Charles Spurgeon: The Bible’s First Promise
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. Genesis 3:15
This is the first promise to fallen man. It contains the whole gospel and the essence of the covenant of grace. It has been in great measure fulfilled.
The seed of the woman, even our Lord Jesus, was bruised in His heel, and a terrible bruising it was. How terrible will be the final bruising of the serpent’s head! This was virtually done when Jesus took away sin, vanquished death, and broke the power of Satan; but it awaits a still fuller accomplishment at our Lord’s second advent and in the Day of Judgment.
To us the promise stands as a prophecy that we shall be afflicted by the powers of evil in our lower nature, and thus bruised in our heel; but we shall triumph in Christ, who sets His foot on the old serpent’s head.
Throughout this year we may have to learn the first part of this promise by experience, through the temptations of the devil and the unkindness of the ungodly, who are his seed. They may so bruise us that we may limp with our sore heel; but let us grasp the second part of the text, and we shall not be dismayed. By faith let us rejoice that we shall still reign in Christ Jesus, the woman’s seed.
Reflection On The Bible’s First Promise Throughout The New Year
This part bears repeating because it is so easy to forget:
Throughout [2020] we may have to learn the first part of this promise by experience [that is, we shall be afflicted by the powers of evil…] through the temptations of the devil and the unkindness of the ungodly, who are his seed.
This reiterates the first Praying America Great Again praying principle—our struggle is not against flesh and blood.
For we do not wrestle against 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. Ephesians 6:12
New Years Come And Go And Still No One Knows The Time Of The Second Advent
No one knows the time of Christ’s return, including satan(!). Therefore, the great deceiver always keeps his legion of evil fighting and ready to engage in greater battles.
The Book of Revelations describes the ultimate end times, of course. But the prophecies in this great book have had, are having, and will have, many and mini fulfillments. Therefore, it serves as a guide to how satan operates in the world—a graphic, spiritual picture of “our struggle is not against flesh and blood.”
Revelation 12:12 says:
Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But 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!
This Scripture has seen many, mini fulfillments, including but not limited to each of the European humanitarian crises in the twentieth century—Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, etc. And then of course, Mao in China, ISIS in the Mideast (and other places), the list goes on and on and that is only one century!
But as Spurgeon writes, we will be afflicted “through the temptations of the devil and the unkindness of the ungodly, who are his seed.” Christians and Jews throughout the world are seeing an increase in persecution. Christians throughout the world were persecuted more than any other religious group in 2016-2019.
American Christians are not immune from this. We are witnessing the mainstream media, Hollywood, and leftists’ (Democrats, socialists, etc.) increasingly bold denigration of Christians and their faith multiple times per day! Even Christians against Christians!
2020 is an election year. In great wrath, Satan and his seed, knowing their time is short, will continue their unprecedented hatred, intolerance, and slander toward followers of Christ and the Christian faith.
We must be on constant guard, remembering the words of John’s first letter:
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:2-4
Though it is difficult, we must pray for our enemies, pray for leftist “Christians,” and stand firm in the truth.
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints. Ephesian 6:13-18
Fellow prayer warriors, please pray for us as we continually pray for you, that in all things we may glorify and magnify Jesus Christ.
Won’t you invite a friend today to join the Pray America Great Again movement?
