Notes of Faith November 12, 2026
Just wanted to let you know that your giving has paid for John’s mom, Sharon to be taken from the hospital to be cremated, death certificates obtained, and her ashes returned to John. We are working on helping John find another place to live that he can afford. Please keep praying and giving as you are able.
I will continue to post the link to the “Go Fund Me” account for our friend, John Belle who lost his brother earlier this year and his mother last week, now alone, trying to continue to live in very expensive California. Thank you to those who have already helped and thank you to those who are going to. His current need is great, but God is helping us to help him make choices, that, although he will have to move to survive financially, he should be able to keep his job and have enough to make it from day to day. Again, I thank you and pray that your reward in heaven is multiplied greatly!
The Enemy’s Weapon
Insomuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.
Hebrews 2:14
During World War II, Army paratrooper Manuel Pérez Jr. found himself in combat with enemy soldiers in the Philippines. In the struggle an opposing soldier threw his rifle with its bayonet, knocking Pérez’s own weapon from his hands. Pérez snatched up the enemy’s rifle and used it against the attackers, turning their own weapon into the means of their defeat.
Recommended Reading:
Hebrews 2:10-18
At Calvary, Jesus did the same on a cosmic scale. Satan wielded death as his greatest weapon, but Christ entered death, conquered it, and used it to destroy “him who had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14).
Our enemy is still prowling around seeking to attack us (1 Peter 5:8) and to sift us like wheat (Luke 22:31). But God is all-powerful, and the victory is won. While we need to be aware of the devil’s schemes (Ephesians 6:11), we should be filled with confidence that he is defeated and that God will soon crush him under our feet (Romans 16:20).
Satan must be defeated in the arena he dominates, this world. So Christ was sent into this world to destroy Satan’s works.
Charles Ryrie
1 John 3:8
The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.
Though Satan has been defeated by the work of Jesus, he still remains active in trying to destroy that which God loves. Our battles are not against those we might think…unruly neighbors, crooked politicians, thieves, even those in our own families that hurt us…
Eph 6:12-13
…our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, we put on the full armor of God, prepared to meet the battle of each day to defeat the attacks of the one seeking to ensnare, kill and destroy the life that is available to us in Christ! As we enter every battle with Christ…we win!
Rom 8:38-9:1
I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The wages of sin is death. There is no one who does not sin, therefore all deserve death. But God sent His Son to give His life as atonement for our sin. Then defeated the power of death by rising from the grave, just as He said. We have been given (by His grace through His gift of faith to believe in Jesus and His work) entrance into eternal life – victory over sin and death.
May we learn who our enemy is, not engaging in battles with those who are really on the same side and fight effectively against the one who wants to destroy our eternal soul.
May we all, recognize the battles of life, some as trials to strengthen us, others coming from the evil of darkness, and stand firm in what we know to be true… Jesus has won the battle and Satan will be kept from destroying any who belong to God! Trust His Word and His love for you today, whatever battle you are enduring!
Pastor Dale