Don’t look now, but there’s a Lion in our midst.
Rev 5:1-6
5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
John is receiving a revelation of things to come –
How many know something is a coming.
Things not only concerning the church, but also the end of time it self as we know it.
V1 He mentions a book, (what’s so special about this book?)
It describes how this world is going to be judged & gives us a picture of how going is going to triumph over evil
V2-3 An angel, a strong angel cries out and says who is worthy to open the book, who is worthy, to loosen the seals
John said I wept much because no man was able to open the book—Notice no man—
I know of one this morning that can do what no man can do!!!!
While John is weeping, , while he is broken is spirit for he feels no one can do what need to be done
One of the elders places His hand upon his shoulder & says weep not john FOR THE LION OF THR TRIBE OF JUDAH HATH PRVAILED
IN other words there’s no need to weep any more john – for there is a loin in our midst.
There are 3 things I want to bring out about the lion
1. IT IS THE COVERING OF THE LION
This title Lion of the tribe if Judah goes back to Jacobs final blessings of his sons before his death –It is in that blessing he calls Judah a lions whelp (young lion)
Gen 49:9
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
Many of the modern day Jews as well as some biblical commentaries believe that some coat of arms was painted upon each tribe’s standard, flag or banner—
Which had reference to the blessing they had received
Each one identified each tribe
Judah bore a lion
Dan a serpent
Nathalie a hind, or female deer
Benjamin a wolf
So every tribe has its own standard (a banner on a pole)
The whole encampment of Israelites at Sinai was organized and each tribe assigned its place in which to march and to camp
The leadership of Judah among the tribes was prophesied by Jacob and this tribe was assigned first place in the order of marching
What a sight it must have been
Illus when they marched
Each tribe in is proper order
Judah leading –Holding up the standards
Can’t you see the enemies of God as the would look down upon the vast number of people
But the one thing that catches their eye – is who is leading
It is what they are carrying in the front – IT’S A LION THEY ARE MARCHING UNDERNEITH THE BANNER OF THE LION
The word cover means to: place something over or upon-
It means to protect or to shield
AS I thought of them marching – I thought of the scripture
Isa 59:19
19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
What I believe this is saying to you & I when the enemy of your soul rises up against you, like a flood to wash you away, (your faith, your trust, your hopes, & dreams) there is one that is going to lift up a standard, a holy banner & on that holy banner is a the covering, the protection of the Blood of the Lion of Judah
Church rejoice—there is a lion in our midst
He that hath delivered can still deliver
He that hath saved can still save
He that hath healed can still heal
Give him praise and Glory
Remember what John said –There is no man able to open the seals
When is seems that no man is able to bring help when you feel hopeless
When is seems no man can give you strength—when all your strength is gone
It is then when you mustn’t fear
For Just like with John –there is a hand that will come & rest upon your shoulder & say there is one –Look up – see the standard
Do you see the blood, do you see the covering—
IT IS THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
HIS BANNER IS OVER YOU
Ps 91:1
91 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
Are you aware the this word secret in this script. In the Heb. Means coveing
HE THAT SETS DOWN IN THE COVERING PLACE, WILL FIND REST IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALMMIGHTY—
Church that is security
Ps 91:2
2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Do you remember when the children of Israel went against Amalek –
Moses & Aaron & Hur on the mt. / arms lifted led to victory
Ex 17:14-15
14 Then the Lord instructed Moses, "Write this into a permanent record, to be remembered forever, and announce to Joshua that I will utterly blot out every trace of Amalek." 15-16 Moses built an altar there and called it "Jehovah-nissi" (meaning "Jehovah is my flag").
"Raise the banner of the Lord!" Moses said. "For the Lord will be at war with Amalek generation after generation."
God said they are to remember – The victory I gave you
God was be their banner & as long as they rallied around Him they would continue to have victories
Isaiah prophesied of a king with the spirit of the Lord resting on Him
The day will come when “he will stand as a banner for the people” the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious
Isa 11:10
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign or (SYMBOL)of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.
Church Jesus becomes our NISSI and we have victory as lone as we rally & stay with Him!
2. THERE IS THE COMFORT OF THE LION
Illus John weeping – when all of a sudden –someone say – weep not
These words are words of comfort
Jesus Himself used these words
Illus the widow of Nain Luke 7
Illus Jarius when his daughter died Luke 8
Illus –If I say stop your crying
I’m trying to get your attention
With my children -- Daddy here—I’m going to make it better
Someone better than daddy, mom, and preacher –The lion is here
He can make thing better.
