Overcomers Series

4/23/2017

Morning Worship

Text: Revelation 12:10-11

Subject: Victory

Title: Overcomers – Lessons from Revelation Part 7

Last week we celebrated the resurrection. Do you ever take the time to stop and think about all the things that were accomplished at the cross and resurrection of Jesus? We know that it is the source of our salvation…

Revelation 7:10 (NKJV)

10 … "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!"

But, do we ever take the time to reflect on exactly what that means?

If we do a word study on “salvation” we really get a clearer picture of what the normal experience should be for every Christian…

The word we see translated as salvation is the Greek word…

soteria (so-tay-ree'-ah) n.

1. rescue or safety (physically or morally)

[feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly, abstract) noun]

KJV: deliver, health, salvation, save, saving

soter (so-tare') n.

1. a deliverer, i.e. God or Christ

[from G4982]

sozo (sode'-zo) v.

1. to save, i.e. deliver or protect

{literally or figuratively}

[from a primary sos (contraction for obsolete saos, "safe")]

KJV: heal, preserve, save (self), do well, be (make) whole

So:

We have rescue or safety in a physical and moral sense… including deliverance and health. And if that is so then we must belong to a Deliverer… and that Deliverer (Jesus) protects, heals, preserves, and makes whole… One aspect of the original root word means to save (self)… I ask the question, “does that mean we save ourselves or does it mean that we are saved from ourselves?”

Turn to Revelation 12:10-11…

Revelation 12:10-11 (NKJV)

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

I believe this is God’s word…

I believe it is for me…

I accept it as mine…

I will appropriate it to my life today…

I. Good things have come… Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come… is it true that all those things have already come? All the things pertaining to the word salvation – heaven, healing, protection, deliverance… have those things come or have they not? The Word says that they have already come. Has salvation already come for all mankind? Is God going to do anything more to save people from their sin? NO! There is no need for Him to do anything else. Jesus said, “It is finished!” Salvation and all the benefits that go with it has come… Strength has come… this is the Greek word dunamis. The NIV correctly translates this as power. Revelation 12:10 (NIV2011)

10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. That word dunamis is one of the great “Christian” words in the New Testament. dunamis (doo'-nam-is) n.

1. force

2. (specially) miraculous power

3. (usually by implication) a miracle itself

In other places in the KJV it is translated ability, abundance, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work … Unfortunately, too many people want to relegate this dunamis to Jesus’ earthly ministry. But Jesus said Acts 1:8 (NKJV)

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Who is the power for? Who will receive it? Do not be deceived by anti-biblical teachings. It is the baptism in the Holy Spirit that provides that power. It is the same baptism that is verified by tongues. It is the same power that Jesus walked in and expects His church to walk in. it is the same power that produces miracles. It didn’t end with the apostles. It’s not just some emotional stirring that produces excitement. It is power that enables us to be what we are called to be. Now have come the salvation and the power… and it does not say anywhere in the scriptures that the power has left. the kingdom of our God… the salvation that we just talked about; the power and the miracles all are evidence that the kingdom of God is at hand. Isn’t that the message that Jesus began teaching in His earthly ministry? Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand…! John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus to ask a question, “are you the One or should we be looking for someone else?” Jesus’ response was the evidence that we need that the kingdom is near us. Luke 7:22-23 (NKJV)