OVERCOMING IN A GIVE UP WORLD
REVELATION 12: 1-17
JULY 15, 2001
INTRODUCTION: Two frogs fell into a deep cream bowl, The one was wise, and a cheery soul. The other one took a gloomy view and bade his friend a sad adieu. Said the other frog with a merry grin, “I can’t get out, but I won’t give in; I’ll swim around till my strength is spent, then I will die the more content.” And as he swam, though ever it seemed, His struggling began to churn the cream until on top of pure butter he stopped, and out of the bowl he quickly hopped. The moral, you ask? Oh, it’s easily found! If you can’t get out, keep swimming around.
Our Daily Bread, November 29
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for this day speaks to us of those who overcame and just how it was accomplished. It speaks to us of the reality or possibility of overcoming. It also tells of the horrible reality that the Enemy of our soul has been let loose and he is mad as, well, you can imagine, because he knows his time is short. It also speaks of the reality of the cosmic battle that is being waged for our souls this very moment and the marching orders that we must understand to overcome, LEST WE FALL/ GIVE UP! ARE WE QUITERS OR OVERCOMERS?
THESIS SENTENCE: WE CAN OVERCOME THE ENEMY OF OUR SOUL BY FOCUSING ON CHRIST ALONE!
OVERCOMING IN A GIVE UP WORLD IS…
I. A LIFE TO FIND (VV. 11a) A COVERING OF THE BLOOD
OVERCOMING STARTS WHEN THE BLOOD IS APPLIED! WITHOUT IT YOU ARE DEAD!
A. His blood brings our redemption.
1. Ephesians 1: 7 “In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.
2. To redeem is to: 1.buy back; pay off (a loan or a debt). 2, To liberate from captivity or obligation by paying a ransome…. 4. To atone for;…
3. Jesus’ death on the cross and his shedding of blood, paid the debt in full, it bought us back from the penalty of sin, it liberated us from the captivity/ bondage of sin, it atoned for all our sin!!!
4. This is why Paul could say, Jesus’ blood caused God to lavish on us His grace, the forgiveness of sin!!
B. His blood brings our reconciliation.
1. Sin seperates, Blood COAGULATES.
2. Epesians 2: 13 tells us, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.”
3. Jesus’ blood drew us back into the Father’s presence. It caused us to be reunited with the one whom we had severed the ties.
C. His blood is life giving.
1. A body with out blood is dead. Without Jesus’ blood we have no hope in eternal life! With Jesus’ blood, we have life with God!
2. READ REVELATION 7: 9-17
3. WITH THE BLOOD LIFE/ WITHOUT THE BLOOD DEATH!
ILLUSTRATION: I READ ABOUT A LITTLE BOY AND HIS FATHER WHO WERE ATTENDING A PARADE YEARS AGO. THEY STOOD JUST INSIDE AN OLD 5 (FIVE) AND 10 (DIME) STORE. AS ONE OF THE BANDS WENT BY THE FATHER ASKED HIS SON, “DID YOU SEE THOSE BRIGHT RED COATS?” THE SON ANSWERED, “NO, I SAW WHITE COATS!” THE FATHER THOUGHT THE SON WAS JESTING AND ASKED AGAIN AND GOT THE SAME REPLY. KNOWING THAT HIS SON WOULD NOT LIE, THE FATHER GOT DOWN ON HIS KNEES AND LOOKED AS THE BAND MARCHED OUT OF SIGHT. AS HE DID, HE NOTICED THAT THE WINDOW OF THE STORE HAD A STAINED STREAK OF RED RUNING RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIS SON. WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE RED GLASS, THE UNIFORMS LOOKED WHITE.
GUESS WHAT? WHEN THE HEAVENLY FATHER LOOKS DOWN ON US AND SEES THE RED CRIMSON STAIN OF SIN, HE LOOKS AGAIN TO SEE IF THE BLOOD IS APPLIED AND WHEN HE SEES IT IS, ALL HE SEES IS A PURIFIED BELIEVER! JESUS’ BLOOD COVERS IT ALL!