Matt 18:20
20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
There a lion in our midst
Luke 24:36-38
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
He who is peace- had come to bring peace Into our lives
Time & Time again we see the children of Israel cry out in fear each time they face the enemy or a situation out of their control
Yet we are no different
Church the one that brought us through the last trial –can get us through this one
As I look into the word there is 4 places the lion uses for a habitation
1 Jer 4:7 the thickets
2 Jer. 5:6 – Forest
3 Isa. 30:6 – The desert
4 Song of Sol. On the mt.
This ought to make you shout!!!
In the thickets – Generally thorns & stickers – pain in every direction
In the forest – easy to get turned around & lost, confused – don’t understand
In the desert – no water, dry, the heat of the sun baring down on you
On the mt. – a place where you can see where you have been, & where your going
If you’re in the thickets –pain – the Lion in there
Forest – confused – don’t understand – the lion is there
Desert – Heat of the enemy –(Heb. Children) –He is there
Mt. top—Victory –He is there
Hear me church –where ever you’re at
What ever you’re going through in life –
The lion of Judah is saying to you weep not –I am here --& because I am here –things are going to change
I have to believe no matter how deep we are in trouble, pain, heartache—The lion will come to us to comfort us.
GIVE HIM PRAISE & GLORY
3. THE LION HAS THE POWER TO PREVAIL OVER THE ENEMY
The elder to John—there is one that hath prevailed
There is one that hath the power to open the seals
THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH HATH PREVAILED
The word prevail – mean to conquer
In the animal world the Lion is called the king of the beast – because of its strength
Our Lion is king over the beast – He is superior in strength
Pro. 30:30 tells us
That because of a lion’s strength –it will not turn away (or back down)
Illus ----
There was this lion, who woke up one morning, and just felt great he just felt so good, he went out and cornered a small monkey and roared at him:
"WHO IS THE MIGHTIEST OF ALL THE JUNGLE ANIMALS?"
And this poor quaking little monkey replied:
"You are of course; no one is mightier than you."
A little while later this lion confronts a deer, and just bellows out:
"WHO IS THE GREATEST AND STRONGEST OF ALL THE JUNGLE ANIMALS?"
The deer is shaking so hard it can barely speak, but manages to stammer:
"Oh great lion, you are by far the mightiest animal in the jungle."
The lion, being on a roll, swaggered, up to an elephant that was quietly munching on some weeds, and roared at the top of his voice:
"WHO IS THE MIGHTIEST OF ALL THE ANIMALS IN THE JUNGLE?"
Well, this elephant grabs the lion with his trunk, picks him up, slams him down; picks him up again, and shakes him until the lion is just a blur of fur; and finally throws him violently into a nearby tree.
The lion staggers to his feet and looks at the elephant and says:
"Man, just because you don’t know the answer, you don’t have to get so mad.
Church let there be no mistake
Let the answer ring out
The lion of Judah is the champion – he will never be conquered or defeated
As the song says – He is the champion of love
Illus the some Champion of love
There he Stands a champion robed in white,
His height exceeds the heavens.
His weight, out ways the world,
His reach reaches every where.
His rein is ever more.
He is higher then the highest,
Braver then the brave.
No one will ever take his crown away,
He’s more mighty then the mightiest.
He’s the all time undisputed,
Undefeated champion of love.
Illus the enemy goes a roaring lion –trying to imitate The Lion
On the cross –When Jesus die –The imitator thought he won
But during the celebration—the heard the roar of authority
On that resurrection morning
The imitator could not stop him
Death could not hold him,
The grave could not keep him,
He may have goner to the cross as a lamb
But we came forth as the LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH
He hath prevailed!!!!!!
This morning
He is here to cover you
Comfort You
Conquer the enemy that has come against you
THE LION OF JUDAH, SHALL BREAK EVERY CHAIN
AND GIVE US THE VICTORY AGAIN & AGAIN
Lets STAND & PRAISE HIM!!!!!
Disclaimer:
These sermons are not copyrighted and may be used or preached freely, I trust these sermons will be a blessing to all who read them. Please note that due to the large amount of material on the Internet concerning sermons, illustrations & ideals. Any similarities in wording, or titles of other preachers sermons are simply coincidental. May God Bless You is my Prayer!
