The Third Sunday in Lent
also known traditionally as “Occuli” (Eyes) Sunday”
March 23, 2025
The Battle Between God’s
Kingdom & Satan’s Kingdom
We live in a day and age in which many people deny the
existence of a personal Devil. In fact, should a person publicly indicate that he/she believes in the existence of the Devil, that person would probably be labeled as unscientific, superstitious, or worse. Of course, those who reject the reality of the Devil can offer no satisfactory explanation for the existence of the wicked, evil behavior that daily evidences itself in our world …. but of this one thing they are most certain: it is not Satan-inspired, because there IS no Devil!
However, our knowledge that there is a real Devil — a person of tremendous power and wickedness – who is aggressively working to wreak havoc upon God’s creation and in our lives, doesn’t depend upon our own observations or life experiences. Instead our belief that Satan is real is firmly established in the written Word of our God. Scripture is very clear on the subject. In literally hundreds of places from Genesis through Revelation it speaks of an evil spirit kingdom, warning about the earthly and eternal consequences of succumbing to Satan’s temptations, and admonishing us all to constantly be on guard against the wicked efforts of that Old Evil Foe and his equally evil demonic followers.
If the Lord Jesus were visibly living and walking among us today in the same way He did nearly 2000 years ago, He would frequently find Himself disputing with the so-called “educated” people of our society (and even many supposedly “learned” theologians) about the existence of a Satan-led Kingdom of evil. But when He lived among mankind as the Word of God incarnate, our Savior dealt on a daily basis not only with human critics and adversaries, He also had to daily deal with the very real opposition and temptations of the devil, and to contend against Satan’s mission to destroy the Kingdom of God.
Believers today must also acknowledge the reality of the Kingdom of Satan with its intent to overcome us. For us to ever consider minimizing the Devil’s threat would be to place our souls in eternal jeopardy. For that reason it is absolutely imperative that we continue to faithfully place our faith and our souls into the capable hands of our Savior Jesus Christ, trusting in His accomplishments for us, as well as relying upon His almighty power available to us as our keys, and His very guarantee, for final victory over Satan and his kingdom.
With that in mind, today we’ll turn our attention to what the Scriptures have to say about the on-going state of war that exists between the Kingdom of God (of which we, through faith by God’s grace are a part) and the Kingdom of Satan.
With that in mind, today we’ll turn our attention to what the Scriptures have to say about the on-going state of war that exists between the Kingdom of God (of which we, through faith by God’s grace are a part) and the Kingdom of Satan. In today’s First Lesson, from the book of Acts, we see God’s power at work against Satan through the ministry of the Apostle Paul. His healing the sick and casting our evil spirts in Jesus’ name drew attention….and envious “copycats.” Attempting to cast out demons by the name of Jesus (in Whom they did not believe) some Jews found themselves attacked and beaten up badly by those demons. The contrast between Jesus’ power and their impotence grabbed the attention of the community in a most favorable way – as many people not only believed in Jesus, but also publicly repudiated the satanic activities they had earlier practiced.
In our Second Lesson from the book of Revelation, we have a depiction of the war that began in heaven between Satan, with his evil-angel-allies, and the kingdom of God. Overcome by the power of God and the blood of the Lamb (Jesus’ atoning work), Satan was defeated, driven out of heaven and down to earth. Here – for a time – the Devil is fighting what we might call “a guerilla war” against God and His Kingdom. Even though he is already ultimately defeated, Satan is committed to fighting on to the end, causing as much damage and havoc as he can in his hatred toward God and God’s people (us, included). We all need to be aware of this and ever-spiritually on our guard as we trust in Christ for our protection and preservation.
In this morning’s Children’s Lesson we’ll talk about how Jesus has rescued us from the devil, and how that makes us members of His – and no longer Satan’s – “team” forever.
Finally, our Gospel Lesson/Sermon Text, drawn from Luke’s Gospel, speaks about Jesus’ casting an evil spirit out of a man. His enemies accused Him of working in cooperation with Satan or Beelzebub (the Lord of the flies). After Christ successfully refutes their allegations, He warns them through a parable about an unclean spirit of the horrors that will be faced by those who receive God’s grace only to forfeit it by voluntarily reverting to a state of being possessed anew and more strongly than ever by Satan.
