The Scriptures speak of the works of the Lord and the works of the devil. In this message we will "triumph in the works of the Lord," knowing that Jesus - our Lord and Master - conquered Satan and dissolved his works.

1 John 3:8 - "...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." 

It was for this design, end, and intent that Jesus became the Incarnate One and appeared among men. Jesus was manifested in the flesh so that He could destroy - loosen, break up, do away with, melt, or put off - the acts, deeds, toils, efforts, and evildoings of the false accuser and slanderer called the devil. 

Jesus came to fulfill the Promise given in Genesis 3:15 - "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." 

What are some of the works of the devil mentioned in 1 John 3:8 and how did Jesus get the job done? 

There are three specific verses that render an explanation - 

1. The Lord Jesus conquered the works of division and strife in every relationship 

Romans 16:20 - "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly..."

God is the author and giver of all good. He is the author and lover of Peace. He is the God with Whom we are at Peace, Who speaks Peace to us, and works Peace in our hearts and lives. He is the Promoter of Peace. In other words, He is the giver of quietness, rest, and prosperity and sets at one again that which became divided. 

As the God of Peace, He works to keep His Body as one - knit together in unity - so that He could command the blessing upon them. He will restrain and vanquish all those who cause divisions and disturb the unity of His church. 

Satan is the accuser, enemy, and author of all strife and division in the Body of Christ. He is set on defiling, disturbing, and destroying the souls of all men. However, not as the God of war but as the God of Peace, the Lord Jesus promises to come to the rescue of His Bride and bruise this calumniator each and every time. 

Jesus will come and "bruise" Satan. In other words, He will crush completely, trample underfoot and upon, shatter, break in pieces, and gain the victory over this enemy who seeks to disturb the peace of His church. 

How will He do it? "Shortly." He will do it mightily.  When will He do it? "Shortly." He will do it quickly and speedily.  Just when it seems as though everything is lost, all hope is gone, and the devil has won the victory - that is when the Lord Jesus will show up and bring His marvelous Peace into the situation that is at hand. 

Is there a problem that you are facing today that is disturbing your Peace? Has Satan caused strife and division between you and another? Are you in a state of confusion, not knowing which way to turn? Hold on to God's Mighty Promise here. The Lord Jesus will "shortly" come to your situation as the "God of Peace," and He will "bruise Satan under your feet." Bless His Holy Name! 

2. The Lord Jesus destroyed him that had the power of death

Hebrews 2:14 - "...that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." 

The devil is the perpetrator of death in this world. But, Thank God, Jesus is the author of Life. He came to give us Life and Life more abundantly. 

Through His sacrificial death on the Cross, the Lord Jesus destroyed - abolished, made to cease, did away with, brought to nought, made void, subdued, and overcame - Satan's dominion and reign of death. Jesus crushed his power to destroy and bring death into our lives and the lives of our loved ones. All of the devil's operations, influence, and power to bring death into this world were rendered useless and ineffectual.

Do you feel as though you are under the reign of death this day? Are you fighting sickness, disease, or an infirmity that is destroying your body? Are you in bondage to a besetting sin that is destroying your soul? Look unto Jesus - the Giver of Life - Who conquered, subdued, and crushed the devil's power to destroy you when He died on the Cross and shed His blood for your redemption. 

3. The Lord Jesus put away sin from us

1 John 3:5 - "And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." 

Jesus was manifested. He appeared to remove Sin. He came to destroy its power. He left heaven's glory to deliver us from the dominion of it. Contrary to what some believe, He did not leave us with an excuse for Sin. The Scriptures repeatedly point out that He purposely came to put an end to Sin in our lives. We do not have to Sin in thought, word, and deed every day. We can live in 100% victory. When Sin is removed from our lives, we are no longer under its dominion. When we are saved, we are under the Grace of God that is greater than all Sin. 

Romans 5:20-21 - "But where Sin abounded, Grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." 

Perhaps today there is someone reading this message who is struggling with a particular Sin. Realize that Jesus came to put away and remove it completely from your life. It is not His will that you are under its dominion. He desires for you to taste the Victory of Calvary. Call out to Him today. He will deliver you from that bondage. He will set you free so that you are free indeed! That is why He came! 

Colossians 2:15 tells us - "And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it." 

By His Cross, by Himself, and by His mighty power Jesus Christ triumphed over the devil and all of his evil spirits. He broke the devil's power. He stripped him of his armor and rendered him null, void, and powerless. He completely conquered, subdued, and disabled all of our enemies.

