The Lion of Judah

Scripture

Revelation 5:1–5 “Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.””

Hebrews 12:1–2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Lion of the tribe of Judah

Jacob, Israel, blessed his sons, the twelve tribes of Israel

Genesis 49:9–10 “Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

The Messiah would come from the Judah

The Messiah would reign forever

Psalm 110:1 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.””

The lion is a terrifying beast

Designed to kill

Amos 3:8 “The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?””

Designed to conquer

The Lion has conquered

“Enemies your footstool”

“Scepter shall not depart”

“Obedience of the peoples”

“has conquered”

Present tense, it is done

John 16:33 “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.””

Jesus HAS overcome the world

The world threw everything it had at Him, even death

He sits at the right hand of God reigning

How did He conquer?

Revelation 5:9–10 “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.””

He conquered by not falling for the lusts of this world

He remained faithful

He did the will of God

A lion is terrifying but not when we’re on His side

He ransomed us, you and I

He made us a kingdom

“Your kingdom come”

We are reigning on earth

1 John 5:4–5 “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

How are we reigning?

With Jesus, first and foremost

What if we are persecuted by the world?

We are blessed

What if the world kills us?

We go on to glory

What can the world do to a dead man?

They can’t manipulate

They can’t use you

They can’t drag you down

Therefore they hate you

But we are conquerors

Romans 8:37 “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Hebrews 10:39 “But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.”

Revelation 12:11 “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.”

Walk with the Lion

He is the King of kings

He is the Lord of lords

He is the God of armies

He is the Lord of hosts

There is no “can’t” in our vocabulary

There is no fear in our life

We do not listen to lies of the enemy

We are in a foreign land but we are not defeated

“The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that He can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Jesus lived the will of God

Jesus is enacting the will of God

God’s will is that we would:

Overcome the world

Remain faithful

Dwell with Him

Jesus came to earth and took up the cross to bring us victory

For the joy set before Him