DON’T POKE THE LION
Num. 24:8-9
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR: SNORING IN CHURCH
1. A man went to see his doctor for advice about being cured of snoring. The doctor asked, “Does your snoring disturb your wife?”
2. The patient replied, “Does it disturb my wife? Why it disturbs the entire congregation.”
B. CENTRAL IDEA
1. We humans consider that we have conquered the world. It’s animals, no matter how big or fierce, are subject to us. So humans don’t have the respect that we should for the ferocious predators that God made to keep the populations of more docile creatures under control.
2. And often we hear stories of people getting too close to buffaloes, bears, hippos, or crocodiles in the wild and getting maimed or killed.
3. Another example of this miscalculation is humans getting into close proximity to tigers and lions. Many of us have seen circus shows with lion tamers who force lions to jump through hoops of fire, dance upright on their back legs, walk a ball around the ring, or the tamer put their head in the lion’s mouth. These entertainers are taking a big chance – because God’s giant wild cats always retain a violent and untamable nature.
4. Since 2016 there have been a spate of lion attacks on their trainers & keepers all across the world (in which the humans were killed):
a. 12-2-16 Shaheen Islam in Egypt
b. 8-22-19 Leon van Biljon in South Africa
c. 12-31-24 zoo guard F. Irislukov in Uzbekistan
d. 9-12-25 Jian Rangkarassamee in Thailand
e. 9-21-25 “Tiger King” Joe Exotic in USA
f. 10-19-25 Oleksly Pinko in Ukraine
g. 10-21-25 Alexey Makarenko in Sochi, Russia
5. The majority of trainer attacks have been credited to the fact that lion trainers use harsh techniques to force the wild cats to perform the feats – like whips, shocks, humiliation, and not feeding them until they obey. And the big cats don’t forget how they’ve been treated.
6. But the biggest problem was thinking the creatures were tamed, that there was no danger, that the cats were under their control.
C. TITLE
1. Tonight I want to look at the phrase, "Don't poke the lion." This phrase suggests that we avoid unnecessarily provoking someone or something powerful and potentially dangerous. It emphasizes that disturbing a strong entity can lead to negative consequences.
2. There are at least 3 lions in Scripture: the devil, the church, and the Son of God, Jesus.
I. THE DEVIL “AS A LION”
A. OUR ATTITUDE TOWARD THE DEVIL
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” 1 Pet. 5:8, NKJV. Peter gives us 4 directives concerning the devil:
1. BE SOBER (MINDED) – Serious, self-controlled, NOT intoxicated with the world. The kind of mind that keeps eternity in focus and doesn’t drift into the fog of fear or temptation.
2. BE VIGILANT – alert & watchful. Jesus told the sleepy disciples, “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation” (Matt. 26:41). The call hasn’t changed. Alertness is proactive, scanning the horizon for subtle compromise or sudden assault.
3. YOUR ADVERSARY – Satan is a real, personal enemy—not merely a symbol of evil (Eph. 6:11–12). The Bible says he’s an accuser (Rev. 12:10) and liar (Jn. 8:44). He “prowls” around, implying patience and strategy. In Job 1:7 he’s pictured as roaming the earth as if looking for a victim.
4. AS A ROARING LION
a. A lion’s roar paralyzes their prey with terror; the devil uses intimidation, doubt, and shame to freeze believers (Ps. 22:13). Yet the roar is also a bluff; Christ has already “disarmed the powers and authorities” (Col. 2:15). Satan is “…seeking someone to devour” – to destroy. Partial surrender is never his goal.
b. We really do need to recognize that the devil is dangerous and is an opponent we can’t ignore. He’s been mortally wounded, but wounded animals are often more dangerous than non-wounded ones.
B. WE CAN POKE THIS LION!
1. Not only can we poke this lion, the Lord tells us to “trample” on him; “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you” Lk. 10:19.
2. Paul said, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” Rom. 16:20. Aren’t you glad Satan is under your feet?
3. Jesus “gave [His disciples] power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease” Matt. 10:1 NKJV; Mk. 6:7. We have power over the devil! WE CAN POKE THE LION!
II. THE CHURCH AS A LION
A. SCRIPTURE
Num. 24:8-9, “God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them. 9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them?” Here a prophet describes the people of God as a lion who better not be roused.
B. ULTIMATE VICTORY OF THE CHURCH
1. We are the Church! All the forces of Hell cannot stop this Church – not opposition, not persecution, not suffering or affliction, not tribulation, not distress, nor even martyrdom. We have power over the devil!