The Third Sunday in Lent
Down through the centuries the Christian Church has used the 40 day period of Lent as a time during which its members can contemplate, in an even more serious than usual fashion, the Spiritual significance of our Savior’s sufferings and death for our redemption. We are continuing that time-honored practice of Lenten reflection during our Sunday worship services, as well as our midweek Lenten services.
However, these “solemn” 40 days of Lent (which began with Ash Wednesday and will continue through “Holy Saturday”) technically don’t include the six Sundays in Lent. The worship services on Sundays – as is the case for us today – are used as minor respites from the heavy penitential emphasis of the Lenten season. While there remains a “penitential” character associated with the Sundays in Lent (as we’ll see in our service), over these Sundays we especially focus on portions of Scripture that encourage our faith due to the victories over sin, death, and Satan, that our Savior secured for us and shares with us
Incidentally, the Sundays in Lent have been identified for many centuries by Latin names taken from the first words (from the Latin “Vulgate” translation…..which for centuries was the Bible used in worship services throughout the Western Church) of the Psalms traditionally appointed to be read in worship on these Sundays. This Third Sunday in Lent, then, is known as “Occuli Sunday,” taken from verse 15 of Psalm 25 (“Occuli” means “Eyes” — it’s underlined in today’s responsive reading).
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019, The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary
Pre-service Music
Pre-Worship Hymn Singing, beginning at 9:25 a.m.
We Praise Our God
Welcome and Introduction to Worship
The Invocation
Pastor We begin this service in the name of the Father
Congregation Who gave us our lives through His almighty power.
P: And of the Son
C: Who redeemed our lives with His precious blood.
P: And of the Holy Spirit
C: Who gave us eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.
P: Amen.
The Psalm for Today Psalm 25, selected verses
P: My Eyes are always on the Lord, because He frees my feet from the net.
C: Turn toward me and be gracious to me, + because I am lonely and afflicted.
P: The distress of my heart increases. Bring me out of my anguish.
C: See my affliction and my trouble, + and take away all my sins.
P: Remember, O LORD, Your compassion and Your mercy, for they are from eternity.
C: Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways. + According to Your mercy remember me, + because of Your goodness, O LORD.
P: To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in You I have trusted, O my God.
C: Do not let me be put to shame. + For I have taken refuge in You.
After which the Congregation may be seated for
Opening Hymn Hymn 478 “With The Lord Begin Your Task”
after which the Congregation will rise
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor God, our Heavenly Father, invites us to come into His presence and to worship Him with humble and penitent
hearts. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins.
Congregation Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed You in
my thoughts, words, and actions; I have done what is evil in Your sight and have failed to do what is good. For this I know that I deserve Your punishment, both now and for eternity. But I am truly sorry for all my sins, and trusting in the perfect life and innocent death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I plead: God have mercy on me, a sinner.
Pastor Our gracious Lord and Master has shown us His mercy: He has given His one and only Son to save us from all
our sins. And now, carrying out my office as a called servant of Christ, and according to His command and authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of God rest upon all of you. Amen.
In joyful response to this reassurance of God’s love and forgiveness for us in Christ, please join me now as we sing the praises of our gracious and majestic Lord:
“Majesty” written by Jack Hayford, Rocksmith Music
used with permission, CCLI # 1366699
Majesty, worship His majesty.
Unto Jesus, be all glory, honor and praise.
Majesty….Kingdom authority, flow from His throne,
unto His own, His anthem raise.
So exalt – lift up on high, the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus the King.
Majesty, worship His majesty. Jesus Who died.
Now glorified. King of all Kings.
This Morning’s Early Prayer
O Almighty God, Heavenly Father, + by Whose grace we have been brought out of spiritual darkness + into the light of saving faith, + we thank You for choosing us to be Your children now and eternally. + We also implore You to be merciful to all who have gone astray from Your ways – both those persons we know who have wandered from You, + and the masses who are unknown to us but known to You. + Enable them as well as us, + with penitent hearts and steadfast faith + to also embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truths of Your Word. + And finally, be our defense against Satan + and all the other enemies of our souls, + that we might never forfeit Your grace, + but ever remain true to You. + All this we ask in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, + Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, + as the one, true God, + now and forever. + Amen.
After which the Congregation will be seated as
We Hear God’s Word
The First Lesson Acts 19:11-20
11 God was doing extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick; their illnesses left them and the evil spirits went out of them.
13 Then some Jewish exorcists who went from place to place tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits. They said, “I command you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches to come out!” 14 It was the seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and I am acquainted with Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them, overpowered them, and exercised such complete domination over all of them that they fled from that house naked and wounded.
