The Lion King (Part 1)

THE LION KING: OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD {PART 1}

REV. 12:17 – 14:5

Sermon Objective: Satan’s intention is to deceive and savage the inhabitants of the earth; his rule is grotesque and depleting whereas the rule of Christ (Kingdom of God) brings life and wholeness.

Supporting Scripture: Genesis 3; Proverbs 14:34; John 8:44; John 10:10; Romans 12:21; 1 John 4:19; Revelation 1:6, Revelation 5:10;

>>Begin with a “Resurrection Story Video” from nazarenemedialibrary.org<<

In order to understand chapter 13 you must understand chapter 12 which exposes the strategy and motivation of the evil one; Satan. You will notice there is no break between chapter 12 and 13 … just a new paragraph that progresses the story of the dragon.

READ THE TEXT: REV. 12:17 – 14:5

SERMON INTRO

I have a dear friend named Ron who was a youth pastor in the same community where I served another church. I remember the time a teen from the community was talking to Ron about the hardship in his life. He truly did have a hard life and he was wondering why God was doing all this to him. Ron stopped the youth as he questioned God and he said “x” let me tell you one thing very quickly that you NEVER want to forget. Ron proceeded to give the youth a short and quick piece of advice that has stuck with me to this day and deserves to be repeated and applied.

Ron said four words: “Devil Bad. God Good.”

Can you say that with me? “DEVIL BAD. GOD GOOD.”

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Disney’s movie “The Lion King” features a young lion named Simba who is destined to rule the jungle but finds himself “on the outs.” As the story opens, his father takes him to “Pride Rock” (the equivalent of a throne) and shows him his inheritance … he would rule as far as his eyes could see; everywhere the sun placed its light.

Soon afterward an evil plot is set afoot and Simba’s father is murdered. Simba flees. He runs from his destiny due to guilt and fear. In his absence the evil Hyenas take “Pride Rock.

When the hyenas seize the throne the world changes. Their evil alters everything. The land becomes desolate and grey and life erodes into desperation.

Rafiki, the monkey, is the wise sage of the land. Rafiki seeks out Simba and helps Simba overcome his guilt and fear and aids him in understanding his destiny and person. You see, Simba did not fully grasp who he was or what power and authority he possessed.

Once Simba realized who he was, what he possessed, and his role in the society of the Savannah he returned, drove the hyenas Pride Rock, took His place as king, and restored peace and beauty to the land.

The story of pride rock serves as a very powerful parable illustrating chapters 12-14. When evil rules, the land and its inhabitants are devastated; but when the righteousness rules …

Simba is a good illustration of Jesus’ church. Often we, like the young Lion King, fail to recognize our position and inheritance. We fail to grasp that we are “A Kingdom of priests”; destined, and given a duty that brings peace and restoration.

Rev. 1:6 says, “And has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

Rev. 5:10 says, “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

When the evil Hyena rules … things are bad. When God rules … things prosper.

Proverbs 14:34 says: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”

Would you say it with me again? “DEVIL BAD. GOD GOOD.”

Chapter 12 – 14 validate Ron’s short proverb.

In chapter 13 we get a glimpse of the havoc that is wreaked whenever evil reigns. Please notice that the evil, whether it be secular (the beast of the sea) or religious (the beast of the earth), has its origin in the dragon … the devil. The three make an “unholy trinity” hell-bent on bringing as much ruin and heart ache as possible. It is as an act of hatred towards Jesus and His Church (chapter 12).

In coming weeks we will look at this chapter a bit more closely but today I want you to leave with an overview of the consequences of evil’s rule … and I want you, like Simba, to see what happens when Jesus’ church realizes the power that the resurrection living within us has to bring healing, justice, and peace to our world.

SERMON

In the spirit of Ron’s advice to the youth, I want to give you brief quick bullet points of what evil’s reign looks like. I want you to see how it ravages “Pride Rock;” the land we are supposed to possess and influence in Jesus’ name with Jesus’ character.