2. We’re part of the Church of the First Born, the Called-out ones, the redeemed – out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation – baptized, filled endued, empowered, infused, indwelt with the Holy Spirit.
3. Compared to earthly governments and large militaries, the Church may look weak but there’s a hidden power behind it. I heard a poem that describes the church:
4. THE CORK POEM
a. “I’m like a little cork that fell into the path of a whale, [earthly powers] who lashed it down with his angry tail.
b. But in spite of its blows, it quickly arose and floated serenely in front of his nose.
c. Said the cork, “You may splash & sputter & frown. But you can never, never, never keep me down. Cause I’m made of the stuff that it buoyant enough to float instead of be drowned!”
C. DON’T ROUSE THE CHURCH; LET HER SLEEP
1. One time Napoleon Bonaparte was with his generals studying a map of the world. He pointed to a red spot in the far East. He said, “There lies China, the sleeping giant. Let her sleep! For if you rouse her she will shake the world!”
2. That’s what the devil says when he regards the Church of Jesus. “Let her sleep! Don’t rouse her! If you do, she will shake the world!”
D. A GLORIOUS, VICTORIOUS CHURCH!
1. Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!” Matt. 16:18. EPH. 5:27, “...that He might present to Himself a glorious church, without spot or wrinkle....”
2. How does Jesus picture His Church?
a. A Church… trying to “hold on” until He Comes?
b. A Church… which is intimidated?
c. A Church… struggling to overcome worldliness?
d. A Church… struggling to stay alive?
3. NO! Rather, a Victorious Conquering Church! Song of Songs says, “Who is she who looks forth as the morning, Fair as the moon, Clear as the sun, Awesome as an army with banners?” Song 6:10.
III. JESUS IS THE LION OF JUDAH
Jesus is referred to as the "Lion of Judah," symbolizing his power, majesty, and kingly authority.
A. SCRIPTURES
1. Genesis 49:8-10; “Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you. 9 You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.”
2. In the New Testament, Jesus is explicitly referred to as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" in Rev. 5:5. This
verse emphasizes His authority and victory, indicating that He’s the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Messiah descended from Judah.
B. DUAL NATURES
1. The vision of Jesus as the Lion of Judah captures His unrivaled Kingship, His regal power, and His triumph over sin, death, and Hell. He’s not only the "Lamb of God" which humbles Himself to die for us, but He’s the opposite – the eternal King who crushes all rebellions against His Father’s Kingdom.
2. Psalm 2:12 warns the rebels of this world that they better not poke the Lion of Judah, nor trifle with the Son of God, lest He become angry and they perish eternally.
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: PARTNERSHIP NEEDED
1. During the summer of 1904 an unlikely partnership was formed at the World’s Fair in St. Louis. The summer was unusually hot and people were searching the fair for something to help cool them off.
2. Arnold Fornachou had just what they were looking for, ice cream. People lined up for what seemed like miles to get some of his cool and satisfying ice cream but there was one problem.
3. Arnold was not prepared for the demand and ran out of paper bowls and was forced to wash a few porcelain bowls over and over again. The result was too few bowls and people were getting tired of waiting.
4. Next to Arnold’s ice cream booth was the booth of a pastry chef named, Ernest Hamwi and he was making a Persian wafer desert called zalabia. Ernest also had a problem, his pastry was not selling.
5. He noticed the problem Arnold was having and took some warm zalabia and rolled it into a cone shape. He then went over and showed Arnold how the zalabia could hold a scoop of the ice cream. On that hot day during the World’s Fair, the ice cream cone was born because a partnership was formed.
B. THE CALL
1. WITHOUT THE CHURCH YOU CAN’T DO IT! The Church can accomplish, collectively, what individual Christians will never be able to do by themselves. Good example of this? An airplane is a machine that consists of 100% non-flying parts. Yet, when they’re all assembled correctly, it can fly!
2. When you become one of the Lion’s lion-cubs. His nature is in you, and you have power over the fake lion Satan. The genuine tramples the fraud.
3. Have you gotten your old nature changed into the nature of Jesus yet? Are you born again?
a. Let’s ask the Lord to transform us;
b. Do you need POWER over the enemy?
c. Are you ready to take authority over the powers of the enemy in prayer?
4. Let’s stand and pray for our church, our city, our state, our country, and our world. PRAYER
