What God is Doing to the Sharks in Your Life
Isa. 27:1
Aug. 3, 2008 FBC, Chester Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker
Introduction
A Opening story
B “Leviathan” was a legendary creature, with its origin coming from the Ancient Near East (the word itself is Armenian in origin, but the creature was feared by Assyria, Babylon, & Egypt).
1 There are many takes on what “Leviathan” was (or is).
a Enemies of God’s people (Assyria, Babylon, Egypt), monster of chaos
b The devil, dragon, serpent, Leviathan
c Crocodile (or a dinosaur), sea creature/monster
aa Wreathed, coiled
bb Squeeze his prey, then devour them
2 In that day the LORD will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, with His fierce and great and mighty sword, even Leviathan the twisted serpent; and He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea. Isaiah 27:1 (NASB)
a I believe:
aa That there is a beast
bb He is a beaten beast
b God did, does, & will handle Leviathan in your life
3 Let’s take a look at two truths that help us see how God is keeping the ol’ serpent, dragon at bay.
I There is a beast.
A There are 5 facts about Leviathan we find in Scripture:
1 The fleeing serpent In that day the LORD will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, with His fierce and great and mighty sword, even Leviathan the twisted serpent; and He will kill the dragon who lives in the sea. Isaiah 27:1 (NASB)
2 The twisted serpent
3 He is a sea serpent There the ships move along, and Leviathan , which You have formed to sport in it. Psalms 104:26 (NASB)
4 He has seven heads You crushed the heads of Leviathan ; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. Psalms 74:14 (NASB)
And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; 14 for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world , to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. 15 ("Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.") 16 And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har -Magedon. Rev 16:13-16 (NASB) (Rev. 12:1-7)
5 He is king over all the children of pride Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? Or press down his tongue with a cord? 34 "He looks on everything that is high; he is king over all the sons of pride." Job 41:1, 34 (NASB)
a Sounds like a pretty good description of the devil, huh?
b Ol’ serpent, dragon
B This beast (Leviathan) has wrapped himself around the soul of this nation, & is squeezing everything holy out that he can.
1 He has squeezed out prayer, the 10 Commandments, Jesus, the sanctity of life, the sacred bonds of marriage being honored by all, the courtesy & respect of God’s law are gone.
a (IL) Davy Crockett taught a lesson, moral, quoted the book of Ruth; American Idol where contestants who sing of their love for their Savior are condemned.
aa The View, Joy: “I want my A.I. without Jesus”
bb We’ve traded Fess Parker for Paula Abdul.
b Founding Fathers quotes:
aa
bb
cc
2 We’ve spent billions of dollars as a nation to find what has happened to the glue that held this nation together for 200 years.
a We call evil good & good evil-we’ve forgotten how to blush
b Leviathan is squeezing every sacred thing he can out (snake problem- the beast is real).
II He’s a beaten beast
A Leviathan gripped the nations around Israel with fear from the great dragon.
1 You crushed the heads of Leviathan ; You gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. Psalms 74:14 (NASB) Spoke of how God had crushed the heads of Leviathan.
a Possible reference to two things:
aa Crocodiles (soldiers) on the shore of the Red Sea fed (enriched) Hebrews after their crossings.
bb Hebrew legend of the meat of Leviathan & a future banquet, the hide as a canopy.
b The Leviathan held surrounding nations in fear, but God’s people had no reason to fear.
2 They had zero reason to fear because God promised that: “in that day the LORD will punish...”
a “In that day...” future, day of the Lord
aa The Hebrew day starts at night (tribulation, trouble, & still beat on the day of the Lord).
b “...the Lord will punish Leviathan...” Punish (258 x’s, several meanings, visit/call).
aa Punish can mean an action on God’s part that brings benefit to His people also
bb God pays a visit, makes a call
c Leviathan was, & will be, defeated
B Believer, you have already been set free from the coils of the great serpent. For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son...Col 1:13 (NASB)
1 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, 14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him . Col 2:13-15 (NASB) Shout of victory because the enemy has been defeated & he has no authority over you.
a Christian, you belong to God-now live in victory
b You may agree, but you say, “I don’t ‘feel’ like it.”
c The facts are:
aa Crushed the serpent’s head And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel...Gen 3:15 (NASB)
bb No weapon formed against you shall prosper. No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. Isaiah 54:17a (NASB)
cc Stripped of his weapons When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities...
dd Snatched the keys of death & the grave
ee Your God shall supply all of your needs
ff Nothing is impossible with God
gg His word is true, His promises are guarantees
d If you’re waiting on a feeling, it may never come.
aa It’s my job to live in the fact of the victory of Jesus Christ over the devil.
bb My job has nothing to do with standing on a feeling, & everything to do with standing on the promises.
2 When Leviathan comes gliding by, remember he’s on a short leash tied to Calvary.
a Tell him that you remember when he tried to take on God, & was kicked out of heaven. And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. The dragon and his angels waged war, 8 and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world ; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. Rev 12:7-9 (NASB)
aa “Remember when Jesus knocked your lights out with both hands nailed to a cross? People are still talking about that.”
bb Ask him, “What’s wrong with your head?”
b When the devil reminds you of your past, remind him of his future. Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone , where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Rev 20:1-3, 10 (NASB)
B The Bible says, “the wages of sin is death”...and that’s what he’ll get.
1 Capital punishment from the King of kings (he’s done nothing but steal, kill, & destroy).
2 Notice what Jesus does to him before he’s thrown into the pit
a I believe these chains are the same chains that he used to bind you & me.
b God does some coiling of His own
C (IL)
Conclusion
A Review
1 There is a beast
2 He’s a beaten beast
B
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Respectfully,
Mike Fogerson
