Lord\u2019s Prayer is a direct prayer against Satan\u2019s plans. He was a mighty angel, who rebelled against God and was cast down from heaven. Revelation 12 records that he swept a third of the stars from heaven, leading us to surmise that about a third of God\u2019s angels rebelled with Satan. He is also called the devil, meaning accuser or slanderer. After he leads us into sin, he then accuses us of the sin, he would even bring his accusations before God\u2019s throne in heaven. It is against him we pray when we say, \u201cDeliver us from evil.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Christ Jesus is the <em>stronger<\/em> man. He attacks Satan and overcomes him, taking his armor in which he trusted away and divides the spoil. Christ did this by taking on our human flesh and living under the Law in our stead. Satan could not lead Christ to sin against the Law. Yet God put the sins of the whole world upon Jesus and had Him suffer the punishment for them. This stripped Satan of his weapons, because it was our sin that he used to rob us from God. By Jesus\u2019 death and resurrection, He plunder\u2019s the prince of hell\u2019s palace. This is what Jesus meant when He said, \u201cThe Kingdom of God is near.\u201d (Mark 1:15)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet we need this Kingdom of God to come to <em>us<\/em>. Because Satan still holds on to whatever plunder he can grasp. He still takes possession of our hearts until God\u2019s Kingdom comes to root him out. But how does God\u2019s kingdom come to us? \u201cGod\u2019s kingdom comes when God gives us His Holy Spirit, so that be His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.\u201d Jesus says, \u201cIf it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.\u201d The finger of God is the Holy Spirit. We know this because when St. Matthew records this same event in chapter 12, he records Jesus saying, \u201cBut if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.\u201d (vs. 28) Jesus then tells them, \u201cTherefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.\u201d (vss. 31-32)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus gives this warning, because only the Holy Spirit brings us into God\u2019s kingdom. The Holy Spirit does this by delivering to us Christ\u2019s victory over Satan. Jesus has done everything necessary to defeat Satan. He fulfilled God\u2019s Law for us. He died for our sins. He has removed Satan\u2019s power to accuse us. We receive Jesus\u2019 victory over Satan through faith. Through faith in Jesus, we have forgiveness of every sin. Yet how does our faith receive Christ\u2019s victory and forgiveness? The Holy Spirit delivers Christ\u2019s victory and forgiveness to us through the Word of God. In Baptism, which is not just plain water, but water included in God\u2019s command and combined with God\u2019s Word, the Holy Spirit rescues us from Satan\u2019s clutches, delivering to us the forgiveness of sins. Through the preaching of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit delivers to us Christ\u2019s victory over Satan, by assuring us that every victory Satan has gotten over you, Jesus washes away in His own blood. But if we blaspheme the Holy Spirit, we receive none of Christ\u2019s victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we hear the Gospel and believe it, the Holy Spirit casts demons out of our heart and drives Satan far from us. Yet Jesus gives us this stark warning. \u201cWhen an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, \u2018I will return to my house from which I came.\u2019 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you were baptized, Satan was driven from you. Whenever your heart holds fast to the Gospel, Satan and his demonic hordes are cast out of your heart. This is why we go to church every Sunday. Yet, if Satan is driven away, but your heart is left empty, he will come back and make an even firmer stand. Therefore, you must never be neutral but always be an adversary to Satan by holding fast to God\u2019s Word and promise. Yet we are never simply an empty room. We are never neutral. We have a problem. We have a traitor in our midst.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Bram Stoker\u2019s horror novel, Dracula, the titular character is a vampire, a demonic creature who represents Satan. In the novel, the vampire cannot enter a home unless he is first invited in. So, he stands outside a window or door and tries to entice his victim to let him in. Though, this is just a novel, it expresses well how Satan works. St. James writes, \u201ceach person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.\u201d (James 1:14) The traitor in our midst is our own sinful nature! St. Paul laments, \u201cFor I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. \u2026 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.\u201d (Romans 7:15, 19) And he warns us in Galatians 5, \u201cWalk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.\u201d (vss. 16-17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you neglect God\u2019s Word, you do not simply sweep your heart empty in preparation for Satan to return, but your sinful flesh beckons him to come in. Your flesh betrays you, because it enjoys sin. This is why we sing,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>God, let not love of sinning<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They fear drive from my breast,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Lest Satan, triumph winning,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be of my heart possessed;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O let Thy chast\u2019ning rod<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each day give me direction,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To seek Thy sure protection<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And tell Thy grace abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And so, we must never let down our guard against Satan. This is why Jesus says, \u201cBlessed rather are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.\u201d By keep, he means guard it. He uses the same word as He used for the strong man Satan guarding his palace. As Satan would guard us with his lies, temptations, and slander, so you must guard God\u2019s Word to drive out Satan. You must use God\u2019s Law to reveal God\u2019s will for you, so that you avoid wicked sins that would drive you to despair. Look at Christ\u2019s passion with sobering horror over the cost of your sins. Listen to Paul\u2019s warning, \u201cFor you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is) an idolater, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.\u201d (Ephesians 5:5-6) Let such harsh words curb your sinful flesh from inviting Satan in. Yet the threats of the Law will not give you the strength to resist Satan nor drive him from your heart once he has entered. The Law cannot undo the damage Satan has already done. Only the Holy Spirit can do that through the Gospel (Galatians 2:2-6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Holy Spirit drives Satan from our hearts by declaring Jesus\u2019 victory over Satan. The Holy Spirit undoes Satan\u2019s damage through the healing blood of Christ. &nbsp;Jesus\u2019 victory must be proclaimed to us again and again, because Satan continues to assault us, and he continues to make advances. We still sin! And so, we constantly need the medicine for sin. We constantly need the Holy Spirit to bandage us up again, to drive Satan away. The only way the Holy Spirit comes to us is through the Gospel, that Word of God which proclaims Christ\u2019s victory over Satan by forgiving our sins. The Holy Spirit clothes us in Christ\u2019s righteousness and renews our spirits to follow Him and to suppress our sinful flesh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is why we come to church each week. And this is why we should daily do devotions, reading and meditating on Holy Scripture and praying to God according to His promises in Christ. This is our defense against Satan, who waits for a moment of weakness. With God\u2019s Word in our eyes, ears, and mouth, Satan cannot bind them to His control. Rather, God\u2019s kingdom comes to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My heart must Thou have solely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My Savior and my God!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Come, Jesus, take it wholly,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And make it Thine abode!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mold it to Thy control,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That I, Thy Word receiving,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>May find, in Thee believing,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Salvation for my soul. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Oculi (Lent 3)| Luke 11:14-29| Pastor James Preus| Trinity Lutheran Church| March 8, 2026 The kingdom Satan founded Shall now be overthrown, For Christ its fall hath sounded, And through His pow\u2019r alone Shall Satan meet his doom, And be for aye confounded; He from the souls he wounded Shall flee in fear and&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/2026\/03\/11\/the-kingdom-satan-founded-shall-now-be-overthrown\/\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,38,17,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7006","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-latest-sermons","category-lent-3","category-sermons-by-historical-lectionary","category-sermonsbyrevjamespreus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7006","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7006"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7006\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7009,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7006\/revisions\/7009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7006"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7006"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christforus.org\/NewSite\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7006"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}