The Season of the Lion's Roar

The Season of the Lion's Roar

1. The Identity of the Lion

Isaiah 31:4: "As a lion growls, a great lion over its prey—and though a whole band of shepherds is called together against it, it is not frightened by their shouts or disturbed by their clamor—so the Lord Almighty will come down to do battle on Mount Zion and on its heights."

a [Like as the lion] God will come down to earth and fight like a lion for Jerusalem.

b [come down to fight for mount Zion] Come down Himself, not send an angel to do this (Isa. 63:1-5; Dan. 7:13-14,22; Zech. 14:1-5; Mt. 24:29-31; 25:31-46; 2Th. 1:7-10; 2:8; Jude 1:14-15; Rev. 19:11-21).

Dake's Annotated Reference Bible.

Genesis 49:9-10: "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? The scepter will not depart from Judah."

Illustration: Malala Yousafzai - Malala knew her identity and purpose as an advocate for education, even when the Taliban threatened her life. Despite being shot, her “roar” for justice amplified worldwide. Application: Just as Malala’s sense of purpose gave her boldness, our identity in Christ empowers us to stand firm and declare His truth.

Illustration: Show a picture or video of a lion leading its pride with strength and confidence.

Key Scripture: "The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed." (Revelation 5:5)

Jesus is the Lion of Judah, and as His followers, we are called to reflect His nature.

A lion’s roar signifies identity. When you know who you are in Christ, you roar with confidence.

2. The Power of the Roar

Jeremiah 25:30: "The Lord will roar from on high; He will thunder from His holy dwelling and roar mightily against His land."

Amos 3:8: "The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken—who can but prophesy?"

Illustration: NASA’s Rocket Launch - Before a rocket lifts off, the sound of its engines roars with incredible power, signaling something unstoppable. This roar isn’t just noise; it represents immense force and purpose. Application: Like the roar of a rocket launch, our words—fueled by faith—carry the power to ignite change and move mountains (Mark 11:23).

Illustration: A lion’s roar can be heard up to 5 miles away, asserting dominance and spreading fear.

Key Scripture: "He will roar like a lion. When He roars, His children will come trembling from the west." (Hosea 11:10)

God’s voice, like a lion’s roar, calls His people back to Him.

As believers, our faith-filled words carry power and authority in the spiritual realm.

3. The Boldness of the Righteous

Acts 4:31: "After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

2 Timothy 1:7: "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline."

Illustration: Rosa Parks - Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her bus seat was a bold act of defiance against injustice. Her courage sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and a movement for civil rights.

Application: Righteousness makes us bold. When we stand for what is right in Christ, we inspire change, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Illustration: Share a story of someone standing up boldly for their faith, like Daniel in the lions’ den.

Key Scripture: "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion." (Proverbs 28:1)

Boldness comes from righteousness.

Fear is silenced when you stand in alignment with God

4. Roar Against the Enemy

Ephesians 6:10-11: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes."

1 Peter 5:8-9: "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith."

Illustration: David and Goliath - David faced a giant enemy, but his “roar” came in the form of his declaration of faith: "The battle is the Lord’s, and He will give you into our hands" (1 Samuel 17:47). David’s confidence in God silenced Goliath. Application: Like David, we roar against the enemy by speaking God’s promises and standing in His authority.

Illustration: Share how lions defend their territory against predators.

Key Scripture: "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7)

The enemy prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), but we roar louder through prayer, worship, and declaration of God’s Word.

5. Roar for the Kingdom

Psalm 29:3-4: "The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic."

Mark 16:15: "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'”

Illustration: William Wilberforce - Wilberforce dedicated his life to ending slavery in the British Empire. His voice, rooted in his faith, roared for justice over decades of opposition. Eventually, his persistence bore fruit when slavery was abolished. Application: Roaring for God’s kingdom means using our voice to bring God’s justice, peace, and truth to a broken world.

Illustration: Highlight Martin Luther King Jr.’s bold "roar" for justice and equality as an example of advancing God’s kingdom on Earth. Key Scripture: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

Our roar isn’t just defensive; it’s offensive, proclaiming God’s truth and justice.

6. The Call to Unity in the Pride

Philippians 1:27: "Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel."

Psalm 133:1: "How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!"

Illustration: The Geese Formation - When geese migrate, they fly in a “V” formation. The lead goose creates an updraft for the others, and when one gets tired, another takes its place. Together, they travel farther than they could alone. Application: Like a lion’s pride, unity makes us stronger. When we stand together in faith, we amplify our collective roar and achieve more for God’s kingdom.

Illustration: Lions work together to hunt and defend their pride.

Key Scripture: "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3)

A lone lion is vulnerable, but a pride is strong. As believers, unity amplifies our roar.

7. Roaring Into Your Destiny

Isaiah 60:1: "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you."

Romans 8:37-39: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Illustration: Oprah Winfrey’s Breakthrough - Oprah grew up in poverty, faced rejection in her career, and overcame incredible odds to fulfill her destiny as one of the most influential voices of her generation. Her courage to step into her calling became her "roar." Application: Your roar may begin in the face of adversity, but God has equipped you with everything you need to step into your purpose with boldness (Joshua 1:9).

Illustration: Share the story of Esther, who stepped into her destiny “for such a time as this.”

Key Scripture: "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)

God calls each of us to roar into our God-given destiny with courage and obedience.

Additional Verses to Enrich the Theme

Micah 5:8: "The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep."

Proverbs 30:30: "A lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing."

Psalm 107:2: "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—those He redeemed from the hand of the foe."

These scriptures can help bring depth and richness to your sermon while supporting your key points with the Word of God.

Closing Challenge:

Illustration: A Lion’s Determination in the Wild - A wildlife documentary shows a lion relentlessly pursuing its prey. Even when it faces obstacles, it doesn’t give up until it succeeds. Application: Just as the lion is determined to fulfill its purpose, we must press on with courage and faith, knowing that God has already equipped us to triumph.

These real-life illustrations add depth, relatability, and inspiration to your sermon, helping your audience connect biblical truths with everyday experiences.

Encourage the congregation to:

Find their roar in prayer and worship.

Stand in boldness for their faith.

Advance God’s kingdom through words and actions.

Illustration for Closing: Play a short video of a lion’s roar to remind everyone of their authority in Christ.

This sermon combines vivid imagery, biblical truth, and practical application to equip believers for the "Season of the Lion's Roar"!