We don't ever have to fear the devil and his destructive powers again.  We don't ever have to be afraid of death or dying. We are not intimidated by his constant threats and accusations against us. In Christ Jesus we are overcomers. We are more than conquerors. Jesus won the victory over him, and He has given us the "necks" of our enemies. Today our foot is on the neck of the devil. He and his hordes of demons are under our feet. And all because of what Jesus did for us on Calvary's Cross. 

Psalm 92:4-5 - Because of it, we can join the Psalmist in proclaiming - "For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands. O LORD, how great are Thy works! and Thy thoughts are very deep." 

The Psalmist declared with great exuberance and joy - "For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work." Through the great works of God's providence, redemption, and grace, he rejoiced and had ample reason to praise the Lord. God had made him happy so he desired to make His praise glorious in return. 

What about you, O Christian? Has God made you glad through His mighty works? Are you singing and shouting for joy this day at all that the Lord has done for you? When was the last time that you really got happy over God's work of redemption and grace in your life? How long has it been since you rejoiced in the mighty intervention of God's care, guidance, and provision? 

What about all those times when you did not know which way to turn and the Lord Jesus whispered the right way to take? What about the times when you were down to almost nothing and He came through for you right on time to pay the bills or provide food and clothing for you and your family? What about those times when you were on the highway and the Lord miraculously spared you of a major accident? How about the times when the Lord protected you from getting entangled with the wrong person in marriage, ministry, or business? 

Hasn't the Lord made you mighty glad through His wonderful works? 

Psalm 92:4 - The Psalmist said it this way - "...I will triumph in the works of Thy hands." In other words, I will shout for joy. I will cry out. I will be joyful and sing aloud. I will rejoice in all that the Lord has done for me. 

Psalm 64:10 says - "The righteous shall be glad in the LORD..."
Psalm 104:34 - David said - "I will be glad in the LORD..." 
In Psalm 126:3 he said - "The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad." 
In Psalm 4:7 he said - "Thou hast put gladness in my heart..." 
In Psalm 106:47 the Psalmist said - "Save us, O LORD our God...to triumph in Thy praise." 
In Nehemiah 12:43 it is written - "...for God had made them rejoice with great joy..." 
In Luke 1:47 Mary proclaimed - "And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior." 

O saint of God! has the Lord done great things for you, whereof you are mighty glad? Has the Lord put gladness in your heart? Has the Lord lately made you to rejoice with great joy? Is your spirit rejoicing today in God your Savior? 

Psalm 92:5 - "O LORD, how great are Thy works..." 

The works of the Lord cannot be measured. They are multitudinous. They are incomprehensible. They are stupendous. They are splendid. 

Psalm 111:2 says - "The works of the LORD are great..."
Psalm 139:14 says - "...marvellous are Thy works..." 
Psalm 40:5 says - "Many, O LORD my God, are Thy wonderful works which Thou hast done..." 
Psalm 66:3 says - "...How terrible art Thou in Thy works..."
Psalm 104:24 says - "O LORD, how manifold are Thy works..." 
Revelation 15:3 says - "...Great and marvellous are Thy works..." 

Who would not acknowledge God's greatness as displayed in His many works to mankind? 

Psalm 92:6 tells us that there are two types of people who are ignorant of God's greatness - "A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this." 

"A brutish man" - This is the man who is directed by his flesh. He is led by his senses rather than reason or faith. Like the brute beast, he is stupid and acts as though he has no mind whatsoever. 

"A fool" - This man also does not recognize the mighty deeds of the Almighty. He is made foolish, stupid, and blinded through his sin. He does not understand how great God is, nor does he make any attempt to do so. 

There are three Scriptures which mention a people who can be likened
unto the "brutish man" and the "fool" - 

Judges 2:10 - "...another generation...which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel." 
Psalm 28:5 - "Because they regard not the works of the LORD..." 
Isaiah 5:12 - "...regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of His hands." 

What about you? Are you exulting in God's great, marvellous, and wonderful works this day? Or are you as the "brutish man" who does not regard with pleasure or even consider the works of the Lord? 

In closing, Psalm 145:6 declares - "And men shall speak of the might of Thy terrible acts..." 

Today we are being challenged by the Holy Ghost to go forth and magnify God's mighty acts among others.  Someone needs to hear the Good News that the works of the devil have already been destroyed by Jesus on Calvary's Cross. There is liberty promised for all who will regard or acknowledge the mighty works of the Lord. 

Let's tell someone about the Greatness of our God and all that He has done for us.

Isaiah 40:9 - "O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!"