ARE WE OVERCOMING, OR ARE WE GIVING UP? WILL YOU GO ALL THE WAY WITH JESUS?
OVERCOMING IN A GIVE UP WORLD IS…
II. A LIFE TO LIVE (VV. 11b) A CONFESSION OF FAITH
OVERCOMING IS MADE EVIDENT BY THE TESTIMONY WE SHARE!
TESTIMONY MEANS TO BE A WITNESS; TO GIVE EVIDENCE TO AN EXPERIENCE. THEY CONFESSED THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS!
A. OUR TESTIMONY IS AN ACCOUNT OF WHAT WE KNOW
1. When John had finished his gospel of the life, ministry, and death of Jesus, he leaves us with this endnote, “This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that is testimony is true (21:24).”
2. John was giving his word that he had written these things, which he had previously testified about, and that he stood by his testimony as the TRUTH!
3. John said, in essence, “I KNOW WHAT I KNOW!”
B. Our testimony is an account of how we live
1. This is a no brainer here! We know that we must “talk the walk” and “walk the talk” if we are to have any credibility. We are accountable for our actions. 2. The Apostle Paul shares this truth with the Church at Corinth as he writes, “Now this is our boast: Our Conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God’s grace (II Corinthians 1:12).”
3. Our testimony is summed up in this, “… ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27).’”
a. This relates to husbands and wives: “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband (Ephesians 5:33).”
b. This relates to other believers: “Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble (I John 2: 9-10).”
c. This even applies to your enemies: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you (Luke 6:27-28).”
4. The real rub here is that we all know what we are supposed to do, we just don’t want to do it. The reason we don’t want to do it is that Satan pushes you in the opposite direction and you like the way he thinks. The other reason you don’t want to do it is the reality that you can’t do it in your own strength, and you would have to totally rely on GOD! WE ARE TOO SELF SUFICIENT FOR THAT!
C. Our testimony is what we say
1. Once again, the “NO BRAINER” rule is in effect!
2. We know we can add to or destroy our testimony by what we say!
3. We are called to be Ephesians 4: 29 People, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building otherws up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
4. Paul tells Timothy that Our testimony is also what we say about JESUS! “So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord (II Timothy 1:8),…”
5. That why Paul writes to the Romans and says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:(1:16) …”
6. Paul knew that a real Testimony was one that Shared the GOSPEL of JESUS CHRIST and HIS POWER TO SAVE!!!
ARE WE OVERCOMING, OR ARE WE GIVING UP? WILL YOU GO ALL THE WAY WITH JESUS?
ILLUSTRATION:
OVERCOMING IN A GIVE UP WORLD IS…
III. A LIFE TO GIVE (VV. 11c) A CALLING TO FULFILL
OVERCOMING IS FINALIZED BY A WILLINGNESS TO DIE FOR THE CAUSE OF YOUR LORD!! “THEY DID NOT LOVE THEIR LIVES SO MUCH AS TO SHRINK FROM DEATH.”
A. A life to give is an example to follow
1. Jesus taught us the way! “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42).” “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).”
2. Stephen followed this example! “‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him… While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ When he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:56-60).”
B. A life to give is a reality to accept
1. I PLEDGE ALLEGANCE TO THE LAMB by Ray Boltz
2. The massacre at Columbine High School and the young women who died proclaiming her faith. (Read from RockyMountainNews.com, ‘Your courage and commitment to Christ have gained you a special place in heaven’
3. The willingness to live as though you were dead!
4. Romans 6 makes this reality clear, “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life (vv.1-4).”
ILLUSTRATION:
CONCLUSION: Our Text ends with a scary thought, Satin is loose and He will not stop. Until the day he is put away, he is on our backs to lead us astray. The choice is ours, I must submit, if you don’t overcome, Satan has won, because you quit!
ARE WE OVERCOMERS OR ARE WE GIVING UP? WILL YOU GO ALL THE WAY WITH JESUS?
CLOSING HYMN: # I WOULD NOT BE DENIED