17 This became known to everyone who lived in Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. They were all overcome with fear, and they held the name of the Lord Jesus in high honor. 18 Also many of those who had become believers came forward, confessing and admitting their actions. 19 And a large number of those who had practiced magic arts collected their books and burned them in front of everyone. They added up the cost of the books and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 In this way the word of the Lord was growing and gaining strength.
The Epistle Lesson Revelation 12:7-12
7 There was also a war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought with the dragon. The dragon fought back along with his angels, 8 but he was not strong enough. There was no longer a place for them in heaven. 9 The great dragon was thrown down—the ancient serpent, the one called the Devil and Satan, the one who leads the whole inhabited earth astray—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
10 I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying: Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God
and the authority of His Christ,
because the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down,
the one who accuses them before our God day and night.
11 They conquered him
because of the blood of the Lamb and
because of the word of their testimony.
They did not love their lives in the face of death.
12 For this reason, rejoice, you heavens and those who dwell in them.
Woe to the earth and the sea,
for the Devil has gone down to you.
He is full of rage, because he knows that his time is short.
After which the Congregation will rise for
This Morning’s Gospel Lesson Luke 11:14-28
14 Jesus drove out a demon, which was mute. After the demon had gone out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. 15 But some of them said, “He drives out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16 Others were testing Him by demanding of Him a sign from heaven. 17 But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed. And a house divided against itself falls. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? You say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 But if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So they will be your judges. 20 Yet if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
21 “When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own house, his possessions are safe. 22 But when someone stronger attacks him and defeats him, he takes away that man’s full armor, in which he had trusted, and divides up his plunder.
23 “The one who is not with Me is against Me. The one who does not gather with Me scatters. 24 When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places, seeking rest, but does not find any. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house, the one I left.’ 25 When it returns, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and dwell there. The last condition of that man becomes worse than the first.”
The Apostles’ Creed melody of “What A Friend We Have in Jesus”
I believe in God the Father, Maker of the heav’ns and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, our Savior, God’s own Son, of human birth.
Virgin born, the Lord incarnate, Whom the Spirit did conceive,
Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Our salvation to achieve.
Crucified, was dead and buried, Down to hell in victory;
From the dead He rose the third day;
Up to heav’n triumphantly.
There at God’s right hand He’s ruling,
By His will the world is led.
He will come to judge the nations, Both the living and the dead.
I believe in God the Spirit, In His Church, His chosen band.
They are joined in close communion,
Holy in His sight they stand.
I believe in sins forgiven; That the dead will rise again;
I believe in life eternal. Amen! Amen! A – – men!
The Children’s Lesson Colossians 1:13
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
Picked to Be On the Winning Team
Hymn of the Day Hymn 537 “Onward Christian Soldiers”
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge
of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
The Sermon Text Luke 11:14-28
today’s Gospel Lesson
In the War for Souls, Whose Side Are You On? Jesus’ …. or Satan’s
following the Sermon, the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for the post-sermon blessing
Pastor To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority now and forever. Amen.
We Offer Our Gifts to the Lord
We offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) Those in the chapel can place their offerings in the offering plates
2) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to Grace Lutheran Church (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
3) Or, go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option there.
We Bring our Prayers Before Our Lord
Included in our Prayers this morning:
A Prayer of Intercession for our brother and sister, Tim and Diane Pfortmiller, ,as they continue to deal with some significant health problems, as they wait for God to provide them with a restoration of their health – according to His will and in His appointed time.
in addition
We ask God’s mercy for our brother George Layton, who has finally been released from Washington Regional Hospital after a three week stay. George is about to begin a physical therapy regimen at the Shiloh Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Springdale. We pray that George will be able to recover his strength sufficiently for him to return home to Laura, and return to us, his church family.
And also
We implore Your continued blessings and Your assurance of Your presence for our sister, Carolyne Walker, who this past Monday
night lost much of her home and possession in a house fire.;
And, finally,
We join these couples in thanking You, Lord, for the
blessings that You have given, through Christian Marriage, to
Helen and Kent Mayer, who are celebrating their wedding anniversary today; and ; to Emily and Murray Mansch, who will celebrate their wedding anniversary tomorrow.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, Who art in heaven Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Benediction
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 333 “Abide, O Dearest Jesus”
Silent Prayer
Announcements
Post-Service Music